Becoming a Member Buffalo Law Review

The Buffalo Law Review prides itself on maintaining the highest level of integrity and objectivity in its selection process. As a result, admission to the Buffalo Law Review is open to the entire student body and based upon a combination of factors. Every year approximately 28 to 32 new members are selected. The first 20 members are selected based upon a combination of first-year grades, a blue book exam, and case-note scores. Admission for the remaining 8 to 12 seats is based solely on a combination of case-note and blue book exam scores. The casenote competition is anonymously graded by the Review's Note & Comment Editors.

The Casenote Competition

The Casenote Competition is an annual writing competition conducted by members of the Buffalo Law Review, in conjunction with the Buffalo Criminal Law Review, Buffalo Environmental Law Journal, Buffalo Human Rights Law Review, In the Public Interest, and the Buffalo Women’s Law Journal. The Casenote Competition will be run based on the format and rules traditionally used by the Buffalo Law Review, but each journal is responsible for its own scoring and selection criteria.  

The Casenote Competition will consist of two components: a written Casenote and an in-class citation exercise. Students may write their Casenote during spring break or following the spring examination period. The in-class citation exercise will be administered by the members of the Buffalo Law Review prior to final exams in the Spring semester.

Purpose of the Competition

The purpose of the Casenote Competition is to test the skills and competencies that are most frequently used in execution of journal duties. The Casenote Competition is designed to determine how well you write, how well you follow directions, how patient you are, if you can work well under a deadline, and if you pay attention to detail.

Eligibility

The Casenote Competition is open to all first-year students, second-year transfer students, and students in their third semester at UB Law School who took a leave of absence during their first year. Second-year transfer students will have the opportunity to participate in the fall semester of their second year. Students who attend UB Law School for their entire first year and do not participate in the Casenote Competition at the end of their first year, are precluded from participation in future competitions. Students in a four-year program (joint-degree or part-time) must write the Casenote during their first year. These four-year students may defer membership for one year.

"Average" Grades

As noted above, between 8 and 12 membership positions are offered based solely upon blue book exam and case-note competitions scores (grades are not considered at all). Morever, although admission to the Buffalo Law Review for the remaining 20 seats does consider grades and competition is extremely keen, each and every year there are students with straight A's who complete the case-note competition but are not offered admission. Likewise, each year there are at least a few students with very few A's that are offered admission because of exceptionally well written case-notes. The goal of our admission policy is to equally reward academic accomplishment, hard work, attention to detail, ability to meet deadlines, and motivation to succeed. Being a member of the law review requires much more than the mere ability to garner an A on an exam. Because the Casenote Competition and blue book exam are held at the end of the first year of law school, it takes a unique level of motivation, dedication and attention to detail to submit a quality case-note and excel on the exam. Students that are truly willing to put in the time and hard work required have an excellent chance of being rewarded with admission to the Buffalo Law Review regardless of grades.

The Benefits of Law Review

Experience on any academic journal is beneficial, however, the Buffalo Law Review provides a unique opportunity to test yourself in a demanding, yet rewarding atmosphere. Working on the Buffalo Law Review is a good opportunity to sharpen your research and writing skills, learn the Bluebook, and to have your own work published. Because of the skills it teaches, membership on the Buffalo Law Review is highly regarded by various employers. In a publication produced by the Alumni Association in 1987 celebrating the University at Buffalo Law School's 100-year anniversary, the following was stated about the Buffalo Law Review:

"Serving on the Buffalo Law Review is a feather in the cap for those who are selected. To most, especially prospective employers, it indicates finely honed skills in legal research and the ability to write clearly and concisely. For this reason, law review graduates garner many of the highly selective jobs and judicial clerkships."

However, the benefits of joining the Buffalo Law Review extend well beyond top-paying jobs at major firms and prestigious judicial clerkships. Members of the law review spend many hours working together as a team resulting in lifelong friendships. In addition to the time spent working together, the law review strives to create a social atmosphere among its members outside of the office. The Review hosts bar nights and other social events throughout the academic year in addition to its annual dinner. In short, serving as a member of the law review will not only enhance your professional abilities, it is an opportunity to make many new friends.

Questions

Further questions should be directed to Rachelle M. Hoeflschweiger, the Head Note & Comment Editor.