December 23, 2024

A pathway to publishing success through the Sustainability Law Research Fellows Program

39 articles published in law journals across the country and written by students in the Sustainability Law Research Fellows Program at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University hang on Professor of Law Troy Rule's office wall.

The articles, all of which analyze environmental sustainability law topics, represent a level of student publication success in environmental law unmatched by any law school in the country.

Each summer, Rule identifies potentially publishable law journal topics for use by ASU’s incoming class of Sustainability Law Research Fellows. In the fall, these fellows are paired up and a lottery system determines the order for selecting topics. Then, over the course of two semesters, Rule guides the students through the entire article production process – from initial background research in September to final revisions in April.

Each November, the student fellows present their half-baked articles at a special lunch event open to the entire law school community. Then, an intensive drafting and revision process begins that culminates with students submitting their articles to various law journals nationwide and waiting for publication offers. 

“Every article that has ever been completed through this extraordinary program has received a publication offer in a non-ASU law journal,” Rule said.

Rule believes participating in the program gives students a distinct advantage in the job market.

“Prospective employers usually ask students applying for permanent legal positions to provide a writing sample,” explained Rule. “It is difficult to conceive of a better writing sample than a full-length law journal article selected for publication over those written by practicing lawyers and professors.”

For alum Christina Jovanovic (JD’20), it’s been four years since her article Precious and Few: Solving Renewable Energy’s Critical Mineral Problem was published in the Louisiana State University Journal of Energy Law and Resources. She was recently invited to present her paper at LSU in January 2025.

Jovanovic’s paper focuses on securing critical mineral supply chains to support the energy transition. This was a topic she was passionate about in law school, particularly with her interests in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), mining law and mineral policy. She is still working toward becoming an NEPA practitioner and thanks the program for helping her take a significant step toward that goal.

“During law school, being a fellow vastly improved my research and writing skills,” she said. “Being a fellow also led to unexpected opportunities, like presenting at LSU years after publication and being asked to write a chapter in a critical minerals book.”

The SLRF Program takes applications every February, selecting fellows from a pool of applicants. Fellows receive a $500 scholarship stipend upon completing the program.

Written by Crystal Jimenez