Peer-Review Process

Stage 1: Initial Evaluation

Upon submission, the manuscript will undergo an Initial Evaluation to determine whether it meets the journal's submission standards. This includes:

• Submission Fee: Authors must pay a submission fee of IDR 100,000.
• Author Declaration Form: Authors must fill out the Author Declaration Form, confirming the originality and ethical standards of the work.
• Verify Submission Format: Ensure the manuscript aligns with the journal’s specific submission guidelines, including formatting, required documentation, and other journal-specific criteria.
• Plagiarism Check: Use tools like Turnitin to ensure the manuscript is free of plagiarism, confirming the originality of the content.
• Document Completeness: Ensure all required sections are included in the manuscript (e.g., title, abstract, keywords, body, references).

This evaluation will be conducted by the Editor-in-Chief (EIC), Managing Editor, or Editorial Assistant. Based on the evaluation, a decision will be made to either:

• Reject the manuscript.
• Send it to a Handling Editor for further review.

Stage 2: Handling Editor Evaluation

At this stage, the Handling Editor will conduct a thorough evaluation, considering the following criteria:

• Relevance: Evaluate the manuscript’s relevance to current legal issues, checking if it aligns with the journal's scope and focus.
• Argumentation: Review the manuscript’s legal arguments, ensuring they are deep, sophisticated, and accurately reference legislation, case law, and legal principles.
• Innovative Contribution: Assess whether the manuscript offers new perspectives or solutions on the discussed legal topics.
• Methodological Rigor: Check for adherence to accepted legal research methods (e.g., doctrinal analysis, case law review, comparative legal studies).
• Adherence to Citation Standards: Ensure citations comply with established citation guides.
• Journal Audience Compatibility: Ensure the writing style, complexity, and content are appropriate for the journal’s target audience, whether scholars, practitioners, or policymakers.

Possible decisions at this stage:

• Reject the manuscript.
• Request revisions from the author.
• Send to Peer Reviewers (Double-Blind Review).

Stage 3: Double-Blind Peer Review

If the manuscript passes the handling editor's evaluation, it will enter the Double-Blind Peer Review process. The manuscript will be reviewed by at least two anonymous reviewers (or more if needed). Reviewers will evaluate:

• Relevance and Originality: Does the manuscript bring new insights or perspectives to theory or practice?
• Clarity and Structure: Are the arguments presented clearly and logically?
• References: Are references up-to-date and properly cited according to the journal’s citation style (Chicago Manual of Style 17th Edition)?
• Scientific Impact: Does the work contribute meaningfully to the field of law? Reviewers assess the manuscript’s quality and relevance. They provide detailed feedback, including suggestions for revisions or recommendations for acceptance/rejection.

Reviewers may recommend one of the following decisions:

• Accept Submission: No further revisions required.
• Revisions Required: Minor revisions needed before resubmission.
• Resubmit for Review: Major revisions required, to be reviewed again.
• Resubmit Elsewhere: The manuscript may not fit to the journals, and should be submitted to another journal.
• Decline Submission: The manuscript is rejected based on significant flaws.

Stage 4: Post-Review Evaluation by Handling Editor

After receiving the reviewers' feedback, the Handling Editor will:

• Assess the Reviewer's Recommendations: Reviewers’ comments will be considered, and the manuscript will be returned to the author for revisions if needed.
• Re-evaluate the Manuscript: If necessary, the handling editor may send the manuscript for another round of peer review.

The handling editor compiles feedback and prepares a decision recommendation for the Editorial Board. The manuscript must be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers before the decision can be finalized.

Stage 5: Final Decision by Editor-in-Chief

Once the handling editor is satisfied with the revisions and the manuscript has passed peer review, the Editor-in-Chief (EIC) or Editorial Board will make the final decision. The possible decisions are:

• Accept: The manuscript is accepted for publication and will be assigned to a volume and issue.
• Reject/Decline: The manuscript is rejected and returned to the author.

Stage 6: Notification and Payment

If the manuscript is accepted, the author will be notified and will receive an APC (Article Processing Charge) invoice. Payment of the APC must be completed before proceeding to the Copy Editing stage.

Stage 7: Copy Editing

Once the manuscript is paid for, the author will work with the editorial team to finalize the manuscript. This includes checking for any final administrative issues.

Stage 8: Layout and Proofreading

The manuscript will be formatted by the Layout Editor. Afterward, the Proofreading stage will take place, either with a professional proofreader assigned by the journal or a proofreader chosen by the author.

Stage 9: Publication

After proofreading, the manuscript will be ready for publication. The accepted article will be published as an Open Access article.