The editing process is summarized below.  Click here for the detailed version of the source collection guidelines.

Click here for detailed editing guidelines.

Click here for an editing checklist (note: this is not a substitute for the detailed editing guidelines).

STEP 1: CREATE A SPREADSHEET WITH ALL OF THE SOURCES

Start with a blank sources spreadsheet. (Click here to view sample spreadsheet.)

You will usually be assigned only a range of footnotes in the article to cite-check.  For each footnote in that range, fill out, at a minimum, the yellow columns on the "ALL SOURCES" tab of the spreadsheet.  Each source is listed on a separate line.

Next, determine where the sources are located. First, check HEIN Online, JSTOR, and Kent's A-Z Journal list for Journal articles. Hein and JSTOR are available by typing their names in the Kent Library's E-Resources search page. You can access the A-Z List on the E-Resources page or here. It will tell you if one of Kent's databases other than HEIN or JSTOR have the journal's full text.

Next, use WorldCat to check whether the Chicago-Kent Library has the source. If so, you will not need to request that source through Interlibrary Loan. It is important to check the shelves in the library to be sure the source is actually there.

WORLDCAT
You must access WorldCat through the Chicago-Kent library's website.  Click here to access the link (you may need to scroll down a bit to get to the link).

WorldCat will bring up all the source info (author, editor, publication year) as well as all the libraries where the source is located. If Chicago-Kent does not have the source, this is where you will submit an Interlibrary Loan request. You must also record the OCLC number in the spreadsheet. The OCLC number is what allows us to follow up on your Interlibrary Loan request.

If you are unable to find the source through WorldCat, you may need to try locating it yourself at the local libraries.  Their links are below:

Chicago-Kent Law Library
Catalog  |  Library web site

Some sources, however, will not be found here.  In that case, use the Web links below to access other local libraries.  Start with WorldCat before going directly to these websites.  

• Chicago Public Library
• ILLINET Online (Click here for a list of all ILCSO libraries)
• Loyola University Chicago
• Northwestern University
• University of Chicago
• John Marshall Law School
• DePaul University

Now, copy and paste all the information for those sources that are not at Chicago-Kent from the "All Sources" tab to the "Requested Materials" tab.  Fill in the additional yellow columns on the "Requested Materials" tab.  Click here for a sample completed spreadsheet.  Reetu Dua, the Managing Editor, will ensure you have properly ordered your sources through Interlibrary Loan. You will be notified when they arrive.

You will usually have three days from when the article is assigned to you to turn in the sources spreadsheet.  The actual deadline will be given in the e-mail with your assignment.

STEP 2: LOCATE AND COPY THE SOURCE MATERIAL

Your next step is to make copies of all the source materials that support the footnoted text.  Copy the title page, the copyright page, the table of contents, the first page (of the case or article), and the relevant portions.  The Law Review has copy cards available in the Law Review office for use in the library photocopiers.

For almost all sources, you need to photocopy the official printed version of the source.  Downloading cases or other sources from Westlaw or Lexis is inadequate.  Unfortunately, there are too many errors in these electronic sources for us to rely on them.  However, there are several ways to access electronic images of the official printed sources, which should save you some time.  The following are acceptable electronic sources:

• Westlaw .pdf images are available for many of its reporters.  If available, there will be a link available at the top line of the case that says "West Reporter Image (PDF)."   
• Hein On-Line has many law review articles available (you must be logged into the C-K network for this to work).  You must use the .pdf images of the published journal, not the text file.
• Some law reviews make .pdf images of their journal available on their website.  Here's a link to most of the law reviews' websites where you can try to find these: http://stu.findlaw.com/journals/general.html
• CFRs are available on the GPO website as .pdf images at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/

You also need to KeyCite or Shepardize each cited case to ensure that it has not been overruled.

STEP 3: VERIFY THAT THE SOURCE MATERIAL SUPPORTS THE TEXT

Use a highlighter to mark the exact locations of the passages in the source material that support the footnoted text.  Be particularly rigorous when checking the accuracy of direct quotations.  Write the footnote number in the margin next to supporting passages.  

Download the source cover sheet template.

For each source in each footnote, create a coversheet based on a template.  If the source has been cited in a previous footnote, cross reference the footnote number where the photocopies can be found.  Arrange your cover sheets and photocopies in the same order as the materials are cited in the footnotes.  Go down the checklist on the template and confirm that the all of the details of the citation are correct.  Staple the cover sheet to the photocopies. Note that you MUST include the relevant Bluebook Rule Number on the sheet.

STEP 4: VERIFY BLUEBOOK CITATION FORMAT 

For each source that the author cites, verify that every detail is consistent with the Bluebook.  This requires extraordinary attention to detail.  It is useful to turn on the "Show/Hide ¶" feature in MS Word to ensure that all spaces are correct.

You will make any changes or corrections in the MS Word file.  Make sure that the "Track Changes" function is enabled before making any changes. 

Click here for a summary of the differences between the Bluebook and ALWD. (Note that this covers the 17th, not the 18th, edition of the Bluebook.)

Click here for a checklist that will walk you through properly Bluebooking a citation.

Click here to access NYU's Guide to Foreign and International Citations in .pdf form.

STEP 5: PROOFREAD AND EDIT THE TEXT 

You will usually be assigned to edit all of the text in the article.  You should read through the article several times, making corrections as necessary.  

The text must conform with the Chicago Manual of Style.  The 15th edition just came out in July 2003.  A good resource for questions regarding the CMS is their website, available here.

STEP 6: TURN IN THE ASSIGNMENT 

You will usually have three weeks to complete the assignment.  On or before the deadline, e-mail the MS Word document to your Executive Articles Editor.  Place the photocopies in the Managing Editor's basket, located on top of the mailboxes in the Law Review office.  Don't forget to include a cover sheet for each footnote.  Your EAE will evaluate your work.

Last Updated: October 16, 2007 August 27, 2006