Call for Essays for Special Issue of MAGLAW Law Journal by Panjab University [Volume V Issue 1; 2026]: Submit by Mar 15 – Extended

About Panjab University

The Department of Laws, Panjab University originally established at Lahore in 1889, was re-established at Shimla in 1948, shifted to Jalandhar in 1950 and finally re-located at the University Campus at Chandigarh in 1959. Its Alumni include Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, Union Cabinet Ministers, State Chief Ministers, Cabinet Ministers, Ambassadors, Senior Bureaucrats, Police Officers and other legal luminaries.

The Department always strives to create new opportunities for its students. The Department provides practical training to the students to hone their skills in various fields for overall development of personality such as-in the arena of Legal Research, Debate, Moot Court, Client Counselling, etc. by organizing various competitions and seminars.

About MAGLAW Law Journal

MAGLAW is an bi-annual publication in existence since 2017. It operates as a peer-reviewed and refereed journal specifically designed for students. The journal welcomes high-quality papers from students and provides them with an opportunity to showcase their research and scholarly work. MAGLAW Journal invites submissions for its Special Issue – Volume V, Issue 1 (2026).  

About the Issue

The journal invites submissions for its Special Issue – Volume V, Issue 1 (2026). This special issue invites research essays. Authors of selected essays shall be awarded a Certificate of Publication. Additionally, the three best essays will be awarded an e-Certificate of Merit. Submissions will be evaluated based on the appropriateness of the title, structure, substantive accuracy, relevance, novelty, and originality of content.

Theme of the Special Issue – “International Law at Crossroads: Navigating Geopolitical Friction.”

Sub-themes for the issue

• Authors may draw inspiration from (but are not limited to) the following sub-themes:
• Interventionism and the Erosion of Sovereign Immunity
• Evolving Legal Thresholds for Refugee Status, Territorial Asylum, and Statelessness
• Weaponization of Trade: Economic Coercion Laws and the Legality of Sanctions–Tariff Pairing
• Relevance of International Organisations and the Need for Structural Reforms
• International Frameworks for the Protection of Women and Children

Submissions on any other topic relevant to the main theme are also welcome.

Who can make submissions?

• This special issue invites research essays from students enrolled in:
• Three-Year and Five-Year LL.B. Programmes
• LL.M. Programmes
• Ph.D. Programmes

Submission Guidelines

• Anonymity: Authors must strictly maintain anonymity by not mentioning names, institutional affiliations, or personal credentials anywhere in the manuscript to ensure fairness.
• Cover Letter: A separate cover letter must be submitted in the prescribed format via the designated Google Form.
• Abstract Deadline: An abstract of no more than 250 words and 5 keywords must be submitted by 11:59 a.m. on March 10, 2026.
• Manuscript Timeline: Selected abstracts will be given one month to submit the complete manuscript, though abstract acceptance does not guarantee final publication.
• Originality and Ethics: Submissions must be original, unpublished, and free of obscene or defamatory material; authors are solely responsible for any copyright or plagiarism violations.
• Plagiarism Standards: A certificate of originality from Turnitin or Urkund must be submitted, and the similarity index must not exceed 20%.
• AI Prohibition: The use of AI-assisted writing tools is strictly prohibited, and an AI report from Turnitin or Urkund must be submitted to prove the work is not AI-assisted.
• Open Access Policy: MAGLAW Journal follows an open-access policy with no publication charges, and the ownership/copyright of published material vests with the journal.
• Nature of Work: Submissions must be scholarly essays, not research papers, demonstrating critical engagement, originality, and analytical depth.
• Essay Structure: The submission must include a clear title, an introduction with a central argument, a logically developed body with sub-headings, a conclusion, and a bibliography.
• Citation Style: Footnoting is not required; authors must use in-text citations following the ILI format, ensuring all citations are reflected in the references section.
• Submission Eligibility: Only law students are eligible to submit (maximum of two co-authors), and professionals cannot be authors or co-authors.
• Exclusivity: The submission must not have been published or submitted for publication elsewhere.

Formatting Requirements

• Word limit: 2,500–3,000 words
• Language: British English
• Font: Times New Roman, size 12
• Line spacing: 1.5
• Margins: 1 inch on all sides
• Font colour: Black
• Paragraph indentation: 1 inch
• Hyperlinks if used must be in black.
• A single-line gap must be maintained between paragraphs and headings.
• All tables, figures, charts, graphs, and etc. must be numbered consecutively.

Processing Charges

There are no charges for publication. 

Deadline

15 March 2026 [Extended from 10 March]

How to make submissions?

The submissions are to be made in two stages. At the first stage, the abstract, cover letter and self declaration must be uploaded to the Google Form provided. The cover letter, and self-declaration must be as specified in Annexure B & C.

The second stage of submissions will be made only by the authors of the selected abstract. This submission must include the anonymous manuscript, plagiarism report, and AI report. 

The shortlisted authors will be sent a new Google form link wherein the stage two submission must be made, within one month of such notice of selection being sent to them.

Submissions of abstract must be made exclusively through the Google Form:

Click Here to Submit.

 Contact Details

E-mail: [email protected]

Durgeish Damini +91 9805453866, Jannat +91 9888070958

For further details interested students may refer to the official notice-cum-brouchre: Click Here