Author Guidelines

These Author Guidelines explain manuscript types, preparation, submission, and post-submission procedures. Submissions that do not follow these instructions may be returned for reformatting before peer review.

1. Manuscript Types

  • Research Article — original empirical, doctrinal, socio-legal or comparative research (max 8,000–10,000 words, including footnotes and references).

  • Review Article / Literature Review — critical or systematic reviews (max 6,000–8,000 words).

  • Case Note / Comparative Analysis — focused legal analyses or case commentaries (max 4,000–6,000 words).

  • Policy & Law Reform Note — short, practice-oriented papers (max 3,000–4,000 words).

  • Book Review — invited or commissioned (max 1,000–1,500 words).

Word limits are advisory: exceptional manuscripts may exceed these limits with prior editor approval.

2. Language, Abstracts & Keywords

  • Manuscripts may be submitted in English or Indonesian.

  • Provide an abstract (150–250 words) in the language of the manuscript and a translated abstract in the alternate language (i.e., English manuscript → Indonesian abstract; Indonesian manuscript → English abstract).

  • Include 4–6 keywords in both languages.

  • Provide a short lay summary (1–2 sentences) for editorial/press purposes (optional).

3. Submission Process

  • Submit via the journal’s OJS submission system.

  • Required at submission: manuscript file (see formatting below), cover letter, list of suggested reviewers (optional), author information (names, affiliations, ORCID iD, email), and disclosures (funding, conflicts of interest).

  • Do not include author names or affiliations in the manuscript file (to preserve double-blind review); include them only in the submission metadata and cover letter.

4. Cover Letter

Cover letter should state:

  • Short statement of contribution and relevance to the journal’s scope.

  • Confirmation that the manuscript is original, not under consideration elsewhere, and that all authors have approved submission.

  • Disclosure of prior dissemination (preprint, thesis, conference paper).

  • Contact information for corresponding author.

5. Manuscript Formatting

  • File format: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx). PDF may be uploaded for supplementary materials only.

  • Font: Times New Roman 12 pt, line spacing 1.5 (or double-spaced if requested by editors), 2.5 cm margins.

  • Use page numbers.

  • Title page: include the full title (concise and informative), running title (≤50 characters), abstract(s), keywords, and (in submission metadata only) author names and affiliations. Do not put author-identifying information in the main manuscript.

  • Headings: use a clear hierarchical structure (e.g., 1, 1.1, 1.1.1).

  • Length: follow the word limits in Section 1. Word count should include body text and footnotes but exclude references and appendices unless otherwise requested.

6. Citation & Legal Referencing

  • Preferred style: use a consistent legal citation style appropriate for law scholarship. HERMENEUTIKA recommends The Bluebook (20th ed.) for international legal citation or a consistent alternative (e.g., OSCOLA) for comparative pieces.

  • Citations: place primary citations and explanatory notes in footnotes (not in-text parentheses) where legal conventions favor footnoting. Secondary literature may be cited in-text with a supporting footnote, but consistency is required.

  • Bibliography: include a complete reference list at the end of the manuscript, alphabetically ordered. For legal materials (cases, statutes, regulations), provide jurisdiction and year. Where DOIs exist, include them.

  • If using a citation manager, ensure the exported style matches the above conventions and that footnote numbers and references are correct on submission.

7. Tables, Figures, and Appendices

  • Number and title all tables and figures (e.g., Table 1: Title). Embed them in the text close to first reference. Also provide separate high-resolution files for figures if needed.

  • For reproduced materials (figures, long quotations, images), secure permissions and include credit lines.

  • Appendices may hold supplementary material (statistical outputs, instruments, legal documents) and should be labelled (Appendix A, B, …).

8. Data, Ethics & Legal Sensitivity

  • Human subjects / sensitive cases: state ethical approvals and consent procedures. For legal case materials, redact identifying data unless permission is provided.

  • Data availability: authors are encouraged to deposit supporting data, code, and materials in reputable repositories and include a Data Availability Statement. If legal/ethical constraints prevent sharing, explain in the manuscript.

  • Confidentiality: authors must not submit confidential or classified materials without proper authorization.

9. Authorship, Contributions & Conflicts

  • Authorship credit requires substantial contribution to conception/design, drafting/revising, and final approval. Use a CRediT-style author contribution statement (e.g., Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Supervision).

  • Disclose all funding sources and any competing interests (financial or non-financial). A standard Conflict of Interest statement must appear in the manuscript and be entered in OJS metadata.

10. Use of AI and Generative Tools

  • Any use of generative AI/LLMs (editing, language polishing, idea generation) must be explicitly disclosed in the Methods or Acknowledgments.

  • AI tools cannot be listed as authors. Authors remain fully responsible for accuracy, originality, and any content generated with AI assistance.

11. Plagiarism & Originality

  • Manuscripts will be screened for similarity. Submissions with unacceptable levels of overlap, plagiarism, or duplicate publication will be rejected. Proper citation of one’s prior work (self-plagiarism) is required.

12. Peer Review & Revision

  • All manuscripts undergo double-blind peer review. Expect at least two external reviews. The editorial office will communicate decisions through OJS.

  • If revisions are requested, authors must submit a revised manuscript and a point-by-point response to reviewers’ comments. Track changes are recommended for easier editorial assessment.

13. Proofs, Publication & Copyright

  • Accepted manuscripts undergo copyediting and layout. Proofs will be sent to the corresponding author for final corrections — these should be returned promptly.

  • The journal is open access. Authors will be required to sign a publication agreement (license terms will be specified on acceptance). Authors should check the journal website for the current license (e.g., CC BY variants).

14. Fees & Charges

  • Any article processing charges (APCs) or page charges will be stated on the journal website and in the acceptance letter. Authors should consult the journal’s Fees page prior to submission.

15. Contact & Support

  • For technical help with OJS submissions, policy questions, or pre-submission inquiries, contact the editorial office via the journal’s website contact form or the Editor-in-Chief (details on the journal homepage).