Call for Papers: Melbourne Journal of International Law, Volume 27(2) [ISSN 1444-8602; MJIL Prize AUD $1,000]

The Melbourne Journal of International Law ('MJIL') is described by its publisher as the pre-eminent generalist international law journal in the South East Asia region, and as Australia's premier generalist international law journal. It is a peer-reviewed academic journal based at Melbourne Law School, the University of Melbourne, and is published twice annually.

MJIL is managed by an Editorial Board comprising students of Melbourne Law School. Submissions are subject to a rigorous, independent and anonymous peer review process prior to publication. The journal is published by the Melbourne Journal of International Law Inc, and carries ISSN 1444-8602 (print).

The Editors of MJIL are now inviting submissions on areas of interest in international law for volume 27(2).

For consideration for inclusion in the print issue of volume 27(2), authors should submit on or before 31 August 2026.

MJIL accepts submissions on a rolling basis and will publish advance electronic copies of articles prior to print publication. The 31 August 2026 date is the cut-off for consideration in the volume 27(2) print issue specifically.

MJIL publishes innovative scholarly research and critical examination of issues in international law. Its coverage extends beyond public international law to articles addressing:

• Private international law
• The intersection of international law with domestic law
• Global governance and associated areas of transnational law

MJIL will also consider interdisciplinary work which substantially contributes to international legal scholarship. Authors who are uncertain whether their proposed topic is eligible for inclusion in MJIL are invited to contact the Editors at submissions-mjil@unimelb.edu.au.

All submissions must be relevant for an international audience of legal academics, students, policymakers and practitioners. Because MJIL has an international circulation, authors are reminded to ensure the context of the laws and policies they discuss is clearly explained.

MJIL accepts submissions in the form of articles, book reviews, case notes, commentaries, review essays, reflections and think pieces. Footnotes are not included in any word count.

• Articles: a detailed exploration of topical and engaging international law issues with a suitable methodology. In the vicinity of 10,000 words (including an abstract of up to 250 words). Shorter and longer articles are also accepted, up to 18,000 words.
• Case Notes: a detailed examination of developments in recent case law and the practical implications for that area of international law. In the vicinity of 5,000 to 7,000 words.
• Commentary: a discussion of significant, topical and recent international law developments and the practical implications for that area of law. In the vicinity of 5,000 to 7,000 words.
• Review Essays: a discussion summarising a book's contents and, importantly, placing the book in the context of current trends or debates in the relevant area of international law. In the vicinity of 5,000 to 7,000 words.
• Book Reviews: a short discussion providing a summary of the contents of a recently published book. In the vicinity of 2,500 words.
• Reflections: a discussion exploring the developments, past accomplishments and challenges of a particular area of international law. In the vicinity of 5,000 to 7,000 words. Generally invited by the Editors.
• Think Pieces: an exploration of a topical area of international law intended to provoke academic and/or practical responses, testing new and original ideas or methodology. In the vicinity of 5,000 to 7,000 words. Generally invited by the Editors.

The Editors reserve the right to determine the final classification of a submission accepted for publication, and all classification decisions are communicated to the author.

• Submissions must be sent by email as a Microsoft Word document (or compatible document file format).
• Articles should include an abstract of maximum 250 words.
• Authors are strongly encouraged to follow the latest edition of the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (AGLC). An electronic version of AGLC4 is available free from Melbourne Law School.
• All submissions must be fully referenced.
• A signed copy of the MJIL Publication Policy must accompany every manuscript. The policy form records the author's name, address, submission title, word count and classification of the submission.

By signing the Publication Policy the author warrants that the submission is their own work; is original and has not been previously published in whole or in part; is not simultaneously under consideration elsewhere; does not infringe another's copyright or moral rights; and does not violate rights of privacy and is neither libellous nor obscene.

All articles, case notes, commentaries and think pieces published in MJIL undergo a double blind refereeing process, involving at least two experts in that area of law. Referees are only sought after a signed copy of the Publication Policy has been returned to the Editors.

The Editors endeavour to decide whether a submission will proceed to refereeing within four weeks of receipt. Following the referees' reports, a submission may be accepted, conditionally accepted subject to amendments, returned for further development with an option to resubmit, or rejected. The Editors note that a decision to reject does not necessarily reflect the quality of the submission, as decisions also account for the journal's capacity and the need for diverse topics.

MJIL requires exclusive submission. Manuscripts sent to MJIL must not be simultaneously under consideration for publication elsewhere.

Book reviews and review essays are reviewed solely by the Editors prior to publication. There is a rigorous editing process in which quotes, footnotes and references are checked for accuracy and the work is edited for AGLC and MJIL style compliance; authors receive an edited version for approval before publication.

It is a condition of publication that authors assign copyright to the Melbourne Journal of International Law Inc. After publication the Editors may grant the author permission to reuse their own material elsewhere provided MJIL is acknowledged as the original place of publication, and such permission will not be unreasonably withheld. Authors receive one copy of the issue in which their contribution appears, plus a de-paginated soft copy of their article.

All submissions published in volume 27(2) will be considered for the MJIL Prize. The financial sum attached to the Prize is AUD $1,000.

Any author wishing to have their article, commentary, case note or review considered for publication in MJIL must email their manuscript as a Microsoft Word document to submissions-mjil@unimelb.edu.au, together with a signed copy of the MJIL Publication Policy.

Submit on or before 31 August 2026 for consideration in the print issue of volume 27(2). The Editors will acknowledge receipt of submissions by email. There is no submission fee or article processing charge.

Publishers' suggestions for books to be reviewed should also be sent to submissions-mjil@unimelb.edu.au. Hard copies of publications for review may be mailed to: Melbourne Journal of International Law, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.