Attempt to “grade on” to your school’s law review organization. In order to do so you must obtain one of the highest grade point averages in your class. Depending upon the school, between 3% and 15% of the highest achieving students will be extended an offer to join. In order to obtain a high grade point average, you must excel on your final exams (and midterms if offered). Some of the common methods that help law students achieve success on exams are completing all assignments, taking copious notes in class, meeting with their professor to ask for guidance, creating outlines for each course, and reviewing sample or practice tests that are on file in the library.
Enter your law school’s “write on” competition. These are typically held during the summer after your first year of law school. Most students will not have received final exam grades by the time the write on competition is held. Therefore, if your goal is to make law review, it is in your best interest to participate in the write on competition, even if you think you scored well on your exams.
Explore alternative law journals offered at your school. If you failed to make “the” law review, you should seek out alternative publications. Many of these publications focus on a specific area of law such as criminal or corporate law. Alternative law journals tend to be slightly less selective and many allow students to join at the beginning of each year regardless of grade level. In order to be considered for an alternative law review you will need to submit a writing sample, resume and cover letter explaining your desire to join to the publication's managing editor.