How to Review

Thank you for serving as a peer reviewer for the Minnesota Journal of Business Law and Entrepreneurship. Your careful evaluation and constructive feedback are essential to maintaining the quality and integrity of the Journal’s scholarship. The following guidelines are intended to assist reviewers throughout the review process.

Before You Begin

  • Confirm that the manuscript aligns with your expertise.
  • Disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest to the editorial board.
  • Treat the manuscript and all related communications as confidential.

If you are unable to complete the review within the requested timeframe, please notify the Journal promptly.

What to Evaluate

Reviewers are asked to assess manuscripts based on the following criteria:

Originality and Contribution

  • Does the manuscript offer a novel perspective or meaningful contribution to business law or entrepreneurship scholarship?
  • Does it engage thoughtfully with existing literature and legal authority?

Legal Analysis and Accuracy

  • Are the arguments well-reasoned, logically structured, and supported by relevant authority?
  • Are legal claims accurate and current?

Relevance and Scope

  • Is the topic appropriate for the Journal’s focus on business law and entrepreneurship?
  • Does the manuscript address issues of practical or scholarly significance?

Organization and Clarity

  • Is the manuscript clearly written and well-organized?
  • Are complex ideas explained in a coherent and accessible manner?

Use of Sources and Citations

  • Are sources properly cited and sufficient to support the analysis?
  • Are there key authorities or perspectives that should be added?

Providing Feedback

  • Offer specific, constructive, and respectful comments.
  • Distinguish between major issues (e.g., analytical gaps, structural problems) and minor suggestions (e.g., clarity, style).
  • Provide recommendations for improvement where appropriate.

Comments should be framed to help the author strengthen the manuscript, regardless of your publication recommendation.

Recommendation to the Editors

At the conclusion of your review, you may be asked to recommend one of the following:

  • Accept
  • Accept with minor revisions
  • Revise and resubmit
  • Decline

Your recommendation should be supported by your written comments.

Ethical Standards

  • Do not use information from the manuscript for personal or professional advantage.
  • Do not contact the author directly.
  • Notify the editors if you suspect plagiarism, ethical concerns, or significant errors.

Submission of Review

Please submit your review through the Journal’s designated review system or as instructed in your reviewer invitation. Timely submission is greatly appreciated.

Appreciation

The Journal sincerely thanks you for your time, expertise, and commitment to high-quality legal scholarship.