Journal Policy

Journal Policy

Peer Review Process

All manuscripts submitted to the International Journal of Law and Social Science (IJLSS) undergo an initial editorial screening to ensure compliance with the journal’s submission guidelines, formatting standards, and thematic suitability. Only manuscripts that pass this preliminary evaluation proceed to the peer-review stage.

IJLSS employs a double-blind peer review system, ensuring that both authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the evaluation process to maintain objectivity and fairness. Each manuscript is assigned to at least two expert reviewers based on their specialization, academic experience, and prior review expertise. The journal uses a standardized review form to guarantee consistency and transparency across all evaluations.

Reviewers assess manuscripts based on:

  • Originality and novelty

  • Theoretical and methodological rigor

  • Contribution to legal and social science scholarship

  • Clarity, coherence, and academic integrity

  • Relevance to the journal’s focus and scope

After receiving reviewer reports, the Editorial Board makes a decision according to the reviewers’ recommendations. IJLSS uses the following decision categories:

  1. Accepted (no revisions required)

  2. Accepted with Minor Revisions (authors revise within a specified time)

  3. Accepted with Major Revisions (substantial revisions required in a specified time)

  4. Rejected (due to scope mismatch, major technical flaws, or insufficient contribution)

The final decision regarding the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts rests with the Editor-in-Chief.

Section Policies

Editorial

  • Open Submissions: No

  • Indexed: Yes

  • Peer Reviewed: No

Editorial Commentary

  • Open Submissions: No

  • Indexed: Yes

  • Peer Reviewed: No

Research Articles

  • Open Submissions: Yes

  • Indexed: Yes

  • Peer Reviewed: Yes

Review Articles

  • Open Submissions: Yes

  • Indexed: Yes

  • Peer Reviewed: Yes

Book Reviews

  • Open Submissions: Yes

  • Indexed: Yes

  • Peer Reviewed: Yes

Case Notes

  • Open Submissions: Yes

  • Indexed: Yes

  • Peer Reviewed: Yes

Plagiarism Policy

The International Journal of Law and Social Science (IJLSS) strictly prohibits plagiarism and self-plagiarism. All submitted manuscripts are screened using Turnitin before entering the peer-review stage. Manuscripts with a similarity index above 20% (excluding references) are automatically rejected.

Authors must ensure that:

  • All submissions are original and unpublished.

  • All sources are properly cited and credited.

  • Permission is obtained for any reproduced figures, graphics, or extended quotations.

Before publication, authors are required to sign an Originality and Ethical Compliance Statement confirming that the manuscript adheres to ethical standards.

Retraction Policy

IJLSS is committed to maintaining academic integrity across all published content. Retraction or removal of an article may occur under exceptional circumstances, such as:

  • Proven plagiarism or duplicate publication

  • Fabrication or falsification of data

  • Unauthorized or fraudulent authorship claims

  • Ethical violations affecting the credibility of the research

  • Legal limitations such as defamation, copyright violations, or security risks

Article Withdrawal (Pre-Publication)

A submitted article may be withdrawn if:

  • It was submitted to multiple journals simultaneously

  • Serious ethical concerns arise (e.g., plagiarism, false authorship)

  • The author requests withdrawal with a formal written statement

Article Retraction (Post-Publication)

Retraction may occur when:

  • Significant ethical violations are discovered after publication

  • Data manipulation or fraudulent results come to light

  • Duplicate publication is confirmed

Retraction actions may include:

  1. Publication of a formal retraction notice titled “Retraction: [Article Title]”

  2. A watermark labeling the PDF as “Retracted”

  3. Removal of the HTML version with a retraction screen

  4. Retention of metadata for transparency

Article Removal (Legal Purposes)

In rare situations involving legal violations—such as defamation or court orders—the full article may be removed and replaced with a notice stating that it has been removed for legal reasons.

Article Replacement

When a published article contains an error posing potential harm (e.g., misleading legal or policy recommendations), authors may submit a corrected version.
A replacement notice and link to the corrected article will be provided following COPE guidelines.

A More Ethical, Transparent, and Trustworthy Journal

IJLSS proudly adheres to international ethical standards, ensuring that the publication process remains transparent, fair, and academically rigorous. These policies support a scholarly environment grounded in research integrity, responsible authorship, and the advancement of global legal and social knowledge.