About the Journal

Focus and Scope

The IUS Law Journal (e-ISSN 2831-0039) is a scholarly legal publication of the Faculty of Law at the International University of Sarajevo (IUS). It serves as a platform targeting largely legal scholars, legal practitioners, FLW students (specifically graduate students in the last leg of their studies), and non-lawyers. It is a robustly blind, open-access, peer-review journal published biannually in English, the language of instruction at IUS. The journal is designed to explore issues relating to public and private law along with lessons for other jurisdictions, irrespective of legal tradition (civil or common law) or democratic status (young or established), in a contemporary world marked by the migration of legal ideas and concepts. Submitted manuscripts review scientific papers, book reviews, conference reports and reports from judicial practice.

 

Indexing of IUS Law Journal

CEEOL,

HeinOnline,

Directory of Open Access Scholarly Resources (ROAD),

Sherpa Romeo,

Google Scholar,

Research Gate,

Crossref.

Journal Ethics 

We expect our distinguished prospect authors to be respectful and adherent to the widely appreciated broader ethical values and anti-abuse policies of producing writings of academic research papers. This includes, not limited to the originality, referencing, bearing responsibility, non-permitted use of generative artificial intelligence, disclosing the source of all data and third party materials, disclosing any conflict of interest, maintaining professional communication with the Editor-in-chief and Editorial team. 

IUS Law Journal is committed to ensuring and upholding the integrity of all published articles, whereby such values also rely on Editorial team, reviewers, contributors and authors who are expected to behave ethically. The following ethical guidelines are intended to give a broad overview. 

 IUS Law Journal is committed to: 

• maintaining the editorial independence of Journal Editorial team; 
• supporting Journal Editorial team in ethical and academic matters; 
• ensuring critical and objective assessment of all articles by reviewers and referees; 
• keeping an accurate and transparent record, including publishing corrections and retractions when necessary. 

Ethical Expectations

Authors' responsibilities

• To ensure that their work submitted to the journal is original and authored by them and has not been previously published nor under consideration or accepted for publication elsewhere.
• To ensure that original ideas, data, findings and materials taken from other sources (including their own published writing) are properly documented and cited. Any content reproduced from other sources author should have permission.
• To ensure that their data is their own, true and not manipulated. Thus, authors are responsible to maintain accurate records and to provide access to their data associated with their manuscript.
• To ensure their work does not violate any rights of others, including privacy rights and intellectual property rights. In addition, authors should ensure that any studies involving human or animal subject are in accordance with local lows and requirements.
• To declare any real or apparent conflicting or competing interest at any stage during the publication process that could be considered or viewed as exerting an undue influence on his/her duties.
• To alert IUS Law Journal in case if a significant error in their publication is identified and correct any errors prior or subsequent to publication of their work.
• To adhere to all research ethics guidelines of their discipline, and to ensure that authorship and/or co-authorship of the paper was accurately represented.

 

Editors' responsibilities

• To carry out their duties in a fair, objective and consistent manner, without discrimination on grounds of gender, sexual orientation, religious or political beliefs, ethnic or geographical origin of the authors.
• To take care that each article undergoes the proper peer-review process.
• To promote consistent ethical policies of IUS Law Journal, and to ensure the confidentiality of the reviewing process.
• To uphold integrity in their work as members of the Editorial team of the journal, doing away with any personal interest, so that articles are considered and accepted solely on their academic merit and without commercial influence.
• To work with authors, reviewers, and the Editorial Board members to ensure the implementation of journals’ ethics and publishing policies.
• To adopt and follow reasonable procedures in the event of complaints of an ethical or conflict nature, in accordance with the policies and procedures. To handle process of complaints and giving authors an opportunity to respond any complaints. All complaints should be investigated and the documentation associated with any such complaints should be retained.

Reviewers' responsibilities

• To act objectively, fairly and in a timely manner in reviewing submitted manuscript with the aim of improving its quality such as pointing out relevant published work, which is not cited, etc.
• To alert IUS Law Journal in case of any competing interest that could affect the impartiality of their reviewing, or any potential conflict of interest that includes any relationship between reviewer and author, or any content that is substantially similar to that under review.
• To conduct themselves fairly and impartially.
• To keep the confidentiality of the review process and to not retain or copy the manuscript.

IUS Law Journal responsibilities

• The journal and shall ensure that good practice is maintained to the standards outlined above.

• To deal with research misconduct allegations appropriately when they occurr. The journal shall undertake reasonable actions to identify and prevent the publication of papers where research misconduct has occurred.

• To maintain the editorial independence of journal Editorial team.

• To support journal Editorial team in ethical and academic matters.

• To ensure critical and objective assessment of all articles by reviewers and referees.

• To keep an accurate and transparent record, including publishing corrections and retractions when necessary.

Human Research

The research involving human participants and subjects must be performed in accordance with the principles stated in The Declaration of Helsinki and The Belmont Report, as well as local governing laws and regulations. Therefore, the authors should ensure that their research practices are compliant with the following general principles:

• Individuals should be treated as autonomous agents, capable of deliberating and making decisions independently.
• Adherence to the principle of informed consent and justice.
• Researchers are obligated to maximize possible benefits and minimize possible harm.
• The selection of subjects should be in a fair procedure, and the participants should be treated fairly.
• The risks and benefits should be evenly distributed.
• The participant rights and interests must be protected
• Compliance with relevant institutional, local, and international regulations, including data protection and confidentiality obligations.

Informed Consent

In research involving human participants, authors are required to adhere to the following guidelines:

• The procedures used to obtain informed consent from participants must be clearly described, ensuring that participants are adequately informed about the study purpose, procedures, potential risks, and benefits.
• Participation in the study must be voluntary and participants have the right to withdraw at any time without repercussions.
• In cases where participants are unable to provide informed consent (e.g., minors etc.), authors must explain the procedures used to obtain consent from legally authorized guardians.
• In cases where the study involves certain sensitive topics/activities, authors should describe in detail the strategies used to reduce potential harm to participants.

Participant Anonymity and Confidentiality

Authors must take appropriate measures to protect the anonymity and confidentiality of participants by observing the following guidelines:

• ensure that all personal information, including names, contact details and other direct identifiers, is removed or anonymized in publication.
• avoid any details or descriptions that could potentially indirectly reveal the identity of the participants.
• images, audio/video recordings should be anonymized or used only with the explicit consent of the participants, ensuring that their identity cannot be inferred.
• authors should outline the steps taken to securely store and handle any data containing personal information of the participants, ensuring compliance with relevant data protection and privacy regulations.

Originality and Plagiarism Policy 

By submitting their manuscript to IUS Law Journal, authors declare that their work is original and authored by them, that their work submitted to IUS Law Journal has not been previously published, that original ideas, data, findings and materials taken from other sources (including their own published writing) are properly documented and cited, that their work does not violate any rights of others, including privacy rights and intellectual property rights and that their data is their own, true and not manipulated.  

Plagiarism in whole or in part without proper citation, as well as use of generative Artificial intelligence tools is not tolerated by the IUS Law Journal. Manuscripts submitted to the journal will be checked for originality and use of Artificial intelligence tools using the Turnitin anti-plagiarism software. 

 

Detailed description of Peer Review Process

IUS Law Journal applies a double-blind peer-review process. Reviewers are selected by the Editorial team based on their prior experience, competence, and subject-matter expertise in legal scholarship.

Every submitted article receives an initial review by the Editorial team. If it meets the journal's minimum quality criteria, scope, and editorial policies, it is sent to two reviewers for evaluation.

Note: Manuscripts selected for peer review are evaluated for legal scholarship quality, originality, and relevance. Acceptance is not guaranteed; the final decision depends on reviewers' recommendations and assessment of the Editorial team.

Reviewers evaluate the manuscript according to the journal's Review Guidelines and submit their comments through the OJS platform. The Editorial team forwards anonymous reviewer comments to the author. Anonymity is strictly maintained throughout.

The review process follows these steps:

Step 1 – Accept or Decline the Review
The Reviewer indicates availability after reviewing the submission. Declining prompts a standard email to the Editorial team, with an optional reason (timing, conflict of interest, lack of expertise, etc.). Accepting notifies the Editorial team and Author that review is underway.

Step 2 – Consult Reviewer Guidelines
Reviewers find Guidelines at the Review page, prepared by the Editorial team to guide a helpful, consistent review.

Step 3 – Access the Submission
The Reviewer downloads the submission (and any supplementary files, such as datasets or source materials) from the journal's website (registration may be needed for first time reviewers).
Requirement of submitting the Declaration on conflict of interest
Where required, the Reviewer completes a Competing Interests declaration before proceeding. Reviewers are required to declare if aware of any potential conflict.

Step 4 – Submit the Review
The Reviewer completes review form by evaluating the manuscript and fills two text boxes: one visible to the Editorial team and Author(s), and one visible to the Editorial team only. Reviews can be saved and edited until a recommendation is submitted.
Upload Supporting Files (Optional)
Reviewers may upload annotated files or supporting materials for the Editorial team and/or Author. Whether these are shared with the Author is at the Editorial team discretion.

Step 6 – Recommendation
The Reviewer selects a recommendation: Accept, Minor/Major Revisions Required, Resubmit for Review, Decline Submission. Submitting the review notifies the Editorial team and locks the review, recommendation, and any uploaded files. 

AI Use:  IUS Law Journal does not permit the use of generative AI or AI-assisted tools in writing critical review reports. Reviewer comments must reflect the reviewer's own understanding of the text and legal expertise.

Reasons for Rejection of Manuscripts

Manuscripts submitted to IUS Law Journal may be rejected or returned for revision for several reasons, including but not limited to:
- Lack of originality – The manuscript substantially overlaps with previously published work or fails to offer a novel contribution to legal scholarship.
- Insufficient scope or relevance – The topic falls outside the Journal's aims and scope, or does not sufficiently engage with contemporary legal issues.
- Methodological weaknesses – The legal analysis lacks rigor, relies on inadequate or outdated sources, or fails to properly engage with relevant case law, statutes, or scholarly literature.
- Poor argumentation or structure – The manuscript lacks a clear thesis, logical flow, or coherent development of ideas.
- Inadequate literature review – The manuscript fails to situate itself within existing scholarship or overlooks key precedents and authorities.
- Language and clarity issues – Excessive grammatical errors, unclear writing, or poor organization that impedes understanding.
- Failure to meet editorial policies – Non-compliance with formatting, citation style, word limits, or submission guidelines.
- Ethical concerns – Evidence of plagiarism, fabricated data, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or violation of publication ethics.
- Unsupported conclusions – Claims or conclusions not adequately backed by legal authority, evidence, or sound reasoning.

Final decisions rest with the Editorial team and are informed by reviewers' recommendations, ensuring that only manuscripts meeting the journal's standards of quality, originality, and relevance to legal scholarship are accepted for publication.

Statement on Voluntary Adoption of International Publishing Policies

IUS Law Journal is voluntarily committed to upholding the highest international standards of academic publishing, research integrity, and editorial ethics. In line with this voluntary commitment, the journal adheres to the principles and guidelines established by recognized international bodies, including but not limited to:
- Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) – The journal follows COPE's Core Practices and guidelines on handling allegations of misconduct, authorship disputes, conflicts of interest, and other ethical matters arising during the editorial and peer-review process.
- Budapest Open Access Initiative (BOAI) and related open-access principles, supporting the free and unrestricted dissemination of scholarly research where applicable to the journal's access model.
- Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)best practice guidelines for transparency and best editorial practice in scholarly publishing.

By adopting these international frameworks, IUS Law Journal ensures that its editorial and peer-review processes are conducted with fairness, transparency, and accountability. This includes strict double-blind peer review, clear policies on authorship and ghostwriting, mandatory disclosure of funding sources and conflicts of interest, and defined limitations on the use of artificial intelligence in manuscript preparation and review.
The journal regularly reviews and updates its editorial policies to remain aligned with evolving international standards and best practices in academic publishing, thereby safeguarding the integrity, originality, and scholarly value of the legal research it publishes.
The Editorial team and Editorial board are responsible for ensuring compliance with these policies and for addressing any deviations, allegations of misconduct, or ethical concerns in accordance with internationally recognized procedures.

Correction and Retraction Policy

The IUS Law Journal is committed to maintaining the integrity and accuracy of scientific literature. In cases where errors, inaccuracies, or ethical issues are identified in published work, we have established the following correction and retraction policy.

Corrections

Minor Errors: For minor errors that do not significantly impact the scientific validity or interpretation of the paper, we encourage authors to submit a request for a correction. This could include typographical errors, omissions, or minor clarifications. Corrections will be reviewed by our Editorial team, and if deemed as significant and approved, an erratum or corrigendum will be issued, clearly stating the nature of the correction and providing a link to the original article.

An Erratum will be issued by the Editorial team if the IUS Law Journal itself has made a significant error in Editing / production process, which affects the publication record, the scientific integrity of the work, the reputation of the author or the reputation of the journal.

A Corrigendum will be issued by the Editorial team if the author(s) have made a significant error that affects the publication record, the scientific integrity of the work, the reputation of the author / Journal.

Retractions

This journal adheres to COPE Retraction Guidelines  and will issue retractions in cases of significant errors or breaches of scholarly integrity.

Grounds for Retraction: Retractions are considered in cases of serious ethical concerns, scientific misconduct, compromised peer review, double publication, substantial data fabrication or falsification, plagiarism, inability of authors to provide evidence they undertook the research themselves or other factors that fundamentally undermine the validity and trustworthiness of the published work. Retraction requests can be submitted by the authors, readers, or external parties providing substantial evidence of the concerns.

Investigation and Decision-making: Once a retraction request is received, an internal investigation will be initiated. This may involve consultation with experts in the relevant field and consideration of any supporting evidence or documentation. The decision to retract will be made by the editorial team based on the investigation's findings and in adherence to recognized guidelines and ethical standards.

Retraction Notice: If a retraction is deemed necessary, a formal retraction notice will be issued. Retraction notices will state the specific reasons for retraction and the entity who is retracting the article. Authors will be informed and given the opportunity to offer comments, but their approval is not necessary for a retraction decision. The decision to retract will be reevaluated only if new evidence emerges. The retraction notice will be published prominently on our website to ensure its visibility to the scientific community and readership.

Removals

In exceptional circumstances we may have to remove the original content or parts if it is legally required to do so such as:

• An article is a subject of a court order.
• In cases where the article contains errors that could pose a serious health or security risk to the public,
• If a participant's privacy has been breached in an inappropriate manner,
• If the article includes defamatory remarks about individuals or their work.

A notice explaining the reason for removal will be prominently presented instead of the retracted and subsequently removed article. The bibliographic metadata, including the author(s) name(s) and the title of the article, will be retained.

Author Change Policy

• Requests for changes in authorship, such as adding or removing authors or modifying author affiliations, should be submitted in writing to the Editorial team.
• Such requests will be evaluated based on ethical considerations, including consent from all affected parties and compliance with guidelines from relevant research and publication organizations.
• Changes in authorship will be made transparently, either through a published corrigendum or by updating the author information on the article's metadata.

Copyright Notice

The Author retains copyright in the Work and grants the Publisher the right of first publication in this Journal. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) that allows others to share and adapt the material for any purpose (even commercially), in any medium with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this Journal.