Author Guidelines
Authors are invited to make a submission to this journal. All submissions will be assessed by an editor to determine whether they meet the aims and scope of this journal. Those considered to be a good fit will be sent for peer review before determining whether they will be accepted or rejected.
Before making a submission, authors are responsible for obtaining permission to publish any material included with the submission, such as photos, documents and datasets. All authors identified on the submission must consent to be identified as an author. Where appropriate, research should be approved by an appropriate ethics committee in accordance with the legal requirements of the study's country.
An editor may desk reject a submission if it does not meet minimum standards of quality. Before submitting, please ensure that the study design and research argument are structured and articulated properly. The title should be concise and the abstract should be able to stand on its own. This will increase the likelihood of reviewers agreeing to review the paper. When you're satisfied that your submission meets this standard, please follow the checklist below to prepare your submission.
- Style and format
- Manuscripts should be written in English and before submission, should be proofread by English native speaker.
- Submitted files should be in Microsoft Word format. The file should not be locked and it should be anonymous (check Properties of the file).
- Original and review scientific papers should not exceed more than 8 000 words (including abstract and list of references). All other types of submissions should not exceed 5000 words.
- Times New Roman, font 12, single space, 2.5 margin, justified, should be used.
- Include page numbers.
- For the citing, APA style should be used. Please consult the APA publication manual.
- All tables should be added in text and should be named with explanation (example: Table 1. Population Census Results in Bosnia and Herzegovina).
- Please check IUS Law Journal Manuscript Template.
- Manuscript organization
- Manuscript should consist of three sections: beginning, middle and ending section.
- Beginning sections should consist of: title, authors, abstract, keywords and introduction.
- Middle section should cover the body of the paper.
- Ending section should cover Conclusion and List of references.
Since double blind peer review is being used within the publication process in this journal, all manuscripts should be anonymous. Therefore, submission would mean uploading/sending two files:
1. Cover letter with manuscript title, author’s information (name, surname, affiliation and contact), brief biography (up 3 sentences), ORCID number, if available and abstract.
2. The other file should be the manuscript, without information about the author/s.
To ensure transparency, academic integrity, and compliance with publication ethics, authors submitting manuscripts to IUS Law Journal must provide the following declarations, where applicable, at the time of submission. Declarations should be made in a separate document submitted during the manuscript submission process.
1. Declaration of Originality
Authors must confirm that the submitted manuscript is an original work that has not been previously published, in whole or in part, and is not under simultaneous consideration by another journal or publication. Authors must disclose any prior presentation of the material (e.g., at a conference) or its availability as a preprint. Any use of the author's own previously published material must be properly cited and disclosed to avoid self-plagiarism.
2. Declaration of Authorship Contribution (Ghostwriting Policy)
Authors must disclose the specific contribution of each listed co-author to the creation of the manuscript (e.g., conceptualization, research, drafting, analysis, revision). IUS Law Journal strictly prohibits ghostwriting (the omission of individuals who made a substantial contribution to the work) and guest authorship (the inclusion of individuals who did not contribute substantially). All persons listed as authors must meet authorship criteria, and all contributors who do not meet such criteria should be acknowledged separately. Any detected cases of ghostwriting or guest authorship will be treated as scientific misconduct.
3. Declaration of Funding Sources
Authors must disclose all sources of funding related to the research presented in the manuscript or to the preparation of the manuscript itself, including grants, institutional support, sponsorships, or other financial contributions. If no external funding was received, authors must explicitly state this. Any potential conflicts of interest arising from funding sources must also be disclosed.
4. Declaration on the Use of AI Tools
Authors must disclose the scope and manner of use of any artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tools in the preparation of the manuscript, including but not limited to tools used for language editing, literature searches, data analysis, or drafting assistance. The declaration should specify which tool(s) were used and for what purpose. As stated in the journal's peer-review policy, AI tools may not be used to generate critical analysis, legal argumentation, or substantive content of the manuscript. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the entire manuscript, regardless of any AI assistance used in its preparation.
Failure to provide accurate and complete declarations may result in rejection of the manuscript or, if discovered post-publication, retraction and referral to the appropriate institutional or ethics bodies.
- AI or AI-assisted technologies
Authors are strictly prohibited from using generative AI or AI-assisted tools (such as large language models, chatbots, or automated writing software) to generate substantive content of the manuscript, including but not limited to: legal analysis, argumentation, or interpretation, research findings, conclusions, or recommendations, case law analysis or statutory interpretation, theories or scholarly contributions.
Authors bear full and sole responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the entire manuscript. Authors must independently verify any information and citations before submission.
AI tools cannot be listed as an author or co-author of a manuscript, as they cannot take responsibility for the content, meet authorship criteria, or provide the required declarations and approvals.
Any use must be disclosed identifying the tool used and extent of usage (e.g. proofreading). Editors will use AI detection software. Failure to disclose the use of AI tools, or use of AI in violation of this policy, will be treated as a breach of the journal's publication ethics. Such violations may result in rejection of the manuscript, retraction if discovered post-publication, and referral to the author's institution or relevant academic bodies.
