Journal Policies
Peer Review Process
UJLH applies a double-blind peer review model. Author and reviewer identities are not disclosed to each other during the evaluation process. The journal applies editorial safeguards to reduce bias and to ensure that acceptance decisions reflect scholarly merit, quality of reasoning, originality, and relevance to the journal’s scope.
After initial screening for scope, completeness, and baseline compliance, manuscripts are ordinarily evaluated by at least two independent reviewers with relevant expertise. The editorial decision is based on reviewer feedback, editorial assessment of argumentation and sourcing, and ethical and policy compliance. The journal may request revision (minor or major), may seek additional review when needed, or may decline submissions that do not meet standards.
Open Access Policy
UJLH provides immediate open access to all published content. Articles are freely available to readers without subscription barriers and without embargo.
Open access supports wide dissemination, academic exchange, and global accessibility of research in law and humanities.
Copyright and Licensing
Authors retain copyright in their work. Articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0). This license permits sharing and adaptation for any lawful purpose, including commercial use, provided that proper attribution is given to the original authors and the journal, a link to the license is included, and any changes are indicated.
Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement
UJLH maintains strict standards for academic integrity and responsible publishing. Submissions must be original and must accurately represent sources, arguments, and evidence. The journal does not accept plagiarism, unattributed paraphrasing, duplicate submission, or redundant publication. Authors are responsible for ensuring that citations to statutes, case law, judgments, official records, and scholarly sources are accurate and verifiable.
The journal expects respectful scholarly discourse. Submissions must avoid defamatory allegations, unverified claims about identifiable individuals, and improper use of confidential information. Where a manuscript involves interviews, identifiable personal information, or sensitive data, authors must confirm appropriate ethical compliance and protections, including anonymization where required.
Conflicts of interest must be disclosed by authors, reviewers, and editors. Where conflicts exist, the journal applies recusals and other safeguards to preserve fairness and credibility.
Plagiarism and Similarity Screening
UJLH screens manuscripts for similarity. Similarity results are interpreted in context, recognizing that lawful overlap may occur in quotations, citations, and standard legal terminology. However, substantial unattributed overlap or text recycling that misrepresents originality may lead to rejection or editorial investigation. The journal may request clarification or revision where overlap concerns are correctable.
Conflicts of Interest
A conflict of interest exists when professional judgment could be influenced, or reasonably perceived to be influenced, by financial, professional, institutional, or personal relationships. Authors must disclose funding sources, professional engagements, or affiliations relevant to the submission. Reviewers must decline assignments where impartiality may be compromised, including conflicts arising from close collaboration, direct professional competition, involvement in related disputes, or other relationships that raise credibility concerns. Editors recuse themselves from handling submissions where conflicts exist.
Sources Transparency and Research Materials Policy
UJLH expects transparent sourcing. Manuscripts must cite primary legal authorities and reliable secondary sources where appropriate. Where empirical datasets, interviews, surveys, or structured collections of materials are used, authors should provide a clear description of methods, materials, and access conditions sufficient for informed evaluation.
When data or materials cannot be shared due to confidentiality, legal restriction, or ethical constraints, authors should state this clearly and describe any conditions under which access may be possible.
Retraction and Withdrawal Policy
Published articles form part of the permanent scholarly record. Retractions may occur when there is clear evidence that findings are unreliable due to serious error or misconduct, including plagiarism, falsification, unethical conduct, or duplicate publication. Where retraction is required, the article remains accessible but is clearly marked and linked to a retraction notice explaining the reasons in an objective, non-defamatory manner.
Withdrawal requests are generally considered only prior to acceptance and must be justified in writing. After acceptance, withdrawal is rarely permitted and is handled through formal editorial procedures rather than removal of content.
Complaints and Appeals
Authors may raise complaints or appeal editorial decisions by writing to the journal using official contact channels. Appeals should address specific points in the decision and provide evidence-based clarification where relevant. Complaints regarding editorial conduct, process irregularity, delays, or ethical concerns are reviewed through a structured procedure designed to protect fairness, confidentiality, and the integrity of peer review.
Archiving and Digital Preservation
UJLH is committed to long-term access and preservation of published content. The journal participates in appropriate preservation arrangements consistent with OJS publishing standards, including the PKP Preservation Network (PKP PN) where applicable. Articles remain part of the permanent record, and post-publication changes are handled through transparent correction mechanisms.
