The Candidacy Process Staff Editor’s Why:

The Tennessee Law Review Candidacy Process

As we begin a new semester for the Tennessee Law Review, we have gathered some insightful reflections from a few incoming 2L Staff Editors for the 2024-2025 term. They share their personal experiences and thought processes during the candidacy process, shedding light on the motivations behind their decision to join the Tennessee Law Review.

August 15, 2024

Lucian Bunch

Law review is one of those quintessential law school experiences that I have wanted to be a part of even before I was accepted at the University of Tennessee. I have always enjoyed the academic side of law in terms of philosophy, history, and theory. I see the Tennessee Law Review as being the perfect outlet to further explore and learn about the law in these various areas. The Tennessee Law Review is the oldest law journal in the state’s history and to be a part of it is an immense honor. As such, being part of TLR has the potential to open doors to future career paths, both with former members of the Law Review and certain jobs where journal-work is practically a necessity.

The candidacy process was a lot of work to get through. It was composed of both a Bluebook and a writing component where I had to draft a mock judicial opinion. However, by the end I was quite happy that I completed it, regardless of whether I made TLR. By completing the Bluebook exam, I gained a much greater familiarity with the legal citation process and the layout of the Bluebook; undoubtedly, these skills that I developed will help me immensely throughout the rest of my time in law school. Additionally, it helped me appreciate the rigors of the Journal that I can expect to experience over the next two years.

I very much look forward to my time with the Tennessee Law Review. I look forward to strengthening my Bluebooking skills, which will transfer over to both my academic future and career. Furthermore, by being a part of the Journal, I anticipate the opportunities for potential publication. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I look forward to growing with the TLR community and hopefully developing lasting relationships with other members.

Mariel Cueller

I made the decision to write-on for TLR because I was excited for the opportunity to contribute to a renowned journal. I am also considering applying for judicial clerkships in the future, and I know membership with TLR would be a strong addition to a potential application.

The candidacy process was challenging but rewarding. It allowed me to explore a different style of legal writing through crafting a judicial opinion. While starting out was a bit of a climb, mindfully incorporating ideas from all the cases I have seen helped the writing flow more naturally. My time management skills also stretched and grew during the candidacy process. There was a lot to balance in the weeks during which I completed the write-on, which felt like great preparation for balancing more extra-curricular involvement with classes during 2L year.

During my membership in TLR, I hope to further sharpen my legal writing skills and gain more exposure to different styles of writing. I would also love to work towards crafting a publishable piece of writing. Overall, I’m so grateful the hard work resulted in membership with TLR, and I am looking forward to this first year as a member!

Carter Graves

I chose to write on to the Tennessee Law Review not only because I wanted to contribute to the esteemed legacy of Tennessee’s first legal publication, but also because of the Tennessee Law Review’s commitment to scholarship on legal issues facing our state. As a native Tennessean and proud UT Volunteer, I have a deep commitment to this state and its Volunteer spirit. Membership in the Tennessee Law Review offered me the unique privilege of carrying out this commitment by applying the knowledge and skills I have acquired in my time at the College of Law to advance legal scholarship here in my home of Tennessee. Not only does membership with TLR offer me the opportunity to serve my home state, but it also affords me an opportunity to enhance my legal research and writing skills.

The TLR Candidacy Process was a unique experience. While I, of course, learned more about the Bluebook than I ever considered possible, it was also an introspective experience. For the first time in my law school career, I was asked to draft a judicial opinion for the write-on process. This was completely different than both the objective memoranda I drafted in the fall and the appellate brief I prepared in the spring. For the first time, I had to decide what outcome I thought was fair. While sifting through a stack of case law and secondary sources and asking myself questions about the ordering of citations, I now had to ask how I should balance the law and my personal beliefs. I was no longer in the frame of mind of the impassioned advocate but a neutral referee. The candidacy experience emphasized the personal side of the law that we often lose sight of when moving from one case to the next in our courses. For me, the experience offered more than a refresher on the Bluebook and writing practice; it was a thought-provoking challenge that grounded me in the reality of our legal system.

During my time on the Tennessee Law Review, I hope to hone my research and writing skills as a Staff Editor while gaining exposure to legal academia. I hope to carry on the legacy of success established by the current members of the Journal and alumni of our flagship journal. As a member of the Tennessee Law Review, I am grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to the development of legal scholarship here in Tennessee.

Vivian Lee

I chose to write-on for Tennessee Law Review because I wanted to challenge myself to become a better writer and improve my Bluebooking skills. The snacks provided for members in the TLR room and the potential for better employment prospects were a huge plus, too.

While the TLR Candidacy Process was stressful, I gained practical skills, such as analyzing cases and applying the holdings to the facts at hand, formatting footnotes, and citing various Bluebook works, like Shakespearean plays. I also gained a sense of empowerment from working hard to achieve my goal.

My long-term goal during my TLR membership is to see my work published in the journal. My short-term goals are to enhance my writing skills, improve my time management, and make friends!

Grace Tinsley

I chose to write-on for Tennessee Law Review because I was eager to be a part of a respected and prestigious organization that publishes relevant and insightful legal articles. Since starting law school, writing on for TLR was always a goal of mine. I was also drawn to TLR because of the opportunity to potentially be published at such an early point in my legal career. Throughout the entire process, I received great encouragement from my professors, mentors, and peers, which gave me assurance that TLR was the right journal for me.

The TLR Candidacy Process was certainly challenging. However, through this process, I gained a greater appreciation for the work of the TLR members. Furthermore, balancing the demands of the candidacy process with other academic and personal responsibilities improved my time management skills. Ultimately, I think the experience was great training and insight into the rigor and attention to detail that being a member of TLR requires.

During my time as a member of TLR, I aim to contribute high-quality work and bring to the table a spirit of teamwork and an eagerness to learn. My long-term goals for TLR are to write a publishable piece and, if afforded the opportunity, serve in a leadership position. However, my ultimate goal is to contribute passionately to the journal alongside my TLR peers to uphold the high-quality work product and advance the cutting-edge research articles TLR is known for.

Christina Williams

I chose to write-on for Tennessee Law Review because of the reputation and prestige that accompanies the Journal. I recognize that the value inherent in membership will facilitate my future pursuits in the legal profession, particularly clerking, and reflect positively on my performance at the College of Law. I intend to hopefully gain exposure as a clerk in an honorable judge’s chambers before I graduate from law school, and I believe that experience with TLR will undoubtedly provide a competitive advantage. I also wanted the opportunity to publish an article or case note that I could look back on years from now and reflect on how much I have progressed since then.

From the TLR Candidacy Process, of course, I gained an abundance of knowledge on the legal topic for the write-on and how to “Bluebook” for a law journal. By practicing, I learned how to cite properly and became extremely familiar with the Bluebook’s contents. Unexpectedly, however, I acquired more self-confidence and a sense of accomplishment from the process. I spent a considerable time perfecting my submission, so my acceptance as a TLR Staff Editor proved to be rewarding and reassuring when I saw that my hard work and efforts paid off.

My short-term goals during my membership in TLR are to refine my legal writing skills and absorb the wisdom and guidance the third-year, experienced editors have to offer. My long-term goal is to apply the expertise and knowledge I take away from participating in TLR to my legal career. Something I have heard more than once in law school is that an attorney who is a good legal writer and researcher has an incomparable advantage no matter what area or type of law he or she practices. I hope that through my membership in TLR, I bring such qualities to any position I fill in the future to better serve others and have a stronger, more meaningful impact on society through my work in the public interest.