AUSLCJ - Reasons to get involved (from those who have..)
Andy Hall, Managing Editor, 2013-15
It has been a great pleasure to be involved in the production of the Journal's first two editions. I passionately believe that the Journal provides a valuable platform for current and former Aberystwyth students to publish their best works. In addition to this opportunity the Journal represents a fantastic chance to gain experience not available to most students in terms of undertaking a role producing such a body of work. I am privileged in that I have benefited in both ways during my time with the Journal.
As Managing Editor I had a number of challenges which forced me to improve my ability to communicate effectively with others, co-ordinate a great number of people and tasks, to manage my time effectively, and to contribute to the ongoing improvement of the Journal and its running. It is my strongly held belief that this has aided my development and ultimately made me a much more rounded student and person. Accordingly, I would not hesitate in encouraging driven individuals to get involved with the Journal and ensure that it carries on for much longer!
Gesa Bukowski, Editor-in-Chief 2013-14
Working as an editor-in-chief for the AUSLCJ has not only given me valuable insight into how a student-led academic journal works, but also provided me with important leadership as well as group working skills. As we were three editors-in-chief, working in close cooperation and taking decisions as a team was vital. If we could not agree on something, we would each explain to the others in detail why we were of opinion X and often this process of explaining would bring our positions closer, or enable us to find a compromise we could all agree on. At the same time, as editor-in-chief we bore large responsibility because whenever something did not go as planned, we would have to find solutions. The most stressful, as well as exciting, moment was surely when we had to review some submissions last minute as they had not been reviewed in time. It was incredibly rewarding that we managed to do so in time, and of course to see the Journal published in the end.
I now am an editor at the UCL Journal of Law and Jurisprudence and I am confident that my role at the AUSLCJ has provided me with invaluable experience without which I would not have been appointed to my current role.
Charlotte Knight, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Book Review Editor 2013-14
The Aberystwyth University Student Law and Criminology is a fantastic platform for students to get recognition for their academic ability, it’s been a pleasure to be involved in the journals success. As a book reviews editor I have revised work which had been sent in, assuring it is of the highest quality. And in my role as Deputy Editor-in-Chief I have been involved in the running and management of the journal. The opportunity to engage with others on a professional level has been a real highlight of being involved with the AUSLCJ, the hard working team of editors, reviewers and board members are dedicated to guaranteeing that the highest level of academic work is achieved.
Kacper Zajac, Reviewer (Law) 2013-14
It has been a great experience working as an editorial board member of the Aberystwyth University Student Law and Criminology Journal. It enhanced my ability to work as part of a team and taught me to pay attention to detail. I reviewed a number of essays and dissertation for the 1st edition of the Journal which was a very rewarding experience. It gave me an opportunity to explore areas of law which I was not familiar with such as care for the elderly and the practice of honour killing. I edited manuscripts assigned to me by the Managing Editor and made recommendation on their suitability for publication. Working for the Journal has been one of the most enlightening activities during the entirety of my time at University. It also allowed me to gain some editorial experience relevant for my CV.