Peer Review Process

By submitting a manuscript to Lex Dogana, the authors agree to the peer-review procedure.

The Editor-in-Chief, together with the Editorial Board, conducts a preliminary evaluation of all submitted manuscripts to ensure their compliance with the journal’s scope, adherence to academic standards, and an adequate level of methodological and substantive quality.

Following a positive preliminary assessment, manuscripts intended for the sections Articles and Studies, Materials and Commentaries, and Source Materials are submitted for anonymous review by independent experts appointed separately for each publication. Other materials may be consulted with subject or language editors. In exceptional cases, the Editorial Board may invite an expert with a doctoral degree to prepare a review.

Manuscripts in the sections Articles and Studies and Materials and Commentaries are reviewed by two independent researchers who are not affiliated with the same institution as the authors or the Editor-in-Chief. For submissions in foreign languages, at least one reviewer from a foreign institution is appointed whenever possible. Additional reviewers may be assigned if the existing reviews are inconsistent.

Translations of foreign legal acts published in the Source Materials section are reviewed by an independent scholar unaffiliated with the authors’ or the Editor-in-Chief’s institution. If necessary, further reviewers may be appointed.

The journal follows a double-blind peer-review process, meaning that authors and reviewers remain anonymous to each other. Authors must prepare their manuscripts in a way that prevents identification at the review stage.

Reviews are provided in writing and must contain a clear recommendation regarding acceptance or rejection.

The following elements are considered:

• originality and scientific novelty;

• substantive value;

• completeness of the source base;

• cited literature and case law;

• appropriateness of research methods.

For translations of legal acts, the following are additionally evaluated:

• selection of the translation source;

• linguistic accuracy;

• substantive conformity with the original text.

Reviewers are expected to prepare their reports without undue delay, usually within two weeks. They are obliged to keep all materials confidential and may not use the content of manuscripts before official publication.

Each author receives a summary of the review results and reasoning (without disclosing the reviewer’s identity), as well as any comments. Reasoned reviewer recommendations are binding and must be addressed by the author. If the author disagrees with certain comments, they must provide a written explanation. Revised manuscripts may be sent for a second round of review.

The final publication decision is made by the Editorial Board based on the reviewers’ assessments and the final version of the manuscript.

The names of reviewers are not disclosed in individual issues. An annual list of collaborating reviewers is published on the Lex Dogana website.