Write for The CETA
We publish independent analysis for lawyers, in-house counsel, investors, founders and policymakers. We welcome proposals from practising lawyers, academics, in-house counsel, researchers and others with direct experience of the subject.
What we're looking for
We publish under four topics:
- Law & Regulation. New laws, decrees, court practice and regulatory guidance.
- Technology & AI. How the law treats emerging technology, data, digital assets and platforms.
- Business & Investment. The legal side of opportunities and risks in the market.
- Expert Perspectives. Interviews and in-depth discussion.
A good CETA piece is about something specific: one law, one decision, one regulatory change, or one practical problem. It explains what changed and what readers should do about it, with reference to the actual legal text. Comparisons with other countries or with international practice are welcome where they help.
Formats and length
| Format | What it is | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Brief | What changed, why it matters, what to do next | 600 to 900 |
| Expert analysis | Considered legal analysis of a single development | 1,200 to 2,000 |
| Long-form analysis | Comparative or in-depth study | 2,500 to 5,000 |
| Interview | Edited conversation with someone doing the work | 1,500 to 3,000 |
| Commentary | An argued position on a legal or policy question | 800 to 1,500 |
How to submit
There are two ways to send us your work. Either way, write to editors@theceta.com, and we reply to every submission within two weeks.
Complete article
Articles must be complete and fully edited when you send them; we don't review incomplete drafts. Please attach:
- The article, as a Word document (preferred) or a PDF.
- A short abstract of about 150 words.
- A letter of introduction explaining who you are, why the piece matters now, and any client, employer or financial interest related to the topic.
- Your CV.
Proposal first (optional)
If you'd like to check that a topic suits us before writing, send a proposal of about 200 words covering:
- The format and the topic.
- The development or question you'll address, and the laws or regulations involved.
- Your main argument or what readers will take away.
- Why now (for example, a new law, an upcoming deadline, a recent court decision).
- A short note about yourself and your connection to the subject.
- Any client, employer or financial interest related to the topic.
If we accept a proposal, we agree a deadline for the complete article, usually two to four weeks depending on the format.
Original work
We publish original work. An article you send us must not already have appeared in another journal or in any archival publication, and you shouldn't have agreed to publish it elsewhere at the time you submit it.
Earlier versions shared as working papers or preprints, on SSRN (including its e-Journals), arXiv, OSF or similar services, don't affect eligibility. Nor does presenting the work at a conference, workshop or other event that doesn't publish formal proceedings. Please tell us in your letter of introduction where any earlier version has appeared.
Writing for The CETA
- Write for a busy professional. Lead with what changed and why it matters. Keep background short.
- Use plain English. Explain legal terms the first time you use them. Many readers are not native English speakers, so prefer short sentences.
- Be practical. Tell readers what the change means for them. A Brief should end with what to do next.
- Use headings for anything longer than about 800 words.
- Be fair. When you take a position, acknowledge the strongest counterargument.
Citations
Citations must follow the latest edition of The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, given as footnotes. Every legal statement must be traceable to its source. For Uzbek and other regional law, please also:
- The first time you mention a law, decree or regulation, give its full official title, number and date, for example Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. ZRU-547 "On Personal Data" dated 2 July 2019. After that, a short name is enough.
- Point to the specific article, part or paragraph, not just the law as a whole.
- Link to the official text wherever one exists, for example on Lex.uz or another official government source.
- Say whether a quoted or translated provision uses an official translation or your own.
Use of AI tools
You may use generative AI tools at any stage of your work, provided you disclose it. Do this in the first footnote of the article: name each tool and every purpose you used it for, such as research, generating ideas, drafting, copy-editing, translation or formatting citations. For example: "ChatGPT was used for copy-editing and to check citation format." Use that isn't disclosed may count against a submission.
You remain responsible for everything your article says. We assess every submission against the same standards however it was written, so invented or missing sources, thin engagement with existing work, weak writing and plagiarism all count against it.
Review and editing
- Reply. Within two weeks, an editor accepts or declines your article, or asks for changes. For a proposal, we tell you whether to go ahead with the full article.
- Editing. An editor works with you on structure, clarity and length.
- Legal review. A second lawyer checks the piece against the primary sources it cites. This is part of our editorial standards for every article.
- Approval. You see the final edited version before it's published. We won't publish a substantive change without your agreement.
- Publication. Your piece carries your name, a short bio and the date.
Corrections
If an error of fact or law is found after publication, we'll correct it promptly and add a dated note at the end of the article, in line with our corrections policy. We'll contact you first where possible.
Rights and fee
Terms, including rights and any fee, are agreed with each contributor before publication.
Not legal advice
Articles explain the law. They aren't legal advice on specific facts, and every article carries that disclaimer.