Founded in 1897 as The Forum, the Penn State Dickinson Law Review stands among the nation's oldest and most distinguished legal journals—the fifth-oldest in continuous publication. For more than a century, it has served as a forum for rigorous scholarship and sustained engagement with the law's most consequential questions.
As the flagship journal of the newly reunified Penn State Dickinson Law, the Penn State Dickinson Law Review carries forward the shared legacy of the Penn State Law Review and the Dickinson Law Review. Beginning with Volume 131, the Review unites these proud traditions in a single publication dedicated to excellence in legal scholarship.
The Review publishes articles by leading scholars, jurists, and practitioners; critical reviews of significant recent works by recognized experts; and student-authored comments that contribute meaningfully to contemporary legal discourse. Student editors bear full responsibility for the selection, editing, and publication of each issue. Through a rigorous, collaborative editing process, editors engage deeply with every submission—refining its analysis, strengthening its organization, verifying its research, and working closely with authors to ensure clarity, precision, and scholarly integrity.
In addition to its regular issues, the Penn State Dickinson Law Review hosts an annual symposium that convenes academics, judges, practitioners, and students for sustained dialogue on emerging and consequential legal issues—further advancing the Review's commitment to impactful, forward-looking scholarship.
Throughout its storied history, the Review has appeared under several names, reflecting the evolution of the institution it serves:
- The Forum (1897–1908): Vols. 1–12
- Dickinson Law Review (1908–2003): Vols. 13–107
- Penn State Law Review (2003–2017): Vols. 108–121
- Dickinson Law Review (2017–2026): Vols. 122–130
- Penn State Law Review (2017–2026): Vols. 122–130
In 2026, the Dickinson Law Review and the Penn State Law Review reunify as the Penn State Dickinson Law Review. The transition takes place during the 2026–27 academic year, with the first reunified volume published as Volume 131—continuing an unbroken tradition of scholarship spanning more than a century.