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The Law & Politics section of the American Political Science Association is seeking applications for the position of editor for the Law and Politics Book Review (LPBR).  The LPBR is the leading online book journal offering peer review of 250 to 300 books per year, and additional book notes prepared by the editor.

In the eighteen years since it was founded by the late Herbert Jacob of Northwestern University, the Law & Politics Book Review has become the premier journal for reviews of books related to law and politics and law and society. LPBR now has 1,300+ subscribers in more than 39 countries. All major publishers, domestic and international, automatically send new titles to the editor because they realize that LPBR has the highest visibility and widest distribution of any publication in the field.

Job Duties
The editor will supervise all of the operations of the LPBR.  This involves recording the  reception of approximately 300 to 400 books per year; contacting potential reviewers; mailing books out to reviewers; ensuring timely completion of reviews; editing of reviews; publication of reviews on-line; and the mailing of hard copies of reviews to the reviewers and book publishers.  The Editor will also work with his or her institution to host and maintain the LPBR archive of book reviews for online search and retrieval and supervise, as appropriate, staff to assist in performing LPBR duties.  The Editor will also make an annual report to the Law & Politics section regarding the operations of the LPBR.  The term of editor will run for three years beginning no later than August 2010.  The editorship is subject to renewal for an additional three years.

The ideal editor will be a senior faculty member with a broad knowledge of the law and politics field who is detail-orientated, has good writing and editing skills, and be able to work with diverse individuals both domestically and internationally.

Time, Resource, and Institutional Commitment: The current editor devotes approximately one to two hours per day on LPBR duties.  This is in addition to supervising two undergraduate editorial assistants who together each perform 10  hours of work per week on clerical duties for the LPBR.  Books and reviews arrive year round, requiring constant attention.

While the Law and Politics Section provides $1,500 per year to defray costs, there is an expectation that the  host institution will also support the LPBR.  Current estimates of the institutional support  are $5,000 to $8,000 per year which includes postage, printing, hosting the LPBR website, and clerical support.

How to Apply
Applications for the LPBR should include a curriculum vitae and a cover letter stating one’s qualifications and interest for the position.  The letter should provide an editorial vision for the LPBR as well as description of the how the applicant anticipates managing the LPBR.  Applications should also include a statement of institutional support indicating how the editor’s school will support the LPBR.

Applications for the editorship should be electronically sent to:

Professor David Schultz, Chair
LPBR Editor Search Committee
Hamline University
570 Asbury Street, Suite 305
St. Paul, Minnesota, 55104, USA
dschultz@hamline.edu.

Applications are due by February 28, 2009.

Comment or questions about the LPBR editorship should be directed to David Schultz at dschultz@hamline.edu or (651) 523-2858.