It publishes articles and student-written notes that propose legal reforms.

Periodically, the journal hosts symposia where academics and policymakers discuss legal reform.

[5] The University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform uses a competitive process that takes into account an applicant's writing sample, résumé, personal statement, and performance on a citation editing exercise.

Applicants are also required to identify an area of law in need of reform that could serve as the basis for a note.

The journal selects between 46 and 50 editors annually from the incoming second-year law school class.