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A scholarly journal focusing on legal issues, published by students

Since its inception in 1959, the Washburn Law Journal has been a cornerstone of legal scholarship and a platform for rigorous academic discourse that serves as a valuable resource for practitioners, scholars and students alike. Explore our past issues, stay updated through the WLJ Online and our blog, and learn more about our upcoming events and subscription options.

Law School Symposium

For more than a decade, the Washburn Law Journal has partnered with the Washburn Law's Robert J. Dole Center for Law and Government to present an annual symposium.

2025 Symposium: "Universal Rights v. Local Realities: Advancing Human Dignity Rights in an Uncertain America"

 

Illustration of woman of color with a cap and gown

Foulston Siefkin Lecture Series

Since 1978 the Wichita law firm of Foulston Siefkin has generously sponsored the Foulston Siefkin Lecture Series. This lecture series brings a prominent legal scholar to Washburn University School of Law to challenge and enhance the legal thinking of our students and faculty. The visiting scholar delivers a lecture and also provides an article for the next volume of the Washburn Law Journal.

2025 Lecture: "Cruelty, Blame, and Survival: Homelessness in the Age of Grants Pass v. Johnson"

Speaker: Ron Hochbaum, Associate Clinical Professor of Law, Director, Buccola Family Homeless Advocacy Clinic, University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law

Students in classroom listening to lecture.

John D. Ensley Memorial Writing Award

The John D. Ensley Memorial Writing Award is presented semi-annually to the top memo writer in the Washburn Law Journal writing competition, honoring John D. Ensley, a 1983 graduate whose dedication to legal writing had a lasting impact on the profession. Established in 2000, the award commemorates Mr. Ensley’s distinguished career and contributions to commercial, government, real estate, securities, and educational law. As a partner at Goodell, Stratton, Edmonds and Palmer, and a member of various bar associations, Mr. Ensley’s legacy continues to inspire excellence in legal writing at Washburn Law.

Board of editors

Editor-in-Chief

Maria Kling

Executive Editor

Koy Olberding

Managing Editor

Kelsie Dent

Senior Articles Editor

Lauren Peterson

Articles Editor

Ethan Hawn

Articles Editor

Kaitlynn Wetchensky-Bays

Notes Editor

James Keating

Notes Editor

Alexandria Koresh

Notes Editor

Cole Baker

Notes Editor

Zachary Racy

Comments Editor

Mia Aronson

Online Production Editor

Gabriel Smith
Senior Staff Writers

Jack Hamilton

Caleb Haselhuhn

Ruby Howell

Josephine Phillips

Madison Squibb

Simon Stegall

Jamie St. Viva

Luke Zenger

Junior Staff Writers

Kyla Barry

Cayd Bezanson

Forrest Brungardt

Brenden Clerico

Kilian Cox

Mark Early

Caleb Gregg

Sieana Hall

John Havel

Trey LaRue

Lauren Maize

Angel McLees

Kaleb Moural

 Jeffrey Pollard

Grace Sanford

Madison Stumma

Maia Snelson Allinder

Sterling Thomsen

Jenna Thornton

Gideon Wiley

Subscriptions and publication services

The Washburn Law Journal publishes one volume consisting of three issues per academic year. Subscription rates are $30.00 for United States residents and $35.00 for residents outside the United States. A limited number of individual issues of Volume 49 are available, as published, for $15.00 each. Price quotes are inclusive of all shipping and handling charges, and PREPAYMENT is required for all orders.

If you have questions concerning subscriptions, please contact: Washburn Law Journal, Washburn University School of Law, Attn: Subscriptions, 1700 SW College Ave., Topeka, KS 66621, email at journalclaims@washburnlaw.edu or 785.670.1692. Whether you send your subscription request via regular mail or email, please include the following information: Subscriber’s name, shipping address, billing address (if different), contact person, and phone number.

The publisher of the Washburn Law Journal is Joe Christensen, Inc., 1540 Adams Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68521, or toll free at 800.228.5030.

Non-received issue claims should be directed to Washburn Law Journal, Washburn University School of Law, Attn: Claims, 1700 SW College Ave., Topeka, KS 66621, email at journalclaims@washburnlaw.edu or 785.670.1692.

NOTE: Non-received issue claims from paid subscribers can only be honored for a 90-day period from the original mailing date of the issue claimed.

Questions regarding the availability and purchase of back issues (beginning volume 23) must be addressed to William S. Hein Co., Inc., 1285 Main Street, Buffalo, New York 14209 or call toll free at 800.828.7571.

To obtain permission to reprint any piece appearing in the current volume or a back issue of the Washburn Law Journal, please contact: Editor-in-Chief,Washburn Law Journal, Washburn University School of Law, 1700 SW College Ave., Topeka, KS 66621, email journalclaims@washburnlaw.eduor 785.670.1683. Please include your name, address, phone number, email address, the full title of the of the article you wish to reprint, the title and nature of the work in which the article would be reprinted, and the response deadline.