Journal Business Model

1. Overview

Journal of Lex et Justitia is a peer-reviewed academic journal focusing on legal studies, justice, and related interdisciplinary research. The journal operates under a non-profit, open-access model with the primary objective of disseminating high-quality, ethically sound legal scholarship for academics, practitioners, and policymakers.

2. Access and Distribution Model

  • The journal adopts a full Open Access publishing model.

  • All published articles are freely accessible online without subscription fees.

  • Readers are permitted to read, download, copy, distribute, and use articles for lawful academic and non-commercial purposes with proper attribution.

3. Revenue Sources

To ensure sustainability while maintaining editorial independence, the journal may utilize the following revenue sources:

3.1 Article Processing Charges (APCs)

  • The journal may charge APCs to cover editorial, peer review, publication, and digital archiving costs.

  • Any APCs are clearly stated on the journal website prior to submission.

  • Fee waivers or reductions may be available for authors based on institutional or funding considerations.

3.2 Institutional and Publisher Support

  • Financial and administrative support from affiliated universities, research institutions, or publishers.

  • Support may include technical infrastructure, editorial assistance, and hosting services.

3.3 Grants and Sponsorships

  • Funding from academic grants, legal research foundations, or professional organizations.

  • Sponsorships do not influence editorial decisions or peer review outcomes.

4. Cost Structure

The journal’s operational expenses include:

  • Online journal management system (OJS) maintenance

  • Editorial and peer review management

  • Website hosting and digital preservation

  • Copyediting, layout, and proofreading

  • DOI registration and indexing services

5. Editorial Independence

  • Editorial decisions are made exclusively by the Editor-in-Chief and the editorial board.

  • Financial contributors have no role in editorial or peer review decisions.

  • A clear separation is maintained between editorial operations and business management.

6. Copyright and Licensing

  • Authors retain copyright of their published work.

  • Articles are published under a Creative Commons license (e.g., CC BY), as stated on the journal website.

  • Licensing terms are clearly communicated to authors and readers.

7. Transparency and Accountability

  • All business practices, publication fees, and funding sources are publicly disclosed.

  • The journal adheres to principles of transparency required by indexing and abstracting services.

  • Financial management is conducted responsibly and ethically.

8. Long-Term Sustainability

To ensure long-term viability, the journal:

  • Continuously improves editorial quality and peer review standards

  • Expands indexing and abstracting coverage

  • Maintains secure digital archiving and preservation systems

  • Engages actively with the legal academic community

9. Ethical Compliance

This business model aligns with:

  • DOAJ Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines

10. Policy Review

Journal of Lex et Justitia reserves the right to revise this business model in response to evolving publishing standards, legal scholarship practices, and sustainability needs.