Author Guidelines

Types of Manuscript

SASI accepts only the following two types of manuscripts:

• Original Research Articles — manuscripts presenting original legal research based on doctrinal, empirical, comparative, socio-legal, anthropological, historical, theoretical, or interdisciplinary approaches that make a substantive contribution to the field of Customary Law, including its relationship with Indigenous Legal Systems, Legal Pluralism, and other legal and normative orders.
• Conceptual Papers — manuscripts presenting original theoretical, conceptual, or critical legal arguments that develop, challenge, or extend concepts, theories, or approaches relevant to Customary Law, including its relationship with Indigenous Legal Systems, Legal Pluralism, and other legal and normative orders.

Comparative research is welcomed as an approach within Original Research Articles and does not constitute a separate article type. Comparative research is encouraged where appropriate but is not required for publication.

SASI does not accept review articles, book reviews, opinion articles, editorials, commentaries, or other manuscript types that do not fall within the two article types specified above.

All submitted manuscripts must be consistent with the journal's Focus and Scope and must make a clear and substantive contribution to legal scholarship on Customary Law.

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Research Approaches

SASI accepts manuscripts employing a range of research approaches, provided that the manuscript makes a substantive contribution to the study of Customary Law.

Approaches may include:

• doctrinal or normative legal research;
• empirical legal research;
• comparative legal research;
• socio-legal research;
• anthropological research;
• historical legal research;
• theoretical or conceptual analysis; and
• interdisciplinary research.

A manuscript may examine Customary Law within a single country, jurisdiction, community, or legal tradition, or may adopt a comparative or cross-jurisdictional approach.

Comparative analysis is not a requirement for publication. Manuscripts are assessed primarily on the quality of their legal scholarship, methodological rigor, originality, and contribution to the study of Customary Law.

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Manuscript Structure

The manuscript should contain the following sections:

1. Title
2. Author Name and Affiliation
3. Correspondence Email
4. Abstract
5. Keywords
6. Introduction
7. Methods of the Research
8. Results and Discussion
9. Conclusion
10. Acknowledgments
11. Author Declarations
12. References

The article template is provided to help authors follow the required format. However, the template does not replace these Author Guidelines. Authors must read and follow the complete writing instructions below before submitting a manuscript.

Original Research Articles should generally follow the structure above. Conceptual Papers may use a structure appropriate to the theoretical or conceptual nature of the manuscript, provided that the required sections concerning title, authorship, abstract, keywords, conclusion, declarations, and references are included.

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TITLE

The title should be written in Book Antiqua Bold, 16 pt, preferably not more than 18 words, and aligned to the left.

The title should be clear, concise, informative, and directly reflect the main issue, research problem, or argument discussed in the manuscript.

Authors should avoid unnecessary abbreviations, overly broad expressions, and subtitles.

The title should not include the location of the research.

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AUTHOR NAME AND AFFILIATION

Authors should provide their full names without academic, professional, or institutional titles.

The affiliation should be written clearly and completely, including the faculty, university or institution, city, and country.

Example:

Faculty of Law, Universitas Pattimura, Ambon, Indonesia.

For manuscripts with more than one author, each author's affiliation should be clearly indicated.

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CORRESPONDENCE EMAIL

Authors must provide a valid email address.

For manuscripts with more than one author, an asterisk (*) should be placed after the email address of the corresponding author.

The corresponding author is responsible for communication with the journal during the editorial and publication process.

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ABSTRACT

The abstract must be written in English.

The abstract should use Book Antiqua, 10 pt, italic, and single spacing, with a maximum length of 300 words.

The abstract should present the essential elements of the research in a concise, clear, and coherent manner.

Introduction

Briefly explain the background and significance of the legal issue or research problem addressed by the study.

Maximum: 50 words.

Purposes of the Research

Clearly state the main purpose or objective of the research, including the principal research question or legal issue examined where appropriate.

Maximum: 40 words.

Methods of the Research

Briefly explain the research method and approach used in the study.

The description should identify the principal research design or methodological approach used, such as normative/doctrinal, empirical, comparative, socio-legal, anthropological, historical, theoretical, or interdisciplinary research, as appropriate.

Maximum: 50 words.

Results / Main Findings / Novelty / Originality of the Research

Present the principal findings of the research and explain its novelty, originality, or substantive contribution to the development of scholarship on Customary Law. The findings component does not need to present all findings obtained in the research; it should focus on the findings most relevant to the research objective and the nature of the study. For comparative research, the principal comparative findings should be clearly identified.

Maximum: 110 words.

Conclusion

Briefly state the principal conclusion drawn from the research and, where appropriate, its significance, implications, or contribution to the development and understanding of Customary Law.

Maximum: 50 words.

The total length of the abstract, including all five components, must not exceed 300 words.

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KEYWORDS

Keywords must be written in English.

Keywords should use Book Antiqua, 10 pt, italic.

Provide 3–5 keywords or keyword phrases that accurately represent the main concepts of the manuscript.

Keywords must be separated by semicolons (;).

Example:

Customary law; Indigenous peoples; Legal pluralism; Living law; Legal protection

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1. INTRODUCTION

The Introduction should clearly explain the legal issue or research problem addressed by the manuscript.

Authors should provide sufficient background to establish why the issue is important and relevant to contemporary legal scholarship.

The Introduction should discuss relevant previous research and scholarship to establish the current state of knowledge.

Authors should identify the limitations, unresolved issues, or research gaps in previous scholarship and explain how the present research addresses those gaps.

The Introduction should clearly establish the relationship between:

• the research problem;
• previous research;
• the research gap;
• the purpose of the research; and
• the contribution or novelty of the research.

The research objective should be clearly stated at the end of the Introduction.

Where appropriate, the research questions addressed by the study should also be clearly formulated.

Authors should ensure that the Introduction demonstrates the broader significance of the research and its relevance to the field of Customary Law, including relevant relationships with Indigenous Legal Systems, Legal Pluralism, state law, religious law, international law, or other normative orders where applicable.

Citation and Footnote Style

SASI uses the Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition (full note).

Book

Teng Berlianty, Hukum Organisasi Perusahaan (Sidoarjo: Zifatama Jawara, 2019), p. 1.

Journal Article

Muchtar Anshary Hamid Labetubun, “A Legal Awareness of Copyright on Regional Song Creators,” International Journal of Law Reconstruction 5, no. 1 (2021): 49–61, https://doi.org/10.26532/ijlr.v5i1.15406.

Online Source

Finnish Administrative Supreme Court 12/2014, “Appeal Statistics,” accessed January 13, 2016, http://www.kho.fi/material/attachments/kho/aineistoa/tilastoja/d1DGRBo1H/KHO.fi.pdf.

Edited Book

Vinod Dhall, ed., Competition Law Today: Concepts, Issues, and the Law in Practice (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007), 83.

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2. METHODS OF THE RESEARCH

The Methods of the Research section should explain clearly how the research was conducted.

The method must be appropriate to the nature and objectives of the research and should provide sufficient information for readers to understand the basis of the research findings.

Authors should clearly identify the research design or methodological approach appropriate to the manuscript.

Depending on the nature of the study, this may include:

• normative or doctrinal legal research;
• empirical legal research;
• comparative legal research;
• socio-legal research;
• anthropological research;
• historical legal research;
• theoretical or conceptual analysis; or
• other appropriate interdisciplinary approaches.

Authors should also identify the relevant legal materials or research data, methods of collection, and methods of analysis, where applicable.

The methodology should be presented concisely and should not contain unnecessary theoretical discussion.

For normative or doctrinal legal research, authors may explain the statutory, conceptual, case, comparative, historical, analytical, or other approaches used.

For empirical legal research, authors should explain the research location or context, research subjects or participants where applicable, data sources, data collection techniques, and analytical methods.

For comparative research, authors should clearly explain the jurisdictions, legal systems, cases, materials, or other units being compared and the basis or rationale for the comparison.

Where research involves human participants or personal data and ethical approval is required, the relevant ethical approval should also be identified.

Example of Research Methods

This paper uses normative legal research methods because the focus of the study departs from the blurring of norms, using approaches: statute approach, conceptual approach, and analytical approach.

The technique of tracing legal materials uses document study techniques, as well as analysis of studies using qualitative analysis.

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3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The Results and Discussion section is the principal part of the manuscript.

Authors should present the findings of the research and discuss them analytically in relation to the research questions, previous scholarship, applicable legal principles, and the research objectives.

The discussion should not merely describe legal provisions or repeat information already presented in the Introduction.

Authors should demonstrate how the findings contribute to the development of scholarship concerning Customary Law and, where relevant, its relationship with Indigenous Legal Systems, Legal Pluralism, state law, religious law, international law, or other normative orders.

The Results and Discussion may be divided into appropriate subsections according to the research questions and legal issues examined.

Subheadings should be informative and should reflect the specific issue being analyzed.

The discussion should clearly distinguish the author's findings, interpretation, and argument from the arguments or findings of previous researchers.

Where appropriate, authors should explain the theoretical, practical, comparative, socio-legal, or interdisciplinary significance of the findings.

Tables

Tables should be included within the Results and Discussion section where they contribute directly to the presentation or analysis of the research.

Each table should:

• have a clear and informative title;
• be numbered consecutively;
• be referred to in the manuscript;
• be presented horizontally;
• use an open table format without vertical lines;
• identify the source where applicable; and
• be followed by appropriate explanation or analysis when necessary.

Tables should not simply repeat information already explained in the main text.

Figures and Graphics

Figures and graphics should be included within the Results and Discussion section where they provide meaningful support for the research findings or analysis.

Each figure or graphic should:

• have a clear and informative title;
• be numbered consecutively;
• be referred to in the manuscript;
• be centered;
• be clearly readable; and
• have a minimum resolution of 300 DPI (Dots Per Inch).

Authors must ensure that figures and graphics are relevant to the research and do not merely reproduce information that can be adequately explained in the text.

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4. CONCLUSION

The Conclusion should directly answer the research objective and research questions.

The conclusion should summarize the principal findings and explain the main contribution of the research.

The Conclusion should not merely repeat the Abstract, Introduction, or Results and Discussion.

The conclusion should be concise and based strictly on the findings and analysis presented in the manuscript.

Where appropriate, authors may include the legal, theoretical, or practical implications of the research and recommendations arising directly from the findings.

Recommendations should be specific, relevant, and supported by the research.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Authors may acknowledge individuals or organizations that provided substantive assistance in conducting the research or preparing the manuscript but whose contributions do not qualify for authorship.

Acknowledgments may include academic advisors, research assistants, language editors, technical staff, data providers, or other individuals who provided specific assistance.

Authors should obtain permission from individuals before including their names in the Acknowledgments section.

Financial or research funding should not be reported in this section.

Funding information must be disclosed separately under Funding.

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AUTHOR DECLARATIONS

Authors must provide the following declarations where applicable.

Ethical Considerations and Ethical Clearance

Authors must conduct and report their research in accordance with applicable ethical standards and legal requirements.

For research involving human participants, personal data, interviews, institutional documents, or other activities requiring ethical approval, authors must obtain approval from the relevant ethics committee or authorized institution before conducting the research.

Where ethical clearance is required, the manuscript should identify the approving ethics committee or institution and provide the ethical clearance number and year.

Where formal ethical clearance is not applicable, authors should provide an appropriate statement explaining the ethical considerations relevant to the research.

The journal does not require authors to disclose confidential, personal, legally restricted, or otherwise protected information where disclosure would violate applicable ethical, legal, or institutional requirements.

Author Contributions

All listed authors must have made a meaningful contribution to the research or manuscript and must approve the final version of the manuscript.

SASI uses the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) to provide a standardized description of individual contributions.

The CRediT taxonomy describes contributions and does not by itself determine authorship.

Authors should identify the specific CRediT role or roles applicable to each author.

CRediT Contributor Roles

The CRediT roles follow the CRediT Contributor Role Taxonomy.

Author Contributions Statement

The contribution statement should identify each author by name and the applicable CRediT role or roles.

Sample CRediT Author Statement

For a single-author manuscript, the author may state:

Author Contributions: Michael Anderson: Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Formal Analysis, Writing – Original Draft, Writing – Review & Editing, Visualization, and Project Administration.

For a manuscript with multiple authors, the statement should identify the contribution of each author separately. For example:

Author Contributions: James Wilson: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software. Priya Sharma: Data Curation, Writing – Original Draft. Li Wei: Visualization, Investigation. Ahmad Rahman: Supervision. Daniel Thompson: Software, Validation. Siti Nur Aisyah: Writing – Review & Editing.

Authors should use only the CRediT roles that accurately represent their actual contributions.

Funding

Authors must disclose financial or material support that directly contributed to the research or preparation of the manuscript.

The Funding Statement should identify the funding organization or sponsor and, where applicable, the grant, contract, or project number.

Authors should also indicate the role of the funder in the research and publication process where applicable.

If the research received no specific funding, authors should state:

“This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.”

General institutional affiliation or routine institutional support should not be presented as research funding unless it directly supported the research reported in the manuscript.

Conflict of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial relationship, activity, affiliation, or interest that could influence, or could reasonably be perceived to influence, the research, interpretation of findings, or publication of the manuscript.

Potential conflicts may include employment, consultancy, research funding, honoraria, financial interests, patents, professional relationships, institutional affiliations, academic competition, advisory roles, or other relevant interests.

If no relevant conflict exists, authors should provide an explicit statement such as:

“The authors declare that there are no financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could have influenced, or could reasonably be perceived to have influenced, the research, interpretation of the findings, or publication of this article.”

For further requirements concerning disclosure and management of conflicts of interest, authors should refer to the journal's Publication Ethics Policy.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

Authors who use artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tools in preparing, analyzing, translating, generating, editing, or otherwise producing a manuscript or research output must comply with the journal's AI Tools Usage Policy.

Authors must disclose the AI tool or system used, the purpose of its use, and the relevant part or stage of the research or manuscript preparation.

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and final content of the manuscript.

AI-generated or AI-assisted content must be critically reviewed and verified by the authors.

AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors.

Where AI is used for language improvement, translation, or similar editorial assistance, the use should be disclosed in the appropriate declaration or Acknowledgments section.

Where AI is used as part of the research methodology, including data collection, analysis, coding, or figure generation, its use should be described in the relevant Methods of the Research section.

Authors should not upload confidential, unpublished, privileged, or peer-review materials into AI systems where confidentiality cannot be assured.

Statement When No AI Was Used

“The authors declare that no artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted technologies were used in the preparation, analysis, or production of this manuscript.”

Statement When AI Was Used

“The authors declare that [name of AI tool/system] was used for [describe the purpose and extent of use] during the preparation of this manuscript. The authors critically reviewed and verified all AI-assisted output and remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and final content of the manuscript.”

This approach is consistent with current publishing guidance that AI-assisted technologies should be disclosed, should not be listed as authors, and remain subject to human responsibility and verification.

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REFERENCES

The References section must contain all sources cited in the manuscript.

Only works cited in the manuscript should appear in the References section.

References should be arranged alphabetically by author.

SASI uses the Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition (Notes and Bibliography, full-note style).

Authors are encouraged to use reference management applications such as EndNote, Mendeley, or Zotero.

References should preferably include recent and relevant scholarly sources, particularly primary sources directly related to the research topic.

The reference list should demonstrate adequate engagement with relevant national and international scholarship.

Each manuscript should contain a minimum of 16 references.

Authors should prioritize relevant primary sources, particularly:

• national and international journal articles;
• theses, dissertations, and undergraduate theses;
• relevant conference proceedings;
• research manuscripts; and
• research monographs.

For legal research, legislation and regulations, court decisions, and official government documents should also be cited where they are directly relevant to the research topic.

A substantial proportion of the references should consist of works published within the last 10 years, particularly recent scholarly literature directly relevant to the research problem and current state of knowledge.

Classical or older sources may be cited when they provide foundational concepts, theories, historical context, or are necessary to explain the origin of the research problem. However, classical sources should not be relied upon as the primary basis for comparing the main findings of the study with previous research and should not be used as the principal justification for the novelty or originality of the research.

Books and other authoritative sources may also be used where appropriate.

Authors should ensure that all references are accurate, complete, and accompanied by DOI information where a DOI is available.

Journal Article

Footnote

Muchtar Anshary Hamid Labetubun, “A Legal Awareness of Copyright on Regional Song Creators,” International Journal of Law Reconstruction 5, no. 1 (2021): 49–61, https://doi.org/10.26532/ijlr.v5i1.15406.

Reference List

Labetubun, Muchtar Anshary Hamid. “A Legal Awareness of Copyright on Regional Song Creators.” International Journal of Law Reconstruction 5, no. 1 (2021): 49–61. https://doi.org/10.26532/ijlr.v5i1.15406.

Book

Footnote

Teng Berlianty, Hukum Organisasi Perusahaan (Sidoarjo: Zifatama Jawara, 2019), 1.

Reference List

Berlianty, Teng. Hukum Organisasi Perusahaan. Sidoarjo: Zifatama Jawara, 2019.

Edited Book

Footnote

Vinod Dhall, ed., Competition Law Today: Concepts, Issues, and the Law in Practice (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007), 83.

Reference List

Dhall, Vinod, ed. Competition Law Today: Concepts, Issues, and the Law in Practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.

Online Source

Footnote

Finnish Administrative Supreme Court 12/2014, “Appeal Statistics,” accessed January 13, 2016, http://www.kho.fi/material/attachments/kho/aineistoa/tilastoja/d1DGRBo1H/KHO.fi.pdf.

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ORCID iD

The corresponding author must provide and authenticate a valid ORCID iD through the official ORCID authentication process before the manuscript proceeds to editorial review.

Co-authors are strongly encouraged to register for and provide their ORCID iDs.

Authenticated ORCID iDs may be displayed with published articles and included in metadata supplied to DOI registration agencies, indexing services, abstracting services, and other scholarly communication systems.

Authors should ensure that their ORCID information is accurate and corresponds to their identity and scholarly record.