MSU Law honors 34-year legacy of student-run International Law Review

At Michigan State University, there are more than 1,000 student organizations for Spartans to take part in and enrich their experience. Of those, the College of Law’s student-run scholarly publications are among the most competitive and respected organizations. These journals provide students with the chance to collaborate with peers and practicing scholars, while honing research, writing and time-management skills — all of which are crucial for success as a lawyer.

One such journal is the Michigan State International Law Review, or ILR, which has had a significant impact for student members and alumni alike across 34 years. As the second-largest student-run journal, the ILR has been committed to the study and promotion of cutting-edge legal issues in the U.S. and abroad. Through its annual symposium and the publication of thought-provoking articles — including those in the 34th volume, forthcoming in the fall of 2026 — the ILR has become a globally recognized journal.

As MSU Law has chosen to sunset the journal, the ILR held a celebration event April 10 to recognize its lasting impact, welcoming past and current members, college leadership and faculty advisors.

“For 34 years, the Michigan State International Law Review contributed to the academic discourse among legal scholars around the world,” College of Law Dean Michael Sant’Ambrogio said at the event. “We are deeply proud of the journal’s achievements: publishing the scholarship of world-renowned legal minds, training generations of students in the rigorous craft of law review editing, and fostering an alumni community that remains steadfast in its support.”

Hands-on experience creates lasting value

The ILR got its start in 1992 as The Journal of International Law & Practice at the Detroit College of Law, or DCL (before DCL became part of MSU). Since then, one volume has been published each year, offering a collection of articles from 10 authors, including professors, practicing lawyers, students and past symposium speakers. Across publications and symposia, student editors have addressed a wide range of legal issues: immigration, migration, human trafficking, global health, Indigenous rights, AI, data governance, global technology regulation and more.

“International law is very hard to begin with and very niche, so MSU being able to provide this opportunity through ILR has been a defining experience,” said Anna Lin, a law and business graduate student graduating in 2027. Lin has served as ILR executive editor in 2025-26 and previously as associate editor in 2024-25.

“I knew that I wanted to do something with international law, so having this law review was a motivator for me to come to MSU. I think the ILR has always done great work, and we’ve become a strong community. It’s special because not many people are in an international law journal," she said.

At the celebration event, current ILR faculty advisor David Thronson, a professor of law, said he admired students taking on challenges across borders and cultures with a professional and exceptional standard. Thronson dubbed the ILR members as “cultural brokers,” having a keen ability to translate work across global perspectives to create an impact for widespread audiences.

“It’s really a unique and special experience,” he said. “You take the article, something that someone really committed to, and shepherd it through a process. You’re pushing back where maybe it’s not quite accurate. You’re being a diplomat. You’re a legal researcher, a writer, an editor and you’re doing this all in the international law context, an area where the law is brand new to you. The ILR is 100% student-led and student-driven. I’m very proud of the result of the journal over the years.”

In its lifetime, more than 120 alumni contributed to or participated in the ILR. A resounding theme amongst them? The hands-on experience gained through the journal is paying off dividends in their roles and work today.

“The skills that I learned while working on the journal, including how to publish a regular volume of scholarly work, have helped me in my career because I’m now one of the co-editors-in-chief of the Family Law Journal for the State Bar of Michigan,” said Jason Blevins, a 2010 graduate. Blevins served as both an associate editor and articles editor while a law student, which involved mastering skills like checking citations, publication and supervising the work of peers also working on the journal.

“This practice not only taught me how to cite check and be thorough in researching and checking others’ work, but it taught me how to administratively publish,” he said. “I’ve gone from a journal that published three to four issues per year to one that publishes 10 issues per year. It definitely gave me a solid foundation for my career.”

Lin said: “What I’ve heard from our alumni is that ILR was special because it taught them things that weren’t in the classroom. They were able to take that experience into their real lives. Some alumni are working abroad and internationally now, and they credit the ILR for the work they’re able to do now. The skills they learned are valuable to their day-to-day roles.”

‘Bold thinking meets purposeful action’

Beyond providing students with transferable skills, the journal was also created intentionally to connect legal and non-legal audiences. The journal’s founding editor-in-chief, Antonio Soave, a 1994 graduate, envisioned a publication that would reflect the dynamic legal and business interactions that were happening around the DCL daily in Detroit, what he described as a global gateway.

“Our proposal for starting the journal was rooted in geography and opportunity,” Soave said. “Detroit, uniquely positioned across the river from Windsor, Ontario, sits at one of the most significant international commercial and logistical crossings in North America. The goal of my colleagues and I was clear: to create a journal that would serve both legal practitioners and business leaders navigating international issues.”

This approach was a first for law reviews and journals at the time, and Soave embraced his creativity to lift the journal off the ground to success quickly. Whether that meant partnering with a local artist to compose custom illustrated artwork for publications or hosting premier events to bring together influential figures in law, business and public service, the journal became known locally, regionally and internationally.

Within just 18 months of its founding, Soave’s leadership and innovation were recognized with the prestigious Edward H. Rakow Scholarship from the Federal Bar Foundation of Detroit, awarded for excellence in legal publishing.

“We were thinking outside of the box dramatically because we wanted to tell people there is a lot more to the law,” he said. “At its core, the journal was — and remains — a testament to what can be achieved when bold thinking meets purposeful action.”

With stories and reflections like those from Soave, Blevins and dozens more alumni, current ILR members are feeling inspired and honored to have been part of something so special. Despite the ILR coming to an end, Lin has hope that this passionate community can find ways to continue their work together.

“While it is bittersweet to see the Michigan State International Law Review publish its final edition, alumni messages remind us that its impact does not end here,” she wrote in a student view for MSU Law. “Its legacy lives on in the students it shaped, the careers it influenced and the global conversations it helped advance. More than anything, ILR has shown me that the law is not confined by borders; it is defined by connection, collaboration and a shared pursuit of understanding.”

This story originally appeared on the MSU College of Law website.