Guidelines for authors

1. Checklist for Submission Preparation

To ensure a fair and timely evaluation, the journal requests that authors carefully verify that their submission complies with all the requirements detailed below. Compliance with these guidelines is essential to guarantee the quality of publications and streamline the review process.

  • Originality and exclusivity. The article is an original work, does not infringe copyright, and is submitted exclusively to this journal. It has not been previously published nor submitted to another publication.
  • Formats and files. Two separate files (cover page and manuscript) have been prepared in the original language of the article (Spanish or English), strictly following the formats available in the author guidelines section. Both files are submitted in Microsoft Word format and have been completed in full.
  • Content and presentation. The manuscript includes all figures and tables in editable color format, inserted within the text to facilitate comprehension. All cited references include their corresponding DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or web address whenever possible.
  • Blind review. The manuscript has been fully anonymized in accordance with the journal’s guidelines to ensure a fair and impartial double-blind peer review process.
  • Authorization for the processing of personal data. By submitting the manuscript to the journal, authors agree to comply with the parameters of the editorial process, the journal’s ethical and quality guidelines, and all other applicable regulations.
  • Additional declarations. The use of artificial intelligence tools, if applicable, as well as any potential conflicts of interest, have been transparently disclosed.

2. Author Guidelines

1) Required Submission Files

  • Cover Page
  • Manuscript

2) Style Guide

  • Word limit. Submitted research articles must have a minimum length of 6,000 words and a maximum of 8,000 words (excluding abstract and references).
  • Font and size. The text, tables, and illustrations must be presented in 12-point Times New Roman font.
  • Line spacing. The text must use 1.5 line spacing.
  • Title in Spanish and English (maximum 15 words).
  • Abstract in Spanish and English (maximum 250 words).
  • Keywords in Spanish and English (minimum 3, maximum 6).
  • Article content.
  • References. The journal uses the APA referencing system, 7th edition.
  • Headings. Three different heading levels are considered:
    • First level: left-aligned heading, bold, sentence case, 14-point font.
    • Second level: left-aligned heading, bold, sentence case, 12-point font.
    • Third level: paragraph heading, bold and italicized, sentence case, 12-point font.
  • Explanatory notes. Footnotes should be used sparingly and only to provide brief and essential explanations that complement the main text but are not fundamental to understanding the argument.
  • Abbreviations. Abbreviations should be used sparingly and follow internationally approved nomenclature for the respective discipline. They must be defined the first time they appear in the text and consistently used thereafter. They should not appear at the beginning of a sentence, nor in the title, and their use in the abstract should be avoided.
  • Equations. If the article includes equations, they must be aligned to the left margin and numbered consecutively within each section. The use of specialized equation editors such as LaTeX, MathType, or Microsoft Word’s integrated equation editors is recommended to ensure correct visualization of mathematical symbols. The meaning of each symbol used in the equations must be clearly explained in the text.
  • Tables and figures. These must be prepared according to APA standards (7th edition) and submitted in editable format. They must be numbered consecutively and referenced in the text. Each figure must include a concise and clear caption in 10-point Times New Roman font. The caption must be self-explanatory, without requiring the reader to consult other parts of the text. All abbreviations and acronyms used in captions must be explained. If tables or figures from other sources are used, they must be faithfully reproduced and the source cited according to APA standards. If the tables or figures are original, the phrase “Source: authors’ own elaboration” must be included at the end of the caption.
  • Images, maps, and illustrations. All images must have a minimum resolution of 600 dpi and be submitted in color. Maps must include a legend, cardinal directions, and scale where appropriate. Illustrations subject to copyright restrictions require explicit legal authorization, which must be attached to the originality and copyright transfer declaration form.

3. Submission Preparation

Use of Templates

All submissions consist of two separate files, in the original language of the article (Spanish or English), which can be downloaded through the following links: cover page and manuscript. They must be submitted exclusively through the Open Journal System (OJS) platform in compliance with the journal’s style guide.

1. Cover Page

This file must be prepared in Microsoft Word, letter-size format, and must contain the following information:

  • Author information. Full names of all authors (maximum of four), institutional affiliations (university or organization), institutional email addresses (excluding commercial services such as Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail, etc.), and individual ORCID identifiers. Each author must have an individual, visible, and updated ORCID code. If they do not have one, it may be generated through the following link. Each author must also provide a brief summary of their academic background and research interests (maximum 50 words).
  • Article type. The article typology must be clearly specified.
  • Conflict of interest statement. Authors must declare whether there are any conflicts of interest that may influence the results or publication of the article, whether due to personal, professional, or financial relationships. A conflict of interest arises when it biases or influences the conclusions, results, or any aspect of the research, or compromises copyright or editorial decisions. For further information, consult the journal’s ethics and quality guidelines through the following link.
  • Funding. The funding source supporting the research must be indicated, including the reference code where applicable.
  • Academic acknowledgments (optional). Acknowledgments may include sponsoring institutions, collaborators, reviewers, translators, and any other support received for the research.

2. Manuscript

This file must be prepared in Microsoft Word, letter-size format, and must contain the following information:

  • Title (Spanish and English). It must contain a maximum of 15 words and clearly and attractively describe the main topic of the article and the approach used.
  • Abstract (Spanish and English). The abstract must contain a maximum of 150 words and clearly and concisely present the main points of the article. At a minimum, it must include the general objective of the research, the methodology used, the most relevant results, and the main conclusions.
  • Keywords (Spanish and English). A maximum of five keywords, arranged alphabetically and separated by semicolons, that accurately describe the content of the article. These keywords should be relevant, specific, and preferably included in the UNESCO thesaurus available at the following link: https://vocabularies.unesco.org/browser/thesaurus/es/
  • Introduction. This section must contextualize the research by presenting the research problem and its relevance. The main research question must be stated and the importance of addressing it justified.
  • Theoretical framework. This section should develop the theoretical framework supporting the research. The main theories and concepts related to the topic must be reviewed, and their relationship to the research question established.
  • Methodology. This section must describe in detail the research design, the selected population or sample, the data collection instruments used, and the procedure followed for data analysis. Where applicable, approval by the ethics committee of the participating institutions must be included.
  • Results. This section presents the findings obtained from the research. Tables, graphs, or figures should be used to illustrate the results clearly and concisely.
  • Discussion. This section interprets the results obtained, relating them to the theoretical framework and the research question. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings must be discussed. In addition, the study’s limitations should be identified and future lines of research proposed.
  • Conclusions. This section should summarize the main conclusions reached in the research and highlight the contribution of the study to existing knowledge in the field.
  • References. Manuscripts must comply with the citation and referencing standards established by the American Psychological Association (APA), latest edition. Authors are responsible for ensuring the correct application of these standards in all citations, references, and formal elements of the article.

Bibliographic references must be organized alphabetically according to the surname of the first author. When several works by the same author are included, they must be organized chronologically, from oldest to most recent. If there are several publications by the same author in the same year, they must be differentiated using letters (a, b, c, etc.) next to the publication year, both in the reference list and in-text citations.

Common Citation Examples

Journal article
Ramírez Nárdiz, A. (2008). Comparative study of participatory democracy in different European legal systems. Advocatus, 25(1), 17–29.

Book with author
Villa Villa, S. I. (2014). Commercial customs in the special industrial and port district of Barranquilla. Barranquilla: Universidad Libre Seccional Barranquilla.

Edited book
Barros Cantillo, N. (Ed.). (2014). Is law a science? Barranquilla: Universidad Libre Seccional Barranquilla.

Additional Considerations

(1) Citations

Direct quotations of fewer than 40 words must appear within double quotation marks (“”). If a quotation is included within another quotation, single quotation marks (‘’) must be used. Omissions in the text should be indicated by ellipses in parentheses (...). Quotations longer than 40 words must appear in a separate paragraph, indented five spaces, in 11-point font, and without quotation marks.

(2) Foreign Languages

Words and phrases in foreign languages must appear in italics. If necessary, a translation may be included in parentheses.

(3) Figures and Tables

All figures and tables must be numbered and include a descriptive title. They must be included within the text and referenced accordingly.

(4) Anonymity

To ensure a fair and impartial peer review process, the manuscript must be completely anonymous. Authors must remove any indication that may identify them, including their name, institutional affiliation, or any other personal reference. This includes removing personal acknowledgments and any detail that may reveal the identity of the authors.

4. Peer Review Process

Manuscripts submitted to the journal Advocatus undergo a double-blind peer review process.

  • Preliminary review: The editorial team verifies that the manuscript complies with the journal’s formal requirements, thematic focus, and ethical and originality standards. Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria may be rejected without external review.
  • Assignment of reviewers: Manuscripts that pass the initial review are sent to two external peer reviewers who are experts in the subject area and selected according to criteria of academic suitability, independence, and absence of conflicts of interest.
  • Double-blind review: The anonymity of both authors and reviewers is guaranteed throughout the process. Authors must remove any information that may identify them in the manuscript.
  • Evaluation criteria: Peer reviewers assess manuscripts based on criteria such as:
    • Structure and organization of the text
    • Coherence and development of the topic
    • Methodological rigor and quality of analysis
    • Originality, contribution, and academic relevance
    • Clarity, precision, and quality of writing
    • Appropriate use and updating of sources
  • Editorial decision: The editorial team makes the final decision based on the reviewers’ reports. In case of discrepancies between evaluations, a third reviewer may be assigned.
  • Revision by authors: When revisions are required, authors must address the reviewers’ comments within the established timeframe and submit a revised version together with a justification of the changes made.
  • Final quality control: Before publication, approved manuscripts undergo final editorial review, including formal, regulatory, and stylistic aspects.