Lawfare: Submission Guidelines

About Lawfare

Lawfare is a publication devoted to the intersection of national security and law, covering security law, cyber policy, and related legal debates.

Topics they accept

Lawfare accepts external contributions on security law and cyber policy. If your piece sits at the edge of these areas, frame the pitch around the overlap rather than the exception — editors commission what they can place in an existing coverage line.

Formats

The outlet primarily publishes analysis. Match the format to the argument: a single sharp claim belongs in the shortest format the outlet runs, while a piece that needs evidence laid out in sequence belongs in the longer one.

Length requirements

Typical length: 1,500-2,500 words. Treat this as the range editors expect to edit, not a hard ceiling. If your draft runs long, cut background before you cut evidence.

Response time

Reported response time: Varies — check their guidelines page. Response windows are typical ranges reported by contributors, not guarantees. If the window passes, one short follow-up note is professional; more than one is pushy.

What editors look for

• Legal precision is the bar: cite the statute, case, or executive action you are analyzing, not just the controversy around it.
• The longer format rewards structured argument — use subheadings and build the legal reasoning step by step.
• Timeliness helps: pieces tied to a live case, ruling, or regulation move faster than evergreen explainers.

How to submit

Submission routes change from time to time, so always start from the outlet's own website: look for a "Submissions", "Write for us", or "Guidelines" page and follow the current instructions there. Read three or four recent pieces in your topic area before you draft, so tone, depth, and paragraph style match the house.

Looking for a home for tech-policy commentary? Strategic Insight Institute is currently accepting pitches — see the submission guidelines.