The two terms are used interchangeably. The typical law review is published quarterly, although some are issued only annually and others as often as eight times a year. These publications are generally in two or more sections. These articles are typically lengthy, scholarly in nature, and may have a substantial impact in changing the law or in charting the course for newly-developing fields of law. Sometimes these notes and comments are in two separate sections.
Many journals also publish book reviews.
In this section are critical, detailed expositions that frequently venture beyond an assessment of the book to include the reviewer's personal opinion about the issues raised in the book. These book reviews are frequently lengthy and extensively documented. Although there are numerous virtues to law reviews, they are not without their critics, and the debate as to their relative value continues. The substance of the criticism is usually aimed at their pedantic style, excessive use of footnotes, and their similarity to each other. In spite of these criticisms, law school law reviews serve as important vehicles for the publication of significant legal research , as valuable resources for references to additional sources of information, and as incisive and effective teaching tools.