Journal of Empirical Legal Studies - Impact Factor, Indexing, Rank, and APC 2026

Aims & Scope

The Journal of Empirical Legal Studies (JELS) is a peer-edited, peer-refereed, interdisciplinary journal that publishes high-quality, empirically-oriented articles of interest to scholars in a diverse range of law and law-related fields, including civil justice, corporate law, criminal justice, domestic relations, economics, finance, health care, political science, psychology, public policy, securities regulation, and sociology.

Both experimental and nonexperimental data analysis are welcome, as are law-related empirical studies from around the world.

Launched in 2004, JELS is devoted to the dissemination of empirical studies of the legal system.

The Journal's editors and editorial advisory boards comprise renowned international scholars from diverse disciplines, including law, statistics, economics, psychology, industrial relations, and dispute resolution.

Recognizing that many legal and policy debates hinge on assumptions about the operation of the legal system, the Journal seeks to encourage and promote the careful, dispassionate testing of these assumptions.

The editorial policy of the Journal is open to empirical work from any disciplinary or ideological approach to the study of law.

Empirical analysis of the legal system has a long, if spotty, tradition in the academy.

Many legal realists of the 1930s made their mark with empirical studies.

A growing number of contemporary scholars recognize the value of empirical analysis in understanding the legal system and its role in society.

JELS provides an outlet for publication of high quality empirical work, supporting and encouraging this growing field of study.

View Aims & Scope

Metrics & Ranking

Impact Factor

Year	Value
2025	1.3
2024	1.20

SJR (SCImago Journal Rank)

Year	Value
2024	0.397

Quartile

Year	Value
2024	Q2

h-index

Year	Value
2024	36

Journal Rank

Year	Value
2024	13860

Journal Citation Indicator

Year	Value
2024	117

Impact Factor Trend

Abstracting & Indexing

Journal is indexed in leading academic databases, ensuring global visibility and accessibility of our peer-reviewed research.

Subjects & Keywords

Journal’s research areas, covering key disciplines and specialized sub-topics in Social Sciences, designed to support cutting-edge academic discovery.

Most Cited Articles

The Most Cited Articles section features the journal's most impactful research, based on citation counts. These articles have been referenced frequently by other researchers, indicating their significant contribution to their respective fields.