The Tulsa Law Review’s annual symposium is a fully student-led event that brings together legal scholars, practitioners and tribal leaders to examine pressing legal issues. Revived in 2024 after a pause during the COVID-19 pandemic, the symposium and its accompanying journal issue are organized and executed by members of the Tulsa Law Review.
This year’s symposium focused on tribal economic development and the expanding role of tribal enterprises in shaping local and national economies. Discussions centered on the legal frameworks that govern these businesses, the challenges tribes face in navigating federal and state systems and the opportunities for continued growth and investment.
The event featured a keynote address by University of Nevada Las Vegas Professor Kathryn Rand and three panels covering tribal economic enterprises, taxation and business transactions. Speakers included professors, tribal government leaders, private practitioners and federal officials, offering a range of perspectives on how tribal economies operate and evolve.
Student editors are responsible for every stage of the symposium. They select the topic, invite and prepare speakers, coordinate logistics and manage the event itself. “Hearing from private practice, federal government, tribal government, tribal business and professors helps create a more well-rounded and informative discussion,” said symposium editor Madison Foster.
Students also work directly with speakers in advance of the event, holding individual and group meetings to refine presentations and ensure cohesive panel discussions. This preparation helped shape conversations around key issues, including ongoing misunderstandings about how tribal economies operate under federal and state law.
Following the symposium, the Tulsa Law Review Editorial Board leads the publication process for a special symposium issue. Contributors submit written articles based on their presentations, and student editors collaborate with authors to fact-check and edit each piece. “It is truly a collaborative process between the authors and our editors,” said Rachel Burrell, editor-in-chief of the Tulsa Law Review.
The work produced through the symposium and journal has broader legal relevance, such as in McGirt v. Oklahoma, where the U.S. Supreme Court cited Tulsa Law Review articles, demonstrating how student-edited scholarship can contribute to legal interpretation and ongoing policy discussions.
As a student-run publication, the Tulsa Law Review provides hands-on experience in legal research, writing and editing while also giving students a central role in shaping academic and professional conversations. It is one of many experiential learning opportunities offered at UTulsa’s College of Law.