American Judges Association Twenty-Fourth Annual Law Student Essay Competition
The American Judges Association (AJA) announces its annual essay competition open to all full-time law students enrolled in and attending an accredited law school in theUnited States or Canada. The first prize for the contest is $3,000; second is $1,500; and third is $1,000. First, second, and third place winners and their law schools will be presented with an award certificate. The winning essay may be published in AJA’s journal, Court Review.
The following rules and regulations apply:
- Any student regularly enrolled in and attending classes at an accredited law school in the United States or Canada is eligible to enter. Submission of a paper, with one cover page and the completed entry form constitutes entry. Essays submitted for the 2012 competition MUST be under the topic of “Is it constitutional for a legislative body to require a DNA test for all persons arrested and charged with a felony?” Essays determined not tomeet this qualification will be not evaluated.
- The cover page of the paper must be submitted in a separate document and shall include the title and the author’s name, current mailing and e-mail addresses, and telephone number. The author’s name should appear only on the cover page and the entry form. The title and page number must appear at the top of each page of the paper.
- All papers shall be the original, unpublished work of an individual student, but may have been prepared as a course assignment. Normal guidance of law school faculty is permitted.
- Entry grants AJA the right of first publication of the paper and is agreement to hold AJA and its members harmless from, and to indemnify them for, any and all damages and costs relating to copyright infringement or plagiarism.
- Papers become the property of the American Judges Association and may be published in the Court Review.
- Papers should be double-spaced and 10-25 pages in length. Extensive footnoting or end noting is discouraged and is included in the paper’s length. Citations, footnotes, and endnotes should be in accord with the current edition of A Uniform System of Citation.
- Papers will be evaluated considering: writing quality and clarity; the interest of the topic and content to a broad segment of the judiciary; analysis and reasoning; timeliness, originality, and creativity; quality and use of research; and compliance with these rules.
- Papers will be evaluated, and prizes awarded, at the sole discretion of a panel of AJA members who will have no knowledge of the author’s name or law school.
- Winners will be publicly announced at the Association’s 2012 Annual Educational Conference in New Orleans, September 30-October 5, and thereafter notified by mail.
- All law schools and authors will also be notified by mail.
- Entries must be e-mailed or postmarked no later than June 1, 2012.
- First prize is $3,000, second prize is $1,500, and third prize is $1,000. Prize monies are contributed by the American Judges Foundation.
For additional information, please contact the AJA or visit the website.