University of Connecticut School of Law Student Legal Writing Competition
Deadline:
June 3, 2013
Description:
The University of Connecticut School of Law has established a student Legal Writing Competition to encourage and reward original student writing on legal issues affecting persons struggling with homelessness, mental illness, addiction or substance abuse.
Topic:
Entrants should submit a paper on a legal issue affecting persons struggling with homelessness, mental illness, addiction or substance abuse.
Eligibility:
Papers will be accepted from any student enrolled for the 2012-13 academic year in an ABA-accredited law school in the United States or Canada. Papers must be the law student author’s own work and must not have been submitted for publication elsewhere. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a student may incorporate professorial feedback as part of a course requirement or supervised writing project. All students intending to enter the competition must register by April 15, 2013. Registration Form.
Format:
Papers should be a minimum of 15 pages in length and shall not exceed 30 pages, including footnotes. They must be types, double-spaced and with one-inch margins, on 8 ½ x 11 inch paper, in a 12-point font, such as Times New Roman. All citations and footnotes should conform to the current edition of The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation and should also be in a 12-point font.
Judging:
Papers will be judged by a panel appointed by the University of Connecticut School of Law. Judges will evaluate papers based on the substance, clarity of the proposal or thesis, logical force, support of argument, and quality of research. Grammar, syntax and form will also be taken into consideration.
Submission:
Entries must be received by 5pm on June 3, 2013. Entries must be submitted in two formats: (1) email an electronic version (in Microsoft Word or PDF format) via email and (2) mail, with a postmark dated by June 3, 2013, four copies of the paper to:
Student Legal Writing Competition
University of Connecticut School of Law
55 Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
Attn: Assistant Dean Karen Lynn DeMeola
Papers are judged anonymously, and no identifying information should appear on either the original or the copies of the paper. Entrants must submit a separate cover letter listing the author’s name, address, telephone number, email address, name of law school, and year of graduation.
Awards:
Three cash prizes will be awarded: $750 First Prize, $500 Second Prize, and $250 Third Prize. Winners will be notified by July 30, 2013. All decisions of the judges are final.