The Donald C. Alexander Tax Law Writing Competition – Deadline is January 6, 2014
The Federal Bar Association Section on Taxation sponsors an annual writing competition and invites law students to participate. The Section on Taxation has recently named the annual competition the Donald C. Alexander Tax Law Writing Competition in honor of former IRS Commissioner (1973-1977) DonAlexander, who passed away in 2009. Mr. Alexander was a widely admired role model and advocate for writing skills and style in the area of tax law throughout his career.
All full-time and part-time law students currently seeking a juris doctor (J.D.) or a master of laws (LL.M.) at an accredited law school are eligible to enter the competition. Students may submit any original paper concerning federal taxation.
Papers written in connection with a law school course, seminar or paid employment are eligible provided that they are written in the form of a scholarly article and do not contain any client-specific work product. Student papers submitted for publication in law reviews or other legal journals are eligible for the competition. However, student papers that have already been published in a law review or other legal journal, or that have been selected for publication, are not eligible for the competition.
Students must sign a Warranty and Authorization to Publish guaranteeing that the paper has not been published or selected for publication as of the date the paper is submitted to this competition and agreeing to permit the Section on Taxation to publish the paper. Student papers submitted to other competitions are eligible for the Donald C. Alexander Tax Law Writing Competition. Papers must be a minimum of twenty pages and a maximum of fifty pages (double spaced, twelve-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins) including endnotes (which may be single-spaced).
Papers will be evaluated based on the following criteria: (1) depth of research; (2) originality of thought; (3) quality, clarity and efficiency of presentation; and (4) relevance to current tax policy or events. Additionally, each student must sign and return the warranty (a .pdf copy by e-mail is acceptable).
Submissions must be postmarked or e-mailed by January 6, 2014. If mailing submissions, please use the following address:
Federal Bar Association Section on Taxation
Attn: Donald C. Alexander Tax Law Writing Competition
1220 N. Fillmore Street, Suite 444
Arlington, VA 22201
If e-mailing submissions, please e-mail to Sherwin Valerio, with the subject line “Donald C. Alexander Tax Law Writing Competition.”
Two winning papers will be selected by the Officers of the Federal Bar Association Section on Taxation. The authors of the first place and second place papers will receive:
(i) A cash prize ($2,000 for first place and $1,000 for second place); and
(ii) A trip to the FBA’s Annual Tax Law Conference in Washington, DC, on February 28, 2014 (value not to exceed $700), where each winner will be presented with a Commemorative Plaque and complimentary one-year membership in the Federal Bar Association Section on Taxation.
Both the first place and second place papers may be published in the Report, the newsletter of the Section and/or The Federal Lawyer, the magazine of the Federal Bar Association. To be eligible for publication in The Federal Lawyer, the paper must be on a topic that is of general interest to the Federal Bar Association membership.
For additional information, including the Warranty and Authorization to Publish, please ask your CDO advisor or visit the website.