2015-2016 Law Student Writing Competition

The United States Court of Federal Claims Bar Association announces that its annual Law Student Writing Competition for the 2015-2016 academic year is underway. The Court of Federal Claims Bar Association is a non-profit, voluntary bar association made up of nationwide members who practice law in the areas that lie within the specialized jurisdiction of the United States Court of Federal Claims. The goal of this competition is to encourage law student scholarship on current topics that lie within the jurisdiction of the United States Court of Federal Claims. The winning entry in the competition will receive a $3,500 cash prize and an opportunity to be published via the Association’s website.

The United States Court of Federal Claims was created pursuant to Article I of the United States Constitution in October 1982, by the Federal Courts Improvement Act. The court is authorized to hear primarily money claims founded upon the Constitution, federal statutes, executive regulations, or contracts with the United States.

The cases before the court are diverse and involve a variety of statutes. They include claims arising from tax refunds, government contracts, Fifth Amendment takings (which can implicate environmental and natural resource issues), Federal procurement “bid-protests,” Federal civilian and military pay matters, intellectual property disputes, Native American tribal rights, and the federal Vaccine Injury Compensation program.

Entries to the contest may address any topic that lies within the procedure, substance, or scope of the jurisdiction of the United States Court of Federal Claims. The rules of the contest are posted on the Association’s website.

Entry deadline is July 15, 2016.