H. Thomas Austern Writing Competition Now Open!

FDLI is a nonprofit member organization that has been providing education, training, publications, and professional engagement opportunities since it was founded in 1949. Each year, our organization hosts the H. Thomas Austern Writing Competition for law students interested in areas of the law impacting FDA-regulated industries. The 2021 competition is now open!

Overview and Eligibility Requirements:

  • Students currently enrolled in a JD program at any of the nation’s ABA-accredited law schools and 2020-2021 academic year graduates are eligible to participate.
  • Original scholarship, including papers originally written for classwork or to fulfill school requirements, may be submitted as long as the paper is not published or accepted for publication elsewhere.
  • All entries should be within the scope of FDA-regulated industries, such as food, drugs, medical devices, tobacco and nicotine products, cannabis, cosmetics, veterinary drugs and devices, etc.
  • Winners are awarded a complimentary one-year FDLI membership.
  • Top entries receive $750 for first place, $500 for second, and $250 for third.
  • Top papers will be considered for publication in the Food and Drug Law Journal.
  • Winners will be featured on FDLI’s website and in Update magazine.
  • A committee comprised of FDLI members who are practicing attorneys and law professors will judge the papers.

More information, as well as a link for students to submit their papers, can be found on FDLI’s website.

FDLI is accepting submissions until Friday, June 11th. Students who would like their manuscripts entered for consideration should register and submit them through our portal before this deadline.  

For information about the FDLI Annual Conference and to register, click here.