The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) is committed to fostering diversity in law schools and the legal profession. Currently, through its Diversity Committee, LSAC is operating at least eight diversity initiatives. These initiatives include organizing national and regional pipeline workshops\u00a0 that\u00a0 promote\u00a0 the\u00a0 development of\u00a0 outreach\u00a0 and\u00a0 early\u00a0 educational programs for students from diverse backgrounds; offering grants to support diversity initiatives at LSAC\u00ad member law schools; maintaining databases and websites\u00a0with information, resources and programs that encourage students of color, students living with a disability, and LGBTQ students to pursue a legal career and to equip them with the tools for successful admission and graduation from law school; and engaging in ongoing collaborative programs and projects with prelaw advisors and students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACUs), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs).<\/p>\n
For decades, studies consistently have shown that students of color, students living with a disability, and LGBTQ students are underrepresented in most law schools. As a consequence, smaller percentages of persons who represent these groups are graduating from law school and entering the legal profession. This writing competition is designed to reinvigorate the dialogue about the recruitment and retention strategies that law schools should deploy to yield a more diverse class of graduates that will enter the legal profession.<\/p>\n
JUDGING<\/span>:<\/p>\n A panel of legal writing instructors and LSAC staff will evaluate each submission and select the winning papers. If no paper meets standards set forth in this announcement, the panel may decide not to issue an award or to publish a paper.\u00a0 The panel’s decision will be final.<\/p>\n DEADLINE<\/span>:<\/p>\n All papers must be uploaded no later than 5:00 PM EST on Thursday, May 1, 2014<\/em><\/strong>. No extensions will be granted.\u00a0Papers submitted after the deadline will not be eligible for an award. All submissions become the property of LSAC.<\/p>\n TOPIC<\/span>:<\/p>\n What\u00a0 techniques,\u00a0 resources\u00a0 and\u00a0 strategies\u00a0\u00a0 should\u00a0 law\u00a0 schools utilize\u00a0 to recruit\u00a0 and\u00a0 retain students\u00a0 of\u00a0 color\u00a0 and other\u00a0 students who are from groups underrepresented\u00a0 in law schools and the legal profession?<\/p>\n ELIGIBILITY<\/span>:<\/p>\n Current JD candidates who are in good standing at accredited LSAC-member law schools.<\/p>\n LENGTH AND FORMAT<\/span>:<\/p>\n Up\u00a0 to\u00a0 20\u00a0 pages\u00a0 (5000\u00a0 words\u00a0 or\u00a0 less),\u00a0 8\u00a0 112 by\u00a0 11\u00a0 inch\u00a0 paper, double spaced, I inch margins, Word format, 12 point font, with endnotes\u00a0 written\u00a0 in “A\u00a0 Uniform\u00a0 System\u00a0 of\u00a0 Citation”\u00a0 (The\u00a0 Blue Book) format.<\/p>\n EVALUATION CRITERIA<\/span>:<\/p>\n Essays will be judged according to:<\/p>\n \u2022 Research and use of relevant sources and authorities (cases, law review articles; other secondary sources, including, but not limited to, books, newspapers, and magazines; and empirical and sociological studies);<\/p>\n \u2022 Quality and clarity of legal analysis, persuasion, and writing;<\/p>\n \u2022 Understanding, interpretations and conclusions regarding diversity and the implications of diversity in this context;<\/p>\n \u2022 Full compliance with all competition procedures.<\/p>\n