Writing Contests:
Information provided by Dean Sowle's Office
1999-2000 Academic Year

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New listings added for the current week are indicated in italics.  Print copies of the rules and regulations governing the writing contests listed here are available from Denise Lang in Suite 320.


The CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution announces a writing contest for original student articles on events or issues in the field of alternative dispute resolution.  First prize will be $2,000; second prize will be $1,000.  Submissions must be received no later than November 12, 1999.

The Berkeley Women's Law Journal announces a writing contest to solicit articles that address the lives and struggles of underrepresented women.  The winning entry will receive $500, and the winner's submission will be published in the Journal in Spring 2000. Submissions must be received by November 19, 1999.

The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc. announces its second annual Entertainment Law Initiative writing contest.  Contestants must submit a 3,000 word essay on a compelling legal issue facing the music industry.  First prize is a $5,000 award.  Four second place winners will each receive $1,500.  Contestants must register no later than November 1, 1999.  Papers must be submitted no later than December 15, 1999.

The National Conference of Bar Examiners announces its first annual Joe E. Covington Prize for Scholarship in Bar Admissions Topics, which will be awarded to the winning essay on one of the following topics:  (1) Computer-based testing for the bar examination: can adaptive testing or complex format testing better gauge applicant abilities? (2) How can the bar examination and bar admission processes enhance the professional committment of newly admitted Lawyers to integrity, civility, and the advancement of basic societal values in the practice of law? (3) Bar admissions in the 21st century: should the bar admission process be change?  Submissions must be received by November 30, 1999.

The ABA Section of Antitrust Law announces its second annual writing competition to reward student articles in the area of antitrust law and competition policy.  Submissions may address any antitrust-related topic of general and current interest to the antitrust law community, including (but not limited to) topics relating to civil and criminal antitrust law, competition policy, consumer protection and international competition law.  Each law review sponsored by an ABA-accredited law school may nominate an article for consideration.  The article must be written by a currently enrolled student and must be published in the law review during calendar year 1999.  The winning entrant will receive a prize of $1,000 and an expenses-paid trip to the Section's annual Spring meeting in Washington, D.C. Entries are due no later than January 3, 2000.

Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. announces its 1999-2000 health law writing competition. Papers must address an issue of current interest relating to health care law.  Three prizes will be awarded:  first prize, $3,000; second prize, $1,000; third prize, $500.  Submissions must be received by January 7, 2000.

The Federal Bar Association Section of Taxation announces its annual writing contest on the following topic: "Should Congress continue using the Internal Revenue Code as an instrument of social policy while, at the same time, decreasing the resources and funding of the agency charged with the administration and enforcement of our tax laws?"  Submissions must be postmarked by January 28, 2000.

The American Indian Law Review announces a writing contest on any issue concerning American Indian Law.  The winning entrant will receive a prize of $1,000 and publication of the paper in the American Indian Law Review.  Second place will receive $500; third place will receive $250. Submissions must be postmarked first class no later than January 31, 2000.

The American Bar Association Section of Business Law is sponsoring its 14th annual writing contest on any business law subject of general and current interest.  Each ABA-accredited law school is asked to nominate a student paper.  If you are interested in having a paper considered for nomination, please contact Dean Sowle.  The deadline for submissions to the ABA is February 1, 2000.

The editors of Law and Social Inquiry announce a writing competition for the best journal-length paper in the field of sociolegal studies.  The author of the winning paper will receive a cash prize of $500. Submissions must be received by March 1, 2000.

The Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal announces its 2000 writing competition, sponsored by the law firm of Jenkens & Gilchrist.  Submissions may address any topic related to intellectual property law. Prizes of $1500 for first place and $750 for second place will be awarded.  Submissions must be received by March 1, 2000.

The Roscoe Pound Foundation announces the 2000 Roscoe Hogan Enviornmental Law Essay Contest on the topic: "Causation standards for toxic torts."  The winning entrant will receive a $5,000 cash award and a paid trip to Chicago to receive the award at the annuanl Convention of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.  Each entry must be submitted through a faculty adviser.  Entrants must submit an intent-to-enter form by February 11, 2000.  The essays themselves must be submitted no later than March 31, 2000

The law firm of Foley & Lardner announces its Intellectual Property Competition 2000 for student essays related to intellectual property management. Twelve prizes totaling $10,000 will be awarded.  Acceptable topics "are as broad as a candidate's initiative, creativity and vision." Representative examples incude, but are not limited to: protecting intellectual property rights to maximize competitive opportunities; extracting untapped value from intellectual property; auditing patents to determine whether they should be enforced, licensed, donated or terminated; and identifying prospective IP licensees. Submissions must be postmarked no later than April 1, 2000.

The ABA Section of Family Law invites submissions for its 2000 Howard C. Schwab Memorial Essay Contest in Family Law.  The contest is open to second- and third-year full-time students and second- through fourth-year part-time students.  Submissions can be on any aspect of family law. Prizes will be awarded as follows: first prize, $700; second prize, $500; third prize, $300. Entries must be postmarked on or before April 4, 2000.

The International Association of Defense Counsel announces its 2000 writing contest.  Submissions must address subjects in the fields of tort law, insurance law, civil procedure, evidence, or other areas of the law of practical concern to lawyers engaged in the defense, or management of the defense, of civil litigation.  Prizes of $2,000 for first place, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third place will be awarded. Submissions must be postmarked no later than April 10, 2000.

The Alliance Defense Fund announces its William Pew Religious Freedom Scholarship Competition.  An award of $7,500 will be given to the full-time law student who submits the winning paper on the topic of extending equal access to religious viewpoints in elementary education.  Submissions must be postmarked no later than April 15, 2000.

The Financial Markets Center announces a writing contest for papers on the subject of "Reengineering the Federal Reserve System."  The winning entry will receive the Henry B. Gonzalez Award -- $2,500 and publication of the paper by the Center.  The deadine for entries is April 28, 2000.

The Food and Drug Law Institute announces its 1999-2000 H. Thomas Austern Memorial Writing Competition. Winning papers will be considered for publication in the Food and Drug Law Journal. Papers should be on a current issue relevant to the food and drug field.  Three prizes will be awarded:  first place $3,000; second place $2,000; third place $1,000.  Papers must be received no later than May 12, 2000.

The Federal Circuit Bar Association announces its 2000 George Hutchinson Writing Contest. Submissions may discuss any topic that lies within the substance, procedure, or scope of the specialized jurisdiction of the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.  An award of $2,000 will be given to the first place entry. Second and third place awards may be given at the discretion of the judges. Submissions must be postmarked no later than June 1, 2000.

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) announces its annual Nathan Burkan Memorial Competition for third-year law students.  Submissions may be on any aspect of copyright law.  A first prize of $600 and a second prize of $250 will be awarded at each participating law school.  Each school will be responsible for selecting the winning papers. Any Chicago-Kent student interested in submitting a paper should contact Dean Sowle. Winning papers must be certified to ASCAP no later than June 30, 2000.


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