This is a great opportunity for law students looking to get their name out there. The winner will also earn themselves a great resume bullet, some networking, and a publication.
American Bar Association Standing Committee on Law and National Security
2008 National Security Law Student Writing Competition
Overview: The Standing Committee on Law and National Security, founded in 1962 by then-ABA President and later Supreme Court Justice Lewis J. Powell, conducts studies, sponsors programs and conferences, and administers working groups on law and national security-related issues. The Committee’s activities assist policymakers, educate lawyers, the media and the public, and enable the Committee to make recommendations to the ABA. The Standing Committee provides research and advice on such subjects as the legal responses to terrorism, the restructuring of the intelligence community and its role in law enforcement, and operational international law in the conduct of the military.
In furtherance of this mission the Standing Committee is proud to announce a new and innovative writing competition for law students to provide their unique perspective and insight to one of the most important questions our country faces, how to craft a legal response to the problems presented by terrorism and other emerging national security threats.
Topic: New Perspectives for a New Threat: student analysis of a timely issue at the intersection of law and national security.
Eligibility: The competition is open to all students attending an ABA accredited law school at the time their entry is submitted. Only original and previously unpublished papers are eligible. Papers prepared for law school credit are eligible provided they are original work. Jointly authored papers are not eligible. Entrants can have a faculty member or practicing lawyer review and critique their work, but the submission must be the student’s own work product. The name of the reviewing professor or lawyer must be noted on the entry. Committee members, staff, and selection committee members shall not participate in the contest or review process. Only one essay may be submitted per entrant.
Format: Essays shall be between 4,000-6,000 words, including title, citations, and any footnotes. The text of the essay must be double-spaced, with twelve-point font and one-inch margins. Entries should reflect the style of ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security’s National Security Law Report articles rather than law review style. Entrants are encouraged to review past copies of the News available at http://www.abanet.org/natsecurity/ – prior to drafting their submissions. Citations must be embedded in text or in footnote form, as opposed to endnotes. Cites must conform with The Bluebook: Uniform System of Citation.
Entry Procedure: Each submission must include a SEPARATE COVER PAGE with the entrant’s name, law school, year of study, mailing and email address, and phone number. The contestant’s name and other identifying markings, such as school name, MAY NOT appear on any copy of the submitted essay.
Deadline: Submissions must be postmarked no later than September 15, 2008 and mailed to: American Bar Association, Standing Committee on Law and National Security, 740 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005; or sent via email to hmcmahon@staff.abanet.org. Winner will be notified by October 15, 2008.
By submitting an entry in this contest, the entrant grants the ABA and the ABA Standing Committee on Law And National Security permission to edit and publish the entry in the Committee’s National Security Law Report. Please direct any questions about the contest to the Committee Staff Director at hmcmahon@staff.abanet.org.
Judging: The winning entry will contain an original analysis of a national security law issue that is substantively accurate and persuasive, supported by citations, and clearly written. The entries will be judged anonymously by members of the ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security.
Prize: The winning essay will be published in the National Security Law Report. The winner will also receive free registration to the 18th Annual Review of the Field of National Security Law Conference held in Washington, DC, on November 6 and 7, 2008, as well as reimbursement, up to $500, for travel, housing, and per diem to attend the same.
