Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog

Writing Competition on Article I Writing Contest

The Federalist Society is holding its Article I Writing Contest.  The goal of the contest is to encourage and reward law students writing about the subject of Article I of the Constitution. Articles submitted for judging must follow set guidelines and may not have been previously published. Information about the competition is below:

Here is the latest from the Article I Initiative - Writing Contest Who: Open to all eligible individuals under the age of 40.*   What: Essay contest on "Restoring the Constitutional Congress." (Maximum 30 pages.)*   When: Beginning August 1, 2017; deadline for submission is January 5, 2018.    Why: To engage new thought and discussion about the proper role of the Congress.     Theme: The Federalist Papers clearly establish that the drafters of the Constitution intended the legislature to be the most powerful branch of government. In its present state, as the government operates on a day to day basis, it is not. We are left to wonder how this came to be. Were the Founders simply wrong about the inherent powers of the legislative branch? Has the institution of Congress developed practices that are not compatible with the text of the Constitution? Why are current Congressional leaders unable or unwilling to act as an effective check on the presidency? Why is Congress unable to pass a budget? Why has Congress ceded much of its authority to the executive branch and to administrative agencies? What does it mean to serve productively as a member of the House or Senate?   Prizes: The first-place winner will receive free registration, accommodations, and travel to the Federalist Society's 2018 Student Symposium, March 9-10 in Washington, D.C. and a $5,000 cash prize. A runner-up $2,500 cash prize will be awarded and two honorable mention $1,000 cash prizes will also be awarded.*  *Click here for complete rules and the submission form. Article I Events Reminder: As announced at the July Student Leadership Conference (SLC), Article I programs are a priority for the Society this year. There is even a special incentive for catering at these events!   Questions? Please consult the Approved Speaker list provided to you at the SLC or email Nate Kaczmarek at: [email protected]   More info:  fedsoc.org/articlei   WEBSITE | BLOG POSTS | VIDEOS | EVENTS

RPTE's 2017 Student Writing Contest

 The ABA's Section of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law (RPTE) is seeking entries for its Student Writing Contest which is now entering its 15th year. It offers substantial prizes to its entrants:

First prize: $2,500 plus free round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations to the Section's 2017 Fall Leadership Meeting at Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa in Monterey, California, plus one year's membership in the Section; 

Second prize: $1,500 plus one year's membership in the Section; and

Third prize: $1,000 plus one year's membership in the Section.

In addition, all prize winners are considered for publication in the Section's law review journal, The Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Journal, which circulates to 20,000 RPTE members. 

Contest rules are here: http://www.americanbar.org/groups/real_property_trust_estate/fellowships_and_awards/writing_contest.html.

ACTEC Announces Mary Moers Wenig 2017 Student Writing Competition

The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel has officially announced the Mary Moers Wenig 2017 Student Writing Competition.

Here are some of the key features of this competition:

• Large cash prizes (first place = $5,000; second place = $3,000; third place = $1,000; honorable mention cash awards may also be made).
• A broad range of topics in the trusts and estates and related taxation areas.
• Attractive page requirements -- the body of the paper must be 20 double-spaced pages and may not exceed 30 double-spaced pages.
• Use of original (but unpublished) papers, including papers prepared for law school credit.
• June 15, 2017 deadline which will allow for work over several months including spring break.
• No limit on the number of Honorable Mention Prizes allowing entrants to have a greater chance of receiving recognition and monetary awards.
• Papers may be coauthored.

The official rules may be found here.

Call for Authors: American Inns of Court Warren E. Burger Prize

The American Inns of Court invites judges, lawyers, professors, students, scholars, and other authors to participate in its 2015 Warren E. Burger Prize.

Authors should submit an original, unpublished, 10,000–20,000 word essay on a topic that addresses the issues of excellence in legal skills, civility, ethics, and professionalism.

The winning essay will be published in the South Carolina Law Review and the author will receive a cash prize of $5,000.

The submission deadline for the 2015 Warren E. Burger Prize is July 1, 2015.

More information is available on the American Inns of Court website at www.innsofcourt.org/BurgerPrize

2015 RPTE Law Student Writing Contest

The American Bar Association Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law is holding the annual RPTE Law Student Writing Contest.  The goal of the contest is to encourage and reward law student writing on the subjects o real property or trust and estate law. Article submitted for judging are encouraged to be of timely topics and have not been previously published This contest is open to all law and LL.M students currently attending an ABA-accredited law school.  Top three articles will be awarded:

1st place:

• $2,500 award
• Free round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations to the RPTE Fall Leadership Meeting in Laguna Beach, CA 7-9, 2014. This is an excellent meeting to network with RPTE leadership!
• One year free RPTE membership
• Consideration for publication in The Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Journal, the Section's law review journal, which is mailed to 24,000 RPTE members
• Name and essay title will be published in the eReport, the Section's electronic newsletter

2nd place: 

• $1,450 award
• One year free RPTE membership
• Consideration for publication in The Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Journal, the Section's law review journal, which is mailed to 24,000 RPTE members
• Name and essay title will be published in the eReport, the Section's electronic newsletter

3rd place: 

• $1,000 award
• One year free RPTE membership
• Consideration for publication in The Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Journal, the Section's law review journal, which is mailed to 24,000 RPTE members
• Name and essay title will be published in the eReport, the Section's electronic newsletter

Employee Benefits Writing Competition

The American College of Employee Benefits Counsel is sponsoring the Eleventh Annual Employee Benefits Writing Prize.  This writing competition is open to any J.D. and graduate (L.L.M. or S.J.D.) law students and encourages them to learn about employee benefits.  Papers may be on any topic in the employee benefits field and must be submitted by June 2, 2015 where two $1,500 prizes will be awarded. 

Winners will be honored during the College’s annual black tie dinner on September 19, 2015 in Chicago, IL.  They will receive a plaque and an employee benefits treatise published by Bloomberg BNA Books.  One or more of the winning papers will be published by the Bloomberg BNA Pension and Benefits Reporter, the Bloomberg BNA Tax Management Compensation Planning Journal or another employee benefits publication. 

Special thanks to Deborah S. Gordon (Assistant Professor of Law, Thomas R. Kline School of Law) for bringing this writing competition to my attention.

Warren E. Burger Prize Writing Competition

Consider entering the American Inns of Court Warren E. Burger Prize writing competition. Interested authors can be law students, professors, judges, and lawyers. They do not need to be members of the American Inns of Court. The author is asked to submit an original, unpublished essay of 10,000 to 20,000 words on a topic that addresses issues of legal excellence, civility, ethics, and professionalism.

This competition is designed to encourage outstanding scholarship that “promotes the ideals of excellence, civility, ethics and professionalism within the legal profession,” the core mission of the American Inns of Court. The author of the winning essay will receive a cash prize of $5,000 and the essay will be published in the South Carolina Law Review, and the author will be recognized at the Annual Celebration of Excellence event at the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, DC.

The submission deadline for the 2014 Warren E. Burger Prize is July 1, 2014.  Rules for the writing competition are available on the American Inns of Court website.

2013 Mary Moers Wenig Student Writing Competition

The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) has announced the winners of the 2013 Mary Moers Wenig Student Writing Competition.

First Place: Christopher J. Roman (Villanova Law School) “Protecting Your Clients’ Assets from their Future Ex-Sons and Daughters-In-Law: The Impact of Evolving Trust Laws on Alimony Awards”

Second Place: Ryan Konsdorf & Scott Alden Prulhiere (Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law) “Killing Your Chances of Inheriting: The Problem with the Application of the Slayer Statute to Cases of Assisted Suicide”

Third Place: Emily Tornabene (Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law) “To Have and To Hold, and Now a QDRO”

 

Honorable Mentions:

Daniel G. Cronin (Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law) “Decanting Trusts: Evolving Law”

Kendal R. Dobra (University of Connecticut School of Law) “Riding the Digital Wave: An Executor’s Fiduciary Duty toward Digital Assets”

Daniel Miller (Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law) “How Harmless Is Harmless? An In-Depth Look Into the Harmless Error Rule”

ACTEC Announces Mary Moers Wenig 2013 Student Writing Competition

The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel has officially announced the Mary Moers Wenig 2013 Student Writing Competition.

Here are some of the key features of this competition:

• Large cash prizes (first place = $5,000; second place = $3,000; third place = $1,000; honorable mention cash awards may also be made).
• A broad range of topics in the trusts and estates and related taxation areas.
• Attractive page requirements -- the body of the paper must be 20 double-spaced pages and may not exceed 30 double-spaced pages.
• Use of original (but unpublished) papers, including papers prepared for law school credit.
• June 14, 2013 deadline which will allow for work over several months including spring break.
• No limit on the number of Honorable Mention Prizes allowing entrants to have a greater chance of receiving recognition and monetary awards.
• Papers may be coauthored.

The official rules may be found here.

Encourage Students to Enter RPTE Writing Contest

Professors: 

Encourage your students to enter the ABA Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Student Writing Contest.

The 2013 prizes are as follows: 

1st Place
- $2,500
- Possible consideration for essay to be printed in Probate & Propertymagazine
- Free roundtrip airfare and hotel accomodations to the 2013 Fall Leadership Meeting in October to New Orleans, LA
- One year free RPTE membership

2nd Place
- $1,500
- One year free RPTE membership

3rd Place
- $1,000
- One year free RPTE membership

All essays are due June 14. Please click here to find the contest rules and entry forms.