Sponsors/facilitators of student writing competitions provide more detailed instructions and rules at their websites. Students need to review the information and rules available at these websites.
Sponsor: American Bar Association Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section Aviation and Space Law Committee
Topic: "Submit a 20-page paper addressing a recent development in any area of aviation or space law or discuss an area of aviation or space law where a controversy or disagreement exist. Entrants are encouraged to write on subjects of national interest, rather than state-specific issues."
Format: "Submissions must be limited to no more than twenty (20) pages, double-spaced, 12-point Book Antiqua, Arial or Times Roman font with footnotes and citations conforming to Bluebook standards."
Eligibility requirements include: "The competition is open to any law school student who is at least 21 years old at the time of entry and who is currently attending an ABA accredited law school as of the date of entry, within the United States and its possessions. All entrants must be a U.S. citizen. Membership in the ABA, the Section or the Committee is not required. Employees of the ABA, its respective affiliates, and immediate family or household members of such employees are not eligible for the competition." "Essays submitted must have been written after January 1, 2025."
Participant release form includes this statement: "I warrant and represent that my submission to the Competition (a) has not been published prior to its submission to this Competition, (other than any previous publication in a law school publication, provided that I have previously disclosed such publication and the terms and conditions of such publication to the ABA) and (b) is my original work and does not violate the intellectual property rights of others."
Prizes: "The first-place winner will be eligible to receive (1) $500 cash prize; (2) up to $1,500 reimbursement for hotel and transportation expenses to attend and speak at the ABA TIPS Aviation and Space Law Annual CLE Seminar in Washington, DC on October 23 & 24, 2025 and (3) publication in an upcoming edition of the TIPS Aviation and Space Law Committee’s newsletter. In addition, at the sole discretion of the Sponsor, the winning entry may be published in the TIPS Law Journal or TIPS quarterly magazine, The Brief. At the sole discretion of the Sponsor, the next two runners-up may receive honorable mention in the Committee newsletter. The Sponsor may substitute a prize of equal or greater value in its sole discretion."
Deadline for submission in 2025-26 Competition: "Please submit all entries to Maura L. Walsh, Esq. atmaura.walsh@usaig.comby September 8, 2025."
