Regent University Law Review

THE HON. LEROY ROUNTREE HASSELL, SR.
WRITING COMPETITION

hassellWe are pleased to announce the third annual Leroy R. Hassell, Sr., Writing Competition. The Regent University Law Review is sponsoring this competition to foster and celebrate excellence in legal scholarship among the Regent University community. The winner will receive a cash prize of $500. Also, the winning paper is eligible for publication in the fall edition of the Regent University Law Review.

SUBMISSION PROCEDURES

Writing Topic: This year’s writing topic is a semi-open topic. Any paper submitted that otherwise complies with the rules will be considered if it is scholarly material of publishable quality that advocates a legal position consistent with the Regent University Law Review mission statement as set forth below:

The Mission of the Law Review is to bring glory to God and to make the character and person of Jesus Christ known through the publication of excellent and principled legal scholarship. The Law Review strives to achieve this mission in the following ways: (1) The publication of well-written scholarship that demonstrates the application of Christian principles to legal issues; (2) the publication of well-written scholarship that benefits the practicing bar; (3) the training of Law Review members in legal writing and editing; and (4) the equipping of Law Review members for effective leadership in the legal community.

Although the Law Review encourages students to consider incorporating biblical principles into their submissions, a paper will not be penalized merely because it does not explicitly include biblical integration.

  1. Prior to your submission, please email bethsie@regent.edu to acquire your entry number.
  1. An original paper, three paper copies, and one electronic copy must be submitted.
  1. The cover page of the original paper and the electronic copy must include the following:
    1. Title
    2. Author’s name
    3. Entry number
    4. Year in school
    5. School attending (School of Law, School of Government, etc.)
    6. Signature (not required on the electronic copy)
    7. Email address
    8. Current mailing address
    9. Phone number
    10. If the paper was written to satisfy a rigorous writing requirement or other school requirement, the faculty supervisor should be denoted on the cover page as well.
  1. Only the title and the assigned entry number should appear on the cover page of the three paper copies. These will go to the judges who will not know the names of the entrants.
  1. The original and each complete copy should be stapled in the top left hand corner. Papers should not be submitted in binders.
  1. The title of the paper and page number should appear at the top, right of every page.
  1. Form of paper: The paper must be on white 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper, double-spaced, single-sided, and with at least twelve-point type. Margins should be one inch on all sides. Citations must be in footnote (not endnote) form, single-spaced, and with at least ten-point type. Font shall be Times Roman or Times New Roman. Papers shall not exceed 30 pages in length, including citations. Subject to the foregoing, all citations must be in law review format and in accord with the latest published edition of A Uniform System of Citation (a.k.a. “The Bluebook”).
  1. The electronic copy must be submitted in one file in Microsoft Word format (2000 and forward compatible) and emailed to bethsie@regent.edu. The Law Review will acknowledge receipt of the electronic email copy by reply email.
  1. The original and the three paper copies must be submitted to Carol Dick at RH 353 on the deadline date, March 2, 2010.
  1. Any violation of these rules is grounds for disqualification. Entry constitutes certification by the entrant that the entrant is eligible to participate and that the paper conforms to the rules of the competition.
  1. Eligible Entrants: Any full or part time student of the Regent University School of Law.  Students from other schools within Regent University are welcome to submit a paper, but all papers must have a connection with the legal field. Students may enter more than one paper. Current members of the Law Review Editorial Board as of January 1, 2010 may not participate. Current Staff Members of the Law Review may participate.
  2. Plagiarism and Copyright: All papers shall be the original work of the individual entrant. The paper must have been started and completed between June 1, 2006 and March 1, 2010. Entrants may consult with others as to ideas, but all writing and editing must be the sole work of the entrant. This paragraph, however, allows the sort of consultation and editing that normally occurs during a professor’s direction of a student’s rigorous writing experience. The paper may not have been previously published in a law review or similar scholarly journal.
  3. Permission to Reprint: The Regent University Law Review shall have the right to copy, reprint, or print all papers submitted. Entrants agree to hold the Law Review harmless from, and to indemnify it from, any and all damages and costs relating to copyright infringement, plagiarism, or similar loss.
  4. Judges and Judging Criteria: Papers shall be judged and the scholarship awarded at the sole discretion of the Law Review. The Law Review will perform an initial review and screening of all submissions and forward those of the highest quality to a panel to identify the winning paper. The panel may include a combination of academics, sitting judges, and practicing attorneys. Papers will be evaluated on the basis of conformance to these rules, topic creativity, writing quality and clarity, originality, analysis, and soundness of legal reasoning. The Law Review reserves the right to decline making an award in this competition.
  5. Announcement of Winner: The winner will be announced publicly in the Spring of 2010. All entrants will be notified of the results by email. There is one scholarship prize of $500. A check payable personally to the winner will be issued before the end of the Spring 2010 Semester on a date to be determined by the Law Review. The winner must provide a short biographical entry and digital photograph suitable for media publication. Entry in the competition constitutes the winner’s agreement, at the Law Review’s discretion, to allow publication of the winning paper in the Regent University Law Review.
  6. Deadline and Mailing of Entries: Entries must be postmarked or hand-delivered no later than March 2, 2010, and if mailed, addressed to:

    7. Regent University Law Review
    Leroy Rountree Hassell Writing Competition
    Regent University, School of Law
    1000 Regent University Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23464

    No acknowledgment of receipt will be made of paper copies, but entrants may use certified mail to obtain proof of receipt. Receipt of electronic copies will be acknowledged as set forth in the rules above. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. Questions regarding competition rules or entry should be made by email to lawreview@regent.edu.

  7. Interpretation/Change of Rules: Disputes over the interpretation of these rules will be resolved in the discretion of the Law Review’s Editor-in-Chief. A majority of the Law Review Executive Board may override the Editor-in-Chief’s interpretation. The Regent University Law Review reserves the right to modify these rules at any time without notice.