HRSS Writing Competition

The University of Virginia School of Law’s Human Rights Program and the Virginia Journal of International Law are proud to announce the first annual UVA Law Human Rights Student Scholars Writing Competition. This global competition is designed to encourage student scholarly inquiry into human rights topics and afford emerging student scholars with an opportunity to develop their research and contributions by interacting with Virginia’s preeminent international law faculty.

This year, the UVA Law Human Rights Student Scholars Writing Competition welcomes all papers relating to human rights law. Entrants are encouraged to view this topic broadly, submitting any work that furthers understanding of a substantive area of human rights law.

The student author of the top paper will receive a cash prize of $500, be featured in an online symposium hosted by VJIL, in partnership with the Opinio Juris blog, and receive expedited consideration for publication in the Virginia Journal of International Law.

Additionally, the winning author will be invited to present his or her paper at a special Human Rights Student Scholars Workshop involving Virginia’s international law faculty, VJIL editors, and Virginia law students.

We accept submissions from J.D., L.L.M., and S.J.D. candidates from both the United States and abroad. Submissions from May 2009 graduates will be considered if they were written as part of a law school curriculum. Only one entry per student is permitted. Multiple submissions will result in disqualification.

Papers will be judged on quality of analysis and writing. The judging committee will include members of Virginia’s law faculty and VJIL editors. The deadline for submissions is Monday, March 1, 2010. For competition submissions guidelines, please see the guidelines page.