Everything You Need to Know About the 2015 Write-On Competition April 15, 2015

Who We Are Melanie Crouch — Houston Law Review Melanie Crouch — Houston Law Review Lee Banta — Houston Law Review Lee Banta — Houston Law Review Jordan Mandell— Houston Journal of International Law Jordan Mandell— Houston Journal of International Law Matt Halpin— Houston Journal of Health Law & Policy Matt Halpin— Houston Journal of Health Law & Policy Drew Barber — Houston Business & Tax Law Journal Drew Barber — Houston Business & Tax Law Journal

Meeting Objectives (1) You will know the eligibility requirements to participate in the Write-On Competition. (2) You will know the “what, where, when and how” for the Write-On Competition. (3) You will leave totally calm and not overwhelmed at all (or at least have all your questions answered).

What is the Write-On Competition? Law journals collaborate on an entry competition by which eligible students may gain membership. Law journals collaborate on an entry competition by which eligible students may gain membership. Each participant anonymously submits a 20– 30 page casenote analyzing an assigned court decision. Each participant anonymously submits a 20– 30 page casenote analyzing an assigned court decision.

Eligibility Eligibility requirements vary by journal. Eligibility requirements vary by journal. All journals require that members All journals require that members Have completed their first two semesters, and Have completed their first two semesters, and Have at least two full years remaining in law school. Have at least two full years remaining in law school.

Houston Law Review Melanie Crouch & Lee Banta Melanie Crouch & Lee Banta Grade-On: Top 10% of class or section Grade-On: Top 10% of class or section Write-On: Top 30% of class or section Write-On: Top 30% of class or section

Houston Journal of International Law Jordan Mandell Jordan Mandell Grade-On: Top 20% of class or section Grade-On: Top 20% of class or section Apply-On: Top 35% of class or section, OR an A or A- in at least one semester of LSS Apply-On: Top 35% of class or section, OR an A or A- in at least one semester of LSS Write-On: Top 50% of class or section Write-On: Top 50% of class or section

Houston Journal of Health Law & Policy Matt Halpin () Matt Halpin Grade-On: Top 33% of class or section, OR an A or A- in at least one semester of LSS Grade-On: Top 33% of class or section, OR an A or A- in at least one semester of LSS Apply-On: Top 50% of class or section or LLMs Apply-On: Top 50% of class or section or LLMs Write-On: All students who have completed two semesters in good standing Write-On: All students who have completed two semesters in good standing

Houston Business & Tax Law Journal Drew Barber ( Drew Barber ( Grade-On: Top 20% of class or section Grade-On: Top 20% of class or section Apply-On: Top 40% of class or section OR A or A- in at least one semester of LSS Apply-On: Top 40% of class or section OR A or A- in at least one semester of LSS Write-On: Top 50% of class or section Write-On: Top 50% of class or section

What if you’re interested in more than one journal? You can submit the same paper for all four journals. You can submit the same paper for all four journals. You must submit a separate copy of your paper for each journal you are interested in. You must submit a separate copy of your paper for each journal you are interested in. Make sure to have all copies made and turned in to Student Services by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 2 th ! Make sure to have all copies made and turned in to Student Services by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 2 th ! The Identification Form to be turned in with your paper contains a space for you to rank the journals you are applying for in order of preference. The Identification Form to be turned in with your paper contains a space for you to rank the journals you are applying for in order of preference.

Competition Dates Saturday, June 6, 2015, at 8:00 am. Saturday, June 6, 2015, at 8:00 am. Assigned case will be posted on the Competition Website. Assigned case will be posted on the Competition Website. competition competition Thursday, July 2, 2015, at 5:00 pm. Thursday, July 2, 2015, at 5:00 pm. Papers due to Student Services Office, with identification form. Papers due to Student Services Office, with identification form. All copies must be made and the identification form filled out no later than 5:00 p.m. All copies must be made and the identification form filled out no later than 5:00 p.m. Late submissions will be refused! Late submissions will be refused! If you’re out of town, your casenote must be postmarked by this date (send to Student Services, not individual journals). If you’re out of town, your casenote must be postmarked by this date (send to Student Services, not individual journals).

Notification Monday, July 13, 2015 Monday, July 13, 2015 Invitations extended to selected students. Invitations extended to selected students. This gives you time to update your resume before OCI. This gives you time to update your resume before OCI. Selected students must respond to the journal of their choosing by Friday, July 17, 2015, at 5:00 p.m. Selected students must respond to the journal of their choosing by Friday, July 17, 2015, at 5:00 p.m.

Anonymity Your submission is identified only by your PeopleSoft number. You will also submit an identification form with your paper, which Student Services will retain until the journals have made their selections. Your submission is identified only by your PeopleSoft number. You will also submit an identification form with your paper, which Student Services will retain until the journals have made their selections. Do not put your name on your paper or otherwise indicate your identity! Do not put your name on your paper or otherwise indicate your identity! The names of selected candidates are only revealed when their papers are chosen. If your paper is not selected, your identity will never be revealed to the journals. The names of selected candidates are only revealed when their papers are chosen. If your paper is not selected, your identity will never be revealed to the journals.

Honor Code Rules All work must be your own. All work must be your own. You cannot discuss research, legal theories, citation form, grammar, word choice, or any other aspect of your paper with anyone. You cannot discuss research, legal theories, citation form, grammar, word choice, or any other aspect of your paper with anyone. No one can proofread your paper. No one can proofread your paper. It’s a violation of the honor code if this rule is not strictly followed. It’s a violation of the honor code if this rule is not strictly followed. THE ONLY EXCEPTION: You can use the Lexis/Westlaw aides (through the website) and the UHLC Reference Librarians, for “how do I find this” questions. THE ONLY EXCEPTION: You can use the Lexis/Westlaw aides (through the website) and the UHLC Reference Librarians, for “how do I find this” questions. This does NOT mean you can’t get help before the competition starts. This does NOT mean you can’t get help before the competition starts.

Questions?

Getting Ready: Refer to E UGENE V OLOKH, V OLOKH ’ S A CADEMIC L EGAL W RITING : L AW R EVIEW A RTICLES, S TUDENT N OTES, S EMINAR P APERS, AND G ETTING ON L AW R EVIEW (4th ed. 2010). Refer to E UGENE V OLOKH, V OLOKH ’ S A CADEMIC L EGAL W RITING : L AW R EVIEW A RTICLES, S TUDENT N OTES, S EMINAR P APERS, AND G ETTING ON L AW R EVIEW (4th ed. 2010). Get a copy of the Texas Manual on Usage and Style (just Google it). Get a copy of the Texas Manual on Usage and Style (just Google it). Attend Professor Tabor’s Casenote Writing Workshop on Saturday, May 30 st (more details to follow). Attend Professor Tabor’s Casenote Writing Workshop on Saturday, May 30 st (more details to follow). Find and read examples of casenotes online. There are some available on the HLR website, as well as on the websites of many leading law schools. Find and read examples of casenotes online. There are some available on the HLR website, as well as on the websites of many leading law schools.

Parts of a Casenote: Introduction Introduction Case Recitation Case Recitation Analysis Analysis Conclusion Conclusion

Writing the Casenote: Read the case carefully (and each opinion). Read the case carefully (and each opinion). Research related case law (embedded cases are a good place to start). Research related case law (embedded cases are a good place to start). Start focusing your thoughts on one aspect of the case or tie in various aspects to support one unified idea. Start focusing your thoughts on one aspect of the case or tie in various aspects to support one unified idea. Ex: case law the court relied on, legislative history, related opinions, patterns in the law, dissenting opinions Ex: case law the court relied on, legislative history, related opinions, patterns in the law, dissenting opinions Continue researching the issue—use cases, statutes, books, and scholarly articles (Googling can’t hurt, either). Continue researching the issue—use cases, statutes, books, and scholarly articles (Googling can’t hurt, either). Analyze and evaluate the court’s approach to the issue and the types of arguments the court is making. Analyze and evaluate the court’s approach to the issue and the types of arguments the court is making. Consider what might happen if the rule from the case is applied to various hypotheticals. Consider what might happen if the rule from the case is applied to various hypotheticals.

Formatting Requirements pages pages. Double-spaced (text & footnotes). Double-spaced (text & footnotes). Times New Roman 12-point font for both text & footnotes. Times New Roman 12-point font for both text & footnotes. 1” margins (top, bottom, left, right). 1” margins (top, bottom, left, right). No tricks on word spacing, etc! No tricks on word spacing, etc! ~50/50 text to footnote ratio (use Word Count to check). ~50/50 text to footnote ratio (use Word Count to check). Every fact must have a footnote. Make sure to properly use signals and parentheticals. Every fact must have a footnote. Make sure to properly use signals and parentheticals.

Tips for Writing the Best Casenote Follow all formatting requirements. Follow all formatting requirements. Figure out your point of view, state it clearly, and argue it persuasively and efficiently throughout. Figure out your point of view, state it clearly, and argue it persuasively and efficiently throughout. Keep your legal theories simple – don’t try to overcomplicate the subject. Keep your legal theories simple – don’t try to overcomplicate the subject. Research as thoroughly as you can and use a variety of sources in your paper (we want to see that you can find and cite many different types of sources). Research as thoroughly as you can and use a variety of sources in your paper (we want to see that you can find and cite many different types of sources). Cite everything in proper Bluebook form and use parentheticals explaining your authority. Cite everything in proper Bluebook form and use parentheticals explaining your authority. Citation, citation, citation! (every time there is a fact, you have to verify that fact is true/can be inferred from another source) Citation, citation, citation! (every time there is a fact, you have to verify that fact is true/can be inferred from another source)

Strategies for Success MAKE SURE you update your access to Westlaw or Lexis for the summer! Do it now! MAKE SURE you update your access to Westlaw or Lexis for the summer! Do it now! Start early, plan accordingly. Start early, plan accordingly. Outline your thoughts early and often. Outline your thoughts early and often. Organization is key. Organization is key. Check Bluebook form. Check Bluebook form. Proofread. Proofread. 50% of your text is below the line, so that’s where 50% of your time and attention should be allocated. 50% of your text is below the line, so that’s where 50% of your time and attention should be allocated.

For more detailed instruction on casenotes Attend Professor Tabor’s Casenote Writing Workshop on May 30 st ! Attend Professor Tabor’s Casenote Writing Workshop on May 30 st ! A video of the presentation from 2010 is posted on the website A video of the presentation from 2010 is posted on the website Professor Tabor’s slides will be posted on the website Professor Tabor’s slides will be posted on the website A packet of useful handouts on Bluebooking and casenote formatting is available on the website. A packet of useful handouts on Bluebooking and casenote formatting is available on the website.

Why should I bother? It’s not as bad as it sounds! It’s not as bad as it sounds! Participating on a journal has lots of benefits. Participating on a journal has lots of benefits. The more you write, the better you get at writing (and editing, citing, etc.). The more you write, the better you get at writing (and editing, citing, etc.).

Feeling Like This About the Write-On?

Take a Deep Breath... It is totally doable (even if you are working and taking a class). It is totally doable (even if you are working and taking a class). You could grade on. You could grade on. You could apply on. You could apply on. The Journal of Consumer & Commercial Law offers students a chance to get the benefits of being on a journal without having to go through the Write-On Competition to join. The Journal of Consumer & Commercial Law offers students a chance to get the benefits of being on a journal without having to go through the Write-On Competition to join.

Questions?

Who We Are Melanie Crouch— Houston Law Review Melanie Crouch— Houston Law Review Lee Banta— Houston Law Review Lee Banta— Houston Law Review Jordan Kindred— Houston Journal of International Law Jordan Kindred— Houston Journal of International Law Li Yi – Houston Journal of International Law Li Yi – Houston Journal of International Law Matt Halpin— Houston Journal of Health Law & Policy Matt Halpin— Houston Journal of Health Law & Policy Drew Barber — Houston Business & Tax Law Journal Drew Barber — Houston Business & Tax Law Journal