Everything You Need to Know About the 2012 Write-On Competition

Who We Are Katie Barnhill— Houston Law Review Katie Barnhill— Houston Law Review  Wes McGuffey— Houston Law Review Wes McGuffey— Houston Law Review  Courtney Walsh — Houston Journal of International Law Courtney Walsh — Houston Journal of International Law   David Hrncir— Houston Journal of Health Law & Policy  Susannah Russell— Houston Business & Tax Law Journal Susannah Russell— Houston Business & Tax Law Journal  Jordan Sanders — Environmental & Energy Law & Policy Journal Jordan Sanders — Environmental & Energy Law & Policy Journal  David Gantz — Journal of Consumer & Commercial Law David Gantz — Journal of Consumer & Commercial Law 

What is the Write-On Competition? Five journals collaborate on an entry competition by which eligible students may gain membership. Five journals collaborate on an entry competition by which eligible students may gain membership. Each write-on participant anonymously submits a page casenote analyzing an assigned court decision. Each write-on participant anonymously submits a 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 Katie Barnhill & Wes McGuffey Katie Barnhill & Wes McGuffey 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 Courtney Walsh Courtney Walsh 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 LRW Apply-On: Top 35% of class or section, OR an A or A- in at least one semester of LRW Write-On: Top 50% of class or section Write-On: Top 50% of class or section

Houston Journal of Health Law & Policy David Hrncir David Hrncir Grade-On: Top 33% of class or section, OR an A or A- in at least one semester of LRW Grade-On: Top 33% of class or section, OR an A or A- in at least one semester of LRW Write-On: Completed first two semesters Write-On: Completed first two semesters

Houston Business & Tax Law Journal Susannah Russell Susannah Russell Grade-On: Top 20% of class or section Grade-On: Top 20% of class or section Apply-On: Top 30% of class or section OR A or A- in at least one semester of LRW Apply-On: Top 30% of class or section OR A or A- in at least one semester of LRW Write-On: Top 50% of class or section Write-On: Top 50% of class or section

Environmental & Energy Law & Policy Journal Jordan Sanders Jordan Sanders Grade-On: Top 20% of class or section Grade-On: Top 20% of class or section Apply-On: Top 50% of class or section Apply-On: Top 50% of class or section Write-On: Completed first two semesters Write-On: Completed first two semesters

Journal of Consumer & Commercial Law David Gantz David Gantz Apply-On: Completed first two semesters Apply-On: Completed first two semesters

What if you’re interested in more than one journal? You can submit the same paper for all five journals. You can submit the same paper for all five 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 July 5 th ! Make sure to have all copies made and turned in to Student Services by 5:00 p.m. on July 5 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 16, 2012, at 8:00 am. Saturday, June 16, 2012, 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 5, 2012, at 5:00 pm. Thursday, July 5, 2012, 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).

Winner Notification July 13, 2012 July 13, 2012 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 20, 2012, at 5:00 p.m. Selected students must respond to the journal of their choosing by Friday, July 20, 2012, 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.

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). Attend Professor Tabor’s Casenote Writing Workshop on June 9, 2010 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Room TBA). Attend Professor Tabor’s Casenote Writing Workshop on June 9, 2010 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Room TBA). 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 Read the case carefully Research related case law Research related case law 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 Use your research to assist you in taking a unique stance on that aspect through a strong thesis Use your research to assist you in taking a unique stance on that aspect through a strong thesis Continue researching the issue—use cases, statutes, books, and scholarly articles Continue researching the issue—use cases, statutes, books, and scholarly articles 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 verifiable statement must have a footnote. Make sure to properly use signals and parentheticals. Every verifiable statement 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 throughout (using a variety of sources). Figure out your point of view, state it clearly, and argue it persuasively throughout (using a variety of sources). Communicate your ideas efficiently. Communicate your ideas efficiently. 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. Research as thoroughly as you can and use a variety of sources in your paper. 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! Citation, citation, citation!

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! Limited timeframe—Start Early Limited timeframe—Start Early 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

Honor Code Rules All work must be your own. All work must be your own. You cannot share research. You cannot share research. Don’t discuss research, legal theories, cite form, grammar, word choice, or any other aspect of your paper with anyone. Don’t discuss research, legal theories, cite 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.

For more detailed instruction on casenotes Attend Professor Tabor’s Casenote Writing Workshop! Attend Professor Tabor’s Casenote Writing Workshop! June 9, 2012, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (Room TBA). June 9, 2012, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (Room TBA). A video of this presentation from 2010 is posted on the website A video of this 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 – really! It’s not as bad as it sounds – really! Participating on a journal has lots of benefits. Participating on a journal has lots of benefits. The more you write, the better you get. The more you write, the better you get.

Feeling Like This About the Write-On?

Take a Deep Breath... It is totally doable. It is totally doable. 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.

Any questions???

Who We Are Katie Barnhill— Houston Law Review Katie Barnhill— Houston Law Review  Wes McGuffey— Houston Law Review Wes McGuffey— Houston Law Review  Courtney Walsh — Houston Journal of International Law Courtney Walsh — Houston Journal of International Law   David Hrncir— Houston Journal of Health Law & Policy  Susannah Russell— Houston Business & Tax Law Journal Susannah Russell— Houston Business & Tax Law Journal  Jordan Sanders — Environmental & Energy Law & Policy Journal Jordan Sanders — Environmental & Energy Law & Policy Journal  David Gantz — Journal of Consumer & Commercial Law David Gantz — Journal of Consumer & Commercial Law 