Write-On Competition

The 2010 Write-On Competition Information

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE CASE FOR THE 2010 TRANSFER WRITE-ON COMPETITION.  SUBMISSIONS DUE BY 5:00 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2010.

New Write-On Competition Policy for Transfer Students:
Students applying to transfer to the University of Houston Law Center may participate in the June 19 – July 8 competition as prospective transfers OR the July 31 – Aug. 11 competition as admitted transfers.If you participate in the earlier competition, you will not be notified of the results until after your admissions status has been determined. This change has been implemented to permit transfer students who are admitted to the University and invited to join a journal to participate in firm recruiting events over the summer.If grades from your 1L school have not been released by June 19, you may still participate in the earlier competition, however, an invitation to join a journal is contingent on 1) admission to the University and 2) attainment of the journal’s grade requirements.*
* FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS INTERESTED IN THE HOUSTON LAW REVIEW ONLY: If you fall between the top 31% and the top 50% of your class at the school from which you are transferring, or the school from which you are transferring has no comparable ranking system, you may write a brief letter to be submitted with your casenote explaining why you feel qualified to become a member of the journal notwithstanding the top 30% grade requirement (your school doesn’t have a ranking system, you’re coming from a higher ranked school, etc.) Do not place your name anywhere on the letter. It should be identified only by your “L” number and stapled to the front of your Casenote.
For Rising UHLC 2Ls and Prospective Transfer Students:
Competition Begins Saturday, June 19, 2010, 8:00 am
Competition Closes Thursday, July 8, 2010, 5:00 pm, in the Office of Student Services

  • All copies of your paper and the completed identification form must be turned into the Office of Student Services no later than 5:00 p.m.
  • Your paper will not be accepted unless you have made one copy for each journal you are applying for and have filled out the identification form before 5:00 p.m. If you still need to make copies or your identification form is not filled out by 5:00 p.m., your submission is considered late and will not be accepted. Please plan accordingly.
  • Out of town papers must be postmarked by Thursday, July 8, 2010. Your mail-in submission will not be accepted unless it includes one copy of your paper for each journal you are applying for and the completed identification form.
  • Mail-in submissions MUST be sent to the Office of Student Services (see address below). DO NOT mail papers directly to the journal for which you are applying.
Winner Notification
  • Rising UHLC 2L winners will receive invitations from the journals to which they have been selected between Monday, July 12, 2010 and Friday, July 16, 2010. ***Students who submitted their casenotes via mail may not be notified until the following Monday, July 19, or Tuesday, July 20.***
  • Students must respond via email to the journal of their choosing no later than Friday, July 23, 2010.
  • Prospective transfer student winners will be notified after they have secured admission to the UHLC.
Case: Berghuis v. Thompkins, 560 U.S. ___ (2010).
Admitted Transfer Students:
Competition Begins Saturday, July 31, 2010, 8:00 am
Competition Closes Wednesday, August 11, 2010, 5:00 pm, in the Office of Student Services

  • All copies of your paper and the completed identification form must be turned into the Office of Student Services no later than 5:00 p.m.
  • Your paper will not be accepted unless you have made one copy for each journal you are applying for and have filled out the identification form before 5:00 p.m. If you still need to make copies or your identification form is not filled out by 5:00 p.m., your submission is considered late and will not be accepted. Please plan accordingly.
  • Out of town papers must be postmarked by Wednesday, August 11, 2010. Your mail-in submission will not be accepted unless it includes one copy of your paper for each journal you are applying for and the completed identification form.
  • Mail-in submissions MUST be sent to the Office of Student Services (see address below). DO NOT mail papers directly to the journal for which you are applying.
Winner Notification
  • All admitted transfer student winners will be notified on Friday, Aug. 20, 2010. 
  • Students must respond via email to the journal of their choosing no later than Friday, Aug. 27, 2010.
Case: City of Ontario v. Quon, 560 U.S. ___ (2010)
All Students
The requirements to participate in the write-on competition vary by journal. They are as follows:
Houston Law Review
  • Completed first year of program
  • Two full years remaining in law school
  • Top 30% of class year or section*

    • *Transfer students see “New Competition Policy for Transfer Students” above
Houston Journal of International Law
  • Completed first year of program
  • Two full years remaining in law school
  • Top 50% of section
Houston Journal of Health Law and Policy
  • Completed first year of program
  • Two full years remaining in law school
Houston Business and Tax Law Journal
  • Completed first year of program
  • Two full years remaining in law school
Houston Environmental & Energy Law & Policy Journal
  • Completed first year of program
  • Two full years remaining in law school
Paper Format
The submission this year will be a casenote. The content must meet the following criteria:

  • 20 – 30 pages, including footnotes
  • Time New Roman, 12 point, double-spaced in both the body and the footnotes
  • 50/50 text to footnote ratio
  • Blue Book Citation
Identification of Papers
Do NOT put your name ANYWHERE on your paper. Create a header and type your PeopleSoft number on the top right hand corner of your paper. Transfer students, please use your “L” number, used on your transfer application. Fill out the Write-On Competition Identification Form (pdf) and turn it in with your paper.
If you are mailing your submission, it must be mailed to the Office of Student Services to maintain confidentiality. Submissions mailed directly to the Houston Law Review will not be accepted. Use the following address:
The Office of Student Services
University of Houston Law Center
100 Law Center, Suite 30
Houston, TX 77204-6060
Choice of Competition Indication
You may compete for any number of journals for which you meet the grade requirements using the same casenote. Turn in one copy of your casenote for EACH journal whose competition you are entering. Tell us in order of preference which journals you want by filling out the applicable section on your Write-On Competition Identification Form (pdf) that will be turned in with the copies of your paper. Please be sure to indicate your preference even if you are competing for only one journal.
Further information
Helpful Information for writing your Casenote:
Still have questions?
All questions must be directed to the Notes and Comments Editors of the journals. Advice given by any other person will not ensure that your concerns will be properly addressed. We will try to be as accommodating as possible, so long as our decisions ensure the fairness of the competition to all participants. For your convenience contact information is provided below.
Houston Law Review Robin O’Neil – Chief Notes & Comments Editor
rfoneil@central.uh.edu
  Deborah Ko – Senior Notes & Comments Editor
dsko@central.uh.edu
Houston Journal of International Law Stefanie Vincent – Head Casenotes & Comments Editor
scvincen@central.uh.edu
Houston Journal of Health Law and Policy Rina Shah – Chief Notes & Comments Editor
rrshah3@central.uh.edu
Houston Business & Tax Law Journal Megan Smith – Chief Notes & Comments Editor
mesmith5@central.uh.edu
Houston Environmental & Energy Law & Policy Journal Jennifer Hopgood – Chief Notes & Comments Editor
jlhopgoo@central.uh.edu