2012 Law Student Essay Contest Information & Rules The use of technology into today's world can and does present new challenges and risks for attorneys in small firms as well as for solo practitioners representing clients involved in litigation and e-discovery. Therefore, it is important for future Florida lawyers to be able to identify e-discovery risks and to identify practices and strategies, which may mitigate or avoid future legal malpractice claims. This contest is designed to encourage Florida law students to research e-discovery issues, isolate discussion and analysis on one legal or ethical issue and suggest ways to mange the identified or perceived malpractice risk.
Essay Requirements:All entries must be prepared for this contest or for academic purposes and not previously published in print or on the Internet. All entries must include a digital photograph for use in the event the entry is selected as the contest winner. Each entrant is required to assign to FLMIC and the YLD of The Florida Bar all rights, title and interest in the essay and digital photograph submitted. It is the policy of FLMIC and the YLD of The Florida Bar, however, to release all assigned rights in all but the winning essay and notify the author of any permissions given to third parties for reprint or otherwise publish. The essay should be a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 10 pages, excluding citations appearing in Blue Book format and as endnotes. Essays will be judged based on framing and analysis of the issue(s) discussed, research, solutions or practices suggestions, and writing style. The essay should be typewritten and double spaced on 8.5 x 11 inch paper. A cover sheet should be included that contains the entrant's name, address, telephone number, title and law school status. No identification other than the title should appear on the essay itself. The cover sheet will be removed before the essay is read to assure objectivity in the judging process. Eligibility:The contest is open to all students enrolled in a Florida law school as of the deadline date or during the prior academic year. Essays must be received by FLMIC by the deadline date, which is March 1, 2012 5:00 PM.Judging:Essays will be judged by a committee of at least three individuals including but not limited to a representative of the YLD of The Florida Bar and FLMIC, who are unrelated to the entrants. Entry:Entries should be mailed to Nancy Stuparich, Risk Manager, Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company, 541 E. Mitchell Hammock Rd., Oviedo, Florida 32765 or submitted by email to nancys@flmic.com before the contest deadline. Awards:The winner of the essay contest will receive 1) a $500 award, 2) recognition by FLMIC and the YLD at the Annual Florida Bar Convention in June 2012, 3) free admission to the Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists Annual Conference to be held on April 2-4, 2012 at the Westin Diplomat in Hollywood (including two nights of accommodations at the Westin Diplomat), and 4) the winning entry will be submitted for publication consideration to The Florida Bar Journal by the YLD. The student awarded an Honorable Mention prize will receive a $250 cash award and recognition by FLMIC and the YLD at the Annual Florida Bar Convention in June 2012.
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