Lewis & Clark Law Hosts National NALSA Writing Competition
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Story Updated Friday, February 4th, 2022
As a result of the continuing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the deadline for submitting to the 21st Annual National Native American Law Student Association’s writing competition has been extended. Submissions are now due March 15, 2022 by 11:59 PM PST.
All papers submitted prior to the original deadline will still be considered, though authors may choose to revise and resubmit if they so desire. Please see the information within the original announcement on how to submit a paper to the competition. (Link below.)
Lewis & Clark Law School, in partnership with the Lewis & Clark Law Review and the Indian Law Program, and with financial support from the Indian Law Section of the Oregon State Bar, is hosting the national writing competition, “The 21st Annual National Native American Law Student Association Writing Competition”.
Rohan Hiatt ’22, law student and organizer, is working with L&C’s Indian Law Program Director Dr. Carma Corcoran (Chippewa-Cree) to coordinate this year’s competition. “This is a big deal,” said Hiatt, “this is a prestigious honor. The fact Lewis & Clark has the ability to host the competition bolsters our Indian Law program nationally.”
The Indian Law Section of the Oregon State Bar generously donated $1500 for the competition, and Dean Johnson personally approved Lewis & Clark’s bid to host this year. Speaking to the Section’s assistance, Hiatt shared, “We are very thankful to the Indian Law section, and for its support; it makes a critical difference.”
He also addressed the school’s encouragement, saying, “By hosting the competition, Lewis & Clark is further encouraging law students to engage with Indian Law and Indigenous legal issues, even if that is not the student’s main area of legal interest. That’s excellent.”
Submissions must be scholarly articles between 20 and 50 pages in length, written individually or jointly with other law students, and examine Native American legal issues. The first place winner will receive $750 and publication of the winning submission in the nationally-ranked Lewis & Clark Law Review. Second- and third-place winners also receive financial awards of $500 and $250, respectively.
Reflecting the theme for this year’s competition—Innovation in Indigenous Sovereignty and Independence—submissions are generally requested to focus on and discuss novel areas in which Native American communities can further flex their sovereignty.
However, entrants will not be penalized for discussing topics beyond this theme, and NNALSA writing competitions historically produce outstanding work in multiple areas, including water law and water rights adjudication, mining and extractive industries, natural resource statutory codes, environmental conservation, Federal environmental policy, and tribal natural resource management.
Submissions are due by 11:59pm PT on January 1, 2022. For more information on the competition and how to participate, click here.
