You Should Write in the Law Journal Competition
To Write or Not to Write: That is the Question
Law Students Should Make Time to Write in the Law Journal Competition
By Laurie N. Robinson
At the end of the first year of law school, many law journals at law schools offer students an opportunity to participate in a writing competition. For the ninety percent of law students who will not end up in the top ten percent of the class and hence will not automatically be invited to join the law review, the writing competition is an inviting opportunity.
I remember from my days in law school that as I was finishing law school exams, I was determined to write in the competition. Many others started out with the same determination; however, by the time they took their last final examination, they were exhausted and too tired to do one more thing. They therefore did not submit anything and left for the summer. I participated in the competition and was fortunate to receive an invitation, which I accepted, to join the Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies. Thereafter, I served as the Notes and Comments Editor. I also was able to publish two notes: one in the Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies and one in the law review, The Indiana Law Journal.
Some may argue that law journals and law reviews are a waste of time. I beg to differ. It is a rewarding experience. It will help you develop your research and writing skills. Importantly, that experience remains on your resume forever. Just the other evening, I met a law firm associate who was quoting to an article that I had written and published some twelve years ago. It felt pretty good.
All that said. Do the competition! Don’t pass up on an opportunity.
You have to at least try.
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