CBA Charities and Not-for-Profit Law Essay Contest

What you will need

• ✓ Original scholarly paper in English or French
• ✓ Paper length between 12 and 30 pages, including references
• ✓ Double-spaced formatting using Times New Roman, font size 12
• ✓ Proper legal referencing for all citations
• ✓ A paper that is your own original, unpublished work, researched and written by one author
• ✓ Anonymized paper (your name and identifying information must not appear on the paper itself)

About this award

You can win a $500 monetary prize. In years when the event is offered, you also receive complimentary registration to the Charity Law Symposium and a certificate presented at the event. This is a prize, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are a law student passionate about exploring themes of significance within Canadian charity and not-for-profit law. You must submit your paper by December 4. No deadline time is posted publicly — before you start your application, check the Canadian Bar Association - Charities and Not-for-Profit Law Section's program page or call their office to confirm the exact closing time this year. The winner is announced on the Section's webpage and through Section and Canadian Bar Association (CBA — the national association of lawyers) communications. A jury of 3-5 members of the Executive Committee of the Canadian Bar Association - Charities and Not-for-Profit Law Section evaluates the papers. They may include one additional specialist, such as a professor or practitioner. Selection criteria aren't published — ask the Canadian Bar Association - Charities and Not-for-Profit Law Section how they score the papers so you can judge your odds. Ask the Canadian Bar Association - Charities and Not-for-Profit Law Section during your application how the $500 prize reaches you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. Renewal conditions aren't listed because this is an annual contest based on a new submission. If you want to apply in future years, confirm with the Canadian Bar Association - Charities and Not-for-Profit Law Section if there are any limits on how many times one person can win.

Who qualifies

You must be an individual who is a full-time student currently enrolled in a JD (Juris Doctor) or LLB (Bachelor of Laws) program at a Canadian law school. This includes candidates enrolled at a Canadian law school through the NCA (National Committee on Accreditation — the body that assesses foreign law degrees). You can also apply if you are a current articling student in Canada or a candidate in the Law Practice Program, provided you have not yet been called to the Bar in Canada.

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

• ✓ Canadian citizen, permanent resident or international student
• ✓ Open to graduate students
• ✓ Studying law

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's official page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Ask for reference letters2 weeks

   Give your referees at least two weeks' notice, and send them your résumé.

3. 3

   Submit your application

   Save a copy, and submit at least a day before the deadline shown above.

Tips for applying

• Research StatementAvoid writing a paper that is only tangential to charity law. Instead, ensure your work focuses directly on a theme of significance in Canadian charity and not-for-profit law. Review recent winning topics on the Section's webpage to find a strong angle.
• StrategyAvoid using generative AI tools to create any part of your content. Instead, rely on your own original research and properly cited legal sources. Use a standard legal referencing method to avoid disqualification for plagiarism.
• RealismAvoid assuming the award will be given every year. Instead, remember that the Section reserves the right to not give out the prize in any one year. Treat this as a way to build your professional profile regardless of the monetary outcome.

Questions students ask

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