CBA Municipal Law Section Student Essay Contest

What you will need

• ✓ Original scholarly paper on a theme of significance in municipal law, public policy, or public affairs
• ✓ Paper length: maximum 30 pages (including references, 12 point Times New Roman, double spaced, excluding title page and bibliography)
• ✓ Short abstract (maximum 150 words)
• ✓ Author biography (maximum 150 words)
• ✓ Your own original work, with no content created by generative AI tools

About this award

You can win a $500 cash prize for submitting the best scholarly paper. 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 interested in exploring themes of significance in municipal law, public policy, or public affairs. You must submit your entry by December 4. No deadline time is posted, so you should aim to submit early. When you apply, ask the Canadian Bar Association - Municipal Law Section how and when you will be notified of the results. A jury from the Section chooses the winner based on the quality of the scholarly paper. Selection criteria aren't published — ask the Canadian Bar Association - Municipal Law Section how they judge the essays and how many students typically enter so you can judge your odds. Ask the Canadian Bar Association - Municipal Law Section during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. No renewal conditions are posted. If you want to enter again in future years, confirm with the Canadian Bar Association - Municipal Law Section if there are any restrictions on previous winners reapplying.

Who qualifies

This competition is restricted to full-time university students currently enrolled at a Canadian law school at an undergraduate or graduate level.

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 undergraduate or 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

• EssayAvoid using generative AI tools to create any part of your content. Instead, rely on your own original research and writing. You will be disqualified if the Canadian Bar Association - Municipal Law Section finds AI-generated content in your work.
• ReferencesAvoid inconsistent citation styles. Instead, use any standard legal referencing method consistently throughout your paper. Double-check that every quote and idea from another source has a proper citation to avoid plagiarism.
• StrategyAvoid writing a generic paper if the Section has called for specific themes this year. Instead, tailor your topic to match the specific municipal law themes requested by the Canadian Bar Association - Municipal Law Section to ensure you meet the eligibility conditions.
• RealismAvoid submitting papers that have already been published in academic journals or prepared for conferences. Instead, submit an original piece of work or a paper you wrote for a law school course. Ensure your final draft is no more than 30 pages.

Questions students ask

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