Calling all Law Students and Professionals:

Paralyzed Veterans’ Legal Writing Competition Open for Entries

Washington, DC—Paralyzed Veterans of America (Paralyzed Veterans) is pleased to announce its fifth annual legal writing competition. The nationwide contest is designed to encourage debate within the current and next generation of the legal profession on public policy issues affecting today’s veterans.

The competition is open to all law students enrolled in American Bar Association-accredited law schools for entry in the law student division, and to law school graduates and law professors for entry in the professional division. Prizes of $3,000 each will be awarded in the two divisions. Winners will also receive assistance from Paralyzed Veterans in publishing the paper in appropriate professional publications and/or presenting the paper at appropriate professional association gatherings.

The topic of this year’s competition is “After Two Decades of Judicial Review, has the Veterans Benefits Adjudication System Improved?”

The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. When the Veterans Judicial Review Act was passed in 1988, it was revolutionary. Veterans benefits decisions of the Department of Veterans Affairs had never been subject to any form of independent oversight. The new judges of this specialized court were faced with the extraordinary task of imposing judicial review on an agency that was unaccustomed to outside involvement in its decision-making. Two decades later, the contest presents the opportunity to reflect on how or whether the Department of Veterans Affairs adjudication system has been affected by judicial review.

Entrants may choose any result and should feel free to offer well-supported praise, criticism, or suggestions.

Submissions must be received no later than May 15, 2009.

Click here to download full submission information.