FAQ

If you have questions not answered here, please contact us at: write-on@mailman.lls.edu

Who is eligible to enter the Write-On Competition?

The annual Write-On Competition is open to: 

• First and second year day students--who are eligible to compete in the Spring Competition
• Second and third year evening students--who are eligible to compete in the Spring Competition
• Incoming transfer students (please see item #7 below)
• J.D./M.B.A. dual degree program students (please see item #8 below)
• Students on academic probation are eligible to participate in the Competition. However, only those students in academic good standing are eligible to become staff members. All students interested in becoming a member of ELR or ILR or LLR must complete a Write-On packet.
• Eligibility: A student is defined as "eligible" to participate in the write-on competition if he or she is a qualified day, evening, or transfer student, is in good academic standing, and obtains the write-on packet during the scheduled pick-up date and time, adhering to all rules stipulated within said packet.

What is in the Write-On packet?

The Write-On packet includes everything you need to know to complete the Competition.  Included in the packet are:

• Eligibility Screening Form – Each student will submit an Eligibility Screening form that will be checked to ensure that the student is eligible to participate in the Competition and become a staff member the following year.
• Honor Code Statement (included in the Confidential Information Sheet) – Students must certify that they have read and will abide by the rules of the Competition. Violation of the Competition rules and students who discuss the topic with anyone prior to the completion of the Fall Competition may be subject to disciplinary action.
• Source Materials – The packet contains all the source materials which you will need and are allowed to use for the Write-On Competition. Do notuse any sources other than the packet, the Nineteenth Edition of the Bluebook, and the Chicago Manual of Style (optional). Use of outside sources will result in disqualification from the Competition. For the Write-On Competition, you are asked to assume that each of the sources is good law. This may not necessarily be true. So if you use outside sources, you may be making arguments which, while right in the real world, are wrong in the Write-On world. Source materials included in the packet may be anything--cases, statutes, legislative history, law review articles, newspaper articles, or even comic strips.
• Rules Sheet – There are not a lot of rules, but they are important. Be sure to follow them. Deviation from the rules may result in disqualification from the Competition.
• Format Sheet – This is extremely important. It gives the technical format requirements of the submissions. Deviation from the format requirements may result in point deductions or even disqualification from the competition.
• Grading Sheet – This sheet provides the general grading considerations used by the Law Reviews. Use as a checklist to evaluate your own submission.
• Topic Sheet – This sheet gives you guidance on the issue presented by the source materials. This may be the most important part of the Write-On packet. Its purpose is to narrow the scope of your discussion. The topic may be narrow or broad depending on the nature of the source materials and how much guidance the creators of the packet feel you need. If you can’t fit your topic into the suggestion, then you need to reevaluate your topic.
• Source Material List – Gives a list of all the source materials contained in the packet and the number of pages. Check the source materials in your packet against this list before leaving the distribution center. Do not assumethat the name of a source on this list is the proper name for citation purposes.
• Citation Sheet –The Write-On Competition and the Law Reviews follow the Bluebook rules of citation. The Citation Sheet provides general guidance on using the Bluebook. Pay attention to this sheet as you are expected to follow it--particularly where it tells you to disregard certain Bluebook rules.
• Supplementary Citation Assignment—This is a citation checking exercise that is in addition to the endnotes you do for your individual paper. Check the footnotes and make changes to ensure they conform to Bluebook standards as modified by the Citation Sheet.
• Submission Guidelines – This sheet sets forth detailed instructions for submitting your application—how many copies and what to put into each envelope. Be sure to follow these carefully.
• Non-collaboration Form – Students certify that they have not collaborated on their submission.
• Confidential Information Sheet – This sheet will be kept by the Registrar and includes: packet identifier number, student's name, student's division and expected date of graduation, student's ranked preference of the three Law Reviews, and student's contact information.
• Basic Information Sheet – This sheet is kept by the respective Law Reviews and includes: packet identifier number, student's division and expected date of graduation, and student's ranked preference of the three Law Reviews.

When, where, and how do I pick up the Write-On packet?

Pick Up:

Date: Thursday, May 17, 2012
Time: 11:00am to 7:00pm
Room: Casassa (C401)

OR

Date: Friday, May 18, 2012

Time: 11am – 7pm

Room: Bridget Klink's office, Law Review Suites, 2nd floor, Founders Hall (please note room change)

In order to pick up your packet, you must return your eligibility screening form, check and show student ID

REMINDERS: NO EARLY PICK-UPS AND NO LATE PICK UPS. PACKET MUST BE PICKED UP ON DATE ABOVE. SOMEONE ELSE MAY PICK UP THE PACKET FOR YOU WITH YOUR STUDENT ID, ELIGIBILITY SCREENING FORM, AND CHECK. STUDENTS MUST PAY BY PERSONAL CHECK OR MONEY ORDER PAYABLE TO LOYOLA LAW REVIEW. ANY COLLABORATION OR CONSULTING OUTSIDE SOURCES WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION FROM THE WRITE-ON COMPETITION.

What if I cannot pick up my Write-On packet in person?

You may have another person pick up a packet on your behalf. However, that person must have your Student ID number and the required payment. Packets will not be released without these items. If you are unable to pick up your packet in person, you must also complete the Eligibility Screening Form in advance.

When, where and how do I return the completed Write-On packet?

Drop Off:

Date: Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Time: 11am – 7pm

Room: Casassa 402 (C402)

REMINDERS: LATE DROP-OFFS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. EARLY DROP OFFS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. SOMEONE ELSE MAY DROP OFF THE PACKET FOR YOU. WE DO NOT ACCEPT E-MAIL SUBMISSIONS. MAIL-IN PACKETS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY MAY 29, 2012 (U.S.) AND MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE LAW REVIEWS BY MAY 31, 2012. THE LAW REVIEWS ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAIL-IN PACKETS AND CANNOT GUARANTEE RECEIPT OR SIGNATURE. NOTE: YOU WILL ALSO HAVE TO UPLOAD AN ELECTRONIC COPY. INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE PACKET.

Can I mail my submission?

Yes. Competition entries can be mailed. Mailed entries must be postmarked by no later than May 29, 2012 (metered mail is not accepted) and received no later than May 31, 2012. Please be aware that you assume all risks of mailing your entry and having it received on time.

Mail submissions to:

Write-On Competition 2012

Office of the Registrar

919 Albany St.

Los Angeles, CA 90015-1211

How does the Competition work if I am an incoming transfer student?

Incoming transfer students are eligible to participate in the Fall Competition held during the first week of the Fall Semester. (A Write-On Competition information session is provided to incoming transfer students as part of the Transfer Orientation program hosted by the Office of Admissions.)

How does the Competition work if I am a student in the J.D./M.B.A. dual degree program?

J.D./M.B.A. dual degree program applicants must compete in the Spring Write-On Competition, even though applicants will not be notified of admission decisions until August. If a J.D./M.B.A. applicant is accepted into the dual degree program and is selected by one of the law reviews, he/she must defer acceptance of a staff position until the following year. However, J.D./M.B.A. students who intend to complete the dual degree program in less than four years (e.g., those who obtained an undergraduate degree in business) are eligible to become staff members this Fall.

How does the Competition work if I am an Evening student transferring to the Day Division?

As decisions regarding internal transfers are not made until after the Spring Competition concludes, students who transfer from the Evening Division to the Day Division (after completing their first year of legal studies) will be permitted to participate in the Fall Competition.

How will my application be judged?

All applications will be anonymously graded by the Law Reviews’ editors using uniform standards. The primary criteria for review, not in any particular order, are: structure, organization, clarity of presentation, depth of analysis, and proper citation. You must also distinguish relevant from irrelevant materials and properly identify issues.

How are staff members selected?

Students are invited to join ELR, ILR, and LLR through the Write-On Competition. Most staff members are selected based on the quality of their applications. Legal Research and Writing grades will be considered as one of the components weighted into the selection decision.

A few staff members are selected based on their grades. Approximately three to four of the top-ranked students from each day and evening section will be invited to join a Law Review if they have completed the Competition in good faith.

When can I expect to hear the results of the Competition?

ELR, ILR, and LLR will do their best to notify and extend invitations to all successful candidates prior to the OCI resume deadline in early July.

What are the general restrictions? 

• All research materials are provided in the Write-On packet.
• You may not conduct any additional research, nor is it necessary. Conducting additional research will result in disqualification from the Competition. Additionally, any outside research would be to your detriment because this closed-library competition does not necessarily reflect “good law.”
• You may not collaborate with anyone concerning your application. Collaboration with others will result in disqualification and subject you to disciplinary action as specified in the Loyola Law School Student Handbook.
• Any outside assistance is absolutely prohibited. You may not discuss or consult with anyone regarding the application including family, friends, professors, lawyers, or other students. Violation of this rule results in disqualification and potential action under the School’s disciplinary code.
• Deadlines will be strictly enforced. Late applications will not be accepted under any circumstances.