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The goal of the Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law student writing contest is to encourage and reward law student writing on the subjects of real property or trust and estate law. It is designed to attract students to these law specialties, and to encourage scholarship and interest in these areas. Articles submitted for judging are encouraged to be of timely topics and have not been previously published. This contest is open to all J.D. and LL.M students currently attending an ABA-accredited law school.

Deadline

Entries must be received by the Section, in accordance with the specifications detailed below, no later than May 31, 2024, 11:59 pm Central Time.

Eligibility

Open to any law school student in good standing, over the age of 21, who is currently attending an ABA-accredited law school within the United States and its possessions, and who is a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States. Officers, employees, and agents of the ABA and their immediate family or household members are not eligible to enter or win. 

Contest Prizes

1st place

  • $2,500 award
  • A full-tuition scholarship to the University of Miami School of Law's Heckerling Graduate Program in Estate Planning OR Robert Traurig-Greenberg Traurig Graduate Program in Real Property Development for the 2024–2025 or 2025-2026 academic year.*
  • Free round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations to a RPTE Section meeting. This is an excellent meeting to network with RPTE leadership!
  • One-year free RPTE membership
  • Consideration for publication in The Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Journal, the Section's law review journal, which is mailed to 17,000 RPTE members
  • Name and essay title will be published in the eReport, the Section's electronic newsletter

2nd place

  • $1,500 award
  • One-year free RPTE membership
  • Consideration for publication in The Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Journal, the Section's law review journal, which is mailed to 17,000 RPTE members
  • Name and essay title will be published in the eReport, the Section's electronic newsletter

3rd place

  • $1,000 award
  • One-year free RPTE membership
  • Consideration for publication in The Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Journal, the Section's law review journal, which is mailed to 17,000 RPTE members
  • Name and essay title will be published in the eReport, the Section's electronic newsletter

*Students must apply and be admitted to the graduate program of their choice to be considered for the scholarship. Applicants to the Heckerling Graduate Program in Estate Planning must hold a J.D. degree from an ABA accredited law school and must have completed the equivalent of both a J.D. trusts and estates and federal income tax course.  Applicants to the Robert Traurig-Greenberg Traurig Graduate Program in Real Property Development must hold a degree from an ABA accredited law school or a foreign equivalent non-US school. 

Visit the University of Miami School of Law webpage for further information on the graduate programs.

For more information, please contact Monica Larys at [email protected].