Student Writing Competition Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility Requirements 

To qualify for this scholarship, applicants must be current AHLA student subscribers (available at no cost) and either actively enrolled and in good standing at an ABA-accredited law school, LLM, ML, or health-related graduate program at the time of submission or have written their paper while enrolled and been submitted within six months of graduation. Submitted papers may have been previously published elsewhere and simultaneous submissions to other outlets are permitted. While there are no word count restrictions and both footnote and endnote formats are acceptable, the submitted work must be substantially the student's own original composition without significant use of Artificial Intelligence tools. 

Nomination Criteria 

• The submitted paper must address a timely, relevant health law, policy, or compliance issue of interest to health law practitioners and industry professionals, providing sufficient background to establish the topic's significance.  
• The work should demonstrate clear, accurate identification and analysis of legal and policy issues, while maintaining AHLA's nonpartisan educational standards by presenting balanced perspectives and well-developed counterarguments where appropriate. Although students may have limited practical experience, papers should offer realistic suggestions, recommendations, or analytical frameworks addressing the chosen topic.  
• AHLA encourages submissions that take the form of well-reasoned, engaging articles rather than academic papers. While legal analysis is important, submissions should be accessible to a broader audience, incorporating clear explanations, practical implications, and minimal legal citations where appropriate. Think of it as writing for a professional publication rather than a law review—aim for clarity, conciseness, and compelling storytelling. 
• All submissions must meet publication-quality standards suitable for featuring on the AHLA website. 

Nomination Process 

The Review Period occurs in January each year. 

Selection Process 

A dedicated judging panel evaluates all submissions using a scoring rubric based on the established criteria. Panel members commit to thoroughly reviewing applications, participating in virtual consensus meetings, and maintaining objectivity by disclosing any potential conflicts of interest. This structured review process ensures consistent and fair assessment of each candidate's submission. An individual appointed to serve on the judging panel is not eligible to be considered for the Award while they serve on the panel. To ensure focused attention, members may serve on only one judging panel at a time. The recipient is recognized, and their paper posted on the Association’s website in April. 

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