Anne Wall “Ethics in Sports Law Writing Competition and Award”

Created in 2017, and supported by the generosity of the National Sports Law Institute Board of Advisors member Anne Wall, the “Ethics in Sports Law Award” recognizes the Marquette University Law School student who writes the best essay on a current ethical dilemma in amateur or professional sports as selected by the Competition Review Committee. 

ELIGIBILITY: In order to be considered for this award, a student must be 

1. Enrolled within the juris doctorate program at Marquette University Law School,
2. A member of the Sports Law Society, or a Sports Law Certificate candidate, and
3. In good academic standing at the law school, at the time the competition entry is submitted.

CRITERA FOR REVIEW AND ESSAY REQUIREMENTS:  Factors the committee will review to determine the winner of the “Ethics in Sports Law Award,” include,

1. CRITERIA:
   • REQUIRED
     • Professor Anderson will verify that all candidates meet the eligibility requirements above,
     • Applicants must agree to attend the National Sports Law Institute’s Annual Award Banquet, typically held on the Friday after the last day of the spring semester.
   • PREFERRED BUT NOT REQUIRED: Students will be asked to list any Professional Responsibility/Ethics/Sports Ethics or similar courses (i.e. Law Governing Lawyers) that you have already taken, or are currently taking. This can include courses taken as an undergraduate.  
2. ESSAY CONTENT
   • Each candidate must submit an original, thought provoking, and well researched essay focused on a newsworthy ethical dilemma within amateur or professional sports.  Within the essay the student must explain the issue, and assert and defend an appropriate response from an ethical and moral perspective.  The essay should include enough facts about the dilemma to properly explain how the situation could be handled to minimize harm if it is addressed in the ethical manner proposed by the student.  Questions a student should attempt to answer within their essay include,
     1. What is the risk of harm that would likely occur because of an unethical response to the dilemma identified?
     2. What course of action is recommended?
     3. What is the appropriate legal response to the dilemma involved?
3. FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS:
   • The essay must be no less than 10 and no more than 15 double spaced pages in length.
   • Minimal citations in proper bluebook form should be included within footnotes.
   • Font
     1. The essay should be written in Times New Roman 12-point font.
     2. Footnotes should be in 10-point Times New Roman font, with no spaces between the footnotes.
   • A title page including the student’s name, year in school, and the title of the essay should be included and will not count within the page limit.
4. APPLICATION ESSAY
   • Along with the Competition Essay, within the application form each applicant will be asked to explain in a short paragraph how their conduct during law school has exemplified the ethical standards expected of a competent lawyer.

REVIEW COMMITTEE: A distinguished committee of alumni sports law and management faculty members will review candidates each spring semester. 

MINIMUM NUMBER OF APPLICANTS: In any given year if the competition does not receive at least 3 essay submissions, the Review Committee may decide not to provide the “Ethics in Sports Law Award.”

TIMING

• The "Ethics in Sports Law Writing Competition" Competition is open as of Wednesday, October 18, 2023.
• All Competition submissions are due Monday, March 18, 2024
• The Winner of the “Ethics in Sports Law Award” will be announced before the end of the spring 2024 academic semester, most likely during the Sports Law Program's Annual Award Ceremony on Friday, April 19, 2024.

SUBMISSION FORM (Click Here)

AWARD: The winner of the "Ethics in Sports Law Award" will receive a monetary award supported by Anne Wall.