Writing contest seeks work from younger lawyers

Younger members of the Illinois State Bar Association who have writing talent are invited to participate in the 51st annual Lincoln Award Legal Writing Contest.

Sponsored by the ISBA Young Lawyers Division, with oversight of the Illinois Bar Journal Editorial Board, the contest is open to members who on July 1, 2009, will be no more than 36 years of age, or will have been admitted to practice for fewer than five years.

An ISBA Law Student Division member who anticipates being admitted to the bar by Dec. 31, 2009, also is eligible.

Submitted articles on topics that are important to practicing attorneys should be useful and practical, and must be written in a “no-nonsense, plain-English” style. The maximum of 3,600 words includes endnotes.

The winning entry may be published in the February 2010 issue of the Bar Journal, and all three top prize winners will receive cash awards and plaques.

Anyone who is interested must file a notice of entry in the contest by Wednesday, July 15, and submit a brief outline of the article by Friday, Aug. 14.

Manuscripts, both hard copy and electronic form, are due at the Illinois Bar Center in Springfield no later than 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1. The names of the winners will be announced next February.

Complete details, contest rules and entry forms may be found on the Web site, www.isba.org, by clicking on Illinois Bar Journal under the Publications heading.