The Canadian Association of University Solicitors (CAUS) have established an essay competition related to legal topics of interest to Universities. The goal of the competition is to promote and reward interest and academic scholarship in legal topics that affect Universities and the broader academic sector in Canadian law schools, and to raise awareness amoung students of the practice of law in this field.

Topics

A prize will be awarded for the best scholarly paper received by the submission date on a legal topic that is applicable to Canadian Universities. Papers must address a theme of significance that would be of interest to the Canadian University sector (including but not limited to issues arising in the areas of labour and employment, privacy, sexual violence, student conduct, human rights, accommodations, administrative law, online learning, statutory and regulatory compliance issues, corporate and commercial issues, and intellectual property). While the paper can address a general area of law, it must focus on the application of that area to Canadian Universities, rather than be tangential to the University sector.

Eligibility

The competition is open to all individuals who at the time of entry in the competition are: i) enrolled full-time at a Canadian law school or in a law practice program; or (ii) are undertaking articles in Canada. Only one paper may be submitted per individual. Each entrant must follow the rules of the competition detailed herein.

Submission Guidelines

• The submission file must be in Microsoft Word file format.

• Papers must be at least 10 pages and no more than 30 pages in length, including references and excluding the title page.

• Papers must be double-spaced using Times New Roman font size 12, with a minimum of 1” margins.

• Pages should be numbered.

• Papers may be written in English or in French and must be original.

• Papers must be appropriately referenced; all commonly used referencing methods in the legal field will be accepted. References should be single-spaced, also in 12-point font, and with one-inch margins.

• URL addresses must not be written out in full, but rather be hyperlinked within the text, including within references.

Entry procedures

Papers must be submitted in two files via email to gcbs@torontomu.ca (together an “Entry”). The first file should consist only of a cover page showing the paper’s title and the author’s name, law school, year of expected graduation/call, mailing and email address, and phone number. The second file should contain the paper. With the exception of the cover page, the author’s name or any other identifying information must not appear on the paper itself. CAUS is not responsible for errors or for lost, late, or misdirected email, or telecommunication or hardware or software failures, including by reason of any bug or computer virus or other failure.

Entries must be received by March 27, 2023 at 9:00 am Eastern Standard Time. Entries received after the deadline will not be considered.

Selection Process

Papers will be evaluated anonymously by a jury of 3-5 members of CAUS. Decisions of the jury are final. Papers will be judged on the following criteria:

• Creativity and clarity of the proposal or thesis;

• Organization;

• Quality of the analysis and research; and

• Grammar, syntax, and form.

Odds of winning are based on the number and quality of papers received. CAUS reserves the right not to name a winning Entry.

Plagiarism Policy

Papers must be researched and written by one author and must be the author’s own original, unpublished work. Papers must not infringe or plagiarize another’s work. Plagiarism is claiming, submitting or presenting the work, ideas, opinions, theories, words, or data of another person, as if they are one’s own, without appropriate referencing. It includes claiming, submitting, or presenting collaborative work or another person’s substantial compositional contributions, edits and assistance as if it were created solely by oneself, or minimally paraphrasing someone else’s work by changing only a few words and not citing the original source. CAUS reserves the right to assess all Entries for content that potentially infringes on or plagiarizes the work of another, and will disqualify any individual who submits such content.

Award

The individual authoring the winning Entry will receive:

• A monetary prize of $2500 CAD; and

• A complimentary registration to the CAUS annual conference in Calgary in June 2023 (limited funding may be available to assist with travel and accommodation to the conference to a maximum of $1500.00 CAD if needed.

Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be substituted by the winner. Cash equivalent for prizes is not available.

The individual with the winning Entry will be notified by email by April 3rd, 2023. The winner must acknowledge and confirm agreement to the terms and conditions of winning the Competition no later than April 6th, 2023, after which they forfeit the prizes and another winner may be selected.

License

The winner will be announced through CAUS communications as appropriate, and the winning Entry will be published on the CAUS webpage (at the discretion of CAUS, the winning student may be asked to prepare a shorter version for publication).

By submitting an Entry in the Competition, you acknowledge that your Entry may be posted on CAUS’ website, where it may be viewed and shared by CAUS members, and distributed at the CAUS annual conference. By submitting an Entry, you thereby: (i) grant to the CAUS (including its members and their Universities) a worldwide, royalty-free, sub-licensable, irrevocable, right to use, publish, reproduce, display, exhibit and transmit the Entry in all media now known or hereafter devised in perpetuity beginning as of the date of entry, for any reason without notice or compensation.

General

No liability or responsibility is assumed by CAUS (including any of the individuals involved in administering the competition) resulting from participation in or attempt to participate in the Essay Competition. CAUS is not responsible for any printing, typographical, technical, computer, network or human error which may occur in the administration of the Competition or from any personal injury or property damage or losses of any kind which may be sustained to participation in the Competition.

The Competition is governed in accordance with the domestic laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein.

CAUS reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, and without prior notice, to adjust any of the dates and/or timeframes stipulated in these Competition Rules for any reason. CAUS reserves the right to not name a winner and to not award the prize.

January 10, 2023