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COMPETITIONS PORTFOLIO:

ESSAY COMPETITION

The RMIT LSS Essay Competition is your chance to showcase your legal writing skills and compete for prizes. Whether you're a first-year student or a seasoned law student, this is a chance to show the world what you've got.

What's in it for you?
  • The chance to win prize money
  • Your essay published in the RMIT Law Students' Society McPherson Papers
  • Recognition as a top legal writer
  • The four finalists will also be featured in the publication
What do you need to do?
  • Submit an academic paper with a word count of at least 1,500 on ANY legal issue.
  • Your paper needs to have been graded at 70% or above.
  • The competition is open to all RMIT law students.

​To find out more about this competition and whether this competition is running, contact competitions@rmitlss.com

the rules

1. RESEARCH AND PREPARATION 
1.1  All substantive research and preparation for the oral component must be conducted solely by the competitor. Competitors may not receive assistance and advice.
Penalty: Any contravention of 1.1 will result in disqualification. 

2. BASIC RULES
2.1 The paper is to be no longer than 12,000 words (maximum word limit). 
Penalty: Written Paper marks are penalised at two (2) marks (of a possible 40 marks available) per 100 words or part thereof over the maximum word limit (12,000 words).​
2.2 The paper is to be no shorter than 1,500 words (minimum word limit). ​
Penalty: Written Paper marks are penalised at two (2) marks (of a possible 40 marks available) per 100 words or part thereof under the minimum word limit (1,500 words).
2.3 Basic footnotes, bibliography, titles, subtitles and contents pages will not be considered part of the word limit as outlined in 2.1 and 2.2. 
2.4 Explanatory footnotes are permitted, but must be included in the word limit. 
2.5 The paper should conform to the Australian Guide to Legal Citation 4th Edition. 
2.6 The paper should have already been submitted for marking as part of your law degree. Minor edits only are permissible. 
2.7 To enter your paper must have received over 70% upon original marking.
2.8 Evidence of the mark must be submitted with the paper. Screenshot including name/student number will be accepted.
2.9 All entries must be submitted via the website by 5pm on October 20, 2023. Entries must include the paper in pdf or word format, the declaration of originality and word length and evidence of original grade mark.
Penalty: For any breach of section 2.9 Written Paper marks are penalised at two (2) marks (of a possible 40 marks available) 
2.10 Each competitor may submit only one (1) paper. 
2.11 Late entries will not be accepted. Competition organisers, at their discretion, may accept late entries for equitable reasons.

Essay Competition Entries

    Max file size: 20MB
    Please upload your paper here in PDF or Word format
    Max file size: 20MB
    Please upload evidence of your original grade mark for the paper submitted. A screen shot from Turnitin showing the grade mark is preferred.

    ​DECLARATION AND STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP

    In submitting my essay, I declare that:
    1. This work is my original work and no part of it has been copied from any other student’s work or from any other source except where due acknowledgement is made.
    2. No part of this work has been written for me by any other person.
    3. I have previously submitted this work for the RMIT law course and it has received 70% or higher as its original grade mark.
    4. This paper contains a minimum of 1,500 words as defined in the rules of the competition.
    5. I give permission for this work to be reproduced, communicated, compared and archived for the purpose of assessment in relation to this competition.
    6. I give permission for my work to be retained by RMIT LSS for publication/dissemination in future publications or via other means, provided correct acknowledgement is given.
    I understand that:
    1. Plagiarism is the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person as though it is my own. It is a form of cheating and is a very serious academic offence.  Plagiarised material can be drawn from, and presented in, written, graphic and visual form, including electronic data and oral presentations. Plagiarism occurs when the origin of the material used is not appropriately cited.
    2. Plagiarism includes the act of assisting or allowing another person to plagiarise or to copy my work.
    3. Any suspicions/allegations of plagiarism in this competition will be taken seriously and investigated by competition organisers. Responses to plagiarism not only include disqualification from the competition, but could also include referral to the faculty for further investigation.
    I declare that I have read and understood the declaration and statement of authorship.
Submit

locations

RMIT Law Students' Society Office
​RMIT University, Building 13, Level 2, Room 23, 405 Russell Street, 
Melbourne VIC 3000 
RMIT University Student Union Office
RMIT University, Building 57, Level 4, 
​115 Queensberry Street,
​Carlton VIC 3053

enquiries

For membership enquiries: contact secretary@rmitlss.com
For sponsorship enquiries: contact sponsorship@rmitlss.com
For general enquiries: contact
president@rmitlss.com

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© RMIT Law Students' Society 2023
  • Home
  • About
    • About us
    • Our Team
    • Reconciliation
  • Sponsors
  • Portfolios
    • Careers
    • Communications
    • Competitions >
      • Essay Competition
      • Junior Moot
      • Personal Injury Moot
      • Vis Moot
    • Education
    • Equity and Diversity
    • Publications