40th Annual Smith-Babcock-Williams Student Writing Competition
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The Planning & Law Division of the American Planning Association announces its 40th Annual Smith-Babcock-Williams Student Writing Competition. The Competition, which honors the memory of three leading figures in American city planning law (R. Marlin Smith, Richard Babcock, and Norman Williams) is open to law students and planning students writing on a question of significance in planning, planning law, land use law, local government law or environmental law.
The Competition is open to both current students and recent graduates (less than five years). Entries can include articles written for academic journal or law review publication, long essays, or shorter essays (at least 2,000 words).
In an increase from past , the winning entry will be awarded a prize of $3,000, the second-place paper will receive a prize of $1,000, and one honorable mention paper will receive $500. All three winning entries will be published in the semi-annual newsletter of the Planning and Law Division. Depending on the format of the winning entry and the interest of the author, the Competition Committee may also work with the winner to place the article in a journal or coordinate and present a Division webinar. In 2021, a winning entry on vacant properties was the foundation of a webinar. Last year’s winner is preliminarily slated for publication in The Urban Lawyer.
The deadline for submission of entries is June 30, 2023. Winners will be announced by August 31, 2023.
Our past experience has shown that teachers in planning, planning law, land use law, local government law or environmental law are in an ideal position to stimulate student and recent graduate interest in research and writing and to encourage participation in the Competition. Each year, many of the entries appear to have been prepared initially for courses or seminars. We hope you will add your support to the Competition by encouraging your current and past students to submit entries.
If you have questions, please contact me at dhenning@clarionassociates.com and including “PLD” in the subject.