IWLA Article Competition: What I have learnt from Covid–19

The Irish Women Lawyers Association (IWLA) is running their next Article Competition. 

The theme for their competition is inspired by the current Covid–19 crisis. Whether we like it or not, we have all been forced to re–think things and do things differently because of the crisis. IWLA are asking participants to write an article about the response to it.

Perhaps you have learnt something new. Perhaps you have changed or plan to change your practice as a legal professional as a result of this time.

The courts have had to change due to Covid–19. You may consider some of these to be positive developments that should be kept but others to be negative changes that should not be retained once this crisis is over.

Covid–19 has forced the world to pause. At some point it will start again. Given that we have a chance to re–start how should we do things differently this time round to ensure there is equity between the genders?

IWLA will award the winner with €500 and the two runners up will receive €250 each. The three shortlisted articles will be published on the IWLA website iwla.ie.

Competition Details 

Title: What I have learnt from Covid–19

Word limit: Approximately 1,500–2,500 words

Judging criteria: 

Sonia McEntee, Principal at Sonia McEntee Solicitors, and Jeanne Kelly, Partner at LK Shields, will select the top three entries which will then be forwarded to IWLA Founder Paulyn Marrinan Quinn SC, who will cast the deciding vote. 

The articles will be judged on the following criteria;

1. Originality of piece
2. Relevance to theme 
3. Content
4. Quality of prose / clarity of expression
5. Alignment with the IWLA Pillars
6. Uniqueness of concept

Entries: 

Entry is open to solicitors, barristers, trainees, devils, law students and legal academics.

The closing date for entries is COB on Friday 12 June 2020. Entries should be forwarded to contact@iwla.ie using the subject line ‘Article Competition 2020’ along with a brief cover letter containing the participants name and contact details.

Please ensure that your name is not identified in the substantive piece as all entries will be anonymised before being forwarded to the Judges.

Rules:

• Plagiarism is strictly forbidden and will result in elimination from the competition.
• A minimum number of entries must be received for the competition to proceed. 
• The decision of IWLA Founder Paulyn Marrinan Quinn SC, is final. 
• By entering this competition, you are consenting to IWLA retaining your information and using it only for the purpose of the competition and in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations. 
• Fact–checking of all article content remains the responsibility of the individual participant.
• Winners will be announced within 2 weeks of the closing date, IWLA reserves the right to extend the time for announcement of the winners should it so require. 

For further details, please visit the IWLA website here.