2023 RPTE Law Student Writing Competition Winners

We are delighted to announce the winners of the 2023 RPTE Law Student Writing Competition.

FIRST PLACE:

Everyone Deserves Autonomy: Making Advance Care Planning Accessible for All by Amelia Tidwell, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law

SECOND PLACE:

Stopping the Architects of Urban Sprawl: How Urban Sprawl Facilitators Can Be Stopped through Litigation and City Planning Reform by Caden Burchianti, George Washington Law School

Amelia Tidwell, the first-place winner, will receive $2,500 cash, a oneyear free membership in the Section and free round-trip airfare and weekend accommodations to attend the 36th Annual RPTE National CLE Conference, May 8-11, 2024, in Washington, D.C. She is eligible for a full-tuition scholarship to the University of Miami School of Law’s Heckerling Graduate Program in Estate Planning OR Robert TraurigGreenberg Traurig Graduate Program in Real Property Development for the 2023–2024 or 2024–2025 academic year. In addition, Amelia’s essay will be considered for publication in a future issue of the Real Property, Trust & Estate Law Journal

Caden Burchianti, the second-place winner, will receive $1,500 cash. Caden’s submission will also be considered for publication in a future issue of the Real Property, Trust & Estate Law Journal.

The goal of the RPTE student writing contest is to encourage and reward law student writing on the subjects of real property or trust and estate law. The essay contest is designed to attract students to these law specialties, and to encourage scholarship and interest in these areas. Articles submitted for judging are encouraged to be of timely topics and have not been previously published. Information for the 2024 writing contest will be made available soon!

The Section sends a huge thank you to Michael Ostermeyer and the 2023 selection committee: Robert Paul, Edward Brading, Amy Milligan, Amy Hess, Susan Gary, Ray Prather, Andrea Boyack, and Jeff Hopkins.

2024 contest entries will be due May 31, 2024. See details at: ambar.org/rptewriting

CALLING ALL LAW STUDENTS!

The Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law is now accepting entries for the 2024 Law Student Writing Contest. This contest is open to all J.D. and LL.M students currently attending an ABA-accredited law school. It is designed to encourage and reward law student writing on real property or trust and estate law subjects of general and current interest.

1st Place $2,500 award

2nd Place $1,500 award

3rd Place $1,000 award

• Free round-trip economy-class airfare and accommodations to attend the RPTE National CLE Conference. This is an excellent opportunity to meet RPTE Leadership and other attorneys who practice real property or trust and estate law. (First place only.)

• A full-tuition scholarship to the University of Miami School of Law’s Heckerling Graduate Program in Estate Planning OR Robert Traurig-Greenberg Traurig Graduate Program in Real Property Development for the 2024-2025 or 20252026 academic year.* (First place only.)

• Consideration for publication in The Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Journal, the Section’s law review journal.

• One-year free RPTE membership.

• Name and essay title will be published in the eReport, the Section’s electronic newsletter, and Probate & Property, the Section’s flagship magazine.

Contest deadline: May 31, 2024

Visit the RPTE Law School Writing Competition webpage at ambar.org/rptewriting.

*Students must apply and be admitted to the graduate program of their choice to be considered for the scholarship. Applicants to the Heckerling Graduate Program in Estate Planning must hold a J.D. degree from an ABA accredited law school and must have completed the equivalent of both a J.D. trusts and estates and federal income tax course. Applicants to the Robert Traurig-Greenberg Traurig Graduate Program in Real Property Development must hold a degree from an ABA accredited law school or a foreign equivalent non-US school.