Howard C. Schwab Memorial Essay Contest

The American Bar Association Section of Family Law is pleased to present its Howard C. Schwab Memorial Essay Contest. Not only does the contest encourage innovative thought in family law, but it also provides an opportunity for recognition and publication in the scholarly journal Family Law Quarterly.

Applicants may submit an essay on any aspect of family law and entrants are encouraged to write on subjects of national interest. However, if the law in one state reflects a significant development or trend, that too could be an appropriate subject for an entry. With the vast scope of family law, the possibilities are endless.

The breadth of originality and analysis of past winners is a great testament to the quality of our nation's law schools and educators. Past topics of winning essays include transsexuals and the legal determination of sex, same-sex marriages, federal responsibility for indigent elderly, interpretation of Islamic marriage contracts, the Indian Child Welfare Act, polygamy and marital counseling laws. We look forward to an outstanding pool of entries this year as we continue to marvel at the outstanding thought produced by future attorneys.

Additional information about the Schwab Memorial Essay Contest can be found at www.ambar.org/schwab.

The deadline for entries is April 26, 2013. (Students must apply for an entry number by April 12th.) 

If you have any questions regarding the essay contest, please contact Carrie Darrah of the ABA Section of Family Law at 312-988-5145 or e-mail carrie.darrah@americanbar.org.