WHAT IS PAPER PRESENTATION

This competition presents students the opportunity to submit a paper relating to any legal issue. The paper and oral presentation competition aims to promote legal scholarship, oratory skills and the chance to present controversial issues in an informative manner.

The first stage is the submission of a piece of work (maximum length 5,000 words and minimum 3,000 words) that you have undertaken as part of your law studies. Students may present a paper they have previously used for an assessment at University or may choose to write a new one. A panel of academics will judge the paper based on the assessment criteria located in the Paper presentation rules on the UTS LSS website.

The second stage of the presentation is the oral component, which consists of a fifteen-minute presentation followed by up to ten minutes of questions from a panel of judges. The submitted piece of work will obviously form the basis of the presentation. Visual aids are encouraged during the presentation. Any technological requirements must be submitted to the competition coordinator alongside a copy of the written work.

If you have any questions pertaining to the competition, please feel to contact the Vice-President of Competitions, Andrew Berriman, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The top competitor in the competition will win the right to represent the University of Technology, Sydney at the ALSA Conference held in July. The winner of the National Paper Presentation Final will have their paper published in ALSA’s Academic Journal.

WHY PARTICIPATE?

This competition is particularly suited to students with strong written skills or a passion for research and law reform. Competitors enter this competition as individuals, and the competition is open to all law students.

HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?

Registration for the competition opens up at the commencement of Semester one (Autumn) and will remain open for two weeks. Paper presentation is only held in Autumn semester with the winner of the grand finals progressing to ALSA.

WHEN DOES THE COMPETITION TAKE PLACE?

The competition takes place in Semester one (Autumn Semester) of each academic calendar year only. As a guide, Papers are due in Week 10 of semester and the oral rounds in Week 12 (TBC by the Vice-President of Competitions). The competition is held on campus in the Law or Business Faculty rooms.

DO I NEED ANY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE?

No previous experience is required and all law students at any stage of their degree are encouraged to compete.

REGISTRATION AND DRESS CODE?

Registration for the Client Interviewing competitions will open immediately upon commencement of semester one and will remain open for the first two weeks of semester. The dress code is business attire.

For any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact the convener of the competition; the Vice-President of Competitions – Andrew Berriman.