Please Note: ALL APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS ARE DUE BY 5:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28th.

GRADUATION WRITING AWARDS

Below is information about three Graduation Writing Awards. We encourage all who qualify to apply for these awards. Please make sure your paper’s topic is appropriate for the category.

Students must submit four hard copies of their papers to the Office of Student Life, 5th floor, E building (57 Worth Street), and an electronic copy to shani.darby@nyls.edu . The author’s name must be removed from all locations on the papers except for a cover page (which must include name, title of paper, and phone number) prior to submission.

1. OTTO L. WALTER DISTINGUISHED WRITING AWARD:

The Otto Walter Distinguished Writing Award is given to a graduating student for the best published student paper relating to a legal subject. One award is given to a student in the Day Division, and one award is given to a student in the Evening Division. Any paper submitted for consideration must have been published or slated for publication while the student was enrolled at NYLS. Papers slated for publication must be accompanied by a letter of commitment from the publisher stating the intended date of publication. Any questions regarding the eligibility of submissions will be decided by the judges. A faculty committee will evaluate the merits of the papers submitted in the award competition.

2. ERNST C. STIEFEL WRITING AWARD

The Ernst C. Stiefel Award, established by Professor Ernst C. Stiefel, will be presented to the graduating student who has written the most accomplished paper in the field of comparative, common and civil law. A faculty committee will evaluate the merits of the papers submitted in the award competition.

3. THE DANIEL FINKELSTEIN WRITING AWARD

The law firm of Finkelstein Newman LLP has endowed a commencement award in honor of its senior partner, Daniel Finkelstein, for the best paper by a graduating student on any issue involving landlord-tenant law. Selection of the winning paper will be by a faculty committee in consultation with Finkelstein Newman.

OTHER NEW YORK LAW SCHOOL GRADUATION AWARDS

Selection for the following awards will be made by faculty committee. If you would like to nominate a class member (or yourself) for one of the awards, please email the name and the reasons for the nomination to shani.darby@nyls.edu

1. Alfred L. Rose Award for Excellence: Established by the firm of Proskauer Rose Goetz & Mendelsohn in the memory of Alfred L. Rose, Class of 1910, to be given to the graduating student who exemplifies outstanding legal ability, character and potential for leadership in the profession. One award is given to a Day Division student, and one is given to an Evening Division student.

2. Joseph Solomon Award for Excellent Character and Fitness: Established in honor of Joseph Solomon, Class of 1927, to be given to the graduating student who exemplifies the highest qualities of excellence, character and fitness.

3. Alexander D. Forger Award for Distinguished Service to the Profession: Established for the graduating student who has demonstrated distinguished service to the New York State Bar Association, and who has made significant contributions to public interest.

4. Chief Justice Rose E. Bird Award for Motivation in Pursuing Public Interest Law: Established for students who have shown a commitment to public interest while at law school, and whose decision to enter the legal profession is motivated by ethical rather than purely monetary considerations.

5. Professor Lung-Chu Chen Award for Excellence in the Field of Human Rights: Established by the Grand Street Boys Foundation in honor of Professor Lung-Chu Chen. Given to a graduating student who has demonstrated excellence in the field of human rights.

6. Dean’s Award for Student Leadership: Established for the graduating student who has rendered outstanding service and leadership at New York Law School during their law school career.

7. The Helen and Andrew Dokas Memorial Award for Excellent Achievement: The Helen and Andrew Dokas Memorial Award is given annually to a graduating student who has achieved excellence in law school. The award is given to a student who has overcome some hardship in law school that makes academic achievement even more noteworthy. Both the circumstances and the student's academic performance will be factors leading to the determination of the award recipient. All personal circumstances will be kept confidential by the selection committee.

Additional (Non-New York Law School) Graduation Awards – These awards are normally given to graduating students by outside organizations. We anticipate they will be awarded again this year.

1. National Association of Women Lawyers – each year NAWL recognizes an outstanding law school graduate, either male or female, who has furthered the advancement of women in society and specifically within the legal profession. Nominees should have a demonstrated interest in women’s issues displayed through contributions to the advancement of women within society, promotion of women’s issues within the legal profession, exhibiting motivation, tenacity and enthusiasm, and demonstrating academic achievement with the earned the respect of your colleagues.

Students should submit a letter of intent outlining why the student merits selection, and a copy of student’s resume. The student selected will be recognized in Women Lawyers Journal as a recipient of the 2012 Outstanding Student Award and will receive one year membership to NAWL.

2. The American Law Institute- American Bar Association Continuing Professional Education (ALI-ABA) Scholarship & Leadership award – presented to the student who best represents a combination of scholarship and leadership. Students should submit a letter of intent outlining why the student merits selection. The recipient of the award will receive a certificate, free tuition to an ALI-ABA webcast or professional skills course, a one year subscription to ALI-ABA’s online articles, forms and course materials and a complimentary copy of Red Flags: A Lawyer’s Handbook on Legal Ethics.

If you would like to nominate a class member (or yourself) for one of the awards, please email the name and the reasons for the nomination to shani.darby@nyls.edu