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PROCEDURE OF THE PAPER PRESENTATION COMPETITION

1. WHO CAN COMPETE?

1.1 All students currently enrolled in undergraduate or postgraduate law degree at UTS can

compete in the competition.

1.2 Those who are studying a combined law degree, and are undertaking only non-law subjects in

any given semester are not precluded from entering the competition.

1.3 The Vice President (Competitions) may reject a competitor’s registration, if that competitor has

a history of non-compliance with UTS LSS Competition rules. Registration may only be

rejected for one year following non-compliance. Competitors will be notified of this decision in

writing, by email.

1.4 If a competitor feels that their registration has been arbitrarily rejected, they may request that

the Vice President (Competitions) review their registration.

1.5 The competition provides the basis for the selection of the UTS Paper Presentation competitor

for the Australian Law Schools Association (“ALSA”) Paper Presentation Competition to be

held during the break between first and second semester.

1.6 The competitor who is selected to attend ALSA will be determined at the discretion of the Vice

President (Competitions).

2. STRUCTURE

2.1 The competition consists of three stages. A paper submission, a paper presentation and a

Grand Final, where the top Papers are again presented, for one competitor to be decided as

the champion.

2.2 The Vice President (Competitions) has discretion as to the stages and may adjust the structure

of the competition depending on registrations.

3. PAPER SUBMISSION

3.1 The paper submitted can be no less than 3,000 words, and no greater than 5,000 words. The

world limit is inclusive of everything (text, footnotes, headings, statement of original work).

There is no ten percent leeway in the word count. 5000 is the maximum word count.

3.2 Each paper must have the competitor’s full name on it, student number, mobile number, UTS

student email address, word count and year of university degree, along with an essay title.

Failure to comply with these requirements will result in the paper not being accepted for

judgement.

3.3 Each paper must have an acknowledgement on the title page, with the competitor’s signature,

that it is the original work of the competitor. Failure to comply with this requirement will result

in the paper not being accepted for judgement.

3.4 All papers must be emailed to the Vice-President (Competitions) by the advertised due date.

Late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances.

3.5 The paper can deal with any area of law or any legal issue.

4. PAPER PRESENTATION

4.1 All papers submitted will then be read by a judging panel of 3 to 5 judges.

4.2 Each competitor is then required to conduct a presentation on the paper to the judging panel.

4.3 The presentation time limit is 15 minutes. A 13 minute warning will be given. A 14 minute

warning will then be given. Once the presentation reaches 15 minutes the competitor will be

asked to stop speaking. Anything presented past the 15 minute point will not be considered

by the judges.

4.4 There is no minimum time limit.

4.5 Competitors will be provided with presentation equipment consisting of a computer and

projector from which to upload their presentation material.

4.6 Competitors can use PowerPoint, Keynote or Prezi to assist their presentation. All other

presentation software may only be used with the express permission of the Vice-President

(Competitions).

4.7 Competitors are to wear formal attire for their paper presentation.

4.8 Once the presentation is over, the judging panel may ask the competitor questions on the

paper for up to 5 minutes.

5. PROGRESSION TO THE FINALS

5.1 After the paper presentations, the judging panel will decide on the top three competitors,

assessing the quality of the work, and the nature of the presentation itself.

5.2 The top three competitors chosen will then progress to the Grand Final. At the Grand Final,

each competitor will again present their paper as per the paper presentation rules outlined

above.

5.3 The Judging Panel will then decide on which competitor has won the competition.

6. PENALTIES AND FORFEITURE

6.1 Judges must stop students after 15 minutes of the presentation.

6.2 A deduction of 1 mark per minute (or part thereof) will be strictly enforced after the

passage of 15 minutes during the presentation stage.

6.3 Judges are to deduct two (2) marks per 100 words or part thereof under the minimum word

limit (3000 words).

6.4 Judges are to deduct two (2) marks per 100 words or part thereof over the maximum word

limit (5000 words).

Judges do not have the discretion to dispense with these penalties.

6.4 Judges shall not be notified of the application of any of these penalties at any time.

6.5 Failure to give 48-hour notice for withdrawal from any competition, without a reasonable

excuse, will result in automatic and immediate disqualification from all competitions for that

given year.

7. APPEALS

7.1 All complaints and appeals concerning scoring and assessment or the organisation,

administration and conduct of the competition must, within 24 hours of the matter giving

rise to the complaint or appeal, be submitted to the Vice-President (Competitions) for

determination.

7.2 In respect of any alleged breach of these Rules, the Vice-President (Competitions)will:

10.2.1 Determine whether there has been a breach; and

10.2.2 Determine what penalty, if any, is to be imposed for the breach.

7.3 All questions concerning the interpretation of these Rules must be submitted to the Vice-

President (Competitions) for determination.

7.4 The Vice-President (Competitions)may at any time determine such amendments or

additions to these Rules or other measures as may be necessary or convenient for the

efficient organisation, administration or conduct of the competition.

7.5 All determinations made by the Vice President (Competitions) in accordance with these

Rules will be final and conclusive and binding on all competitors.