Write On Competition
The 2013 Write On Competition Information
Registration Information
Registration for the 2013 California Law Review Write On begins Monday, April 15and ends on Thursday, April 19. A member of the Development Department will be in the law school's Donor Lobby (by Steinhardt Courtyard) from 12:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. each day during this period.
The fee for the 2013 Write On is $35.00, due at the time of registration and payable by cash or personal check made out to "California Law Review." Fee remissions are available to Berkeley Law students for whom the application fee poses an undue hardship.
The Write On Registration Form will be available here.
The Fee Remission Application Form will be available here.
2013 Write On Competition Events
The Development Department of the California Law Review is pleased to announce the 2013 membership selection process for first-year students at Berkeley Law, known as the Write On.
Introductory Meeting:
Tuesday, March 12th: 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Room 105 ~ Lunch Will Be Served
Join CLR for lunch as we discuss the write-on process by which J.D. students entering their second year of law school gain admission to CLR. We hope to relieve anxieties by walking first-year students through each step of the write-on. Questions? E-mail our Senior Development Editor at clrwriteon@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you all there!
CLR Office Hours:
Tuesday, March 19th: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
CLR Office (Student Center)
CLR Party in the Courtyard:
Wednesday, April 3rd: 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Steinhart Courtyard
Come join CLR in Steinhart for our annual Keg-in-the-Courtyard event! You can ask questions about the write-on process, or just relax on a nice spring afternoon. This event is open to the entire Boalt community. 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls, LLMs, and faculty are all welcome!
Write-On Workshop (Mods 1-5):
Monday, April 8th: 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Room 100 ~ Dinner Will Be Served
Write-On Workshop (Mods 6-9):
Tuesday, April 9th: 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Room 100 ~ Dinner Will Be Served
Write-On Registration:
Monday, April 15 - Thursday, April 18: 12:30-2:00 p.m.
Donor Lobby
Write-On Period:
Friday, May 10 - Tuesday, May 21
All other relevant information will be provided to you at the meetings. We look forward to seeing you there! Questions? Please send them to Senior Development Editor Cali Tran.
2013 Personal Statement Prompt
CLR seeks a membership with varied backgrounds and interests. To this end, you may consider discussing how your background, life or work experiences, culture, and perspectives would contribute to the diversity of the entering class. If applicable, you may also describe any adversity that you have overcome, including discrimination, linguistic barriers, or a personal or family history of educational or socioeconomic disadvantage. Most importantly, please illustrate how any of these relevant factors affect the way you think about legal scholarship and the ways you can uniquely contribute to the work and community of the California Law Review.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I learn more about the Write-On process?
You should attend the Write-On Workshops (assigned by Mod) on Monday, April 8th (Mods 1-5) and Tuesday April 9th (Mods 6-9) from 5:00-6:00 pm! These workshops are a fantastic opportunity to learn more detailed information about each component of the write-on process, and will be facilitated by current CLR members who can speak with you about any questions you have about writing on and what it is like to be a member of CLR. You can also reach out to current CLR 2L and 3L members for advice about the write-on process-we went through the write-on process and are happy to offer you support and encouragement! Additionally, student organizations will be holding CLR info sessions and write-on workshops, and this is a great chance to learn more about writing on and the many benefits of joining CLR! Finally, join us for CLR Office Hours on Tuesday, March 19 from 5:30-7:30 pm and the CLR Office and for our Annual Party in Steinhardt Courtyard on Wednesday, April 3 from 5:00-7:00 pm!
Are there opportunities to learn more about CLR and the Write-On through my student groups?
Yes! CLR is happy to support student groups who want to learn more about CLR and the write-on process. If your student group is interested in organizing a workshop with a group of students, please contact clrwriteon@gmail.com with your request. Finally, don't hesitate to reach out to CLR 3L members in your student groups. 2L members may not provide samples of their successful write-on materials or provide training, but 3L members can provide support and mentorship in these ways. Both 2L and 3L members are excited to answer your questions and give you advice!
Who may participate in the Write-On Competition?
Students pursuing the following degrees may participate in the Write-On Competition: J.D., J.D. with concurrent degree.
When may I participate in the Write-On Competition?
Students pursuing a J.D. or a J.D. with a concurrent degree must participate in the write-on competition immediately following completion of their 1L year (their first year of legal instruction). Transfer students, and only transfer students, may participate in a summer Write-On beginning in mid-July before their 2L year.
May I participate in more than one Write-On Competition?
No. Each applicant may only participate in one competition. "Participate" includes those who apply but do not complete the components.
Where does the competition take place? What if I will not be in Berkeley during the competition?
There is no "in-person" requirement to participate in the write-on. In past years, applicants have been in other states or other countries while completing the components. Please let us know as soon as possible if you will be in a location with unreliable internet or mail and we will try to make reasonable accommodations.
What are the dates of the 2013 Write-On Competition?
The write-on for 1Ls will be held from Friday, May 10 - Tuesday, May 21 in 2013.
When will I hear about the write-on?
CLR will hold information sessions and workshops explaining every component of the write-on. The events start in March and we will notify students of these events as they come.
How can I prepare for the Write-On Competition?
You will not know the case or subject of the casenote until the competition begins. However, there are a few things you can do now to prepare for the write-on. We suggest joining a journal during your 1L year. While membership will not factor into our decision, as a journal member you will become familiar with legal scholarship, bluebooking, and editing guidelines. All these skills will help prepare you for the Write-On competition.
I am a 1L and I plan to take a year or more off before starting my 2L year? Can I participate in the write-on and when should I?
Students planning to take a year or more off before their 2L year must participate in the Write-On Competition immediately following their 1L year and then may defer membership.
Will CLR consider resumes, past experience, or grades to make membership decisions?
No. CLR only considers the casenote, the editing packet, and the personal statement. We are unique in that we do not consider grades and we believe this fits with the nature of Berkeley Law and gives each student an equal chance to display the skills necessary to be a CLR editor. However, past experience with legal scholarship, bluebooking, and editing will show through, and we suggest you participate in other Berkeley Law journals to gain skills.
How many students participate and how many are accepted?
On average, about 130 students complete the packet and we accept between 50-60 of those students in the spring. On average, 25 students participate in the transfer write-on and we accept about 8. The number of students we accept is subject to change.
Write On Disability Policy
California Law Review will give reasonable accommodations during the Write On Competition to students with disabilities in the following manner. On the sign-up sheet for the Write On, students who are requesting reasonable accommodations must check a box indicating that they will meet with Berkeley Law Director of Student Services Kim Natividad prior to the Write On. Mindi and the student will discuss the accommodations requested, and Mindi will grant or deny the accommodations. Mindi will communicate the accommodations granted to California Law Review only through the Senior Development Editor Cali Tran to facilitate. For the purposes of granting accommodations, students will receive the accommodations they receive on other similar take-home exams.
