Writing Competition FAQs

How do I join a student publication?
There are 8 journals and the Moot Court Board at NYU. To join a journal or MCB, you must enter the journal-wide Journal Writing Competition, which takes place immediately after spring exams.

The Journal Writing Competition

What is the Journal Writing Competition?
The Journal Writing Competition is the primary means by which the 8 NYU student journals select their staffs. Each student who would like to apply to a student publication must complete a Journal Writing Competition entry, which includes a brief comment on the materials included in the Writing Competition packets and a Bluebooking exercise. Students wishing to apply to Moot Court Board must submit their ICWA briefs and must also complete the Bluebooking exercise.

When does the Journal Writing Competition take place?
Students must register for the Journal Writing Competition by May 14, at https://its.law.nyu.edu/jms/. Writing competition packets may be downloaded starting the last day of finals. The competition entries are due 2 weeks from that day.

What are the contents of the Journal Writing Competition?
The packet distributed on the last day of exams will contain primary and secondary materials regarding a particular legal topic. These materials are the only ones you may use when preparing your competition entry. Outside research is not permitted. You will be asked to write a response of about 6 pages to the materials provided to you. Each student must also complete a brief Bluebooking exercise. Students wishing to apply to Moot Court Board must also submit their ICWA briefs. Finally, many journals and MCB require or recommend submission of a personal statement and/or resume.

What criteria do journals use to grade the Journal Writing Competition and select staff editors?
Each journal is different. Please refer to the information provided by individual journals and the Moot Court Board for that information.

What if I’ll be out of the city/country?
Everyone with an internet connection must submit their entry electronically, by uploading it to the Journal Matching System website. Therefore, you may submit your applications from anywhere with an internet connection. If you do not have an internet connection, competition entries may be mailed in as long as they are postmarked by the due date. Detailed instructions regarding the mechanics of this process will be included in the Writing Competition packet instructions.

What is the Journal Matching System (JMS)?
The JMS is an electronic system used to manage writing competition applications and to offer applicants positions on journal staffs. At the close of the competition, all applicants will be asked to rank, in their order of preference, which journal(s) and/or Moot Court they would like to work on. The JMS will give you an offer from your highest-ranked journal which also accepted you.

Am I better off ranking my second choice above my first if I think I have a better change of being accepted there?
Emphatically no. Only by ranking the journals and Moot Court according to your true preferences will you maximize your chances of being on the journal you most prefer. You will receive an offer from the journal which you ranked highest that also accepted you. So if you were accepted by all of the journals that you ranked except your top choice, you will receive an offer from your second choice. If you were accepted by your first, third, and fifth choices, you will receive an offer from your first choice.

Will I receive more than one offer?
No. Each applicant will receive, at most, one offer.

Do I have to accept my offer if I get one?
Application to a journal is a commitment to participate if accepted. Journals accept the number of staff members they need to keep their organizations running. You may decline your offer, but you will not receive another one prior to your 2L year.