The Robert G. Simmons Nebraska Law Practice Award has been established by the family of Robert G. Simmons to honor his leadership and his dedicated service to Nebraska as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nebraska (1938-1963), a Member of Congress (1922-1933) and an Attorney at Law (1915-1969). The Award encourages and rewards law student research and writing on subjects of significance to those engaged in the general practice of law in Nebraska.
The annual writing competition is open to all students enrolled at the University of Nebraska College of Law. Students may submit written work of their own authorship, regardless of whether the work has been, or will be, submitted to satisfy any academic or student activity (i.e., Law Review, Moot Court) requirement.
The author of the winning entry in the competition as determined by the Awards Committee shall receive the sum of $1,000.00, and his or her name shall be displayed permanently on a wall plaque in the College of Law that honors the memory of Chief Justice Robert G. Simmons. The Committee will also make one Honorable Mention Award.
In reviewing entries and making awards, the Awards Committee shall consider the following criteria:
1. The extent to which the entry demonstrates excellence in legal research and writing on a subject of significance to the general legal practitioner or the State of Nebraska.
2. The extent to which the entry is of significant assistance in resolving questions, substantive or procedural, in the area of General Practice of Law in Nebraska which either have not been addressed previously or upon which current and reliable material is not available.
3. The extent to which the entry’s treatment of the area of practice will be of benefit in the advancement of the general state of knowledge about law and legal institutions.
The weighing of the foregoing criteria shall be solely within the discretion of the Awards Committee, and the Awards Committee’s decision regarding the relative merit of any entry shall be final.
As a condition of eligibility to receive the award, the author must agree that in the event his or her paper has not been published or committed for publication, the College of Law shall have the right to reproduce the paper and make it available to members of the Bar of the State of Nebraska, students, libraries, and others.
The 2017 award will cover student written work substantially done during the period from July 1, 2016 to July 1, 2017. A nomination form is attached. One copy of the written work must be submitted with the nomination. The writing must be typewritten and in a form suitable for photocopying. THE AUTHOR’S NAME SHOULD APPEAR ONLY ON THE NOMINATION FORM AND NOT ON THE MANUSCRIPT. All entries will be judged anonymously.
Nominations for the 2017 Award must be received in the office of the Dean of the College of Law (directed to the attention of Assistant Dean Pearce) by 4:00 p.m. on September 4, 2017.