Presented by The National Center for Nonsmokers' Rights
and Law Professor John Banzhaf of The George Washington University Law School and Action on Smoking and Health

Register for the contest by sending an email to info@nosmokingcontest.org. We'll send you more information about the contest.

Submit a proposal by May 1, 2010 of no more than 1,000 words, detailing your plan to protect or enhance nonsmokers' rights. (Please make sure this is included in the body of your email, not as an attachment.)

We'll review the submissions on a first-come, first-serve basis and select 30 contestants to receive a $1000 travel grant to come to the nation's capital to present their proposals and compete for a grand prize of $5,000 cash.

About the Contest

The purpose of this contest is to encourage law students to think about, research, write about, and advocate new ideas for using a legal or law-related actions (e.g., a novel law suit, administrative action, legislative approach, guidance or assistance to others to sue, etc.) designed to be particularly effective in advancing and/or protecting the rights of nonsmokers, primarily by protecting them from exposure to tobacco smoke. Competitors help develop strategy in real public interest legal cases involving nonsmokers' rights, not just write legalistic papers. Your research can make a difference and save lives.

The three best presentations will be awarded cash prizes: $5,000 for first place $3,000 for second place, and $1,000 for third place. All finalists will have an opportunity at the Sixth World Conference on Nonsmokers' rights to present their proposals orally and respond to questions about their proposals -- in a manner similar to oral argument in a court. They will be judged by public interest lawyers who look for hard-hitting, realistic ideas, not convoluted law-review type, footnoted legal writing.

All of the contestants who are chosen to present at the Conference will have their proposals published online where they can be found, cited, and read by activists, researchers, and potential employers.

About the Conference

The conference itself will feature presentations and discussions about new legal and law-related actions used in protecting nonsmokers' rights, and will consider powerful and often overlooked weapons used to protect them. Information will also be provided at the conference on additional funding sources for those looking to further advance nonsmokers' rights both domestically and abroad.

For Non-Students

You may qualify for an invitation to the conference and a travel grant. In the past, we have hosted and extended travel grants to judges, anti-smoking attorneys, representatives from anti-smoking organizations in foreign countries, other activists, and even students whose interests or work coincide with the theme. If you're interested in applying for an invitation and/or a travel grant on this basis, please contact us at info@nosmokingcontest.org with a 1000 word summary of your proposal.

Additional Links

Possible Ideas for Papers
How Legal and Law-Related Actions Have Played a Major Role in the Nonsmokers' Rights Movement
The First, Second, Third, and Fourth World Conference on Nonsmokers' Rights
Student Papers for 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.
Travel Grants

For Additional Questions

Feel free to contact us at info@nosmokingcontest.org or give us a call at (202) 223-8308.