About the Andrew P. Vance Memorial Writing Competition

The Andrew P. Vance Memorial Writing Competition honors the memory of Andrew P. Vance, past president of Customs and International Trade Bar Association (CITBA) and distinguished public servant and practitioner. Through his work in the field of customs and international trade law for over forty years, Andrew Vance maintained and improved the standards of practice and earned the respect and affection of countless lawyers, judges and scholars.

The Customs and International Trade Bar Association (CITBA) and Georgetown Law are sponsoring this Writing Competition to encourage law students who are interested in careers in customs and international trade law.

2024-2025 Andrew P. Vance Memorial Writing Competition Call for Papers

The Customs and International Trade Bar Association (CITBA) and Georgetown Law School are pleased to announce 2024-2025 Andrew P. Vance Memorial writing Competition. The competition is welcoming papers with an in-depth analysis of a current issue relevant to customs and international trade law. Entrants must be currently enrolled in a J.D. or L.L.M. program at any of the nation’s law schools. Papers must be submitted here by June 2, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Submissions should be typewritten, double-spaced on 8 ½ x 11-inch paper. The paper shall not exceed 40 pages in length, including footnotes. Papers must include footnotes, not endnotes. Papers should be in 12pt. Times New Roman font and have one-inch margins (right, left, top, and bottom).  Noncompliance with these requirements may affect evaluation or result in disqualification.  Please include the following on the cover sheet of your paper:

  • Full name, address and telephone number
  • Law school and year
  • Date of submission of paper

Do not include any identifying information in the text of the paper itself.

A committee of practicing attorneys and professors with relevant expertise will judge the papers. The following factors will be considered:

  • Legal analysis
  • Thoroughness and depth of topic
  • Evaluation of judicial precedents, statutes, and regulations
  • Writing style
  • Form and quality of citations
  • Conformity with rules of competition

Two prizes will be awarded by CITBA:

  • $1000.00 first prize
  • $500.00 second prize

View a list of past winners.