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Environmental Law and Policy Hack

General Information and Guidelines

Identifying the Challenge

Pulling from the expertise of our environmental law faculty and in consultation with colleagues in the environmental field (an advisory council), Pace | Haub Environmental Law will identify an emerging environmental challenge that could benefit from innovative law and policy approaches; craft a challenge prompt, or problem, describing the issue and providing a framework for the development of law and policy solutions; and invite participants to study the issue, brainstorm solutions, and propose innovative and practical solutions.

Selection and Implementation

A panel of Pace | Haub Environmental Law faculty and possibly invited professionals with expertise relating to the challenge subject will select three team submissions as finalists. A representative from each of the finalist teams will present the team solution to a panel of distinguished judges, who will select the winning team solution. All participating teams will be invited to view the finalist presentations remotely. The winning team will receive a trophy and a cash prize, with the money to be put toward implementation of the team’s policy concept.

  • Submitting Solutions: Submissions should evidence careful analytical study of the challenge, describe relevant legal background and considerations, propose a practicable law and policy solution, and include a path to implementation. All submissions will be posted to a competition web page with the goal of contributing to public thought on the selected issue. The length and format of submissions are set out in the Official Rules. Please review 2023-2024 Official Hack Rules (PDF) for a FULL list of rules for competing teams.

    Length and Form of Briefs: Each team is required to submit an electronic copy of the Team Brief as specified in Rule IV (C).

    Format: All text and footnotes shall be in 12-point Times New Roman type. Total length of the brief, excluding the Table of Contents, Table of Authorities and Appendices, may not exceed thirty-five (35) pages. All citations shall be complete and in the form prescribed in the latest edition of the Harvard Law Association’s Uniform System of Citation (“Bluebook”). Appendices may be used to recite the text of statutes, constitutional provisions, regulations and materials that are not generally available. Teams are also invited to include as Appendices maps, illustrations, or other tools useful to explain the proposal provided that they can be submitted in a manageable electronic format. Any tools developed outside of the Team Brief (e.g., phone app, spreadsheet, or other tool) must be described in the Team Brief.

    Certification: Each Team submitting a brief in the Competition shall certify that such brief has been prepared in accordance with these Rules. The certification shall be included in the Team Brief as the last page.

  • The Environmental Law and Policy Hack Competition will be a virtual event. Please be sure to view ALL presentation details for competing teams in the 2023-2024 Official Hack Rules (PDF). Final round: Three (3) Teams shall progress to the final round. The winning Team will be selected by the judges based on the Team Brief and presentation.

    Time and place: The final round will take place on Friday, April 19, 2024 via Zoom.

    Time allowed for presentations: Oral presentations shall be limited to a total of twenty (20) minutes per Team. Following the presentation, Judges shall be allotted fifteen (15) minutes to question the Team.

    Participants: One (1) representative of a Team must participate in the presentation. Additional team members that attend may also participate in the presentation and the

    Team may divide the presentation in any way it chooses. A Team member not presenting may answer questions from the judges.

  • Is the competition open to law students in other countries? What about master’s (non-law) students who are working on environmental policy issues?

    The competition is open to law students in other countries, it is entirely written/virtual, and while a team must have at least two law student members (LLMs count) and a law faculty advisor, there are no other limits on team membership. Nonlaw, masters students, etc. are welcome.

    How many teams from a school? Is it just one per school?

    There's no limit on the number of teams from a school.

    Can a coach advise multiple teams?

    You are welcome to advise multiple teams.