PaperPresentation
CompetitionRules
ApprovedbyALSAExecutive4/04/2017
1.COMPETITIONNAME
1.1
ThiscompetitionwillbeknownastheAustralianLawStudents'Association(ALSA)Paper
PresentationChampionship("theChampionship").
2.DEFINITIONS
2.1
Affiliatedlawschool:AsdefinedbytheALSAConstitution.
2.2
Championship:TheALSAPaperPresentationChampionship.
2.3
Conference:TheALSAConference.
2.4
Convenor:TheALSAConferenceConvenororConvenors.
2.5
President:TheALSAPresident.
3.REGISTRATION
3.1
ByenteringthisChampionship,allcompetitorsagreetobeboundbytheChampionship
3.1.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.7.1
Penalty:
Rulesoutlinedinthisdocument,aswellasintheALSAAppealsProcedureBy-Law,andthe
ALSAConstitution.
Byenteringthiscompetitionallcompetitorsconsenttotheirimagebeingphotographed,
filmedandpublishedbyALSA.Competitorsmayrequestnottobephotographed,filmed
orpublishedattheConferenceConvener’sdiscretion.
Eachaffiliatedlawschoolmaynominateone(1)persontocompeteintheChampionship.
ThenominatedcompetitormustremainthesameforthedurationoftheConference.
IfinvitedbythePresidentandtheConvenor,competitorsfromnon-affiliatedlawschools
mayenterthecompetition,providedthattheircompetitorscomplywithallother
jurisdictions.
Competitorsmustnothavegraduatedwithalawdegreeinanyjurisdiction.
CompetitorsmustregisterbytheregistrationdateassetbytheConvenor.
CompetitorsarenotpermittedtoregisterformultiplecompetitionsduringtheConference
subjectto3.7.1.
Acompetitor,atthediscretionoftheiraffiliatedlawschool,mayberegisteredinthis
Championshipandone(1)otherChampionshipintheConference.
Anycontraventionofaruleofsection3mayresultindisqualification.
4.COMPETITIONSTRUCTURE
4.1
TheChampionshipiscomprisedofaPreliminaryRoundandaGrandFinal.
4.2
Intheeventthatlessthanfive(5)competitorsenterthecompetitiontherewillbeno
PreliminaryRoundandallcompetitorswillprogresstotheFinalRound.
5.PRELIMINARYROUNDS
5.1
AllcompetitorswillcompeteineachPreliminaryRound.
5.2
Competitorsmaynotobserve,noraretheytobebriefedon,proceedingsofaPreliminary
Penalty:
5.3
Roundinwhichtheyarenotcompeting.Thisdoesnotapplyifcompetitorshavealready
competedwithinthatRound.
Anycontraventionof5.1or5.2mayresultindisqualification.
Competitorswillberandomlyallocatedintogroups,dependingonthenumberof
competitors.
6.PROGRESSIONANDSCORING
6.1
Thetwo(2)competitorswiththehighesttotalscorefromeachPreliminaryRoundgroup
willprogresstotheGrandFinal.
6.1.1
Intheeventofatie,thecompetitorswillbeseparatedinaccordancewiththefollowing
criteria:
6.1.1.1
Thescorewillbebrokendownintotheoralandwrittencomponentofthescore.The
6.1.1.2
6.1.2
competitorwiththehighestscorefortheoralcomponent(afteraveragingasinRule3.6.2)
willprogresstotheGrandFinal.
Ifscoresstillremaineven,therankofthecompetitorfromthePreliminaryRoundwillbe
takenintoaccount.Thecompetitorrankedhigher(afteraveraging)willprogresstothe
GrandFinal.
Shouldthetwocompetitorsremaintiedafterallothermethodsofseparatingthemhave
beenexhausted,acointossconductedbytheCompetitionDirector(s)willdecidewho
progressesthrough.
Appeals:
Whereacompetitorbelievesthattheseruleshavebeenincorrectlyapplied,anappeal
shouldbelodgedtotheConferenceBoardofAppeals.
7.GRANDFINAL
7.1
TheGrandFinalpresentationswillbejudgedbyanewpanel(i.e.Judgeswhohavenot
previouslybeeninvolvedinthecompetition).
7.2
EachfinalistwillberequiredtoundertakeasecondoralpresentationandeachGrandFinal
7.3
7.4
7.4.1
7.5
7.6
7.6.1
7.6.2
7.6.3
7.6.4
7.6.5
7.7
7.7.1
7.7.2
panelmemberwillindividuallygiveeachcompetitoramarkoutofsixty(60).Anaverageof
theseoralpresentationmarkswillbetaken,withthisrepresentingthe‘oralcomponent’of
theGrandFinalist’soverallscoreoutofonehundred(100)marks.
ThewinnerofthePaperPresentationChampionshipisdeemedtobethecompetitorwith
thehighestcombinedoralandwrittenmarkinthefinal.
Inthecaseofadraw,thewinneroftheGrandFinalwillbethatcompetitorwiththe
highestaverageoralpresentationmarkfortheGrandFinal.
Inthecaseofadrawstillexisting,thewinnerwillbedeterminedtobetheindividualwith
thehighestmarkfromanyonejudge.
ThewinneroftheGrandFinalwillbenotifiedattheALSAConferenceClosingDinner.
Scoringwillbeasfollows:
Eachcompetitorwillbeallocatedamarkoutofforty(40)fortheirwrittenpaper.
Eachmemberofthejudgingpanelwillawardeachcompetitoramarkoutofsixty(60).
Thecompetitor’sscorewillbetheaverageofthescoresawarded.
Judgesmustawardeachcompetitoradifferentscore;nodrawsarepossible.
Eachmemberofthejudgingpanelwillrankcompetitorswithineachgroup.Notwo(2)
competitorsmayberankedequally.Thecompetitor’srankwillbetheaverageoftheranks
awarded.
MethodofdeterminingtheAustralianChampion
ThehighestplacedAustraliancompetitoraccordingtothescoringmethodologywillbe
deemedtheAustralianChampion.
ThesecondhighestplacedAustralianaccordingtothescoringmethodologywillbe
deemedtheAustralianrunner-up.
8.RESEARCHANDPREPARATION
8.1
Allsubstantiveresearchandpreparationfortheoralcomponentmustbeconductedsolely
bythecompetitor.Competitorsmaynotreceiveassistanceandadvice.
Penalty:
Anycontraventionof8.1mayresultindisqualification.
9.PAPERSPECIFICATIONS
9.1
Thesubjectforthepaper(andoralpresentation)istobedeterminedbythecompetitor.
9.2
Thepaperistobenolongerthan5000words(maximumwordlimit).
Penalty:
WrittenPapermarksarepenalisedattwo(2)marks(ofapossible40marksavailable)per
100wordsorpartthereofoverthemaximumwordlimit(5000words).
9.3
Thepaperistobenoshorterthan3000words(minimumwordlimit).
Penalty:
WrittenPapermarksarepenalisedattwo(2)marks(ofapossible40marksavailable)per
100wordsorpartthereofundertheminimumwordlimit(3000words).
9.4
Basicfootnotes,bibliography,titles,subtitlesandcontentspageswillnotbeconsidered
partofthewordlimitasoutlinedin9.2and9.3.
9.5
Explanatoryfootnotesarepermitted,butmustbeincludedinthewordlimit.
9.6
ThepapershouldconformtotheChampionship’sdesignatedStyleGuide,theAustralian
GuidetoLegalCitation.
9.7
Nopartofthepapershoulddisclosetheuniversityofthecompetitor.
Penalty:
Five(5)markswillbedeductedforabreachofrule9.7.
9.8
ThedeadlineforreceiptofpapersistobesetbytheConvenerbutnolessthan5days
priortoconference.
9.9
Bytheduedatedeadline,CompetitorsmustemailtheChampionshipco-coordinatoratthe
emailaddressspecifiedbytheConvener,providing:
9.9.1
AcopyoftheirpaperinPortableDocumentFormat(.pdf);and
9.9.2
Acompletedcoversheetdeclaringthatthelengthofthepaperisbetween3000and5000
words.
9.10
AtConference,competitorsmustprovidetheChampionshipco-coordinatorwiththree
boundhardcopiesoftheirpaper.
9.11
Penalty
Eachcompetitormaysubmitonlyone(1)paper.
Foranybreachofsubsection9.9WrittenPapermarksarepenalisedattwo(2)marks(ofa
possible40marksavailable)perdayorpartthereof.
10.DETAILSOFTHEPRESENTATION
10.1
Thepresentationisdividedintotwoparts.
10.1.1
First,theCompetitorwillpresenttheirpaperwithoutinterruptionforuptofifteen(15)
minutes.AcompetitormuststopspeakingwhenaskedtodosobytheJudge.Awarning
willbegivenatthefollowingintervals:
10.1.1.1
Ten(10)minutesaftercommencing;
10.1.1.2
Thirteen(13)minutesaftercommencing;
10.1.1.3
Fifteen(15)minutesaftercommencing.
10.1.2
Second,thejudgingpanelwillquestionthecompetitorontheiroralpresentationforupto
ten(10)minutes.Questionsfromspectatorswillnotbepermitted.
10.2
Thecompetitor’spapermustformthesubstantivebasisforthepresentation.
10.3
Thefollowingequipmentisavailableforusebythecompetitorinthepresentation:
10.3.1
Alectern;
10.3.2
Awhiteboard;and
10.3.3
Aprojectorconnectedtocomputerequipmentforpower-pointpresentations.
10.4
Theequipment,atatimesetatthediscretionoftheALSAConferenceConvenor,istobe
availabletothecompetitorpriortothecompetitionforthepurposeoffamiliarisation.
10.5
Nootherequipmentwillbepermissibleunlessaspecialrequestismadeinwritingtothe
Championshipco-ordinatorandisapprovedbytheCompetitionsDirector(s)in
consultationwiththeConferenceConvenornolaterthanfive(5)dayspriortothe
commencementofcompetition.
10.6
Thecompetitorisresponsibleforarrangingtheirpreferredsetupfortheequipmentand
willbegivenanopportunitytodosobeforebeingintroducedbythePaperPresentation
Championshipcoordinator.
10.7
Forthepurposeofthischampionship,competitorsmayassumethatthejudgingpanelwill
becomposedof“legallyliteratepeoplewithanon-expertinterestinthepaper”.
10.8
Acompetitorwillnotbemorethanfive(5)minuteslateforthecommencementofthe
round.
Penalty:
Two(2)marksperfive(5)minutesorpartthereof.Forclarity,penaltieswillonlyapply
onwardsfrom5minutesaftertheroundisscheduledtobegin.
11.TIMEKEEPING
11.1
Responsibilityfortimekeepingandadherencetoallottedtimeperiodsandbreaksrests
withtheJudges.
11.2
Ifresourcesandvolunteersareavailable,timekeepersandtimekeepingdevicesmaybe
11.3
11.4
11.5
12.JUDGING
12.1
providedandinsuchcaseswillbesolelyresponsibleforalltimekeepingandpenalties.A
timekeepershallnotbeanindividualfromthesameUniversityasanyCompetitorinthat
particularround.
Decisionsbyjudgesastoelapsedtimesarefinalandnon-reviewable.
ObservationoftheChampionshipisencouraged,howeverpotentialfordisruptionmustbe
minimized.Observersshouldnotenterorleavetheroomwhilstacompetitorisspeaking.
Judgesmay,iftheywish,requestthatobserversleavetheroomwhiletheyconfer.Outside
ofthisdiscretion,observersmaywatchallsegmentsofaround.
Everyeffortmustbemadebythecompetitionorganisersandthecompetitorstoensure
thatjudgesareunawareoftheuniversitycompetitorsarefromuntilaftertheyhave
judgedthatparticularcompetition.
12.1.1
12.1.2
12.2
12.3
12.4
12.5
12.5.3
12.5.4
Competitors must not reveal their university to the Judge/s until after the Judge has
handedinthescoresheetsforthatparticularcompetition.
Competitorsmustnotcontactjudgesafterthecompetitionunlessspecificallyinvitedtodo
sobythatparticularjudge.
Alljudgesmusthavesuitablelegalqualifications,orrelevantexperience.Judgeswillbe
judges,magistrates,legalpractitioners,legalacademicsorotherswithdemonstrated
experienceincompetitions.
Whereastudentisservingasajudge,heorshemaynotjudgearoundinvolvinga
competitorfromthatstudent’suniversity.
Onejudgewillassessallwrittenpapers.Thatjudgemustnotbeamemberofanyoral
judgingpanelforthePreliminaryRoundorGrandFinal.
Judgeswillbeprovidedwith:
Thescoresheet;
AsummaryoftherulesoftheChampionship(atleast1(one)page).
13.RELEASEOFSCORESHEETSANDRANKINGS
13.1
ScoresheetsandrankingsarereleasedbytheConferenceteamtoassisttheeducational
valueofcompetitionatALSAConference.Noappealsarepermittedonthebasisofscore
sheetsorrankings.
13.2
Attheconclusionofthecompetition,allcompetitorswillreceiveacopyoftheirscore
sheetfortheiroralperformance(notwrittenmark).
13.3
Attheconclusionofthecompetition,eachcompetitor,ALSArepresentativeorfacultymay
writetotheConvenerandrequestacopyoftheirscores.Theywillhaveonemonthfrom
theconclusionoftheConferencetocompletethisrequest.
13.4
Attheconclusionoftheone-monthperiod,thosecompetitors,ALSArepresentativesand
facultywhorequestedtheirscoresaccordingto13.1willbesentacopy.Thiswilloccur
overatwo-weekperiod.
13.5
TheConferenceteamwillalsoatthistimereleasealistofrankingsfortheChampionship.
13.6
Noscoreswillbereleasedexceptinstrictaccordancewiththeserules.
14.AUSTRALIANCHAMPION
14.1
Intheevent,thecompetitioniswonbyanAustraliancompetitor,thatcompetitorshallbe
deemedtheAustralianChampion.
14.2
In the event the highest placed Australian competitor is the runner-up, that competitor
shallbedeemedtheAustralianChampion.
14.3
In the event the highest placed Australian competitor is a losing semi-finalist, that
competitorshallbedeemedtheAustralianchampionunlessbothlosingsemi-finalistsare
Australiancompetitors.
14.4
In the event both losing semi-finalists are Australian competitors and no Australian
competitor progresses to the Grand Final, the highest ranked Australian competitor
according to the ranking methodology in section 6 of these rules shall be deemed the
AustralianChampion.
14.5
In the event the highest placed Australian competitor is a losing quarter- finalist, the
highestrankedAustraliancompetitoraccordingtotherankingmethodologyinsection6of
these rules shall be deemed the Australian Champion unless only two Australian
competitorsprogresstothequarter-finals.
14.6
IntheeventonlytwoAustraliancompetitorsprogresstothequarter-finalsandboththose
competitors fail to progress to the semi-finals, the highest ranked Australian competitor
according to the ranking methodology in section 6 of these rules shall be deemed the
AustralianChampion.
14.7
In the event the highest placed Australian competitor does not qualify for the
quarterfinals, the highest ranked Australian competitor according to the ranking
methodologyinsection6oftheserulesshallbedeemedtheAustralianChampion.
14.8
The Australian runner-up shall be the Australian competitor that progressed the second
furthest into the elimination rounds. In the event two or more Australian competitors
would qualify to be Australian runner-up on this basis, the competitor ranked highest
accordingtor6.1.1willbedeemedtheAustralianrunner-up.
14.9
14.10
14.11
Should the Competition be used to select a representative Australian competitor to
competeinaninternationalcompetition,theAustralianChampionforthatyearwillbeput
forwardastherepresentative.
In the event that the Australian Champion (including a minimum of one (1) member
competing in the Competition) is unable to attend the international competition the
Australianrunner-upmayrepresentAustralia.
In the event of the inability of the Australian runner-up to attend, ALSA, in consultation
withwhicheversuchbodythathasrequestedthecompetitor,shallnominateanAustralian
representativewhohasparticipatedinthenationalcompetition.
15.APPEALS
15.1
15.2
15.3
15.4
15.5
15.6
15.7
15.8
15.9
15.10
Where a competitor believes that these rules have been incorrectly applied, an appeal
should be lodged to the Conference Board of Appeals, in accordance with the ALSA
AppealsProcedureBy-Law.
Where the Conference Board of Appeals has discretion to penalize a competitor in
accordance with these rules, in determining the penalty the Board shall consider, inter
alia:
● Anymitigatingcircumstancesthatwouldexplainthecontravention;
● Anyaggravatingcircumstancesconnectedwiththecontravention.
TheConferenceBoardofAppealsreservestherighttowaiveapenaltywhereitbelieves
thatthecircumstancesmeritsuchadecision.
Judges shall not be notified of the application of any penalties at any time by the
CompetitionsDirector(s)ortheConferenceBoardofAppeals.
If a Judge becomes aware that a penalty has been or will be applied, they will be
instructednottotakethispenaltyintoconsiderationwhenmarkingthecompetitors.
The Competitions Director(s) and the Conference Board of Appeals in consultation with
theConferenceConvener(s),havefulldiscretionastotheapplicationofallpenalties.
TheConferenceAppealsBoardwillalsohavethediscretiontodisqualifyorapplypenalties
to any competitor who acts in a manner that is contrary to the principles on which the
competitionisbasedortheinterestsofthecompetition.
Anycompetitorthatforfeitswillbedeemedtohavelostthatpaperpresentation.Counsel
fortheforfeitingcompetitorwillbedeemedtohaveamarkofzeroforthatround.
Anycompetitorwhoseopponentforfeitsaroundwillbedeemedtohavewonthatpaper
presentation.Thecompetitor’smarginwillbetheaverageoftheirmarginsfromtheother
rounds.
Any competitor that forfeits shall be excluded from progressing through to the Final
Rounds.