21st Entertainment Law Initiative Writing Competition
The Recording Academy™, in concert with some of the nation’s most prominent entertainment attorneys, established the Entertainment Law Initiative® to promote discussion and debate about the most compelling legal issues facing the music industry today. Now in its 21st year, the program has grown to include a national legal writing competition and a GRAMMY® Week event.
ELI fosters future careers in entertainment law by seeking out the nation’s top law students and giving them invaluable networking and educational opportunities. The ELI writing contest challenges students to identify, research, and write an essay with a proposed solution on a compelling legal issue confronting the music industry. A nationwide panel of music law experts will judge the papers in a blind process to select a winner and a runner up. This contest is open to Juris Doctorate (JD) and master of laws (LLM) candidates currently enrolled at an ABA-accredited law school.
The ELI event will be held on Friday, February 8, 2019 in Los Angeles and at this function the winner of the ELI Writing Competition will be recognized. This event also features recognition of a top music industry legal figure and serves as a key gathering of the industry’s legal and executive community during GRAMMY® Week. Further details and ticket information for this event will be announced soon.
In the meantime, law students are encouraged to participate in the ELI Writing Competition to further their knowledge, better connect to the music and legal community and also to get a chance to attend the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards® in Los Angeles in 2019.
Important Dates
Paper Submission Deadline:
Jan. 2, 2019
10 a.m. PST (1 p.m. EST)
Winner and Runner-Up Chosen:
Jan. 18, 2019
ELI Event & Winner Scholarship Presentation, New York City:
January 26, 2018
ELI Event & Scholarship Presentation, Los Angeles
Feb. 8, 2019
WINNER WILL RECEIVE
- $10,000 scholarship
- Two tickets to and recognition onstage at the 21st Annual ELI Event & Scholarship Presentation
- Two tickets to the MusiCares® Person of the Year gala honoring Dolly Parton on Feb. 8, 2019
- Two tickets to the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards® on Feb. 10, 2019
- Round-trip airfare to Los Angeles and hotel accommodations for two to attend these events
RUNNER-UP WILL RECEIVE
- $2,500 scholarship
For complete ELI Writing Competition rules see below. For questions or more information email eli@recordingacademy.com.
See complete Competition Rules.