Roy Snell Health Care Regulatory and Compliance Writing Competition

About the Competition

In keeping with Roy Snell’s keen interest in practical, realistic, and user-centered communication, as well as a commitment to efficiency and clarity in writing, this demanding competition requires students to analyze a hypothetical fact pattern (the Competition Problem) involving an organization facing multifaceted health care regulatory/compliance matters and draft two separate internal memoranda to two different recipients within the organization. This competition recognizes law students for innovative, strategic, and sound approaches to tackling complex contemporary health care regulatory and compliance issues.

Students must analyze the facts presented in the Competition Problem, identify any and all regulatory/compliance concerns, and advise the recipient of the memorandum. While these two internal memoranda address the same hypothetical situation and subject matter, they are to be drafted with a specific audience/reader in mind. Content must be customized to a particular audience/reader to optimize understanding, engagement, and responsiveness.

2023 Competition Details

The 2023 competition will run from February 1st to March 15th. All registered students will be sent the Competition Problem after registration closes. They will have six weeks to read it, and write and submit their memorandum and PowerPoint submissions. This competition has three winners who will be graded anonymously by our independent panel of judges. The top three winners received a monetary prize for their work and paid registration for the 2024 HCCA Annual Compliance Institute (valued at over $1,500). They will also receive up to $1500 in travel and conference-related expenses.

• 1st Place — $5000 cash prize
• 2nd Place — $3000 cash prize
• 3rd Place — $1500 cash prize

Who May Enter 

The competition is open to all full and part-time law students in J.D. programs who have completed their 1L year.  The competition is also open to any student currently enrolled in a Compliance Certification Board (CCB) accredited program.

Quote from Laura Cummings, 2021 1st Place Winner

“I encourage everyone interested in health care law and compliance to take on [this] challenge. It not only calls on entrants to reflect on a difficult situation and analyze it legally but also requires you to craft a concise, accurate, and appropriate response for your client. I found myself more engaged in the challenge than I expected, and the real benefit of the competition was how much I learned by participating.”

Judging Panel

All submissions will judged by a panel of independent legal and compliance experts. Neither the entrant’s identity nor academic institution will be known to the judges.

Shirley Qual
VP of Compliance Operations & Chief Compliance Audit Officer, Retired

Michael Loucks
Partner, Health Care and Life Sciences, Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates

Kristin Rand, JD, MA
Chief Compliance Officer and Head of Risk
Resilience

Mark Gardner, MBA, JD
Managing Attorney
Gardner Law

Gabriel Imperato, JD
Managing Partner
Nelson Mullins

About the Competition Sponsor

The Roy Snell Health Care Regulatory & Compliance Writing Competition is made possible in part by generous support from the Health Care Compliance Association. The HCCA champions ethical practice and compliance standards and provides necessary resources for healthcare professionals and others who share those principles.

FAQs

• Will there be 1 submission, or 2?
  • For the 2023 problem, there are 2 submission pieces required, one memorandum and one PowerPoint. There will be a spot for each on the submission form.
• How will submissions be anonymous?
  • When a submission is made, the HLI Program Administrator will assign each submission a number and give them to the judges.  Once the judges have scored all submissions, names will be revealed.
• Can I finish this Competition Problem in a weekend?
  • Students that have entered in previous years suggest that you carefully and thoughtfully work on the problem for a longer period of time to ensure your best work.