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.

2025 Competition Details

The 2025 competition ran Monday, February 3rd until Monday, March 17th, 2025. All registered students were sent the Competition Problem the morning of February 3rd, along with the full rules. They had six weeks to read it, and write and submit their memorandum and PowerPoint submissions. The competition was graded anonymously by our independent panel of judges. The top three winners received the following prizes for their work and complimentary registration for the 2026 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

Judging Panel

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

David Graham
Senior Counsel, Gardner Law

Melissa Hunt
Senior Director, Arcus Biosciences
Business Partner and Health Law Attorney

Kathryn Meintsma
President, HealthRoad Legal PLLC

Bob Wade
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 2025 problem, there were 2 submission pieces required, one memorandum and one PowerPoint.
• How will submissions be anonymous?
  • When a submission is made, the HLI Program Administrator assigns each submission a number and gives 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.