DC Justice Lab Invites Law Students to Compete and Sharpen Legislative Advocacy Skills for a Chance to Win $5,000
Washington, D.C., August 25, 2025 – Registration is now open for the third annual Richard K. Gilbert Policy Advocacy Competition, an event that inspires law students to pursue careers in legislative advocacy. Hosted by DC Justice Lab, the competition offers participants a unique opportunity to hone essential legal skills, including policy analysis, legal research, and both written and oral advocacy, in a real-world legislative context.
“We need more people who understand how to shape laws that reflect the needs of our communities, especially now, when rights are being rolled back and local voices are being silenced,” said Clinique Chapman, chief executive of DC Justice Lab. “This competition gives law students the tools to drive change through policy, not just in the courts.”
The competition is open to law students seeking a JD from any ABA-approved law school in the United States. Teams must register to participate in the competition. Registration is limited to one team per school, consisting of two students. The first eight qualified teams to register will be selected as competitors for the program. Any team that registers thereafter will be placed on a waitlist and notified in the event one of the first eight registered teams ultimately cannot compete, a replacement team will be selected from the waitlist in order of registration date. Teams should ideally have a coach from their school, but if this is not possible, DC Justice Lab can connect a team with a coach recruited by the organization. Eight teams will respond to the competition problem with proposed legislation and a fact sheet explaining their proposal. Then, mock legislative hearings test teams’ oral advocacy for their bills. These hearings will take place at the John A. Wilson Building in Washington, D.C.
Judges will score teams on their written work and oral advocacy. Teams will advance through rounds tournament-style. Judges will be attorneys, lawmakers, and public policy professionals recruited by DC Justice Lab for their expertise in policy advocacy. The competition will conclude with an awards presentation and reception. The winning team will receive a $5,000 prize.
Key Dates:
• October 31st, 2025: Registration closes.
• November 14th, 2025: Problem released.
• January 21st, 2026: Written advocacy work product due.
• March 28th, 2026: Oral advocacy rounds and awards reception.
The event honors Richard K. Gilbert, a champion of legal justice who believed that lawyers must not only help individual clients, but also help society at large by changing laws for the better. Gilbert was an adjunct professor at American University’s Washington College of Law, a forceful advocate for criminal justice reform, and a mentor to DC Justice Lab’s founding executive director. The Gilbert Policy Advocacy Competition honors Gilbert’s passion and his mentorship of younger lawyers to become change agents.
To learn more and register for the Richard K. Gilbert Policy Advocacy Competition, visit: https://dcjusticelab.org/policy-advocacy-competition
ABOUT DC JUSTICE LAB
DC Justice Lab is a team of law and policy experts researching, organizing, and advocating for large-scale changes to the District of Columbia’s criminal legal system. We develop smarter safety solutions that are evidence-driven, community-rooted, and racially just. We aim to fully transform the District’s approach to public safety and make it a national leader in justice reform.
MEDIA CONTACT
Vasuki Wilson
202 294 2342
vasuki@risepublic.com