Child Custody Analysis Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Towson Law Firm, PLLC
Introduction
Child custody disputes can be deeply upsetting for the children involved and are often the focus of intense legal and personal debate. These situations can have significant long-term consequences — positive or negative — for a child’s wellbeing. Some argue that adults should make custody decisions because they are responsible for protecting the child’s best interests. Others contend that when children are mature enough, their perspectives (especially when their own circumstances are part of why custody is contested) should carry weight in the outcome. To encourage thoughtful discussion on this issue, we are awarding two $1,000 scholarships for essays that examine who should have greater influence over custody decisions: the adults or the children.
Prompt
Write a 700–1,000 word essay addressing the question: When deciding custody, should adults retain primary authority to determine a child’s best interests, or should children (assumed for this contest to be at least 12 years old) be given a meaningful voice in those decisions? Make and support your position, and propose solutions that could fairly address the concerns of all parties involved. Winners will receive $1,000 toward their education.
Who may apply (Eligibility)
- Open to current high school seniors, students in vocational programs, undergraduate students (two- or four-year), and graduate students.
- Applicants must be legal residents of the United States living in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia and enrolled in a vocational program or an accredited two- or four-year post-secondary institution.
- Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and be in good academic standing.
- Employees of Towson Law Firm, their immediate family members (parent, child, sibling, spouse), and anyone living in the same household as those employees (related or not) are not eligible.
Application materials (what to submit)
- Essay: A 700–1,000 word response to the prompt above. (Remember: for this exercise, assume children must be at least 12 years old to express an opinion.)
- Professional résumé: Include academic and work experience.
- School transcript: Current students should provide a transcript from their present school. First-year college students, graduate students, or recent transfers may submit an unofficial transcript from their current institution plus the most recent official transcript from their prior school. High school applicants must include proof of acceptance to their college or university.
Prizes
Two winners will be selected: one awardee from the local Texas area and one national awardee. Each winner will receive $1,000 to support their education.
Submission details and selection
Submissions will be evaluated on clarity of argument, use of evidence and reasoning, originality of proposed solutions, and overall writing quality. The strongest essay, accompanied by the required résumé and transcripts, will be selected as the winner for each category (Texas and national).
If you have questions about the application or eligibility, please contact the scholarship administrator for further guidance.