3L Joakim Soederbaum, editor-in-chief of the Texas A&M Law Review, was selected as the winner of the 2013 National Sports Law Student Writing Competition by the Marquette Sports Law Review for his article titled, “Leveling the Playing Field—Balancing Student-Athletes’ Short- and Long-Term Financial Interests With Educational Institutions’ Interests in Avoiding NCAA Sanctions.” His winning article was published in Volume 24, Number 1, Fall 2013, of the Marquette Sports Law Review.
As the winner of the competition, Soederbaum was invited to attend the National Sports Law Institute's annual fall conference "Current Legal and Business Issues Affecting Collegiate, Olympic and International Sports" held October 18, 2013, at Marquette University Law School, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Soederbaum was presented with his award at the conference by Matthew J. Mitten, Professor of Law and Director, National Sports Law Institute and LL.M. in Sports Law Program for Foreign Lawyers, Milwaukee, WI; and member Court of Arbitration for Sport, Lausanne, Switzerland.
“That prominent sports law scholars believe that my article adds to the already broad body of scholarship on NCAA regulations, the ongoing discussion on "amateur" athletics, and the protection of student-athletes is truly exciting. I am honored to receive this award and to be published in the Marquette Sports Law Review, and I hope that more Texas A&M University School of Law students will pursue this type of great opportunity. Attending the conference in Milwaukee was not only a great educational experience but also a wonderful opportunity to meet and interact with successful professionals,” Soederbaum said.
The Marquette Sports Law Review is the first biannual scholarly journal devoted entirely to legal issues in sports law in the nation.