Seminar Papers for Sale – A Warning to Law Professors

While it is common knowledge that students can and do sometimes commit plagiarism, we may not always take into consideration that with improved communications and technology, law school assignments can turn into a marketplace commodity.

Consider for example the following entry that was posted on craigslist on Nov. 27, 2007:
   

I am looking for someone to write a law school paper. The person either needs to be in law school or has a JD and is looking to make fast cash. The paper is on a specific subject – “Estates,” and involves answering a fact pattern which I can produce for them to answer. The total length should be 18-23 pages.
   

Anonymity is of course key for this. I will pay $700 via a money order check (from the U.S. Post Office). I will only send the fact pattern and question via my e-mail address. Thank you.
   

This disturbing posting is a reminder to us as law professors to be aware of and alert to the possibility of plagiarized student work.