Each year the Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice presents an Award for Scholarship. The award goes to the most outstanding work of legal scholarship in the field published in the previous year. A committee consisting of legal academics and practicing lawyers makes the nomination.

This year the Section presented its eleventh annual award for scholarship to Professors Patrick J. Borchers and David L. Markell for their book, New York State Administrative Procedure and Practice.

Professors Borchers' and Markell's book is the first treatise-length book on New York state administrative law since 1942. The book contains a legal analysis of the standard administrative law topics and also is designed to serve as a resource book for practicing attorneys who must deal with New York state administrative agencies. The "scholarship" of the book is not so much in the proposal of new structures for thinking about administrative law concepts, although the authors offer some comments, criticisms, and suggestions on certain state practices, but in its clear, accurate, and succinct presentation of administrative law concepts and practices for the average practicing attorney.

This year's selection recognizes the important contribution that this Section can make to the day-to-day practice of law before administrative tribunals at every level of government. While much of the Section's work is necessarily focused on Federal administrative procedure, on Federal caselaw at the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court levels, and on related activities at the academic level as reflected in law review literature, it is important to recognize that much, if not most, of the work in administrative law is done by practitioners in non-federal proceedings. The Borchers and Markell book can serve as a ready reference that will help day-to-day practitioners in new York better serve their clients. Thus, the Section is pleased to honor a treatise aimed at that audience.