WRITING Competitions by Area of Law
Law Student Writing Competitions
A number of organizations sponsor student writing competitions. Participating in these competitions offers many rewards including the chance to contribute to the body of scholarship in a particular area of legal study, the professional recognition of your work among your peers and future employers, and often substantial financial awards.
We update this page as we receive information on new competitions. Check often. Also check for updated information on all ABA Legal Writing Competitions at http://abaforlawstudents.com/events/law-student-competitions/writing-co…
Administrative Law
Gellhorn-Sargentich Law Student Essay Contest - Submission Deadline: May
- American Bar Association
- Award - $500
- http://www.americanbar.org/groups/administrative_law/initiatives_awards/gellhorn_sargentich_law_student_essay_competition.html
The Richard D. Cudahy Writing Competition on Regulatory and Administrative Law - Submission Deadline: February 2, 2020
- American Constitution Society for Law and Policy
- Award - $1,500
- http://www.acslaw.org/special-projects/richard-d-cudahy-writing-competition
Affordable Housing and Community Development Writing Competition - Submission Deadline March 3, 2019
- American Bar Association
- Award - $1,000
- http://www.americanbar.org/groups/affordable_housing.html
Animal Law
Companion Animal Law Writing Contest - Submission Deadline: Late March
- The American Kennell Club, Inc.
- Award - First Prize: $2,500; Second Prize: $500
- http://www.writeaboutanimallaw.com
2018 New York State Bar Association Committee on Animals and the Law - Deadline for Submission: July
- New York State Bar Association
- 1st Place - $1,000 and a Certificate of Achievement; 2nd Prize: $500 and a Certificate of Achievement
http://www.nysba.org/animalsandthelaw
Antitrust Law
Antitrust Law Writing Competition - Submission Deadline: Late January
- American Bar Association -
- Award - 1st Place: $1,000, Runner-up: $500
- http://www.americanbar.org/groups/antitrust_law/awards_fellowships/l_student_writing_competition.html
Appellate Law
Elisenberg Prize- Submission Deadline in July
- American Academy of Appellate Lawyers
- Award - $2,000
- http://www.appellateacademy.org/about/eisenberg_prize.cfm
Bankruptcy Law
American Bankruptcy Institute Law Student Writing Competition - Submission Deadline in March
- American Bankruptcy Institute -
- Award - 1st Place: $2,000, 2nd Place: $1,250, 3rd Place: $750
- http://papers.abi.org/
Business Law
Mendes Hershman Student Writing Contest - Submission Deadline in February
- American Bar Association
- Award - $2,500
- http://www.americanbar.org/groups/business_law/initiatives_awards/mendes_hershman.html
Trandafir International Business Writing Competition - Submission Deadline February 1, 2019
- Transnational Law and Contemporary Problems: A Journal at the University of Iowa College of Law
- Cash prize of $1,800, with publication of winning essay published in above mentioned journal.
Civil Procedure
2018 George Hutchinson - Submission Deadline in July
- Federal Circuit Bar Association -
- Judicial Scholarships - Howard T. Markey Memorial Scholarship: An award of $10,000
- Helen W. Nies Memorial Scholarship: An award of $10,000
- The Association Scholarships - Board Scholarship: An award of $10,000 will be given.
- Association William S. Bullinger Scholarship: An award of $5,000
- https://fedcirbar.org/Pro-Bono-Scholarships/Scholarships/Rules
Constitutional Law
American Constitution Society - Submission Deadline October 18, 2019
- Opportunity to Present Paper at January 3, 2020 2020 AALS Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
- https://www.acslaw.org/get-involved/awards-and-competitions/
Constance Baker Motely National Student Writing Competition - Submission Deadline in February 9, 2020
- American Constitution Society for Law and Policy
- Award - 1st Place: $3,000, Runner-up: $1,000
- http://www.acslaw.org/chapters/studentcompetitions/writing
Roy C. Palmer Civil Liberties Prize - Submission Deadline July
- Illinois Institute of Technology - Kent College of Law
- Award - $10,000
- http://www.kentlaw.iit.edu/academics/palmer-civil-liberties-prize
Criminal Law
Annual William W. Greenhalgh Student Writing Competition - Submission Deadline July
- American Bar Association
- Award - $2,000
- https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/criminal_justice/greenhalgh_rules.authcheckdam.pdf
Environmental Law
White River Environmental Law Writing Contest - Submission Deadline Mid-December
- Vermont Law School - Deadline for submission in mid-December.
- Award - $1,000
- http://vjel.vermontlaw.edu/writing-competition/
Ohio Environmental Law Award: Call for Papers - Submission Deadline - January
- Ohio State Bar Association - Deadline for submission in late January.
- Award - $1,000, 2nd Place: $250
- https://www.mdllp.net
Ethics and Professionalism
2018 Ethics and Professionalism Essay Competition - Submission Deadline February
- AmericanLawRadio.com and the Law Offices of David Malik
- Award - Up to $1,500
- http://clemetrobar.org/CMBA_Prod/cmbadocs/Committees/Ethics%20and%20Professionalism/2018_Rules.pdf
The Warren E. Burger Prize - Submission Deadline July
- American Inns of Court
- Award - $5,000
- http://home.innsofcourt.org/AIC/Awards_and_Scholarships/Warren_E_Burger_Prize/AIC/Awards_and_Scholarships/Warren_E_Burger_Prize/Warren_E_Burger_Prize.aspx?hkey=495b2b83-8952-4ed0-b609-f48df46c0ea8
Smith-Doheny Legal Ethics Writing Competition - Submission Deadline in April
- University of Notre Dame Law School
- Award - $2,500
- https://law.nd.edu/assets/263053/2018_poster.pdf
Family Law
Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts - Submission Deadline in February
- First Prize - $500; Two (2) Honorable Mention Awards of $250
https://law.hofstra.edu/_site_support/files/pdf/currentstudents/studentactivities/journals/familycourtreview/hflwritingcompetition/hflwritingcompetition.pdf
Health Law
Health Law Writing Competition - Submission Deadline in Early February
- Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.
- Award - 1st Place: $4,000, 2nd Place: $2,000, 3rd Place: $500
- http://www.ebglaw.com/othercontent.aspx?show=5064
Mollie and Paul Hill Student Writing Competition in Medical- Legal Interprofessional Collaboration - Submission Deadline in Early January
- The Florida State University
- Award - 1st Place: $250
- http://med.fsu.edu/medlaw
Center for Alcohol Policy - Submission Deadline in December
- "Should temperance still be recognized as a permissible goal of alcohol regulation?"
- Award: The top three entries will receive, $5,000; $2,500; $1,000
- www.CenterforAlcoholPolicy
Intellectual Property Law
VSB Intellectual Property Law Student Writing Competition - Submission Deadline in May
- Virginia State Bar Association
- Award: First Prize $5,000; Runnerup Prize $2,500
- http://usascholarships.com/vsb-intellectual-property-law-student-writing-competition/
Hon. William C. Conner Writing Competition - Submission Deadline for Submission is in March
- The New York Intellectual Property Law Association
- Award - 1st Place: $1,500, Runner Up: $1,000
- http://www.nyipla.org/nyipla/ConnerWritingAwards.asp
Robert C. Watson Award - Submission Deadline is June
- American Intellectual Property Law Association
- Award - Paid trip to Washington, D.C. to receive the award
- http://www.aipla.org/resources2/programs/Pages/Robert-C.-Watson-Award.aspx
International Law
Andrew P. Vance Memorial Writing Competition - Submissiom Deadline in May
- Brooklyn Law School
- Award - 1st Place: $1,000, Runner-up: $500
- www.citba.org/vanceCompetition
The State Bar of California Law Student Writing Competition - Submission Deadline in May
- The State Bar of California
- Award - 1st Place: $2,000, 2nd Place: $750, 3rd Place: $250
- http://international.calbar.ca.gov/InternationalLaw/LawStudents.aspx#writing
International Humanitarian Law Student Writing Competition - Submission Deadline in November
- The Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law
- Award - $500, one-year ASIL student membership
- www.WCLCenterforHR.org
Labor and Employment Law
Louis Jackson National Student Writing Competition - Submission Deadline in January
- Illinois Institute of Technology - Kent College of Law
- Award - 1st Place: $3,000, Runner Up: $1,000
- http://www.kentlaw.iit.edu//louis-jackson-writing-competition
The American College of Employee Benefits Counsel Writing Competition - Submission Deadline June
- The American College of Employee Benefits
- Award - $1,500
- http://www.acebc.com/employee-benefits-writing-competition
The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers Writing Competition - Submission Deadline June
- The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
- Award - 1st Place: $3,000, 2nd Place: $1,000, 3rd Place: $500
- http://www.laborandemploymentcollege.org
Ohio State Bar Association Labor and Employment Law 2019 Student Writing Competition - Submission Deadline March 30, 2019
- First Place: $3,000; Second Place $2,000; Third Place $1,000.
- www.judgify.me/L&Ewritingcompetition
LGBT LAW
Michael Greenberg Student Writing Competition - Submission Deadline in April
- The LGBT Bar AssociationAward - Registration costs for the 31thAnnual Lavender Law® Conference and Career Fair and Congratulatory plaque and official recognition at the conference
https://lgbtbar.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6//2018/03/StudentAwards18.pdf
Miscellaneous
AALL/LexisNexis Call for Papers - Submission Deadline in March
Berkeley Technology Law Journal Writing Competition - Submission Deadline in March
H. Thomas Austern Memorial Writing Competition - Submission Deadline June
Judge John R. Brown Award for Excellence in Legal Writing - Submission Deadline June
National Law Review Writing Competition - Submission Deadline is on a monthly basis
35th Annual Smith-Babcock-Williams Student Writing Competition - American Planning Association - Submission Deadline - June
- Topic - Area of Interest for Law Librarians
- Award - $650
- http://www.aallnet.org/main-menu/Member-Resources/AALLawards/award-call-for-papers.html
- Topic - Technology and the Law
- Award - 1st Place: $2,000, 2nd Place: $750, 3rd Place: $500
- http://btlj.org/2013/01/30/spring-2013-writing-competition-rules/
- Topic - Food and Drug Law
- Award - 1st Place: $4,000, Runner-up: $1,000
- http://www.fdli.org/resources/academics/h-thomas-austern-memorial-writing-competition
- Topic - Any Area of Law
- Award - 1st Place $10,000; 2nd Place $5,000, 3rd Place $3,000; (2) Finalist Awards of $1,000 & $5,000 to the Scholar Fund selected by hte Dean of the law school in which the 1st place candidate is enrolled.
- http://www.brownsims.com/about-brown-sims/affiliations/judge-john-r-brown-award
- Topic - Any Area of Law - Submissions are welcomed on a monthly basis.
- Award - Publication on the National Law Review Website
- http://www.natlawreview.com/NLR-law-student-writing-competition
- Topic: - Entries should demonstrate original thought on a question of significance in either city planning or associated areas of law (e.g., land use, local government or environmental law) and will be evaluated based on:
- ( I ) originality; (2) contribution to the understanding or development of the fields of planning and Jaw; (3) quality of scholarship and (4) quality and organization of writing.
- Award - 1st Place: $2,000 and submission in ABA's Section of State & Local Government Law; 2nd Place $400; Honorable Mention $100
- https://www.planning.org/divisions/planningandlaw/writingcompetition
William & Mary Law School - Submission Deadline December 20, 2019
- Artificial Intelligence Writing Competition
- First Prize - $2,500; Second Prize $1,500; Third Prize $1,000
- https://americanbar.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a34QWkUNrUgJbQV
Native American Law
American Indian Law Review Writing Competition - Submission Deadline in November
Chief Justice John B. Doolin Writing Competition - Submission Deadline in May
PLANNING AND LAW
35th Annual Smith-Babcock-Williams Student Writing Competition - Submission Deadline in June
Public Interest Law
Hogan/Smoger Access to Justice Essay Contest - Submission Deadline in April
William & Mary Law School - Center for Legal & Court Technology - Submission Deadline in December
Securities Law
James E. Beckley Student Writing Competition - Entries will be accepted from April 1, 2018 - August 31, 2018
Securities Law Writing Competition - Submission Deadline in December
State and Local Government
Smith-Babcock-Williams Writing Competition - Submission Deadline in June
Tax Law
The Theodore Tannenwald, Jr. Foundation for Excellence in Tax Scholarship Competition - Submission Deadline June
Trusts and Estates
The Mary Moers Wenig Student Writing Competition - Submission Deadline June
- The University of Oklahoma College of Law
- Award - 1st Place: $1,000, 2nd Place $500, 3rd Place: $250
- http://www.ailr.net/writecomp
- The Supreme Court of Oklahoma and the Sovereignty Symposium, Inc.
- Award - 1st Place $750, 2nd Place $500, 3rd Place $250
- www.sovereignty.symposiumnull@oscn.nullnet
- American City Planning Law - Deadline for submission - June 4, 2018
- American Planning Association
- 1st Prize - $2,000; 2nd Prize $400; Honorable Mention $100
- http://www.acsp.org/news/387444/35th-Annual-Smith-Babcock-Williams-Student-Writing-Competition.htm
- Public Justice
- Award - $5,000
- http://publicjustice.net/news-events/awards/hogansmoger-essay-contest
- Artificial Intelligence - Legal Issues Likely to Arise
- Award - 1st Place $2,500; 2nd Place $1,000; 3rd Place $1,000
http://law.wm.edu/academics/intellectuallife/researchcenters/clct/2017-Essay-Competition-Rules.pdf
William W. Greenhalgh Student Writing Competition - Submission Deadline July 1, 2019
- Award - $2,500 Cash Prize
- https://www.americanbar.org/groups/criminal_justice/awards/writing_competition/
- Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association
- Award - 1st Place: $1,000, 2nd Place: $750, 3rd Place: $500
- wwpiabafoundation.org
- Association of Securities and Exchange Commission Alumni, Inc. (ASECA)
- Award - 1st Place $5,000; 2nd Place $3,000; 3rd Place $2,000
- www.secalumni.org
- American Planning Association
- Award - $2,500
- http://www.planning.org/divisions/planningandlaw/writingcompetition/
- The Theodore Tannenwalk, Jr. Foundation for Excellence in Tax Scholarship & The American College of Tax Counsel
- Award - 1st Place: $5,000, 2nd Place: $2,500, Top 3 Papers: $1,500
- https://www.tannenwald.org/2018-Competition-Announcement
- The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
- Award - 1st Place: $5,000, 2nd Place: $3,000, 3rd Place: $1,000
- https://actecfoundation.org/resources-for-law-students/law-student-writing-competition/