Writing Competitions

All Competitions

Many of the following competitions have been completed, but are often repeated on an annual basis. Students are encouraged to check for updated deadlines.

Administrative Law
ADR
Animal Law
Antitrust Law
Business Law
Civil Practice and Procedure & Trial Advocacy
Commercial Law
Constitutional Law
Consumer Law
Criminal Law & Procedure
Disability Law
Elder Law
Energy Law
Environmental Law
Evidence Law
Family Law

Gender and Sexual Orientation
Health Law
Indian Law
Intellectual Property Law
International/Foreign Law
Labor and Employment Law
Legal Ethics & Professionalism
Legal History
Property, Trusts & Estates
State and Local Government Law
Tax Law
Technology Law
Tort Law
Women and the Law
Other Writing Competitions

Administrative Law

Gellhorn-Sargentich Law Student Essay Competition
Topic: Discuss a problem or issue relating to presidential control of agency rulemaking.
Award: $500 cash prize and round-trip airfare and accommodation to attend the Section’s Fall Conference in Washington, DC. At the discretion of the editorial board, the winning entry will be selected for publication in Administrative and Regulatory Law News.
Deadline: March 31, 2009

ADR

Jaes Boskey ADR Writing Competition (Dispute Resolution)
Topic: any aspect of dispute resolution practice, theory or research
Award: $1000 in each of two divisions, Law Student or Masters/Doctoral Student. The first prize winners will also receive an invitation to publish in The Journal of American Arbitration or The World Arbitration and Mediation Report
Deadline: June 15, 2009

University of La Verne Law Review Student Writing Competition
Topic: A note or comment in the area of ADR.
Award: $200 and publication in Issue 33 of the University of La Verne Law Review.
Deadline: July 31, 2011

Animal Law

New York State Bar Association Special Committee on Animals and the Law Student Writing Competition
Topic: any area of animal law
Award: First place - $1,000 and a certificate of achievement. Second place- $500 and a certificate of
achievement.
Deadline: June 29, 2012

Antitrust Law

ABA Section of Antitrust Law Student Writing Competition
Topic: Antitrust
Award: all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to receive prize during the ABA Section of Antitrust Law's Spring Meeting
Deadline: January 30, 2009

William E. Swope Antitrust Writing Prize
Topic: application of practical analysis to antitrust problems
Award: One $10,000 prize and two $1,500 honorable mention prizes will be awarded. Winners will attend the 2009 Spring Meeting of the American Bar Association Antitrust Section in Washington as guests of Jones Day and will be guests of honor at a Firm reception.
Deadline: December 31, 2008

Business Law

ABA Section of Business Law's Mendes Hershman Student Writing Contest
Topic: business law subject of general and current interest
Award: First Place: $2,500 to the first place winner to be presented at the Section of Business Law Spring Meeting in Vancouver, BC.
Second Place: $1,000 to the second place winner to be presented at the Section of Business Law Spring Meeting in Vancouver, BC.
Third Place: $500 to the third place winner to be presented at the Section of Business Law Spring Meeting in Vancouver, BC.
Deadline: January 9, 2009

ABA Section of Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Writing Contest
Topic: real property and trust and estate law subjects of general and current interest
Award: first-place winner will receive $1,500 cash, a one-year free membership to the Section (valued at $50), and free round-trip airfare and weekend accommodations to attend the Section’s Fall Leadership Meeting. In addition, the essay will be considered for publication in a future issue of the Real Property, Trust & Estate Law Journal. The second-place winner will receive $700 cash, and the third-place winner will receive $500 cash.
Deadline: June 19, 2009

American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers
Topic: student case note or comment on a topic dealing with consumer financial services law
Award: $1,000, a certificate or other token of recognition, and travel expenses to attend the College's annual dinner held in conjunction with the Spring Meeting of the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association.
Deadline: December 1, 2011

American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Mary Moers Wenig Student Writing Competition
Topic: trusts and estates, broadly defined
Award: 1st Prize: $ 5,000 and publication in the ACTEC Journal .
2d Prize: $ 3,000, online publication on ACTEC’s website, and possible publication in the ACTEC Journal .
3d Prize: $ 1,000, online publication on ACTEC’s website, and possible publication in the ACTEC Journal .
Deadline: June 2, 2010.

American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Nathan Burkan Memorial Competition (2nd and 3rd year only)
Topic: Any aspect of Copyright Law
Award: A first prize of $600 and a second prize of $250 at each participating law school
Deadline: June 30, 2010

American Tax Policy Institute - The Tannenwald Writing Competition
Topic: any U.S. federal or state tax-related topic
Award: Cash prizes of $5,000, $2,500 and $1,500 for the top three papers
Deadline: 9:00 p.m. EST, July 1, 2011

Andrew P. Vance Memorial Writing Competition (customs and international trade law)
Topic: An in-depth analysis of a current issue relevant to customs and international trade law.
Award: $1000.00 first prize
$500.00 second prize
Awards will be presented at the CITBA's semi-annual dinner in the fall
Deadline: May 24, 2013

ASECA Securities Law Writing Competition
Topic: any subject in the field of securities law
Award: First place is $5,000; second place is $3,000; and third place is $2,000
Deadline: November 16, 2012

Elliot A. Spoon Business Law Writing Competition
Topic: Any current topic concerning business or securities law.
Award: $500 cash & article publication
Deadline: January 7, 2013

FBA Section of Taxation Writing Competition
Topic: Students may submit any original paper concerning federal income taxation.
Award:A cash prize ($2,000 for first place and $1,000 for second place); and a trip to the FBA’s Annual Tax Law Conference in Washington, DC, on March 2, 2012 (value not to exceed $700), where each winner will be presented with a Commemorative Plaque and complimentary one-year membership in the Federal Bar Association Section on Taxation.
Both the first place and second place papers may be published in the Report, the newsletter of the Section and/or The Federal Lawyer, the magazine of the Federal Bar Association.
Deadline: January 6, 2012

The Grammy Foundation Legal Writing Contest
Topic: A compelling legal topic facing the music industry today
Award: $5,000 for first place and $1,500 for each of four runners-up. All five finalists receive one GRAMMY Awards ticket, hotel accommodations, round trip airfare, and one ticket to MusiCares Person of the Year dinner.
Deadline: January 3, 2012

International Association of Gaming Advisors Shannon Bybee Scholarship Award
Topic: subject in the field of gaming law
Award: $1,000 award
Deadline: July 20, 2009

James Baker Hughes Prize in International Economic Law (Houston Journal of International Law)
Topic: all legal aspects of economic relations, from private business matters to international trade conflicts
Award: $500 cash award and the winning submission will be published as the "James Baker Hughes Prize" article in an upcoming issue of the Journal.
Deadline: March 9, 2009

Trandafir International Business Writing Competition
Topic: Any topic of contemporary international business or economic concern with a legal nexus.
Award: Publication and a cash prize of $2,000
Deadline: 5:00 p.m. Central Standard time on February 1, 2012

Civil Practice and Procedure and Trial Advocacy

American Academy of Appellate Lawyers' Eisenberg Prize
Topic: article on appellate practice and procedure
Award: $2,000
Deadline: July 17, 2009

American College of Trial Lawyers Writing Competitions

Bert W. Levit Essay Contest
Topic: The 2012 Contest Essay Hypothetical involves an international law firm and ethics questions concerning how the firm handles engagement letters, office restructuring, and taking on new matters in a cross-jurisdictional scenario.
Award: $5000
Deadline: February 17, 2012

“Best in Class” eDiscovery Legal Research and Writing Competition
Topic: Are further amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure necessary to help litigants address the complexities, costs and burdens associated with electronic discovery?
Award: The author of the first-place selection will receive a $2,500 cash award. Two runners-up will also be selected and will each receive a $1,000 cash award.
Deadline: October 15, 2011

Beverly C. Moore Jr. Memorial Student Writing Competition
Topic: Any in-depth analysis of a current issue relevant to class action law will be considered
Award: publication in Class Action Reports
Deadline: December 1, 2008

International Association of Defense Counsel Legal Writing Contest
Topic: tort law, insurance law, civil procedure, evidence or other areas of the law of practical concern to lawyers engaged in the defense or management of the defense of civil litigation
Award: First Place - $2,000. Second Place - $1,000. Third Place - $500.
Deadline: May 17, 2013

Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section Writing Competition
Topic: a current topic in a legal area covered by one of the Section’s general committees
Award: First place- $1,500 cash, plus paid air and hotel accommodations to the ABA Annual Meeting. Second place- $500
Deadline: April 1, 2013

Commercial Law

National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws William J. Pierce Writing Contest
Topic: Any article, note, or comment that addresses a uniform or model act, or an issue arising from a uniform or model act promulgated by ULC may be eligible.
Award: $1,000
Deadline: December 31, 2008

Constitutional Law

ELI-ABA-NAELS "Endangered Environmental Laws" Student Writing Competition
Topic: Any topic addressing recent developments or trends in U.S. environmental law that have a significant constitutional or “federalism” component
Award: $2000 cash prize and an offer of publication in the Environmental Law Reporter, and a one year individual membership to ELI.
Deadline: 5:00 PM ET on Friday, April 12, 2013

Gellhorn-Sargentich Law Student Essay Competition (Must be a member of the ABA Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice)
Topic: Discuss a problem or issue arising at the intersection of constitutional and administrative law, federal or state
Award: The winner will receive a $500 cash prize and round-trip airfare and accommodation to attend the Section’s Fall Conference in Washington, DC. At the discretion of the editorial board, the winning entry will be selected for publication in Administrative and Regulatory Law News.
Deadline: March 31, 2009

NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund Writing Contests

Topic: The Right of the Individual to Keep and Bear Arms as a Federally Protected Right.
Award: Scholarship prizes will be awarded to First, Second, Third and Fourth place winners in the amounts of $5,000, $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000
Deadline: June 1, 2009

Third Year Contest
Topic: articles on the constitutional right to keep and bear arms
Award: First place: $12,500 toward tuition; Second place: $5,000; Third Place: $2,500.
Deadline: June 1, 2009

Pacific Legal Foundation Judicial Awareness Student Writing Competition
Topic: I. Write an essay on a topic of your choice concerning the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment: "nor shall private property be taken for public use, without payment of just compensation."
II. Write an essay on a topic of your choice concerning the use of the precautionary principle in formulating environmental policy.
III. Write an essay on a topic of your choice concerning the use of racial categories in the admission or assignment of students in state-funded educational institutions.
Award: First place- $3,000
Runner-up- $1,500
Deadline: May 31, 2009

Peterson Prize National Writing Competition on Federalism and the US Constitution
Topic: One or more issues, historic or contemporary, involving the principles underlying the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Examples include principles and/or application of federalism, the allocation of powers and responsibilities between the states, the federal government and the people, or other aspects of state and federal relations in the American democratic experiment.
Award: First place - $5,000, Second place - $3,000, Third place - $2,000
Deadline: March 18, 2011

Sarah Weddington Writing Prize for New Student Scholarship in Reproductive Rights Law
Topic: Reproductive Rights As Human Rights
Award: $750 (1st place), $500 (2nd place) or $250 (3rd place), have their submission
published on the LSRJ and CRR websites, and potentially be invited to present their papers at
conferences and symposia.
Deadline: March 1, 2010 at 12:00 PM, EST

Consumer Law

American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers
Topic: student case note or comment on a topic dealing with consumer financial services law
Award: cash payments of $2500, $2000, and $1000, respectively, a Certificate of Recognition from the College, and travel expenses to attend the Spring 2009 meeting of the College.
Deadline: December 1, 2008

National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees Law Student Writing Competition
Topic: Entrants should submit an essay, article, or comment on an issue concerning Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code.
Award: $1000 cash prize and publication of article in the NACTT Quarterly and free registration for the NACTT annual seminar in Annaheim, California.
Deadline: April 30, 2011

Criminal Law & Procedure

William W. Greenhalgh Writing Competition (Criminal Justice) (Must be a member of the American Bar Association)
Topic: Any timely and important issue of American criminal constitutional procedure of interest to practitioners of criminal law.
Award: $2,000 cash prize, and round-trip airfare and accommodations to attend the Criminal Justice Section's Annual Meeting Luncheon and possible publication in Criminal Justice Magazine.
Deadline: April 24, 2009

Disability Law

Adam A. Milani Disability Law Writing Competition
Topic: any aspect of disability law, theory, or practice the contestant chooses
Award: First Prize will range between $300 and $1,000, depending on whether multiple awards are given. The name of the winner(s) in each category will be posted online at the Mercer University School of Law website.
Deadline: June 6, 2009

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Student Journal Writing Competition
Topic: any topic related to the intersection of law and aging, elder or disability planning
Award: The winner will be honored at the Fall 2008 NAELA Institute in Kansas City, MO and, in addition to the $1,500 cash award, will receive up to $1,000 for travel and meeting related expenses. The second place winner receives $1,000 cash, and the third place winner receives $500 cash.
Deadline: June 1, 2009

Energy Law

ABA Energy Law Student Writing Competition
Topic: Any issue related to energy law—you may advocate a position, educate an audience on an issue, analyze a case, etc. In addition to the cash awards, winning entries will be published nationwide, as they have in past years, in one of the ABA committee electronic publications.
Award: 1st place: $700. 2nd place: $500. 3rd place: $250.
Deadline: May 17, 2013, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time

The IEL Hartrick Scholar Writing Competition
Topic: Any topic related to energy development, for example, topics concerning oil and gas law, alternative energy resources, energy regulation, and environmental regulation of the energy industries.
Award: $2,500 cash award
Deadline: January 15, 2013

Elder Law

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Student Journal Writing Competition
Topic: any topic related to the intersection of law and aging, elder or disability planning
Award: The winner will be honored at the Fall 2008 NAELA Institute in Kansas City, MO and, in addition to the $1,500 cash award, will receive up to $1,000 for travel and meeting related expenses. The second place winner receives $1,000 cash, and the third place winner receives $500 cash.
Deadline: June 1, 2009

Environmental Law

2013 Environmental Justice Essay Competition
Topic: Issues such as standing and the limits of available causes of action; ethical, organizational, principal-agent, and other challenges of representing environmental justice communities and community-based organizations; special concerns with good neighbor, community benefits, and other agreements; the appropriate roles an attorney should play in advancing client and community interests; implications of recent developments such as EPA’s Plan EJ 2014 (including “Legal Tools,” a review of available legal authorities), the preliminary finding of adverse, disparate impact of agency-funded activities under Title VI and subsequent settlement in Angelita C, and the rise of “climate justice” as an organizing principle.
Award: The winning essay will receive an offer of publication from the Brooklyn Law Review and a prize of $1,000, courtesy of the American Bar Association.
Deadline: July 12, 2013

30th Annual Smith-Babcock-Williams Student Writing Competition
Topic: A question of significance in either city planning or associated areas of law (e.g., land use, local government or environmental law).
Award: The winning entry in the competition will be awarded a prize of $2,500 and will be submitted for publication in The Urban Lawyer, the law journal of the American Bar Association's Section of State & Local Government Law. In addition to the first prize, the Competition will award a second prize of $500 and a third prize of $250. Other entries judged to be of special merit may be awarded Honorable Mention in the Competition.
Deadline: June 7, 2013

ABA Renewable, Alternative & Distributed Energy Resources Committee (RADER) Law Student Writing Competition
Topic: Are past legal constructions for the development of other resources effective prologues, or should alternative energy deployment (including renewables) or climate change issues be addressed through sui generis rules?
Award: Winning entries will be published nationwide in an ABA publication, a special combined edition newsletter of the Renewable, Alternative, and Distributed Energy Resources Committee and the Energy and Environmental Markets and Finance Committee in June of 2012.
Deadline: March 1, 2012

Cultivating Our Future: The JELL 20102011 Writing Competition
Topic: Food and Agriculture Law and Policy
Award: Cash prize of $500 and the possibility of publishing the winning paper in the Journal of Environmental Law and Litigation’s spring 2011 issue
Deadline: 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time on January 31, 2011

Environment, Energy & Resources Writing Competition
Topic: development trends, current court decisions, legislative initiatives, and statutes concerning environmental, natural resources, and energy law
Award: publication
Deadline: February 8, 2008

Environmental Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan Twelfth Annual Essay Contest
Topic: Any environmental law topic of current interest to Michigan practitioners.
Award: $2,000 for first place, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third place. Winning essays will be published in the Michigan Environmental Law Journal.
Deadline: June 30, 2013

Harvard Project on International Climate Agreements
Topic: design of international climate policy architectures. Papers should propose a complete policy framework to succeed the Kyoto Protocol in the post-2012 period.
Award: $3,000 per paper. The Harvard Project will publish the winning paper through the Project’s Working Paper Series and website
Deadline: July 1, 2008

Hogan/Smoger Access to Justice Essay Contest
Topic: Is Democracy for Sale? Have Citizens United's Holdings Run Amok? Legal Challenges Left to Super Pacs? Can Funding Disclosure Be Required?
Award: $5,000 Cash Prize
Deadline: Intent-to-enter form: January 31, 2013. The deadline for the essay is March 31, 2013

NYU Environmental Law Journal Student Writing Contest
Topic: Address an environmental law issue of current national or international significance.
Award: $1000 and publication in the NYU Environmental Law Journal
Deadline: Monday, December 17, 2012

Ohio State Bar Association Environmental Law Award
Topic: Any topic that advances the application and practice of environmental, energy or resources law in the State of Ohio.
Award: $1,000
Deadline: January 31, 2013

Evidence Law

International Association of Defense Counsel Legal Writing Contest
Topic: tort law, insurance law, civil procedure, evidence or other areas of the law of practical concern to lawyers engaged in the defense or management of the defense of civil litigation
Award: First Place - $2,000 and plaque
Second Place - $1,000 and plaque
Third Place - $500 and plaque
Honorable Mention - Plaque
Deadline: May 20, 2011

Family Law

Advocates for Life Legal Writing Contest
Topic: You are the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Write the majority opinion in favor of State, using information from the contest prompt.
Award: The first-place author will be awarded $1000, and the winning entry will be published in Human Life Review. The second-place author will be awarded $750. The third-place author will be awarded $500. In addition, the first-, second-, and third-place authors will all be recognized at the Advocates for Life reception in January 2014.
Deadline: Entries must be saved as a Microsoft Word document and emailed to advocates@aul.org, no later than 11:59 p.m. on Friday, September 20, 2013.

14th Annual Law Student Closing Argument Competition
Topic: Open to 2nd and 3rd year law students from Ohio law schools who will give a 15 minute closing argument in a civil case for the plaintiff, a catastrophically injured child. Argument will be on damages only. Fact pattern, exhibits, and demonstrative evidence will be furnished.
Award: 1st place, $500 for second place and $200 for third place. All participants are invited to attend a reception to follow at the law offices of Landskroner· Grieco· Merriman, LLC located in Cleveland 's warehouse district. 3rd Place: Resolution from the ABA Commission on Domestic Violence and $250
Deadline: September 17, 2012. Contact: Landskroner· Grieco· Merriman, LLC @ (216) 522-9000. Ask for Anathea or email anathea@lgmlegal.com

ABA Commission on Domestic Violence Writing Competition
Topic: domestic violence and the law from a national or international perspective
Award: 1st Place: Publication in the National Association of Women Lawyers’ Women Lawyers Journal. Resolution from the ABA Commission on Domestic Violence and $750 2nd Place: Resolution from the ABA Commission on Domestic Violence and $500
3rd Place: Resolution from the ABA Commission on Domestic Violence and $250
Deadline: March 28, 2008

ABA Section of Family Law - Howard C. Schwab Memorial Essay Contest (2nd or 3rd year only)
Topic: any aspect of family law
Award:
First Place
* Certificate of Recognition as First-Place Winner
* Consideration of essay's publication in Family Law Quarterly
* Consideration of essay's publication on the ABA Section of Family Law website
* Letter to Law School Dean
* One-year complimentary ABA Section of Family Law membership
Second Place
* Certificate of Recognition as Second-Place Winner
* Consideration of essay's publication on the ABA Section of Family Law website
* Letter to Law School Dean
* One-year complimentary ABA Section of Family Law membership
Third Place
* Certificate of Recognition as Third-Place Winner
* Consideration of essay's publication on the ABA Section of Family Law website
* Letter to Law School Dean
* One-year complimentary ABA Section of Family Law membership
Deadline: April 26, 2013

Embryo Donation and Adoption Awareness Campaign Essay Competition
Topic: Write a scholarly position paper in response to a problem presented regarding embryo donation/adoption
Award: 1st Place: $ 2,500.00
2nd Place: $ 1,500.00
3rd Place: $1,000.00
Deadline: Monday, March 7, 2011, 5:00 pm PST
* SPECIAL INCENTIVE FOR EARLY ENTRIES All entries received by Monday, February 7, 2011, 5:00pm PST will be eligible for a $500.00 BONUS award if the entry is selected as the 1st, 2nd or 3rd place winner. The panel reserves the right to make no award if a worthy essay is not submitted.

Hofstra Family Law Writing Competition
Topic: any area of family law, although topics which focus on international or interdisciplinary subjects of family law are especially encouraged
Award: First Prize
• $500 cash prize
• Certificate of Recognition as First Place Winner
• Consideration for publication of the article in the Family Court Review
• Letter to the Dean of the student’s law school
• One-year complimentary AFCC student membership
Honorable Mention (up to 2)
• $250 cash
• Consideration for publication of the article in the Family Court Review
Deadline: May 15, 2006

National Advocates for Pregnant Women Writing Competition
Topic: 1. asks for a critical analysis of the absence of birthing rights issues from gender discrimination and feminist jurisprudence textbooks and curricula. 2. asks students to develop legal theories that can be used to challenge policies banning pregnant women from having a vaginal birth after a prior caesarean section (VBAC).
Award: $1,000 FIRST PRIZE
$500 AND $250 FOR RUNNERS-UP
Deadline: May 31, 2009, noon EST

National Association of Counsel for Children Law Student Essay Competition
Topic: Topics of national interest advancing the legal interests of children
Award: $1,000, a one-year NACC membership and a scholarship to the Conference
Deadline: June 12, 2009

Gender and Sexual Orientation

The Berkeley Journal of Gender, Law, and Justice Writing Award
Topic: examine the intersection of gender with one or more other axes of subordination including, but not limited to, race, class, sexual orientation, and disability
Award: publication and $500
Deadline: November 1, 2006

The Catherine Albiston Prize for Recent Developments on Gender, Law & Justice
Topic: Submissions of research, analysis, narrative, theory, and commentary that critically examine the intersection of gender with one or more other axes of subordination, including, but not limited to, race, class, sexual orientation, and disability.
Award:
Deadline: May 15, 2012

The Dukeminier Awards Best Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law Review Articles
Topic: a cutting-edge legal issue affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender communities
Award: $1,000 and publication in The Dukeminier Awards: Best Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law Review Articles
Deadline: January 16, 2012

The National Lesbian & Gay Law Association Michael Greenberg Student Writing Competition
Topic: Legal issues affecting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and/or Intersex community.
Award: First Place
 $1,000 cash prize
 Publication in the Journal of Law and Sexuality at Tulane University Law School
 Registration, airfare (within the 48 contiguous United States) and lodging for the Lavender Law Annual
Conference and Career Fair in Washington, D.C., which will take place from August 23-25, 2012.
First & Second Runner-up
 Registration for the Lavender Law Annual Conference and Career Fair in Washington, D.C.
Deadline: May 20, 2012

Health Law

The American College of Legal Medicine's Student Writing Competition in Law, Medicine and Bioethics
Topic: Any aspect of legal medicine, including medical licensure and regulation of the profession,
business aspects of medical practice, liability of physicians, hospitals, managed care organizations, and pharmaceutical manufacturers, public health law, the physician-patient relationship, care of special patients, food and drug law,
medical research, forensic science and the history of legal medicine.
Award: 1st Prize – $1,000
2nd Prize – $500
3rd Prize – $250
Deadline: January 5, 2012

Annual Bioethics Network of Ohio Student Case Analysis Competition
Topic: This case analysis essay competition is sponsored by BENO to stimulate the interest and education of students from multiple disciplines in applying principles of bioethics in healthcare.Essays must be written in response to the case study provided and are limited to 1000 words. Participants are encouraged to address various ethical principles and concepts relevant to the case.
Award: First place, $500; Second, $300; Third, $200.
Deadline: March 13, 2009

Epstein Becker & Green Health Law Writing Competition
Topic: an issue relating to health law. Papers may address traditional areas of the law as applied to the health field (e.g., antitrust, tax, corporate), or areas of law unique to health care (e.g., fraud and abuse, managed care, Medicare/Medicaid, clinical trials)
Award: First Place: $4,000
Second Place: $2,000
Third Place: $500
Deadline: Expired - Details for the next Health Law Writing Competition will be posted in the Fall of 2009.

Food and Drug Law Institute's H. Thomas Austern Memorial Writing Competitions
Topic: in-depth analysis of a current legal issue relevant to the regulation of foods, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, and biologics
Award: 1st place: $1,500
2nd place: $1,000
Deadline: June 12, 2009

Health Law Section of the American Bar Association Annual Writing Competition
Topic: any aspect of health law
Award: publication in The Health Lawyer; a $500 honorarium, and airfare (at ABA rates), hotel for two nights and a $50 per diem for two days to attend the Emerging Issues conference.
Deadline: 12:00 p.m. central on December 5, 2008

National Center for Nonsmokers' Rights Legal Research and Writing Competition
Topic: new ideas for using a legal or law-related action (e.g., a novel law suit, administrative action, legislative approach, guide or assistance to others to sue, etc.) designed to be particularly effective in advancing and/or protecting the rights of nonsmokers, primarily by protecting them from exposure to tobacco smoke pollution.
Award: $5,000 for First Place, $3,000 for Second Place, and $1,000 for Third Place
Deadline: May 1, 2010

Student Writing Competition in Legal Medicine/Letourneau Award
Topic: any aspect of Legal Medicine, including medical licensure and regulation of the profession, business aspects of medical practice, liability of physicians, hospitals, managed care organizations, and pharmaceutical manufacturers, public health law, the physician-patient relationship, care of special patients, food and drug law, medical research, forensic science and the history of legal medicine.
Award: $1,000, consideration for publication in the Journal of Legal Medicine or other medical legal publications
Deadline: January 9, 2009

Indian Law

American Indian Law Review Writing Competition
Topic: any issue concerning American Indian Law
Award: First place - $1,000 and publication of paper in the American Indian Law Review, an official periodical of the University of Oklahoma College of Law with international distribution. Second place - $500. Third place - $250. The three winning authors will be recognized on the masthead of the American Indian Law Review, and will receive copies of Felix S. Cohen's Handbook of Federal Indian Law, provided by LEXIS. Other entries of publishable quality may also be published in the American Indian Law Review. These authors will be so notified.
Deadline: January 31, 2012

National Native American Law Students Association (Must be a member of the NNALSA) Topic: a topic of national or international importance to Indians, tribal governments, or indigenous peoples consistent with the NNALSA Mission Statement
Award: First prize shall be at least $2,000, plus publication in an official law journal chosen by the host school. Second prize shall be at least $1,000, and third prize shall be at least $500.
Deadline: January 31, 2009

Intellectual Property Law

G C O’Donnell Essay Prize
Topic: A topic of the author’s choice regarding copyright and the protection of the interests of authors.
Award: AUD$3,500
Deadline: 5:00pm Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time on 2 September 2011

Georgia State University College of Law Intellectual Property Student Writing Competition
Topic: Papers addressing legal issues and challenges in the intellectual property field.
Award: 1st Place: $3,000, 2nd Place: $2,000, 3rd Place: $1,000
Deadline: April 30, 2012

The Grammy Foundation Legal Writing Contest
Topic: A compelling legal topic facing the music industry today
Award: $5,000 for first place and $1,500 for each of four runners-up. All five finalists receive one GRAMMY Awards ticket, hotel accommodations, round trip airfare, and one ticket to MusiCares Person of the Year dinner.
Deadline: January 3, 2012

IDEA Student Intellectual Property Writing Competition
Topic: domestic and international patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret, unfair competition, licensing, technology transfer, and other intellectual property issues
Award: * 1st prize - $500 and publication in IDEA;
* 2nd prize - $200; and
* 3rd prize - A one-year subscription to IDEA.
Deadline: April 10, 2009

International Trademark Association Ladas Memorial Award
Topic: Trademark law or a matter that directly relates to or affects trademarks
Award: $2,000 cash award, and a set of Dr. Ladas’s three-volume treatise
Deadline: January 15, 2010

Whittier Law Review Intellectual Property Writing Competition
Topic: Legal issues and challenges that surround Intellectual Property with an emphasis in New Media topics.
Award: 1st place - $1,000, publication in the Whittier Law Review, and travel to the IP Symposium in Costa Mesa, CA. 2nd & 3rd place - $500 each and honorable mention.
Deadline: September 9, 2011

International/Foreign Law

Albert S. Pergam International Law Writing Competition Award
Topic: areas of public or private international law
Award: $2,000 and publication of the article
Deadline: December 4, 2009

American Bar Association Section of International Law – Rona R. Mears Student Writing Competition
Topic: “The Geneva Conventions – What Past, What Future? (They Are Now 60 Years Old.”)
Award: $1,000, free registration and travel to the Spring Meeting, and opportunity to be published in a Section publication.
Deadline: January 21, 2011

American Immigration Law Foundation's Edward L. Dubroff Memorial Writing Contest
Topic: any aspect of U.S. immigration and nationality law
Award: $1,000
Deadline: March 12, 2007

Asylum and Refugee Law National Moot Court Competition
Topic: See website
Award: cash prizes and awards
Deadline: January 15, 2009

Hofstra Family Law Writing Competiition
Topic: any area of family law, although topics which focus on international or interdisciplinary subjects of family law are especially encouraged
Award: First Prize
• $500 cash prize
• Certificate of Recognition as First Place Winner
• Consideration for publication of the article in the Family Court Review
• Letter to the Dean of the student’s law school
• One-year complimentary AFCC student membership
Honorable Mention (up to 2)
• $250 cash
• Consideration for publication of the article in the Family Court Review
Deadline: May 15, 2009

Inter-American Bar Association Award
Topic: See website
Award: First Prize- US$800.00
Second Prize- US$600.00
Third Prize- US$400.00
Deadline: April 20, 2008

International Humanitarian Law Student Writing Competition
Topic: A legal topic related to international humanitarian law
Award: The two winning authors will present their papers at an expert conference in Spring 2012 at American University Washington College of Law in Washington, DC, with travel and accommodation expenses covered. Winners will also receive a complimentary registration at the ASIL Annual Meeting on April 3-6, 2013 in Washington, DC, as well as a one-year student membership with ASIL.
Deadline: January 31, 2013, at 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern Standard Time

The International Law Section of the State Bar of California Writing Competition
Topic: any subject that would be of interest to an international law practitioner
Award: First Place Prize: $2,000.00
Second Place Prize: $750.00
Third Place Prize: $250.00
Deadline: November 1, 2008

James Baker Hughes Prize
Topic: all legal aspects of economic relations, from private business matters to international trade conflicts
Award: $500 cash award and the winning submission will be published as the "James Baker Hughes Prize" article in an upcoming issue of the Journal.
Deadline: March 9, 2009

Rear Admiral John S. Jenkins Award for Student Excellence in Military Studies
Topic: Student-written paper in the field of military legal studies, including military justice and international humanitarian law.
Award: $250
Deadline: July 15, 2011

Washington Foreign Law Society Ibrahim Shihata Prize
Topic: For outstanding student writing on Islamic law and related legal developments in the Muslim World
Award: $2,500
Deadline: May 7, 2008

Labor and Employment Law

ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law - Labor Lawyer Student Writing Contest
Topic: any topic in the field of labor and employment law
Award: publication in The Labor Lawyer
Deadline: August 3, 2009

College of Labor and Employment Lawyers Writing Competition
Topic: Entries may address any aspect of public or private sector labor and/or employment law relevant to the American labor and employment bar. Articles may address U.S. law, international law of relevance to U.S. labor and employment attorneys, or how a legal topic is treated in states across the country, but papers limited to the law of a single state will not be considered. Students are encouraged to discuss a public policy issue, practical implications of a leading case or doctrine, a statute or the need for statutory modification, or a common law doctrine.
Award: First prize - $1,500
Second prize - $1,000
Third prize - $500
Deadline: May 15, 2013

The College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers 2012 Law Student Writing Competition
Topic: The scope of permissible topics is broad, i.e., any aspect of workers’ compensation law. Students are encouraged to present: a public policy issue; a critique of a leading case or doctrine; or a comment on a statute or the need for a statutory modification.
Award: First prize - $1,500, plus $1000 to winner’s law school scholarship fund
Second prize - $1,000
Third prize - $500
Deadline: January 15, 2013

Louis Jackson National Student Writing Competition in Employment and Labor Law
Topic: any topic relating to the law governing the workplace, such as employment law, labor law, employee benefits, or employment discrimination
Award: $3,000 and two $1,000 awards will be presented to the top three entries
Deadline: January 22, 2013

Legal Ethics & Professionalism

Santa Clara University 2011 Centennial Student Writing Competition
Topic: Original, unpublished scholarly writing on future ethical challenges lawyers may face practicing in the areas of (i) intellectual property law, (ii) international law or (iii) public interest law.
Award: Cash Award
Deadline: Midnight, Pacific Time, January 31, 2011.

Smith-Doheny Legal Ethics Writing Competition
Topic: Any issue within the general category of legal ethics
Award: $2,500
Deadline: 5 pm, Friday, April 26, 2013

The Warren E. Burger Prize (ethics and professionalism), American Inns of Court
Topic: one or more aspects of legal excellence, civility, ethics or professionalism within the legal profession
Award: $5,000 and the winning essay will be published in the South Carolina Law Review
Deadline: June 15, 2009. Submission information for the 2010 contest is to be posted by December, 2009.

Legal History

Morris L.Cohen Student Essay Competition
Topic: Any topic related to legal history, rare law books, or legal archives
Award: $ 500 prize and up to $1000 towards expenses associated with attendance at the Annual Meeting of American Association of Law Libraries
Deadline: April 15, 2009

Property, Trusts & Estates

27th Annual Smith-Babcock-Williams 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)
Award: First Prize: $2,500 and will be submitted for publication in /The Urban Lawyer/, the law journal of the American Bar Association's Section of State & Local Government Law. Second place prize of $1,000 and up to two Honorable Mentions of $250.
Deadline: June 7, 2010

State and Local Government Law

Tax Law

Paul Faherty Tax Law Writing Competition
Topic: Any aspect of tax law
Award: Grand prize of $3000 plus two honorable mentions of $1000
Deadline: April 15, 2011

Technology Law

ABA Section of Science & Technology Law student writing competition
Topic: TBA
Award: The winner will receive airfare and two nights’ hotel accommodations to attend the ABA Annual Meeting, and a complimentary registration and luncheon ticket.
# The winner will receive public recognition for the winning paper at the Section luncheon at the ABA Annual Meeting.
# Honorable mention submissions, at the discretion of the judges, will be published in e-BLAST and posted on the Section’s Website.
# The winner will be recognized in The SciTech Lawyer.
# The winning submissions may be published in The SciTech Lawyer, subject to compliance with The SciTech Lawyer submission guidelines.
Deadline: April 1 of each year

Berkeley Technology Law Journal Writing Competition
Topic: a wide variety of topics at the intersection of law and technology, including but not limited to: intellectual property, antitrust, First Amendment, entertainment and new media, telecommunications, biotechnology, internet, and cybercrime
Award: $2,000. The winning article will also be published in the Fall issue
Deadline: February, 2010

IT-Lex Technology Law Writing Competition
Topic: Submission topics should focus on technology law.
Award: First place: $5,000. Second place: $1,000. Third place: $500.
Deadline: May 1, 2013

International Technology Law Association Writing Competition
Topic: any tech law issue
Award: invitation to present his or her paper at the next ITechLaw conference that is geographically closest to the student's location. The award includes:
• transportation to the conference (discount coach plane, train or other mode as decided by ITechLaw);
• two nights of hotel expense (incidentals such as meals and airport transfers not included);
• complimentary admission to all of the conference proceedings, including the gala dinner;
• recognition at the conference as the award winner.;
• one- year student membership to ITechLaw; and
• publication of the article in ITechLaw's eBulletin.
Deadline: April 26, 2007

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology Biennial Writing Competition
Topic: any law and technology topic, including, but not limited to, biotechnology, intellectual property, patent and trademark, and the Internet
Award: The grand prize winner will receive a $1,200 cash award and will be published in a 2008 issue of JOLT. The second place winner will receive a $600 cash award and 2,000 WestlawRewards points. The third place winner will receive a $100 cash award and 2500 LexisNexis points. Additionally, every entrant will receive 150 LexisNexis points!
Deadline: February 8, 2008

Tort Law

Bert W. Levit Essay Contest
Topic: The 2011 Contest Essay Hypothetical concerns whether a party who has engaged in fraud has standing to bring a suit against a lawyer for fraud and legal malpractice based on the lawyer’s conduct relating to the fraud itself, or rather if such a claim is barred by the doctrine of in pari delicto, which prohibits one wrongdoer from suing another wrongdoer for a fraud the two parties committed together.
Award: $5000
Deadline: February 18, 2011

International Association of Defense Counsel Legal Writing Contest
Topic: tort law, insurance law, civil procedure, evidence or other areas of the law of practical concern to lawyers engaged in the defense or management of the defense of civil litigation
Award: First Place - $2,000 and plaque
Second Place - $1,000 and plaque
Third Place - $500 and plaque
Honorable Mention - Plaque
Deadline: May 20, 2011

Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section Writing Competition
Topic: a current topic in a legal area covered by one of the Section’s substantive law committees
Award: First place- $1,500 and consideration for publication in Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section Law Journal
Second place- $500
Deadline: March 2, 2009

Women and the Law

American University - Washington College of Law Essay Competition (women in the law)
Topic: a topic of interest or importance affecting women in the law, such as issues ranging from the history of struggles confronted by women lawyers in their careers to issues that women lawyers face today in a male-dominated environment at the higher levels of the profession.
Award: $1000; The possibility of publishing the essay in The Modern American publication; A special invitation to the WBA/WCL Dinner for the winner and all the semi-finalists.
Deadline: October 1, 2009

NAWL Selma Moidel Smith Law Student Writing Competition
Topic: Entrants should submit a paper on an issue concerning women’s rights or the status of women in the law.
Award: $500 and publication in NAWL’s Women Lawyers Journal in the summer of 2013.
Deadline: May 1, 2013

Victoria Fisher Memorial Prize Essay
Topic: any topic related to Women and the Law
Award: £250
Deadline: September 30, 2009

Other Writing Competitions

** All ABA Scholarships and Writing Contests **

6th Annual Colloquium on the Law of Futuristic Persons
Topic:
Track 1 - Interested participants must submit a 6,000-10,000 word (including footnotes) analysis of the legal rights and obligations of futuristic persons, defined as a being who claims to have the rights and obligations associated with humans, but is beyond currently accepted notions of legal personhood. (Examples would include a computer claiming to be conscious; a person successfully revived from post-mortem cryonic biostasis; or a person’s downloaded cyberconsciousness in a bionano body.)
Track 2 - Interested participants must submit a 4,000-6,000 word (including footnotes) appellate brief in support or in opposition to the granting of U.S. citizenship to a futuristic person, as defined above. For background, view the 2003 California case, the 2005 Florida case or the 2006 Alabama case.
Award: $1000
Deadline: September 10, 2010

Admiralty and Maritime Law Committee Annual Law Student Writing Competition
Topic: Recent Developments in Admiralty and Maritime Law
Award: $500, plus up to $500 reimbursement towards attendance at the ABA Annual Meeting in San Francisco.
Deadline: May 22, 2010

American Judges Association Law Student Essay Competition
Topic: "Comparing Hearsay Rules in Different Courts"
Award: first prize is $3,000; second is $1,500; and third is $1,000. The winning essay may be published in AJA’s journal, Court Review.
Deadline: June 1, 2013

Brown Award for Excellence in Legal Writing
Topic: There is restriction on the topic except that the writing must be on a legal subject
Award: $10,000
Deadline: June 7, 2013

Center for Alcohol Policy Second Annual Essay Contest
Topic: “State Regulation of Alcohol is Important Because . . . “
Award: Cash awards of $5000, $2500, and $1000 to first, second, and third place winners
Deadline: November 18, 2009

Holocaust Remembrance Essay Award
Topic: a topic relating to law and the Holocaust
Award: $500.00 CDN
Deadline: July 1, annually

James E. Beckley Student Writing Competition
Topic: The submission may address any aspect of Securities law; Securities arbitration; The Federal Arbitration Act, Title 9, US Code, Section 1-14; or FINRA Code of Arbitration, effective April 16, 2007 and any changes or proposed changes to that Code. The writing can be based in theory or practice, but should ultimately advocate a position on the topic area chosen.
Award: First Prize is $1000, Second Prize is $750, and Third Prize is $500.
Deadline: September 10, 2012

Lawyers' Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation's Student Writing Competition
Topic: any aspect of cultural heritage law including cultural property, art law, historic preservation, indigenous cultures and intangible heritage (but not intellectual property except as it relates to intangible indigenous heritage).
Award: $1,000 for first place and $500 for second place
Deadline: June 11, 2010

NLR Fall 2012 Law Student Writing Competition
Topic: October Suggested Topics: Immigration Law and Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform (ex. Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 50 (2010)). November Suggested Topics: Healthcare Law and Social Media Legislation in Relation to Labor and Employment Law. Articles covering current issues related to other areas of the law may also be submitted.
Award: The top two to four articles chosen will be featured on the NLR homepage for a month. Up to 5 runner-up entries will also be posted in the NLR searchable database each month. Each winning article will be displayed accompanied by the student’s photo, biography, contact information, law school logo, and any copyright disclosure.All winning articles will remain in the NLR database for two years (subject to earlier removal upon request of the law school).
Deadline: Monday, October 15, 2012 and Monday, November 19, 2012

Scribes Brief-Writing Award Competition
Topic: Winning briefs from national moot-court competitions.
Award: Plaque.
Deadline: April 19, 2013

Scribes Law Review Award Competition
Topic: Any note or comment written by a law student who is associated with a student-edited law review or journal.
Award: Plaque.
Deadline: January 18, 2013

UMKC Law Review "One-L Revisited" Law Stories Contest
Topic: Non fiction stories about the first year experience; open to current law students and recent graduates. 1000 – 5000 words; footnotes discouraged.
Award: $500 and publication in UKMC Law Review with forward by Scott Turow.
Deadline: October 23, 2009; send to lawstories@umkc.edu with "Law Stories Submission” in subject line.

University of Connecticut School of Law Student Legal Writing Competition
Topic: A legal issue affecting persons struggling with homelessness, mental illness, addiction, or substance abuse.
Award: $750 First Prize, $500 Second Prize, $250 Third Prize.
Deadline: June 1, 2012