Previous Writing Competitions
This list of Previous Writing Competitions may be helpful as you make long-range plans. Often, sponsors repeat their contests, and the deadline may fall at the same approximate time of year. If you are interested in a Writing Competition on this list, please verify the topic, prize, and due date with the sponsor. For a list of current Writing Competitions with upcoming deadlines, please click “Currently Active Writing Competitions.”
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Tax Notes Student Writing CompetitionThe Tax Notes Student Writing Competition recognizes superior student writing on unsettled questions in tax law or policy. The 2023 submission period is open until June 30, 2023. Students that will graduate in May/June 2023 are eligible to submit an article. Students can submit their papers here: taxnotes.com/students.
Learn more about the competition guidelines:
Due Date: 06/30/2023 |
Dorothy E. Roberts Public Interest Essay CompetitionSubmissions must focus on a specific legal issue within the realm of public interest law, including any issue relating to social justice or advancing the general welfare and good of the public. In addition, the author must include a brief grant proposal for $5,000 to support public interest work related to the essay topic. Topics can be local, state, national, or international in breadth or impact. Deadline for Submission:The University of Pennsylvania Law Review is currently accepting submissions for its Eighth Annual Dorothy E. Roberts Public Interest Essay Competition. The deadline for submission is February 15, 2023, via the online submission portal here. Eligibility:The competition is open to all current law students (Classes of 2023, 2024, and 2025) from any ABA-accredited American law school as well as recent graduates of such institutions from the classes of 2015 – 2022. Submissions are limited to one per person and must be an original, unpublished academic essay. Essay and Grant Proposal Requirements:Essays must be submitted in PDF format and include footnote citations. Submissions must have a title and be no longer than 6,000 words, including footnotes. All submissions will be considered anonymously. Therefore, authors must ensure that their essays do not contain any identifying information, such as name or institutional affiliation. The grant proposal must be 500 words or less and request support for a non-profit organization, a pro bono clinic, or for the author’s own public interest work. The cause supported must relate to the essay topic and the best proposals will be designed to implement the novel legal thinking argued for in the essay. The proposal must include contact information for the primary recipient of the funds. If the author proposes to support a non-profit or clinic, the author must also include a brief description of the organization’s activities and mission.
Due Date: 02/15/2023 |
JOHN D. GREENWALD WRITING COMPETITIONSeeking novel & innovative note submissions from JD, LLM, and SJD, students on current issues in international trade law. Length: 25-35 pages, double spaced (accompanied by a 1-4 page summary) Format: .doc or .docx (1 submission per author) Font: Times New Roman, 12-point Submit to: LawIIEL@georgetown.edu
Due Date: 02/10/2023 |
Trinity College Dublin Law Student ColloquiumThe Committee of the Trinity College Dublin Law Student Colloquium is delighted to announce our call for speakers for the 15th annual Colloquium, which will be held at the end of February 2023. The Colloquium is Ireland’s leading student conference and welcomes applications from undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as recent graduates in practice. Each year, we have the pleasure of hosting students from across Ireland and around the globe to present their papers/research. If you are interested in speaking at the Colloquium, please submit an abstract on any area of law for anonymous consideration by the Committee by 17:00 (Irish Time - GMT) Thursday, the 29th of December 2022 via this link: https://forms.gle/VnowhA6PNToeb5vt9
Abstracts should be between 400-500 words and may be on any area of law.
What is an Abstract?
An abstract is a summary of the paper which you intend to present, and should outline your approach to the issues. Abstracts from prospective speakers should be between 400 and 500 words long. The Committee considers abstracts anonymously. While there are no hard and fast rules as to format, a good abstract will excite interest and should demonstrate a sound knowledge of the subject, a clear structure and original and well-constructed analysis.
We are very much looking forward to receiving your applications! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email law.student.colloquium@gmail.com or reach out to us via our Instagram @tcd.colloquium
Due Date: 12/29/2022 |
2023 Antitrust Writing Awards: Best Student PaperWe are thrilled to invite students to submit articles for the subcategory “student articles” of the 2023 Antitrust Writing Awards, see here. The aim of the Antitrust Writing Awards is to promote competition scholarship and contribute to competition advocacy. The 2023 Antitrust Writing Awards contribute to this achievement by selecting the best antitrust writings published in the past year. The Awards consist of: – “Best Articles”: best academic, and business articles written by one or several authors. – “Best Soft Law”: best non-enforcement tools written by competition agencies. – “Best Student Papers”: best papers written by current Law & Economics students. The Antitrust Writing Award for “Best Student Paper” rewards one student paper that stands out by its originality or relevance to current antitrust issues. The winners will have their submission published in the Concurrences e-Competitions Bulletin (which covers antitrust cases from 100+ jurisdictions globally), and will receive a one-year Concurrences+ subscription (which gives access to the entire database of writings, photos, and videos from Concurrences antitrust conferences, articles, and books). EligibilityStudents who want to participate in the competition must have been graduate students enrolled in a law school, business school, or graduate school economics program at the Master’s level or higher in 2022. Eligible papers must have been written or published by the student(s) during the year 2022. Students must submit the name of their school and proof of their enrollment when submitting their papers. Papers may be co-authored, but to ensure that every student has a fair chance of winning an award, one student cannot submit more than 2 papers. FormatPapers must be between 2,000 and 10,000 words long (including footnotes) and must be written in English. Papers can be individual or co-authored with other students only. Selection & Voting procedureThe Best Student Paper Award will be awarded to the paper which collects the most votes from a peer jury composed of George Washington University Law School students under the mentorship of Prof. Bill Kovacic.
TERMSSubmissionsThe deadline for submitting all documents for nominations is November 30, 2022. Submissions are to be done by using the electronic submission form on the Awards website (www.awards.concurrences.com). PublicationThe Awards results will be made public at the Awards Ceremony, which will take place on March 28, 2023, on the eve of the ABA Antitrust Spring Meeting, in Washington, D.C. The Awards results will also be announced via social media and emails to subscribers of Concurrences newsletters (sign up here) after the Awards Ceremony. The results will also be made available on this website. Terms of Use and Privacy PolicyIndividual votes remain confidential. Click here to read the Terms of use and our Privacy Policy. MiscellaneousThe Awards are managed by Concurrences. Concurrences, acting as the event manager, works to ensure that a sufficient number of quality articles and publications are submitted and surveyed, checks eligibility, and organizes the Awards Ceremony. Any unexpected issues will be dealt with by the Editorial Committee of the Awards.
CONTACTAny questions regarding the Antitrust Writing Awards should be referred to awards@concurrences.com
Due Date: 11/30/2022 |
The Criminal Justice Reform National Writing CompetitionThis national writing competition seeks to promote legal scholarship centering on criminal justice reform. Applicants may write on any criminal justice topic but all submissions should offer a recommendation or solution to the problem(s) being highlighted. Articles must be no longer than 10,000 words (including footnotes), but shorter articles are also encouraged. Applicants should include a cover page indicating their school and year of graduation. Applicants must be enrolled full-time at an ABA-accredited law school at the time of submission. The Arizona State Law Journal and the Academy for Justice’s selection will focus on clarity, accessibility of the arguments, practical relevance, measured tone, and non-partisan solutions in their decision.
Due Date: 07/01/2022 |
2022 Brown Award for Excellence in Legal WritingThe Judge John R. Brown Scholarship Foundation is pleased to announce the twenty-ninth annual Brown Award. The Award honors excellence in legal writing in American law schools. Any law student currently enrolled in an accredited law school in the United States seeking a J.D. or LL.B degree is eligible to submit a paper for the Award. In order to be considered, two copies of a current legal writing must be submitted to the Foundation c/o Kenneth G. Engerrand, Brown Sims, P.C., Tenth Floor, 1177 West Loop South, Houston, Texas 77027-9007. The article must be accompanied by a letter of recommendation from a law school faculty member or legal professional other than the author of the paper. Only one paper may be submitted on behalf of any student, and only one paper may be sponsored by any faculty member or legal professional. The submission must be postmarked no later than May 31, 2022. The submission must contain a separate sheet containing the title of the paper; the name, physical address, telephone number, and email address of the student; and the name, title, physical address, and email address of the student’s sponsor. There is no page limitation or restriction on the topic except that the writing must be on a legal subject. Papers that have been submitted to a law review for publication are eligible, but the submission must be of the paper in its form before it was edited by anyone other than the author. The Foundation will appoint a final judging panel consisting of a law school dean, a federal judge, and a law school professor. The Foundation will not return any material submitted to the Foundation.
Due Date: 05/31/2022 |
AKC Law School Writing ContestThe American Kennel Club (AKC) is pleased to announce the fifth annual Companion Animal Law Writing Contest, open to all students currently enrolled at an ABA-accredited law school. Students are asked to choose between two topics: The impact of "lawyers for dogs" laws on animal cruelty cases or the constitutionality of mandatory spray/neuter laws. This year's topics offer students the unique opportunity to discuss legal perspectives on issues currently in the news and at the forefront of animal law. Entries will be judged by legal and public policy professionals with experience in laws impacting companion animals. Contestants can enter now through April 1, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. EST. To learn more about the contest, including official rules and policies, please click here. Want to help us advertise the contest? Download a flyer here! You can also "Like" the contest on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writeaboutanimallaw/
Due Date: 04/01/2022 |
Mendes Hershman Student Writing ContestThe ABA Section of Business Law is sponsoring its annual Mendes Hershman Student Writing Contest to encourage and reward law students for their writings on a business law subject of general and current interest. To enter you must be at least 21 years of age, a legal US resident, and enrolled in an ABA-accredited JD or LLM degree program. Papers must be written in 2020-2021, or the current academic year. Entries will be judged on the following criteria: research and analysis, choice of topic, writing style, originality, and contribution to the literature available on the topic. The paper may be specifically prepared for this contest; submitted in a class, seminar, or as an independent study; or a proposed law review/journal note, comment or article. Papers submitted are normally 20-30 pages long but should not exceed 100 pages of double-spaced typed text, including footnotes. Students need not be members of the Section of Business Law to participate.
Due Date: 02/23/2022 |
Greenwald Writing CompetitionThe Georgetown Law Institute of International Economic Law and Journal of International Law (GJIL) are seeking novel and innovative submissions on current issues in international trade for the 5th annual John D Greenwald Writing Competition. Please review submission and eligibility criteria for the 5th annual Greenwald Competition here.
Please send final submissions to GreenwaldNoteCompetition@gmail.com by February 21, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. EST. Last year's winning submission of the 4th Annual Greenwald Competition was “Fishing for Answers: The WTO’s Search for Fishing Disciplines and Sustainable Stocks” by Georgetown Law’s Stephen Floyd and will be published in the GIJL at the end of December 2021. Please find more examples of winning submissions from previous years’ competitions here.
About the Greenwald Competition The annual John D. Greenwald Writing Competition commemorates the life of John D. Greenwald, former Deputy General Counsel at the Office of U.S. Trade Representative and the first Head of Import Administration at the U.S Department of Commerce, by inviting top submissions on current issues relevant to international trade law, the jurisprudence of the WTO or regional trade organizations, jurisprudence concerning U.S. trade organizations, and more.
Please email us with any further questions. Good luck!
Due Date: 02/21/2022 |
OnlineDivorcer $2,500 Scholarship for Law StudentsWe are glad to announce that we are renewing our scholarship program and making it even more inclusive! In 2021, OnlineDivorcer encourages law students worldwide to take part in an article writing competition to win a $2,500 scholarship. Whether you are a first-year who has just gotten in or are about to graduate and become a lawyer, you are welcome to participate. It will only take some time to do research and a little inspiration to apply! What are the application criteria?Feel free to apply if you are a law student in an academic institution anywhere in the world. We would ask you to provide a copy of your transcripts and/or an acceptance letter proving that you got into the program or are currently getting your Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. in Law. How can you get the scholarship?Fill in the form here. In the form, we would ask you to indicate your:
If you do not have a LinkedIn profile, we would ask you to create one to participate. This will help us ensure the validity of your personal information before awarding you the scholarship. A form will also include the field where you will be able to upload a copy of your transcripts and/or an acceptance letter. Additionally, it will be necessary to write a 1,000-1,500-word article on one of the divorce-related topics mentioned in the form and submit it as a .docx or.pdf document in the abovementioned form. What are our criteria for choosing the winner?We would like to see your research and writing skills shine. Therefore, we expect the article you submit to:
Please write as if your audience had no proficiency in Law. There is no specific formatting style that needs to be followed. Making sure it is possible to determine the source where you have taken certain information from would be enough. What is the Application Deadline?11:59 PM, PDT, on August 31st, 2021 How and when will you learn about the results?OnlineDivorcer will make an official announcement on September 30th, 2021, on the company's Facebook and Twitter pages. Moreover, we will personally contact the winners of scholarship awards to congratulate them and inquire about the most convenient way to receive the money. How will the money be transferred?The scholarship amount will be transferred to the winners by agreed-upon means. Why apply for this scholarship?Our writing competition isn’t just a chance to test your writing skills and win $2,500. It is also an opportunity to get published as an author of a legal article and receive a valuable reference that will look great in your education and professional records. What if you have some questions?Feel free to contact peter@onlinedivorcer.com. Please note that this is the only available mean of communication regarding the scholarship.
Due Date: 08/31/2021 |
H. Thomas Austern Writing CompetitionOverview and Eligibility Requirements:
Due Date: 06/11/2021 |
Food and Drug Law Institute's 2021 Austern Writing CompetitionThe H. Thomas Austern Writing Competition is intended to encourage law students interested in the areas of law affecting FDA-regulated industries: food, drugs, medical devices, biologics, dietary supplements, cosmetics, veterinary, cannabis, or tobacco and nicotine products. Students currently enrolled in a JD program at any of the nation’s ABA-accredited law schools and 2020-2021 academic year graduates are eligible to participate. A committee comprised of FDLI members who are practicing attorneys and law professors will judge the papers over the summer, and winners will be announced in the fall. Top papers will receive a monetary prize, FDLI membership, and will be considered for publication in the Food and Drug Law Journal.
Due Date: 06/11/2021 |
The Hogan/Smoger Access to Justice Essay CompetitionEligibility: Format: Judging Process:
Due Date: 04/30/2021 |
2021 Antitrust Writing AwardsWe are thrilled to announce that submissions are now open for the 2021 Antitrust Writing Awards. Now in their 10th year, the Antitrust Writing Awards are the field’s largest awards for written thought. Participation in the Awards process, whether as an author, jury member, or reader, helps highlight the best antitrust ideas of the past year. The Antitrust Writing Award for Best Student Paper rewards one student paper that stands out by its originality or relevance to current antitrust issues. The goal of the Award for Best Student Paper is to promote antitrust laws, antitrust economics, and antitrust policies among Law and Economics students and to support student scholarship in the field. 1. Eligibility Students who want to participate in the competition must be graduate students currently enrolled in a law school, business school, or graduate school economics program at the Master’s level or higher for the academic year 2020-2021. Eligible papers must have been written or published by the student(s) between January 1, 2020 and March 1, 2021. Students must submit the name of their school and proof of their enrollment when submitting their paper. Papers may be co-authored, but one individual participant cannot submit more than three (3) papers. 2. Format Participants must submit a paper in the format of a case summary or commentary of a specific antitrust case, investigation, regulation, guideline, or policy. The paper may cover antitrust cases that are criminal or civil, at the local, regional, national or international level, public or private enforcement, within any jurisdiction globally. Papers must be between 2,000 and 3,000 words long and must be written in English. Papers can be individual or co-authored. 3. Selection & Voting procedure The Best Student Paper Award will be awarded to the paper which collects the most votes from a peer jury composed of five (5) George Washington University Law School students under the mentorship of Prof. Bill Kovacic.
Due Date: 04/05/2021 |
Companion Animal Law Writing ContestStudents are asked to choose between two topics: forfeiture of an animal and the legal treatment of animals as property. This year’s topics offer students the unique opportunity to discuss legal perspectives on issues currently in the news and at the forefront of animal law.
Due Date: 03/31/2021 |
The Fourth Annual Companion Animal Law Writing ContestThe American Kennel Club® (AKC) is pleased to announce the fourth annual Companion Animal Law Writing Contest! The contest begins on August 10th and is opens to all students currently enrolled at an ABA-accredited law school. Students are asked to choose between two topics: forfeiture of an animal and the legal treatment of animals as property. This year’s topics offer students the unique opportunity to discuss legal perspectives on issues currently in the news and at the forefront of animal law. Entries will be judged by legal and public policy professionals with experience in laws impacting companion animals. Contestants can enter now through March 31, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. EST. To learn more about the contest, including official rules and policies, please click here.
Due Date: 03/31/2021 |
3rd Baxter Family Competition on FederalismThe Peter MacKell Chair on Federalism is delighted to launch the 3rd edition of the Baxter Family Competition on Federalism. We invite you to consult the Call for papers. The deadline for submissions is February 1, 2021. This edition’s overall theme is Federalism, Identity and Public Policy in Challenging Times. This broad theme should allow for reflections about the impact of federalism on the current COVID-19 crisis – and vice versa – but by no means should entries be limited to this context. Comparative perspectives are particularly encouraged. For the first time, the Competition will be open both to law and political science students/PhD candidates, as well as junior scholars and practitioners from around the world. Contributors must be registered students or have obtained their degrees, in law or political science, less than 5 years before the submission deadline of 1 February 2021. Submissions must be of a maximum 8,000 words in English and 8,800 words in French, including footnotes. Please see the Call for papers for information on author eligibility and paper criteria. Information on the first two editions of the Competition (as well as the winning essays) may be found here.
Due Date: 02/01/2021 |
Call for PapersThe University of Michigan Law School is pleased to invite junior scholars to attend the 7th Annual Junior Scholars Conference which will take place virtually on April 16-17, 2021. The conference provides junior scholars with a platform to present and discuss their work with peers and receive feedback from prominent members of the Michigan Law faculty. The Conference aims to promote fruitful collaboration between participants and to encourage their integration into a community of legal scholars. The Junior Scholars Conference is intended for academics in both law and related disciplines. Applications from graduate students, SJD/PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, lecturers, teaching fellows, and assistant professors (pre-tenure) who have not held an academic position for more than four years, are welcomed.
Due Date: 01/04/2021 |
Entertainment Law Initiative (ELI) Writing CompetitionThe Entertainment Law Initiative fosters future careers in entertainment law by seeking out the nation’s top law students and giving them invaluable networking and educational opportunities. For the past 22 years, the program has included a legal writing competition that offers law students the chance to win up to $10,000 in tuition-based scholarships. The ELI Writing Competition challenges students to identify, research and write an essay outlining a proposed solution on a compelling legal issue confronting the music industry. A nationwide panel of music law experts will judge the papers in a blind process to select a winner and two runners-up. This contest is open to Juris Doctorate (JD) and Master of Laws (LLM) candidates at U.S. law schools.
Due Date: 01/04/2021 |
Arnold & Itkins LLP Academic ScholarshipsAre you a law student? If yes, then Arnold & Itkins LLP is offering their Academic Scholarship for the law students who share the passion of serving the underprivileged and victims of the tragedy. The second-year or third-year law students enrolled in an ABA-accredited school in the United States are welcomed to apply for the scholarship. The motive of the Arnold & Itkins LLP Academic The scholarship is to empower and encourage law students pursuing law to achieve the goal of serving people in need. Academic Scholarships will grant students financial benefits to assist them in becoming brilliant lawyers.
Due Date: 12/01/2020 |
Third-Annual Criminal Record Policy Essay CompetitionFor our third annual law student writing competition, our goal is to continue to increase awareness of the impact of laws governing the retention and dissemination of criminal records by courts and state agencies, as well as the laws governing the public’s use of such records. 2019-2020 Essay Topics: How to improve the expungement process in (state of your choice) When, if ever, should government stop reporting criminal records to the public? What effects do criminal records have on former offenders ability to re-assimilate?
Due Date: 09/30/2020 |
2020 Aviation and Space Law Committee Law Student Writing CompetitionSubmissions should address a recent development in any area of aviation or space law or
Due Date: 09/09/2020 |
2020 Warren E. Burger PrizeThe American Inns of Court invites judges, lawyers, professors, students, scholars, and other authors to participate in the competition. Please submit an original, unpublished, essay of 10,000 to 20,000 words on a topic of your choice addressing issues of professionalism, ethics, civility, and excellence.
Due Date: 07/01/2020 |
Christopher E. Bergin Award for Excellence in WritingThe Christopher E. Bergin Award for Excellence in Writing recognizes superior student writing on unsettled questions in tax law or policy. It is named in honor of the late Christopher E. Bergin, former president and publisher of Tax Analysts and longtime editor of Tax Notes Federal. The award, given annually, epitomizes the qualities that Chris championed. Submissions should focus on an unsettled question in federal, state, or international tax law or policy.
Due Date: 06/30/2020 |
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