Law

Writing Competitions

Many organizations throughout the country, and the world, sponsor writing competitions for law students.  The competitions typically focus on a particular area of the law.  Participating in a writing competition is a great way to explore an area of interest and to hone your writing skills.  As a bonus, the competitions often grant cash prizes, travel opportunities, or publication opportunities for the winning essays.  For more information feel free to contact Professor Rachel Smith (rachel.smith@uc.edu) or view the table below.

Legal Writing Competions.
TopicSponsorCompetition NameSubmission DeadlineWebsite Link1st Prize Value 
International Business LawTransnational Law & Contemporary Problems:  A Journal of the University of Iowa College of LawTrandafir International Business Writing CompetitionFebruary 1, 2021http://tlcp.law.uiowa.edu/trandafir-writing-competition$2,000 
Health LawHealth Law Institute at Mitchell Hamline School of LawRoy Snell Health Care Regulatory and Compliance Writing CompetitionFebruary 1, 2021https://mitchellhamline.edu/health-law-institute/roy-snell-health-care-regulatory-and-compliance-writing-competition/$5,000 
International Human RightsAmerican University Washington College of Law and the American Society of International Law's Lieber SocietyInternational Humanitarian Law Student Writing CompetitionFebruary 1, 2021https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/award/present at the conference/travel expenses 
Family LawAssociation of Family & Conciliation Courts/HofstraFamily Law Writing CompetitionFebruary 1, 2021http://www.afccnet.org/$500 
FederalismMcGill University's Faculty of Law and the Peter MacKell Chair in FederalismBaxter Family Competition on FederalismFebruary 1, 2021https://www.mcgill.ca/federalism/baxter-family-competition-federalism$5,000 
Public Interest LawUniversity of Pennsylvania Law ReviewPublic Interest Essay CompetitionFebruary 1, 2021https://www.pennlawreview.com/public-interest-essay-competition/$5,000 
Administrative LawAmerican Constitution Society for Law and PolicyRichard D. Cudahy Writing Competition on Regulatory and Administrative LawFebruary 7, 2021https://www.acslaw.org/get-involved/awards-and-competitions/the-richard-d-cudahy-writing-competition-on-regulatory-and-administrative-law/$1,500 
Constitutional LawAmerican Constitution Society for Law and PolicyConstance Baker Motley National Student Writing CompetitionFebruary 7, 2021https://www.acslaw.org/get-involved/awards-and-competitions/constance-baker-motley-national-student-writing-competition/$3,000 
Church and StateThe Program on Church, State & Society at Notre Dame Law SchoolProgram on Church, State & Society Announces Student Writing CompetitionFebruary 15, 2021https://churchstate.nd.edu/news-events/news/program-on-church-state-society-announces-student-writing-competition/$4,000 
Native American Law or Indigenous PeoplesAmerican Indian Law Review University of Oklahoma College of LawAmerican Indian Law Writing CompetitionFebruary 26, 2021https://www.law.ou.edu/faculty-and-scholarship/journals/american-indian-law-review/writing-competition$1,000 
Intellectual PropertyNew York Intellectual Property Law Association (NYIPLA)Hon. William C. Conner Writing CompetitionFebruary 28, 2021https://www.nyipla.org/nyipla/ConnerWritingAwards.asp$1,500 
Entertainment/Sports LawRecording Academy & ABA Forum on Entertainment and Sprots IndustriesEntertainment Law Initiative Writing CompetitionMarch 12, 2021https://www.grammy.com/entertainment-law-initiative$10,000 
International Economic LawHouston Journal of International LawJames Baker Hughes PrizeMarch 25, 2021http://www.hjil.org/submissions/james-baker-hughes/$500 
Animal LawThe American Kennel ClubCompanion Animal Writing ContestMarch 31, 2021https://akcgr.org/akc/writeaboutanimallaw$2,500 
Criminal Law/ProcedureState Bar of CaliforniaMarshall M. Schulman Competition for Student Papers in Criminal Law and/or Criminal ProcedureApril 2, 2021http://calawyers.org/Sections/Criminal-Law/Student-Writing-Competition$1,500 
Family LawABA Section of Family LawHoward C. Schwab Memorial Essay ContestApril 9, 2021https://www.americanbar.org/groups/family_law/awards-initiatives/essay_contest/$1,500 
Health LawVirginia State Bar Health Law SectionStudent Writing CompetitionApril 23, 2021http://www.vsb.org/site/sections/health/competition$1,500 
National SecurityThe Air Force Judge Advocate General's School and the Air Force JAG School FoundationNational Security Law Writing CompetitionApril 30, 2021afjag.af.mil/Portals/77/documents/AFJAGS/2020%20AFJAGS%20National%20Security%20Law%20Writing%20Competition%20Rules.pdf?ver=2019-11-22-171535-827$5,000 
LGBTQ+ Legal IssuesNational Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) Bar AssociationMichael Greenberg Student Writing CompetitionMay 14, 2021https://lgbtbar.org/programs/awards/michael-greenberg-writing-competition/$500 
International LawCustoms and International Trade Bar Association and Brooklyn Law SchoolAndrew P. Vance Memorial Writing CompetitionMay 28, 2021https://www.law.miami.edu/vance-memorial-writing-competition$1,000 
Property LawABA Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate LawLaw Student Writing ContestMay 29, 2021https://www.americanbar.org/groups/real_property_trust_estate/fellowships-and-awards/law-student-writing-competition/$2,500 
Intellectual PropertyVirginia State Bar Intellectual Property Law SectionVA Bar Intellectual Property Law Student Writing CompetitionMay 31, 2021https://www.vsb.org/site/sections/intellectualproperty/writing-competition$5,000 
Environmental LawABA Section of Environment, Energy, and ResourcesEnvironmental Transactions and BrownfieldsMay 31, 2021https://www.americanbar.org/groups/environment_energy_resources/membership/law_student_resources/$1,000 
Public Land & Resources LawABA Section of Environment, Energy, and ResourcesPublic Land & Resources Writing CompetitionMay 31, 2021https://www.americanbar.org/groups/environment_energy_resources/membership/law_student_resources/$1,000 
Consitutional LawABAConstitutional Law Writing CompetitionMay 31, 2021https://www.americanbar.org/groups/environment_energy_resources/membership/law_student_resources/$1,000 
Environmental LawABA Section of Environment, Energy, and ResourcesWaste and Resource Recovery Writing CompetitionMay 31, 2021https://www.americanbar.org/groups/environment_energy_resources/membership/law_student_resources/$1,000 
Environmental LawABA Section of Environment, Energy, and ResourcesInternational Environmental and Resources Law Writing CompetitionMay 31, 2021https://www.americanbar.org/groups/environment_energy_resources/membership/law_student_resources/$1,000 
Environmental LawABA Section of Environment, Energy, and ResourcesForest Law Writing CompetitionMay 31, 2021https://www.americanbar.org/groups/environment_energy_resources/membership/law_student_resources/$1,000 
Endangered SpeciesABA Section of Environment, Energy, and ResourcesEndangered Species Writing CompetitionMay 31, 2021https://www.americanbar.org/groups/environment_energy_resources/membership/law_student_resources/$1,000 
Energy LawABA Section of Environment, Energy, and ResourcesEnergy Law Writing CompetitionMay 31, 2021https://www.americanbar.org/groups/environment_energy_resources/membership/law_student_resources/$1,000 
Employment BenefitsAmerican College of Employee Benefits CounselAnnual Employee Benefits Writing CompetitionJune 1, 2021https://www.acebc.com/employee-benefits-writing-competition$1,800 
Environmental LawNew York State Bar AssociationProf. Wm R. Ginsberg Memorial Essay ContestJune 1, 2021http://www.nysba.org/ENVEssayContest/$1,000 
Justice System--FictionABA JournalRoss Essay ContestJune 1, 2021http://www.abajournal.com/contests/ross_essay/$3,000 
Food SafetyPritzker Hageman, P.A.Food Safety ScholarshipJune 1, 2021http://www.pritzkerlaw.com/scholarship/$3,000 
Food and Drug LawFood and Drug Law Institution (FDLI)H. Thomas Austern Memorial Writing CompetitionsJune 11, 2021https://www.fdli.org/career/austern-writing-competition/$750 
Labor & Employment LawThe College of Labor and Employment Lawyers/ABACollege of Labor and Employment Lawyers -- Writing Competition for Law StudentsJune 15, 2021https://law.richmond.edu/docs/AME_COL_WRITING_COMPETITION.pdf$3,000 
Labor & Employment LawABA Section of Labor & Employment LawNational Student Writing CompetitionJune 15, 2021https://www.laborandemploymentcollege.org/white-papers/law-student-writing-competition/law-student-writing-competition-2$3,000 
Women's RightsNational Association of Women LawyersSelma Moidel Smith Law Student Writing  CompetitionJune 30, 2021https://www.cschs.org/programs/student-writings/$2,500 
Tax LawTax AnalystsTax Analysts Annual Student Writing CompetitionJune 30, 2021https://www.taxnotes.com/awards/for-studentspublication 
Trusts and EstatesAmerican College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTECAmerican College of Trust and Estate Counsel Mary Moers Wenig Student Writing CompetitionJune 30, 2021https://actecfoundation.org/resources-for-law-students/law-student-writing-competition/$5,000 
Bicycle Safety LawThe Advocates at Driggs, Bills & DayThe Advocates ScholarshipJune 30, 2021https://www.utahadvocates.com/scholarship/$1,000 
Intellectual PropertyAmerican Intellectual Property Law AssociationRobert C. Watson AwardJune 30, 2021https://www.aipla.org/resources/programs-awards/robert-c.-watson-awardtravel expenses 
Public Utility, Transportation, Communication LawABA Law Student DivisionK. William Kolbe Writing CompetitionJune 30, 2021https://www.americanbar.org/groups/infrastructure-regulated-industries/awards.html$2,500 
Pharmacy LawAmerican Society for Pharmacy LawLarry M. Simonsmeier AwardJune 30, 2021http://www.aspl.org/larry-m-simonsmeier-awardAward 
Criminal JusticeABA Section of Criminal JusticeWilliam W. Greenhalgh Student Writing CompetitionJuly 1, 2021https://www.americanbar.org/groups/criminal_justice/awards/writing_competition/$2,500 
Civil LibertiesChicago-Kent College of LawRoy C. Palmer Civil Liberties PrizeJuly 1, 2021https://www.kentlaw.iit.edu/academics/palmer-civil-liberties-prize$10,000 
HolocaustUniversity of AlbertaHolocaust Remembrance Essay AwardJuly 1, 2021https://www.ualberta.ca/law/campus-life/scholarships-awards/index.html$2000 honorarium 
Ethics/Professional ResponsibilityAmerican Inns of CourtWarren E. Burger Writing CompetitionJuly 1, 2021http://home.innsofcourt.org/AIC/Awards_and_Scholarships/Warren_E_Burger_Prize/AIC/Awards_and_Scholarships/Warren_E_Burger_Prize/Warren_E_Burger_Prize.aspx$5,000 
Tax LawTheodore Tannenwald, Jr. Foundation for Excellence in Tax ScholarshipTannenwald Writing CompetitionJuly 9, 2021https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/tannenwald/tannenwald-writing-competition/$5,000 
Military LawNational Institute for Military JusticeAdmiral John S. Jenkins Prize for Excellence in Military StudiesJuly 31, 2021https://nimj.org/nimj-writing-competitions/rear-admiral-john-s-jenkins-writing-award/$250 
Securities Law & ArbitrationPublic Investors Arbitration Bar Association (PIABA)James E. Beckley Writing CompetitionSeptember 17, 2021https://piaba.org/2019-beckley-student-writing-competition-0$1,000 
Misc.The National Law ReviewThe NLR Law Student Writing Competition Monthlyhttp://www.natlawreview.com/NLR-law-student-writing-competitionpublication 
  ABA Writing Competitionshttps://abaforlawstudents.com/events/law-student-competitions/writing-competitions/