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.”
| Competition Name | Topic | Sponsor | Prize | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Entries should address the topic “Should the Board of Veteran's Appeals (BVA) be modified, decentralized, or even abolished and its functions located within the initial claims adjudicators in VA regional offices? Would such a change achieve significant improvement in customer service, cost savings and improved accuracy and timeliness of benefits decisions?” Students enrolled for the current school year in an ABA accredited law school or any masters degree program in the areas of business, public policy, or public administration are eligible to enter the student division. Graduates of these degree programs are eligible to enter the professional division. |
Paralyzed Veterans of America |
3000 |
8/1/2011 |
|
Submissions to the Adam A. Milani Disability Law Writing Competition should be trial-level or appellate briefs on any aspect of disability law, theory, or practice. Other permissible topics include issues arising under any of the following statutes: Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Age Discrimination in Employment Act; Family and Medical Leave Act; or any state statutes or municipal ordinances prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. |
Mercer University School of Law & ABA Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law |
$300-$1,000 |
6/1/2011 |
|
Papers must deal with employee benefits topics. Up to two cash prizes in the amount of $1,500.00 will be awarded, the Clarin M. Schwartz and Sidney M. Perstadt Memorial Awards. Questions concerning the competition should be addressed to Peter Kelly, Chair of the ACEBC Writing Competition Committee at peter.kelly@bcbsa.com. |
American College of Employee Benefits Counsel |
1500 |
6/1/2011 |
|
Submissions to the Alice Paul Feminist Jurisprudence Essay Contest should reflect a creative feminist approach to the law. |
Women and the Law and Legal Rhetoric Programs of American University Washington College of Law |
1000 |
6/1/2011 |
|
There are two H. Thomas Austern Memorial Writing Competitions: one for papers with a maximum of 40 pages, and one for papers between 41 and 100 pages. Papers shall provide an in-depth analysis of a current legal issue concerning food, drugs, animal drugs, biologics, cosmetics, diagnostics, dietary supplements, medical devices, or tobacco. |
The Food and Drug Law Institute |
1st: $4,000 |
5/31/2011 |
|
Submissions to the 2011 NAELA Elder Law Writing Competition may address any topic regarding legal issues affecting seniors or people with disabilities. |
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc |
1st: $1,500 |
5/30/2011 |
|
Submissions to the Michael Greenberg Student Writing Competition shall address a legal issue affecting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Intersex community. |
The National LGBT Bar Association |
1000 |
5/23/2011 |
|
Currently enrolled students are encouraged to submit an in-depth analysis of a current issue relevant to customs and international trade law. |
Customs and International Trade Bar Association and Brooklyn Law School |
1st: $1,000 |
5/23/2011 |
|
Articles for the May 2011 Feature should address the topic of Tax Law and should be no more than 5,500 words, including endnotes. |
National Law Review |
Publication on the NLR website |
4/25/2011 |
|
Any currently enrolled law student may submit a paper addressing any aspect of tax law. The paper must not be under consideration for any other publication or written as part of paid employment. |
John Marshall Law School Center for Tax Law and Employee Benefits |
1st: $3,000 |
4/15/2011 |
|
Write a scholarly position paper in response to the 2011 problem on Embryo Donation and Adoption presented at: All entries received by 2/7/2011 will be eligible for a $500 bonus if selected as a prize winner. |
Nightlight Christian Adoptions |
1st: $2,500 |
3/7/2011 |
|
Articles for the April 2011 Feature should address the topic of Health and Labor Law and should be no more than 5,500 words, including endnotes. |
National Law Review |
Publication on the NLR website |
3/25/2011 |
|
Faculty, LL.M. or J.S.D. students are invited to enter the Peterson Prize Writing Competition. The paper shall address one or more historic or contemporary issues involving the principles underlying the Tenth Amendment. |
Willamette University Center for Law and Government |
1st: $5,000 |
3/18/2011 |
|
Submissions to the Family Law Writing Competition may be within any area of family law, although topics which focus on international or interdisciplinary subjects of family law are especially encouraged. |
Hofstra Law School and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts |
1st: $500 |
3/15/2011 |
|
Submissions may be on a wide variety of topics at the intersection of law and technology, such as intellectual property, antitrust, First Amendment, entertainment and new media, telecommunications, biotechnology, internet, and cybercrime. |
Berkeley Technology Law Journal |
1st: $2,000 |
2/25/2011 |
|
Articles for the March 2011 Feature should address the topic of Intellectual Property Law and should be no more than 5,500 words, including endnotes. |
National Law Review |
Publication on the NLR website |
2/25/2011 |
|
The American Constitution Society welcomes all papers furthering and promoting a progressive vision of the Constitution, law, and public policy. Entrants are encouraged to view this topic broadly, and the competition welcomes submissions on a variety of substantive areas. |
American Constitution Society for Law and Policy and University of Pennsylvania Law School's American Constitution Society |
1st: $3,000 |
2/18/2011 |
|
The organizing committee of the 2011 PhD Workshop on Human Rights in University College Dublin School of Law invite proposals for a workshop on the theme of "The Legacy and Future of the ECHR: Evaluating Sixty Years of the European Human Rights Project." |
University College Dublin School of Law |
possible publication |
2/11/2011 |
|
Authors submitting entries to the Liberty Mutual Prize should possess a J.D. degree or its overseas equivalent. Papers must concern the law related to property and casualty insurance, its regulation and corporate governance. |
Boston College Law School |
5000 |
2/1/2011 |
|
Graduate students in any field of study born 1981 or later may submit an essay, multimedia presentation, or video in English or German on one of the three topics described on the competition's website: Justice and Power, Rethinking Leadership, or Public Good and Values. Up to 100 finalists will be invited to participate in the Symposium, May 12-13, 2011. The most outstanding works will receive the St. Gallen Wings of Excellence Award, which is collectively endowed with a EUR 20,000 prize. |
St. Gallen Symposium |
EUR 20,000 |
2/1/2011 |
|
The Albert S. Pergam International Law Writing Competition encourages students to write on areas of public or private international law. |
New York State Bar Association |
2000 |
12/2/2011 |
|
Submissions must contain legal analysis of a compelling, timely issue relating to criminal law. Articles may discuss any topic in an area of criminal law, and must be 23-50 pages double spaced and footnoted, in Times New Roman size 12 font. |
American University Criminal Law Brief |
Publication |
12/18/2011 |
|
Suggested Topics: Intellectual Property Law, Tax Law, and Labor/ Employment Law The NLR Law Student Writing Competition offers law students the opportunity to submit articles for publication consideration on the website. Applicants can submit an unlimited number of entries each month.
In addition, the NLR sends links to targeted articles to specific professional groups via e-mail. The NLR also posts links to selected articles on the “Legal Issues” or “Research” sections of various professional organizations’ Web sites. |
National Law Review |
Web Publication |
10/17/2011 |
|
The Santa Clara University School of Law's 2011 Centennial Celebration Student Writing Competition welcomes 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. The submission must be written by a student currently enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school and expecting to receive their degree in 2010 or 2011. |
Santa Clara University School of Law |
TBA |
1/31/2011 |
|
The Human Rights Student Scholars Writing Competition invites papers relating to human rights law from J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. students. |
Virginia Journal of International Law and University of Virginia School of Law |
500 |
1/13/2011 |
|
| Competition Name | Topic | Sponsor | Prize | Due Date |
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