This database contains information about legal writing contests open to students. It is maintained by the editors of the New York Law School Law Review as a free resource to NYLS students and others. You may search the database using the below field or click the arrows to sort by column. The database is updated on a monthly basis. Be sure to visit a contest’s homepage to confirm the most recent and complete information, guidelines, and deadlines. To report errors or submit information about new contests, please email Steven Cunningham, Publication Manager, at steven.cunningham@nyls.edu
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Category Sponsor Contest Name Deadline Top Prize Topic More Info
Tort Law Public Justice Foundation The Hogan/Smoger Access to Justice Essay Contest 03/31/2012 $5,000 "Are Factories Hog-Tying People's Rights? Right to Farm and Ag-Gag Laws."
Website
Administrative Law ABA Admin. Law and Regulatory Practice Section Gelhorn-Sargentich Law Student Essay Competition 04/01/2012 $5,000 and paid trip to fall conference. Discuss any topic related to administrative law. Website
Administrative Law American Constitution Society The Richard D. Cudahy Writing Competition on Regulatory and Administrative Law 02/10/2012 $1,500 Submissions should be related to regulatory or administrative law, broadly construed. Website
Animal Law New York State Bar Association Committee on Animals Law Student Writing Competition 06/30/2011 $1,000 Any topic on animal law. PDF
Business Law ABA Business Law Section Mendes Hershman Award Student Writing Contest 01/13/2012 $2,500 Any business law topic. Website
Federal Law Federal Circuit Bar Association George Hutchinson Writing Competition 06/30/2011 $3,000 Papers must deal with a topic that lies within the substance, procedure, or scope of the specialized jurisdiction of the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. PDF
Intellectual Property Univ. of New Hampshire, IDEA intellectual property law review IDEA Student IP Writing Competition 04/15/2011 $500 and publication in IDEA. Intellectual property law. Website
Intellectual Property N.Y. State Bar Assoc., Intellectual Property law section Annual Law Student Writing Competition 12/07/2011 $2,000 Subjects related to the protection of intellectual property. Website
Entertainment, Arts, & Sports Law N.Y. State Bar Assoc., Entertainment, Arts, & Sports law section Phil Cowan Memorial/BMI Scholarship 11/15/2011 $2,500 Any legal issue of current interest in the area of entertainment, art, or sports law. Website
General Law American Inns of Court Warren E. Burger Prize 06/01/2012 $5,000 A topic addressing issues of legal excellence, civility, ethics and professionalism. Website
General Law The National Law Review NLR Law Student Writing Competition 11/14/2011 Publication in The National Law Review online. See website for a current list of topics. Website
Securities Law Association of Securities and Exchange Commission Alumni Student Writing Competition 11/18/2011 $5,000 Any subject in the field of securities law. Website
Financial Services Law The American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers Writing Competition 12/01/2011 $1,000 for student articles. Eligible entries will discuss some aspect of consumer financial services law. Website
LGBT The Williams Institute Dukeminier Awards Student Writing Competition 01/02/2012 $1,000 Entry topics should focus on a cutting-edge legal issue affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender communities. PDF
Tax Law Federal Bar Association Donald C. Alexander Tax Law Writing Competition 01/06/2012 $2,000 A topic concerning federal taxation. Website
International Law ABA International Law Section Rona R. Mears Student Writing Competition 01/20/2012 $1,000 The Restatement (Third) of the Foreign Relations Law of the United States is Being Revised. What Section or Group of Related Sections of the Restatement, Should be Revised, Why and How? PDF
American Indian Law Univ. of Oklahoma College of Law, American Indian Law Review Student Writing Competition 01/31/2012 $1,000 and publication in the American Indian Law Review. Any issue concerning American Indian Law. Website
Environmental Law Environmental Law Institute Constitutional Environmental Law
Student Writing Competition04/13/2012 $2,000 and publication in the Environmental Law Reporter. Any topic addressing recent developments or trends in U.S. environmental law that have a significant constitutional or “federalism” component. Website
International Business Law Univ. of Richmond School of Law Daniel T. Murphy Student Writing Competition 01/07/2012 $300 and publication by the Richmond Journal of Global Law and Business. The looming domestic and international financial regulation in the wake of the worldwide economic crisis.
Website
Construction Law ABA Forum on the Construction Industry Law Student Writing Competition 12/31/2011 $2,000 and a trip to the Forum's annual meeting. Any topic related to construction law. PDF
Entertainment Law The GRAMMY Foundation Entertainment Law Initiative Annual Entertainment Law Initiative Writing Competition 01/02/2012 $5,000 Entrants must identify, research and write an essay with a proposed solution on a compelling legal issue confronting the music industry. Website
International Human Rights Northeastern University School of Law Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy Student Writing Competition 09/15/2011 $500 and travel to the ESCR Institute in Boston. Papers must address a topic within the broad field of economic, social and cultural rights within the United States. Website
Employee Benefits Law American College of Employee Benefits Counsel Writing Competition 06/01/2012 $1,500 Topics in the field of employee benefits. Website
Asian Pacific Americans Asian Pacific American Bar Association Educational Fund Robert T. Matsui Annual Writing Competition 06/01/2011 $1,500 and publication in the Asian Pacific American Law Journal. Any topic reasonably related to Asian Pacific Americans and the law. Website
International Trade and Customs Law Customs and International Trade Bar Association Andrew P. Vance Memorial Writing Competition 05/23/2011 $1,000 An in-depth analysis of a current issue relevant to customs and international trade law. PDF
Civil Defense International Association of Defense Counsel IADC Legal Writing Contest 05/20/2011 $2,000 Subjects in the fields of 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. Website
International Investment Arbitration The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes ICSID Review—Foreign Investment Law Journal Student Writing Competition 05/01/2011 $1,000 and publication in the ICSID Review. A procedural or substantive issue in international investment arbitration. Website
Civil Liberties Chicago-Kent College of Law Roy C. Palmer
Civil Liberties Prize 06/01/2011 $10,000 The tension between civil liberties and national security in contemporary American society. Website
Disability Law Mercer University School of Law and the American Bar Association Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law Adam A. Milani Disability Law Writing Competition 06/01/2011 $300 to $1,000 Any aspect of disability law, theory, or practice the contestant chooses. Website
California Legal History The California Supreme Court Historical Society Student Writing Contest 06/30/2011 $2,500 and publication in the Society's journal. Any aspect of California legal history in any time period from 1846 to the present.
PDF
Business Law Tupper Lake Business Community Legal Brief Writing Contest 04/15/2011 $7,500 A brief concerning the influences that have had a negative effect on the Adirondack economy. Website
Constitutional Law American Constitution Society for Law and Policy Constance Baker Motley National Student Writing Competition 02/17/2012 $3,000 Papers furthering and promoting a progressive vision of the Constitution, law, and public policy. Website
Workers' Compensation College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Writing Competition for Law Students 01/15/2012 $1,500 Any aspect of workers’ compensation law. PDF
Employment and Labor Law Jackson Lewis LLP
and
the Institute for Law and the Workplace
Chicago-Kent College of LawLouis Jackson National Student Writing Competition 01/17/2012 $3,000 Any topic relating to the law governing the workplace, such as employment law, labor law, employee benefits, or employment discrimination. PDF
Medical Law American College of Legal Medicine Student Writing Competition in Law, Medicine & Bioethics 01/05/2012 $1,000 Any aspect of legal medicine, including medical licensure and regulation of the procession, 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. PDF
International and Transnational Law Univ. of Iowa College of Law International and Comparative Law Program Trandafir Writing Competition 03/1/2012 $2,000 and publication in the Transnational Law &
Contemporary Problems Journal.Any topic of contemporary international business or economic concern with a legal nexus. Website
Insurance and Tort Law ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section TIPS Law Student Writing Competition 03/07/2011 $1,500 Papers should address an essay on a current topic in a legal area covered by one of the Section’s substantive law committees. PDF
Criminal Justice ABA Criminal Justice Section William W. Greenhalgh Student Writing Competition 04/25/2011 $2,000 and travel to a section meeting. Any timely and important issue of American criminal constitutional procedure of interest to practitioners of criminal law. PDF
Domestic Violence ABA Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence Law Student Writing Competition 05/31/2012 Publication in the American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law. Submissions must further the legal needs of victims of domestic violence or domestic violence victims and their children, or advance efforts to address the incidence, causes and effects of intimate partner violence. PDF
Family Law ABA Section of Family Law Howard C. Schwab Memorial Essay Contest 05/04/2012 Includes certificate of recognition and one-year section membership. The subject may be any aspect of family law. Entrants are encouraged to write on subjects of national interest. Entrants must apply for an entry number by April 27, 2012. Website
Dispute Resolution ABA Section of Dispute Resolution James B. Boskey Law Student Essay Contest 06/15/2012 $1,000 The essay may address any aspect of dispute resolution practice, theory or research that the contestant chooses. Website
Securities Arbitration and Securities Law Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association James E. Beckley Student Writing Competition 9/10/2012 $1,000 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. Website
Reproductive Rights Law Students for Reproductive Justice Sarah Weddington Prize for New Student Scholarship in Reproductive Rights 03/05/2012 $750 and publication in the NYU Review of Law and Social Change. "Legislating Stereotypes: Reproductive Rights Rollback in the States." PDF
Alcohol Law Center for Alcohol Policy Essay Contest 12/19/2011 $5,000 “The Importance of Toward Liquor Control to Modern Alcohol Policy.” Website
Trusts and Estates American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Mary Moers Wenig Student Writing Competition 06/01/2012 $5,000 and publication in the ACTEC Law Journal. The paper must relate to the area of trusts and estates, broadly defined. Website
Intellectual Property N.Y. Intellectual Property Law Assoc. Hon. William C. Conner Intellectual Property Law Writing Competition 03/09/2012 $1,500 Any of the traditional subject areas of intellectual property, i.e., patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, unfair trade practices and antitrust. PDF
Family Law Hofstra Univ. School of Law and the Assoc. of Family and Conciliation Courts Family Law Writing Competition 03/16/2012 $500 The subject of entries may be within any area of family law, although topics which focus on international or interdisciplinary subjects of family law are especially encouraged. PDF
Civil Liberties American Judges Association Law Student Essay Competition 06/01/2012 $3,000 “Is it constitutional for a legislative body to require a DNA test for all persons arrested and charged with a felony?” PDF
Antitrust Law N.Y. State Bar Assoc. Section of Antitrust Law Law Student Writing Competition 04/30/2012 $5,000 Any topic in antitrust law. PDF
International Law New York State Bar Assoc. International Law Section Albert S. Pergam International Law Writing Competition 12/02/2011 $2,000 Any aspect of public or private international law and practice. Website
Tax Law John Marshall Law School Paul Faherty Tax Law Writing Competition 04/15/2011 $3,000 Any aspect of tax law. Website
Education Law Education Law Association George Jay Joseph Education Law Writing Award 08/01/2011 Publication in the Journal of Law and Education. One or more legal issues within any of the various contexts of education, including public and private K-12 schools and institutions of higher education, especially current and emerging issues in elementary and secondary public education. PDF
General Law Brown Sims Judge John R. Brown Award for Excellence in Legal Writing 06/04/2012 $10,000 There is no page limitation or restriction on the topic except that the writing must be on a legal subject. Website
LGBT National LGBT Bar Association Michael Greenberg Student Writing Competition 05/23/2011 $3,000 Papers accepted on a cutting edge legal issue affecting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and/or Intersex community. Website
Children and Family Law National Assoc. of Counsel for Children Law Student Essay Competition 05/01/2011 $1,000 Advancing the legal interests of children
and families.Website
Economic Liberties Washington Legal Foundation Freedom and Justice Legal Writing Competition 08/26/2011 Publication as a Washington Legal Foundation Legal Opinion Letter. “To what extent does the Constitution limit the severity of the civil punishment that may be imposed on those convicted of a misdemeanor under the Park Doctrine?” Website
Energy Law ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Energy Law Student Writing Competition 03/01/2012 Publication in a national ABA publication. "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? " Website
Courts and the Judiciary Institute for Justice Center for Judicial Engagement Law-Student Essay Contest 02/06/2012 $3,000 and travel to Washington, D.C. 2,000 words on this topic: "Recent debates over the role of the courts in reviewing legislative enactments have focused heavily on terminology: specifically, whether we should be most concerned with courts that engage in “judicial activism” or whether, as the Eleventh Circuit wrote in striking down portions of the Affordable Care Act, in cases of legislative overreach, “the Constitution requires judicial engagement, not judicial abdication.” In an essay aimed at a popular audience, discuss the role of the courts in American government and the differences among judicial engagement, judicial activism, and judicial abdication." Website
Tax Law Theodore Tannenwald, Jr. Foundation Tannenwald Writing Competition 07/01/2011 $5,000 Any federal or state tax-related topic. Website
Intellectual Property Virginia State Bar Assoc. Intellectual Property Law Section Intellectual Property Law Student Writing Competition 05/27/2011 $4,000 Articles must relate to an intellectual property law issue or the practice of intellectual property law (open to VA residents, including VA residents attending law school out-of-state). Website
Humanitarian Law and International Law American Univ. Washington College of Law Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law International Humanitarian Law Student Writing Competition 02/15/2012 Travel and accommodation to an expert conference in Spring 2012 and registration for the ASIL Annual Meeting. A legal topic related to international humanitarian law. Website
Intellectual Property Whittier Law Review Intellectual Property Writing Competition 09/09/2011 $1,000 and publication and travel to the IP Symposium. The paper should relate to legal issues and challenges that surround Intellectual Property with an emphasis in New Media Topics. PDF
Legal History American Assoc. of Law Libraries, Legal History and Rare Books Section Morris L. Cohen Student Essay Competition 04/15/2012 $500 and expenses for the AALL annual meeting. Any topic related to legal history, rare law books, or legal archives. Website
Labor and Employment Law The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and the ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law Law Student Writing Competition 05/15/2012 $1,500 and publication in the ABA Journal of Labor & Employment Law. Any aspect of public or private sector labor and/or employment law relevant to the American labor and employment bar. Website
General Law The National Center for Nonsmokers' Rights Nonsmokers' Rights Legal Research and Advocacy Competition 05/01/2011 $5,000 A 1000-word proposal for legal action to benefit nonsmokers (see website for current contest guidelines). Website
Homelessness, Mental Illness, Addiction, and Substance Abuse Univ. of Connecticut School of Law Student Legal Writing Competition 06/01/2012 $750 Entrants should submit a paper on a legal issue affecting persons struggling with homelessness, mental illness, addiction, or substance abuse. Website
Urban Planning American Planning Association Planning & Law Division Smith-Babcock-Williams Student Writing Competition 06/06/2011 $2,500 Entries should demonstrate original thought on a question of significance in either city planning or associated areas of law. Website
Dispute Resolution ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee Writing Competition For Law Students 04/30/2011 $500 and $500 towards ABA TIPS meeting attendance. Recent Developments in Alternative Dispute Resolution. Entrants are encouraged to write on subjects of national interest, not state specific issues. PDF
New York Constitutional Law Citizens Committee for an Effective State Constitution in New York and the Center for Research, Regional Education and Outreach New York State Constitutional Change Essay Contest 04/01/2012 $1,000 A state constitutional law issue. Website
Bankruptcy American Bankruptcy Institute Law Student Writing Competition 03/01/2012 $2,000 and publication. Current issues regarding bankruptcy jurisdiction, bankruptcy litigation, or evidence in bankruptcy cases or proceedings. Website
Bankruptcy National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees Law Student Writing Competition 04/30/2011 $1,000 and publication in the NACTT Quarterly. An essay, article, or comment on an issue concerning Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code. PDF
Contracts ABA and the Public Contract Law Journal Writing Competition 09/30/2011 $5,000 and publication in the Public Contract Law Journal. A topical issue of interest to the public contract and grant law community. PDF
Art and Preservation Law Lawyers’ Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation Student Writing Competition 06/10/2011 $1,000 Any aspect of cultural heritage law, including art, cultural property, historic preservation, indigenous peoples, and intangible heritage (but not intellectual property, except as it relates to indigenous peoples or intangible heritage). Website
Elder Law National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Elder Law Competition 05/30/2011 $1,500 Any topic regarding legal issues affecting seniors or people with disabilities. Website
Environmental Law Environmental Law
Section of the State Bar of MichiganEnvironmental Law Essay Contest 06/30/2012 $2,000 and publication in the Michigan Environmental Law Journal. Any environmental law topic of current interest to Michigan practitioners. Website
Federal Law Court of Federal Claims Bar Association Law Student Writing Competition 06/29/2012 $2,000 A topic that lies within the substance, procedure, or scope of the specialized jurisdiction of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Website
Food and Drug Law The Food and Drug Law Institute H. Thomas Austern Memorial Writing Competitions 05/31/2011 $4,000 Papers should provide an in-depth analysis of a current legal issue concerning food, drugs, animal drugs, biologics, cosmetics, diagnostics, dietary supplements, medical devices or tobacco. Website
Human Rights American Univ. Washington College of Law Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Human Rights Essay Award 02/01/2012 A full scholarship to attend the Program of Advanced Studies in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. The Rights of Indigenous People and International Human Rights Law. Website
Intellectual Property American Intellectual Property Law Association Robert C. Watson Award 06/30/2011 $2,000 A subject relating to the protection of intellectual property. Website
Intellectual Property and Trademark Law International Trademark Association Ladas Memorial Award 01/20/2012 $2,000 and publication in the Trademark Reporter. Trademark law or a matter that directly relates
to or affects trademarks.Website
International Law Univ. of Houston Law Center Houston Journal of International Law James Baker Hughes Prize 03/04/2012 $500 and publication in the journal. A topic of international economic law. Website
National Security ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security National Security Law Student Writing Competition 09/15/2011 $500 and registration for the National Security Law Conference. This year’s writing competition encourages a scholarly debate regarding current issues affecting US national security, the Constitution and the First Amendment .... Consider some of the cases in which the necessity to draw these lines has arisen. How should those lines be drawn and in what circumstances? Website
The Holocaust Univ. of Alberta Holocaust Remembrance Essay Award 07/01/2012 $500 (CAD) Essays can be on any topic, and concern any matter, provided only that they somehow address the relationship between law and the Holocaust. Website
Business and Securities Law Michigan State Univ. College of Law, Journal of Business & Securities Law
Elliot A. Spoon Business Law Writing Competition 03/02/2012 $500 and publication in the Journal. Any current topic concerning business or securities law. PDF
Gender and the Law American Univ. Washington College of Law Women and the Law and Legal Rhetoric Programs Alice Paul
Feminist Jurisprudence Essay Contest06/01/2011 $1,000 Entries should reflect a creative feminist approach to the law. Website
Human Rights Univ. of Virginia School of Law Human Rights Program and the Virginia Journal of International Law Virginia Law Human Rights Student Scholars Writing Competition 01/13/2012 $500 and consideration for publication in the journal. All student papers relating to human rights law broadly. Website
Pharmacy Law American Society for Pharmacy Law Larry M. Simonsmeier Writing Award 01/15/2012 An honorarium plus support for travel to the ASPL Annual Meeting, A paper relating to the the interests of ASPL published within the past 2 years. Website
International Law American Society of International Law Francis Lieber Prize 01/16/2012 $500 and membership to ASIL. Any work published during 2011 Entries may address such topics as the use of force in international law, armed conflicts, protected persons and objects, the law of weapons, and other topics bearing on the application of international law during armed conflict or other military operations. Website
Antitrust Law ABA Section of Antitrust Law Law Student Writing Competition 02/01/2012 $2,000 Any topic of general interest to the antitrust law community, including topics relating to civil and criminal antitrust law, competition policy, consumer protection and international competition law. Website
Environmental Law NY State Bar Assoc. Environmental Law Section Professor William R. Ginsberg Memorial Essay Contest 06/01/2012 $1,000 and publication. Any topic in environmental law. Website
Legal Ethics ABA Standing Committee on Lawyers' Professional Liability Bert W. Levit Essay Contest 02/17/2012 $5,000 and expenses for the Committee's 2012 conference in New York. See the contest website for this year's hypothetical. Website
Law Libraries American Assoc. of Law Libraries and LexisNexis Librarianship Award, Student Division 05/15/2012 $650 Any subject relevant to law librarianship. Website
General Law ABA Journal Legal Rebels Essay Contest 10/17/2011 $5,000 Written or video essay on the following question: "How can large firms change the way in which law is practiced over the next five years, in a way that no other group can?" Website
Utility, Communications, and Transportation Law ABA Section of Public Utility, Communications, and Transportation Law K. William Kolbe Writing Competition 06/01/2011 $2,500, membership, and travel to fall meeting. A current topic of general interest in a legal area covered by the Section. Website
Bankruptcy International Insolvency Institute Prize in International Insolvency Studies 03/31/2012 $3,000 and an invitation to present at the Institute's annual conference in Paris. Legal research, commentary, or analysis on topics of international insolvency and restructuring significance and on comparative international analysis of domestic insolvency and restructuring issues and developments. Website
Business Law N.Y. State Bar Association Business Law Section Student Writing Competition 02/15/2012 $1,500 A topic relevant to the section's audience. Website
eDiscovery Dish Network Best in Class eDiscovery Legal Research and Writing Competition 10/15/2011 $2,500 "Are further amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure necessary to help litigants address the complexities, costs and burdens associated with electronic discovery?" Website
General Law Scribes American Society of Legal Writers Law-Review Award Competition 01/12/2012 A plaque and recognition at the National Conference of Law Reviews dinner. The submission must be a student-authored note or comment that has been, or will be, published between June 1, 2011, and May 31, 2012. Website
Sports Law Marquette Univ. Law School National Sports Law Student Writing Competition 04/29/2011 An invitation to attend the National Sports Law Institute's annual conference at no cost and an offer to publish in the Marquette Sports Law Review. Any sports law related topic. Website
Technology Law Berkeley Technology Law Journal Spring 2012 Writing Competition 02/24/2012 $2,000 and publication in the Journal. 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. Website
Gender Law Berkeley Journal of Gender, Law & Justice The Catherine Albiston Prize for Recent Developments on Gender, Law & Justice 05/15/2012 Publication in the Journal. Submissions may include 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. Website
