Writing Competitions
We encourage you to pursue all outside sources of assistance.
- ABA Competitions
- Alcohol Policy
- Business Law
- Copyright Law
- Elder Law
- Entertainment Law
- Environmental Law
- Family Law
- Health Law
- Indian Law
- Labor & Employment Law
- LGBTI Community Law
- Securities Law
- Tax Law
American Bar Association Essay & Writing Competitions
- Deadline: Various
- Awards: Various
- Requirements:
- Contests include topics in Administrative & Regulatory Practice Law, Business Law, Criminal Justice, Antitrust Law, Domestic Violence, Intellectual Property Law, Health Law and many other others.
- Website: www.abanet.org/lsd/competitions/writing-contests/home.html
American Indian Law Writing Competition
- Deadline: February 1, 2010
- Awards: $1,000 and publication, $500, $250
- Requirements:
- Open to all current law students
- Papers will be accepted on any issue concerning American Indian Law
- Website: www.law.ou.edu/lawrevs/ailr
- PDF: Writing Competition Rules
Nathan Burkan Memorial Writing Competition
- Deadline: June 30, 2010
- Local Awards Certified by the Dean: $600, $250
- National Awards: $3,000, $2,000, $1,000
- Requirements:
- Third-year law student
- Papers will be accepted on any aspect of Copyright Law
- Website: www.ASCAP.com
- PDF: Writing Competition Rules
Ladas Memorial Student & Professional Award Competition
- Deadline: January 15, 2010
- Award: $2,000 plus other benefits
- Requirements:
- Open to currently enrolled law or graduate students
- Subject of the paper must be Trademark Law
- Website: www.inta.org
- Contest Rules for 2009-10
ASECA Securities Law Writing Competition
- Deadline: November 13, 2009
- Prizes: $5,000, $3,000, $2,000
- Requirements:
- Open to all current law students
- Papers will be accepted on any subject in the field of Securities Law
- Website: www.secalumni.org
- PDF: Writing Competition Rules
Grammy Foundation Writing Competition
- Deadline: January 4, 2010
- Award: $5,000, $1,000
- Requirements:
- Open to current JD students
- Research & identify a compelling legal issue confronting the Music Industry, and propose a solution
- Website & Rules: http://tinyurl.com/ELIFacebook
Roscoe Hogan Environmental Law Essay Contest
- Intent-to-Enter Deadline: January 29, 2010
- Prize: $5,000
- Requirements:
- Open to all currently enrolled law students
- Environmental Law - Entry must be submitted through a faculty advisor
- Website: www.publicjustice.net
- Contest Rules
Endangered Environmental Laws Writing Competition
- Deadline: April 12, 2010
- Award: $2,000
- Requirements:
- Open to all currently enrolled law students
- Any topic addressing recent developments or trends in U.S. Environmental Law that have a significant constitutional or “federalism” component
- Website: www.eli.org
- Contest Rules
American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers Writing Competition
- Annual Deadline: December 1
- Awards: $2,500, $2,000, $1,000 plus other benefits
- Requirements:
- Papers accepted on Consumer Financial Services
- Website: http://accfsl.org/writing-competition
Food & Drug Law Institute's H. Thomas Austern Memorial Writing Competition
- Deadline: 2010 information pending
- Prizes: $4,000, $1,000
- Requirements:
- Open to all currently enrolled JD students or recent graduates
- Papers accepted on law that affect Foods, Drugs, Devices, Cosmetics and Biologics
- Two competitions - Short Paper and Long paper
- Website & Rules: www.fdli.org/edu/hthomas.html
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Student Writing Competition
- Deadline: 2010 deadline to be determined
- Requirements:
- Open to currently enrolled law students
- Aspects of Elder Law
- Website & Rules: www.naela.org/Student_Writing_Competition.aspx
College of Labor & Employment Lawyers Writing Competition for Law Students
- Deadline: May 1, 2010 postmark or May 14, 2010 email
- Prizes: $1,500, $1,000, $500
- Requirements:
- Open to all currently enrolled law students
- Papers accepted on any domestic aspect of public or private Labor or Employment Law
- Website: laborandemploymentcollege.org
- Contest Rules
Louis Jackson National Student Writing Competition in Employment & Labor Law
- Deadline: January 19, 2010
- Awards: $3,000, $1,000 and publication
- Requirements:
- Open to currently enrolled law students with course work in employment or labor law
- Papers accepted on any topic relating to the law governing the workplace, such as Employment Law, Labor Law, Employee Benefits, or Employment Discrimination
- Website: www.kentlaw.edu/academics/plel/LouisJacksonNWC.html
- Contest Rules for 2009-10
Howard C. Schwab Memorial Essay Contest
- Deadline: 2010 deadline to be determined
- Awards: Recognition, publication, membership
- Requirements:
- Open to currently enrolled second or third year law students
- Any aspect of Family Law
- Website: www.abanet.org/family/lawstudents
- Contest Rules
Center for Alcohol Policy Essay Contest
- Deadline: November 18, 2009
- Prizes: $5,000, $2,500, $1,000
- Requirements:
- Open to all persons over the age of 18.
- Subject for 2009 - "State regulation of alcohol is important because..."
- Website: www.centerforalcoholpolicy.org
- Contest Rules for 2009
Tannenwald Writing Competition
- Deadline: July 1, 2010
- Prizes: $5,000, $2,500, $1,500
- Requirements:
- Open to all currently enrolled law students - each paper must be sponsored by a law school professor
- Papers must focus primarily upon technical or policy-oriented Tax issues
- Website: www.tannenwald.org/competition
- Contest Rules
Michael Greenberg Student Writing Competition
- Deadline: 2010 deadline to be determined
- Awards: $3,000, $2,000, $1,000 plus other benefits
- Requirements:
- Open to all currently enrolled law students
- Papers accepted on a cutting edge legal issue affecting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and/or Intersex community
- Website & Rules: www.lgbtbar.org/competition.html
American College of Legal Medicine Student Writing Competition
- Deadline: January 11, 2010
- Awards: $1,000
- Requirements:
- All currently enrolled law students
- Any aspect of Legal Medicine
- Website: www.aclm.org/resources/swc
- Contest Rules for 2010
American College of Bioethics Student Writing Competition
- Deadline: January 11, 2010
- Awards: $1,000, $500, $250
- Requirements:
- All currently enrolled law students
- Any aspect of Bioethics
- Website: www.aclm.org/resources/swc
- Contest Rules for 2010
State Bar of Michigan Health Care Law Annual Writing Competition
- Deadline: July 2010
- Awards: $2,500, $1,500
- Requirements:
- Open to all second and third year Michigan law students
- Topic will be announced in April
- Website & Rules: www.michbar.org/health/writingcompetition.cfm