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Writing Competitions for Law Students: Affordable Housing & Community Development Law

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Sponsors/facilitators of student writing competitions provide more detailed instructions and rules at their websites.  Students need to review the information and rules available at these websites.  

Affordable Housing & Community Development Law

2025 Affordable Housing & Community Development Law Student Legal Writing Competition

  • Sponsor: Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development Law of the American Bar Association
  • Topic in 2025 Competition was: "Entries should address any legal issue regarding affordable housing, fair housing and/or community development law."
  • Format requirements in 2025 Competition included: "Entries must be original, unpublished work.  Any relevant article or essay may be submitted for the competition, including writing submitted for academic credit.  Submissions must not have been previously published in any media. Only one essay, per competition theme, may be submitted by each entrant."  "Entries should be between 25-50 double-spaced pages, with 1-inch margins, in Times New Roman, 12 pt. size Font."
  • Eligibility requirements in 2025 Competition included: "Open to all law students who are at the time of entry, (a) enrolled in a law school that is at the time of entry, ABA Accredited, (b) member of the ABA and the Forum, (c) at least 21 years old, and (d) U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. Employees of the ABA, its respective affiliates, and immediate family or household members of such employees are not eligible for the Competition."
  • Prize in 2025 Competition was: "A single winning entry, as judged by the selection committee, will be eligible to receive a prize of: (a) a $1,000 cash prize; (b) a round-trip coach airfare; and (c) lodging at the conference hotel.  Winner will be solely responsible for reporting and payment of all taxes (federal, state, local, or other) on prizes, which will include the value of any accommodations and airfare."  "At the sole discretion of the Sponsor, the winning essay may be selected for publication in the Journal [ABA Journal of Affordable Housing and Community Development Law].  If selected for publication, winner will be required to sign a standard publication agreement giving the ABA the right of first publication.  Please note: The Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development Law must have the first right of publication of the selected essay."
  • Deadline for submission in 2025 Competition was: March 10, 2025.