Writing Competitions for Law Students

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.  

Center for Alcohol Policy National Writing Competition (annual) [state alcohol regulation] - November 15, 2025: Filled out online form requesting  information about a possible 2026 Competition. 

• Topic in most recent Competition was: “90 years ago, this nation undertook a raw exercise of political power only done 26 other times in our country’s 235 year constitutional history.  The 21st Amendment was passed in 1933 and it performed two critically important actions.  First, it repealed National Prohibition caused by the 18th Amendment.  Second, the 21st Amendment put regulation of alcohol primarily in the control of the states. Fast forward 90 years and reflect, does the 21st Amendment work?  Has it achieved what it set out to do: provide for an orderly marketplace, prevent abuse of the product, and protect public health and safety?”
• Format requirements in most recent Competition included: "A wide range of submission formats are eligible and encouraged, such as formal law review articles or graduate school academic papers."  "The entry should be submitted double spaced with at least 12-point font in Times New Roman format and should not exceed 25 pages in length, exclusive of endnotes."  "Submissions that have been published previously or accepted for publication may be considered only if the author has secured consent from the other journal for the Center for Alcohol Policy to post the winning publication on its website with an appropriate note about the other publication."   
• Eligibility requirements in most recent Competition stated: "Each year, students and professionals are encouraged to participate in this significant effort to bring attention to state alcohol regulation, its complexities and many successes."
• Prizes in most recent Competition were: "1st – 3rd place recipients have a chance to win $5,000, $2,500, or $1,000 respectively. Up to three winners will be selected."
• Deadline for submission was: February 1, 2024.