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Writing Competitions for Law Students: Antitrust Law, Consumer Protection Law & Data Privacy

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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.  

Antitrust Law, Consumer Protection Law & Data Privacy

American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section Consumer Protection Committee: Harvey Saferstein Consumer Protection Committee Student Essay Contest

  • Sponsor: American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section Consumer Protection Committee
  • Topic of 2023-2024 Competition was: "Participants are required to submit an essay exploring a relevant and timely consumer protection or data privacy issue. Other topics, including antitrust, will not be considered."
  • Format & Requirements in 2023-2024 Competition included: "Essays must be: the original work of the entrant; in the English language; written during 2022 or the current academic year; submitted in electronic format (Word or PDF); a minimum of 10 pages in length, double-spaced, include footnotes, with 12-point font and 1- inch margins; and specifically written for this Contest; a law school class, seminar, or independent study; or a law review or journal note, comment, or article."
  • Eligibility requirements in 2023-2024 Competition included: "Eligible contestants include second-year and third-year students. Eligibility to participate in this Contest or to win prizes is limited to an individual who at the time of entry: Is at least 21 years of age; Is a legal resident of the United States; and Is a student who is enrolled in a law school that is ABA-accredited, in each case, at the time of submission."  "Employees, officers, directors, contractors, agents and representatives of the ABA and their immediate families and household members are ineligible to enter the Contest."
  • Prizes in 2023-2024 Competition were: "The Committee will select three winners.  First place will receive a cash scholarship of $5,000, plus complimentary registration (and travel expenses) to the ABA Antitrust Law Section ’s 71st Spring Meeting in Washington, DC.  If the Spring Meeting is held virtually the winner will be invited to attend virtually, but no transportation costs will be awarded.  If the Spring Meeting remains an in-person meeting, the winner will receive an amount, determined by the Committee, to defray transportation and accommodation cost.  If the winner resides within the Washington, DC area, the ABA will defray local transportation costs.  Second place will receive a cash scholarship of $3,000 and Third place will receive a cash scholarship of $2,000.  In addition, the top essay, along with a biography of the winning student, will be published in an ABA publication."
  • Deadline for 2023-2024 Competition was: February 10, 2024.

American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section: Robert Pitofsky Law Student Writing Competition

  • Sponsor: American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section
  • Goal: "The goal of the American Bar Association Robert Pitofsky Law Student Writing Competition (“Competition”) is to encourage and reward law student writings on antitrust law and competition law subjects of general and current interest. As part of this effort, the ABA will sponsor the Competition which invites editors of law school publications to submit to the ABA Antitrust Law Section published articles on a current topic dealing with antitrust law and consumer protection law. The Competition is designed to attract students to the antitrust law and consumer protection law field and to strongly encourage scholarship in these areas."
  • Note: "The editor of the law school publication that published the entrant’s paper must complete and submit an official 2023-2024 Entry Form."
  • Format in 2023-2024 Competition was: "[A]n original article, which has already been published or which is scheduled to be published no later than January 28, 2024"
  • Eligibility requirements in 2023-2024 Competition included: "Open to any law school student in good standing, over the age of 21, who is currently attending an ABA-accredited law school within the United States and its possessions, and who is a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States.  Officers, employees, and agents of the ABA and their immediate family or household members are not eligible to enter or win."
  • Essays: "Entrants must submit an original article...on a current topic dealing with antitrust or consumer protection law. The Selection Committee will interpret the scope of the subject broadly to ensure that the Competition affords the greatest degree of flexibility in writing on these subject areas. Entrants are encouraged to submit subjects of national interest."
  • Prizes in 2023-2024 Competition were: "The winner will receive $5,000 cash, a one-year free membership in the Antitrust Law Section, free round-trip economy-class airfare (if outside the Washington, DC area), and three nights’ accommodations (at a hotel of the Section’s choosing) to attend the Section’s Annual Spring Meeting, April 10-12, 2024 in Washington, DC (airfare, hotel accommodations, and luncheon ticket are valued at approximately $1,000), if the Meeting is held in-person. The winner will also be announced in an upcoming issue of Antitrust, the Section’s magazine....The winner must submit a completed IRS Form W-9 to receive their cash prize. The full fair market value of the prize will be reported on an IRS Form 1099. The winner is responsible for all taxes in connection with receiving a prize. Only one winner allowed per family or household. Duplicate prizes will be awarded in the event of a tie."
  • Deadline for 2023-2024 Competition was: February 23, 2024.

New York State Bar Association Antitrust Law Section Annual Law Student Writing Competition

  • Sponsor: New York State Bar Association Antitrust Law Section
  • Topic: "Eligible papers may address 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."
  • Format: "Eligible papers include notes, comments and articles and should generally be 20-30 pages in length, with footnotes.  In no event may papers exceed 50 pages, with footnotes."  
  • Eligibility requirements include: "Eligible articles must be written by a currently-enrolled or graduating student at a New York State Law School or by a New York State resident at any ABA-accredited law school outside of New York State."  "Jointly prepared papers are not eligible."
  • Prize: "The first place winner will receive a check for $5,000."
  • Deadline: "[S]ubmit an electronic copy of the paper, along with a completed Entry Form, by May 30, 2024."