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Writing Competitions for Law Students: Dispute Resolution

Tip

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.  

Dispute Resolution

American Journal of Mediation National Dispute Resolution Writing Competition [the alternative dispute resolution field]

  • Sponsor: American College of Civil Trial Mediators
  • Topic in 2023 Competition was: "Subject matter focus for entries can embrace the full range of the alternative dispute resolution field– consensus-based dispute resolution (e.g., negotiation, mediation), adjudicative processes (e.g., early neutral evaluation, binding or non-binding arbitration and private judging), or mixed processes (e.g., arb-med, med-arb, high low arbitration, baseball arbitration).  Papers can also focus on ADR process design, practice techniques, specific case studies, related legislation, and ethical dilemmas and standards for dispute resolution professionals."
  • Format requirements in 2023 Competition included: "While there are no firm page limits, there is an expectation that submitted works will be between fifteen and thirty double spaced pages, including footnotes."
  • Eligibility requirements in 2023 Competition included: "The competition is open to all North American JD and LLM law students enrolled as of December 15, 2022."
  • Prizes in 2023 Competition were: "The College will award a $5,000 CASH PRIZE for FIRST PLACE and a $2,000 CASH PRIZE for SECOND PLACE, ranking submittals as determined by a panel of judges of ACCTM Fellows together with the Editorial Board of the Journal.  Winning entries along with a selection of submissions separately chosen by the Judges will be published in the ACCTM Journal."
  • Deadline was: December 15, 2023.

James B. Boskey Law Student Essay Contest on Dispute Resolution (annual)

  • Sponsor: American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution
  • Topic: This Section of Dispute Resolution page states: "The essay may address any aspect of dispute resolution practice, theory, or research that the contestant chooses."
  • Format: This Section of Dispute Resolution page states: "Essay"
  • Eligibility requirements in 2023 Essay Contest included: "The competition is open to anyone, age 21 or older, who was a full-time or part-time J.D. law student, including students in joint J.D. degree programs, at an ABA-accredited law school during the 2022-2023 academic year. Officers, directors and employees of the American Bar Association and their immediate household and family members are ineligible to enter the competition."
  • Prize: This Section of Dispute Resolution page states: "One prize of $1,000 dollars will be awarded for the best entry as judged by the Boskey Essay Committee, comprised of representatives from the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution."
  • Deadline: "Details about the 2024 essay contest will be forthcoming."  This ABA page states: "Applications typically close each year in June."