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.  

Association of International Energy Negotiators Student Writing Competition (annual) + 2025-2026 briefing document

• Sponsor: Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN)
• Topic in the 2025-2026 Competition: "Essays should be an original work...on any specific issue of the student's choice which is directly related to international petroleum negotiations, such as matters of contract, law, or policy."
• Format requirements in the 2025-2026 Competition include: "Essays should be an original work at editorial length (no more than 4,000 words, excluding footnotes)."  "The essay should not exceed 4,000 words, excluding footnotes (approximately 12 double-spaced typed pages of text) in PDF or Word format.  Footnotes should be in Blue Book format and placed at the bottom of the page."
• Eligibility requirements in the 2025-2026 Competition include: "The competition is open to all full-time seniors in a four-year program and all graduate students enrolled at an accredited university in either the fall 2025 or spring 2026 semesters."  "Students enrolled at schools associated with our Education Advisory Board program must submit their papers to the professor representing the school in the program, who will submit the top four (4) papers from that school.  Students who are not enrolled at schools represented by the AIEN Education Advisory Board may submit their essays directly to AIEN. "  "Students related to current AIEN Officers or Directors are not eligible to win.  Previous Student Writing Competition winners are excluded from participating again.  By submitting an entry, you certify that you are not related to any foreign (outside the United States) government official, nor are you subject to any United States economic sanctions.  If you have any questions regarding these statements, please contact us at education@AIEN.org."
• Prize for the 2025-2026 Competition: "The 2025-2026 award includes:
  • One winner will receive registration to either the AIEN International Energy Summit and its related evening events, or the Model Contracts Workshop
  • Roundtrip, advance booking coach ticket to conference city
  • $300 expense reimbursement, for expenses incurred directly relating to this conference and supported by receipts.
  • Standard lodging at the conference location during the conference, and 
  • Student membership in AIEN for one year.
  • In addition, the winning essays may be eligible for publication in the Journal of World Energy Law and Business, AIEN’s official journal published by Oxford University Press."
• Deadline: "Entries should be submitted in one email by December 17, 2025 in PDF or Word format to education@aien.org including: Current curriculum vitae that does not exceed one page in 12-point font and complete contact information including name, email address and phone number."