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Writing Competitions for Law Students: Public Contract 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.  

Public Contract Law

Public Contract Law Journal Writing Competition (annual)

  • Sponsor: American Bar Association Section of Public Contract Law
  • Topic: "Papers should address a topical issue of interest to the public contract and grant law community."
  • Format: "Papers" 
  • Divisions: This competition has two divisions: law students (Division I) & young lawyers/LL.M students (Division II).  "Each division will be judged separately, and separate prizes will be awarded to the winner(s) of each division."  See 2024 Writing Competition Rules for additional information.
  • Eligibility: 2024 Writing Competition Rules state: "To be eligible to participate in the Competition, as of September 30, 2024, entrants must
    be 21 or over, U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents of the United States; and current members in good standing1 of the American Bar Association (ABA) and the Section of Public Contract Law (ABA and Section membership dues paid in full for the current bar year).  Membership information, including reduced rates for current law students, may be obtained by contacting the ABA Service Center at 800.285.2221."  "Unpublished papers prepared for law school credit are eligible for entry in the Competition.  Papers prepared for law school credit that have been submitted to or published by the Public Contract Law Journal are also eligible for the Competition.  Papers that have been published in media other than the Public Contract Law Journal prior to September 30, 2024, are not eligible for the Competition.  Papers submitted for publication in media other than the Public Contract Law Journal are not eligible for the Competition, unless the other publication agrees that the Public Contract Law Journal shall have the right of first publication of the winning essay."
  • 2024 Writing Competition Prizes: "The first-place Division I winner will receive an award of $2,000; second-place Division I winner will receive an award of $1,000; and third-place Division I winner will receive an award of $500.  As a condition of receiving any cash award, winners must submit a completed IRS Form W-9."  Division II will consist of a single winner (if applicable) with an award of $1,000."  "Winning entries will be considered for publication in the Public Contract Law Journal, and selected competitors may be invited to present their papers during an ABA Section of Public Contract Law conference."
  • Deadline: "All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. Central Time Zone on September 30, 2024."