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.  

Rule of Law Writing Competition (annual)

• Sponsor: Beverly Hills Bar Foundation
• Topic: "Entries should relate to the Rule of Law and may address any or all of the following:
  • Define the Rule of Law or comment upon the attached definition; or
  • Comment on the importance or the effects of the Rule of Law, any of its elements, or the lack of a Rule of Law on society."
• Excerpt from "About the Rule of Law Writing Competition":

  • "The Rule of Law is a process consisting of five essential elements:

    • 1. Fair Access. The justice system is reasonably open and available to all, and does not impose oppressive burdens on the participants;

    • 2. Fair courts. The courts exhibit tolerance and integrity. They are competent, and efficient.  Judges are impartial and independent, randomly assigned, and not subject to political influence or manipulation

    • 3. Fair Laws. The laws are public, clear and reasonable when applied to human experience;

    • 4. Fair Administration. The administrative branch, prosecutors, and police, are reasonably fair, competent, and efficient; and

    • 5. All are subject to the law.  Government officials including the President, Supreme Court and the Congress, consent to being subject to the law.  The Rule of Law process depends on the constant application of tolerance and integrity through a political system founded on these five necessary elements.  Each country implementing the Rule of Law will produce its own legislation, administrative methods and judicial decisions.  Each system while based upon the same five elements will be formed to the particular time, culture and circumstance where it is implemented.  By fostering and promoting the process which is the Rule of Law, no matter what the place or time, all societies can benefit from its implementation."

  • "Some challenge the Rule of Law as peculiar to the Western world or not suitable to all cultures.  Some see the current success of the nations which follow the Rule of Law as chance, good fortune or a mere shifting in the vagaries of history.  If the process (the Rule of Law) has inherent value, it should be possible to show a direct relationship between the integrity with which a nation enforces the Rule of Law and the success, economic and otherwise, of that nation.  For example, one might predict a correlation between the number of attorneys in a country and that country”s economic standing.  The extent of the independence of the judiciary or of individual rights could also be tested to see whether they correlate to economic success."

• Limit on Entries: "Each author may submit one entry. Each law school may submit up to three entries."
• Format and Eligibility requirements include: "This competition is open to Law Review Articles authors who are juris doctorate and LLM candidates enrolled at an ABA or California State accredited law school during the eligibility period and whose article is published during the period. The eligibility period is the year preceding the Due Date [February 2, 2026]."
• Rule of Law Scholarships: "Scholarships shall include a $2,500 prize for the winning author and two $500 honorable mention scholarships to be chosen from eligible entries. Each scholarship recipient will receive a ticket to the Beverly Hills Bar Foundation’s Annual Supreme Court luncheon where the scholarships will be presented. Winning and honorable mention entries recognized by the BHBF and Beverly Hills Bar Association on their website www.bhba.org."
• Deadline: "Entries for the scholarships are due February 2, 2026 and shall be submitted electronically using this link: https://forms.gle/kreBcHkPERhPbAjE8"