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Writing Competitions for Law Students: Social Justice & Public Interest 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.  

Social Justice & Public Interest Law

Dorothy E. Roberts Public Interest Essay Competition (annual)

  • Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania Law Review
  • Topic of Tenth Annual Dorothy E. Roberts Public Interest Essay Competition was: "[S]tudent-authored articles on the topic of social justice and public interest law."  "Submissions must focus on a specific legal issue within the realm of public interest law, including any issue relating to social justice or advancing the general welfare and good of the public. In addition, the author must include a brief grant proposal for $5,000 to support public interest work related to the essay topic. Topics can be local, state, national, or international in breadth or impact."
  • Essay and Grant Proposal Requirements in Tenth Annual Dorothy E. Roberts Public Interest Essay Competition was: "Essays must be submitted in PDF format and include footnote citations.  Submissions must have a title and be no longer than 6,000 words, including footnotes.  All submissions will be considered anonymously.  Therefore, authors must ensure that their essays do not contain any identifying information, such as name or institutional affiliation.  The grant proposal must be 500 words or less and request support for a non-profit organization, a pro bono clinic, or for the author’s own public interest work.  The cause supported must relate to the essay topic and the best proposals will be designed to implement the novel legal thinking argued for in the essay.  The proposal must include contact information for the primary recipient of the funds.  If the author proposes to support a non-profit or clinic, the author must also include a brief description of the organization’s activities and mission."
  • Eligibility for Tenth Annual Dorothy E. Roberts Public Interest Essay Competition included: "The competition is open to all current law students (Classes of 2025, 2026, and 2027) from any ABA-accredited American law school as well as recent graduates of such institutions from the classes of 2017 – 2024.  Submissions are limited to one per person and must be an original, unpublished academic essay."
  • Prize in Tenth Annual Dorothy E. Roberts Public Interest Essay Competition was: "The winning essay will be published in the University of Pennsylvania Law Review Online.  The author will receive a $5,000 grant to support their related public interest work or the work of a non-profit organization or pro bono clinic.  In addition, the author will receive a $1,000 cash prize.  If the winning essay is co-authored, the authors will split this cash prize."
  • Deadline for submission was: February 28, 2025.

Erik Olin Wright Prize (annual)

  • Sponsor: Havens Wright Center for Social Justice, University of Wisconsin – Madison
  • Topic: The Havens Wright Center's description notes Professor Wright's "intellectual preoccupations ranged from the analysis of class to the study of real utopias. He engaged theories of the state, economic sociology, and social inequality, always motivated by an explicit commitment to social justice."  This prize is awarded "for a paper by a graduate or professional student that best exemplifies the concerns that animated Wright’s work."  
  • Requirements for 2025 Prize include: Student's paper + "A nominating letter from a faculty member familiar with the student’s work."
  • Format requirements for 2025 Prize include: "The student work...can be no more than 15,000 words (excluding references but including footnotes).  Published works may be considered so long as they were completed within the previous calendar year (i.e., between April 16, 2024 – April 15, 2025)."
  • Eligibility requirements for 2025 Prize include: "Eligible submissions can come from any of the social sciences, history, or philosophy, and any professional discipline.  Submissions are welcome from universities outside the U.S., but they should be submitted in English.  One submission is allowed per applicant."
  • 2025 Prize: $1,000
  • Deadline: "Submissions, in whole or in part, may be sent between March 1 and April 15 each year and should be sent to wrightprize@ssc.wisc.edu.  Submissions received after April 15 will not be considered."