January:
International Law and Technology Writing Competition (annual) [note: there likely will be new "writing categories" in next year's competition]
- Deadline for "this year's" competition was: Jan 1, 2024. Website states: "Follow vLex on social media to find out about next year's competition."
American Bar Association State and Local Government Law Section: Writing Competition (annual) [any topic of state or local government law]
- Deadline for submission was: January 15, 2024.
John F. Burton Jr. College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Law Student Writing Competition
- Deadline for submission was: January 15, 2024.
Louis Jackson Memorial National Student Writing Competition [employment law, labor law, employee benefits, or employment discrimination]
- Deadline to submit papers for the 2023–2024 competition was: January 16, 2024.
Rule of Law Writing Competition (annual)
- Deadline: The typical deadline for entries is January 31.
Sterne Kessler IP Law Writing Competition
- Deadline to submit entries for 2023 Competition was: January 31, 2024.
February:
American Bar Association Standing Committee on Lawyers' Professional Liability and Long & Levit, LLP: Edward C. Mendrzycki Award: A Scholarly Writing Competition (annual) [contest encourages "scholarship and innovative research and writing in the area of legal malpractice law, professional liability insurance, and loss prevention."]
- Deadline for submission was: February 1, 2024.
Center for Alcohol Policy National Writing Competition (annual) [state alcohol regulation]
- Deadline for submission was: February 1, 2024.
Family Law Writing Competition (annual)
- Deadline for submission of entry forms was: February 1, 2024. Deadline for submission of articles was: February 15, 2024.
Scribes Law Review Award [annual award for the best student-written article in a law review or journal]
- Deadline for submission was: February 1, 2024.
Selma Moidel Smith Law Student Writing Competition (annual) [writing on issues concerning women and the law]
- Deadline: "Entries are due February 1 each year."
International Refugee Law Student Writing Competition (annual)
- Deadline for submission was: February 4, 2024.
Constance Baker Motley National Student Writing Competition (annual) [papers furthering and promoting a progressive vision of the Constitution, law, and public policy]
Richard D. Cudahy Writing Competition on Regulatory and Administrative Law (annual)
- Deadline for submission was: February 5, 2024.
Human Rights Essay Award (annual)
- Eligibility requirements in 2024 included: "Must hold a law degree, Juris Doctor, (J.D.), Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), or equivalent." "Shall have a demonstrated experience or interest in international human rights law."
- Deadline for submission in 2024 was extended to: February 7, 2024.
Hirsh Student Writing Competition in Legal Medicine (annual)
- Deadline for submission was: February 8, 2024. In future, check this website for information about a 2025 Competition.
American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section Consumer Protection Committee: Harvey Saferstein Consumer Protection Committee Student Essay Contest
- Deadline for submission in 2023-2024 Competition was: February 10, 2024.
Law Student Intellectual Property Legal Research and Brief Writing Competition (Litigation Focused)
- Deadline to declare an intent to participate in this competition was: February 15, 2024.
New York State Bar Association Business Law Section: Annual Student Writing Competition
- Requirements stated at website above include: "All submissions become the property of the NYSBA and the Business Law Journal. By submitting an article, the student is deemed to consent to its publication, whether or not a cash prize is awarded. To enter, the student should submit an original, unpublished manuscript in Word format to David L. Glass, editor in chief, NYSBA New York Business Law Journal (david.glass@macquarie.com). The student should include a brief biography, including law school attended, degree for which the student is a candidate, and expected year of graduation."
- Deadline: Submissions should be made by February 15 for the Spring issue of the New York Business Law Journal.
Virginia Journal of International Law Essay Competition - In future, check this website for announcements of future Essay Competitions.
- Deadline for submission in 2024 Winter Essay Competition was: Friday, February 16, 2024.
Law Student Patent Claims Drafting Competition (Patent Prosecution Focused)
- Deadline to declare an intent to participate in this competition was: February 22, 2024.
American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section: Robert Pitofsky Law Student Writing Competition [antitrust law, competition policy, and consumer protection law]
- Note: "The editor of the law school publication that published the entrant’s paper must complete and submit an official 2023-2024 Entry Form."
- Deadline for the 2023-2024 Competition was: February 23, 2024.
David S. Rosenbaum Writing Competition [a legal issue relevant to the games industry]
- Deadline was: "Submissions open Sept. 25, 2023 - Feb. 25, 2024."
John D. Greenwald Writing Competition (annual) [international trade law]
- Deadline for submission was: February 25, 2024.
American Indian Law Review National Writing Competition ["Papers will be accepted on any legal issue specifically concerning American Indians or other indigenous peoples."]
- Deadline for submission in 2024-2025 Competition: "All emailed entries must be received no later than 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Friday, February 28, 2025. Entries will be acknowledged upon receipt."
Dorothy E. Roberts Public Interest Essay Competition (annual) [articles on the topic of social justice and public interest law]
- Note: "In addition, the author must include a brief grant proposal for $5,000 to support public interest work related to the essay topic."
- Deadline for submission was: February 29, 2024, via the online submission portal.
March:
2024 IEL Hartrick Scholar Writing Competition [any topic related to energy development]
- Deadline for submission was: March 1, 2024.
National Native American Law Students Association Writing Competition (annual) - 11/18/2024: This website states: "24th National Writing Competition: The National Native American Law Students Association, in partnership with the Seattle University School of Law, and the Seattle U. NALSA Chapter, are excited to host the Annual NNALSA Writing Competition in March 2025." In future, check here for further information and the 2025 Writing Competition Rules.
- Registration information in 2024 Competition stated: "This competition is ONLY open to law students who are registered members of the National Native American Law Students Association and members of their law school NALSA Chapter."
- Possible future deadline: [in "March 2025"].
New York State Bar Association Real Property Law Section: Annual Student Writing Competition
- Deadline: "Submissions must be made by no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time on March 1 of each year."
Sports Lawyers Association Student Writing Competition (annual)
- Deadline for submission was: March 1, 2024.
Honorable William C. Conner Writing Competition (annual) [intellectual property law]
- Deadline for submission in 2025 Competition: March 7, 2025.
Diane and Stephen Uhl Memorial Essay Competition for Law School Students (also referred to as: First Amendment Scholars - Law Student Essay Competition)
- Deadline for entry was: March 15, 2024.
Hager Prize [Awarded for the best writing, either student or presenter, on the ICWA [Indian Child Welfare Act] or any legal issue concerning Native American children]
- Deadline for submission was: March 15, 2024.
Law & Social Inquiry Graduate Student Paper Competition (annual)
- Deadline for submission was: "Entries will be accepted from January 1, 2024 until March 15, 2024."
Trandafir Writing Competition (annual) [world affairs]
- Deadline was: "Transnational Law & Contemporary Problems must receive all essays no later than March 17, 2024."
- Deadline for submission was: March 18, 2024.
American Bar Association Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development Law: 2024 Affordable Housing & Community Development Law Student Legal Writing Competition
- Deadline for submission was: March 21, 2024.
James E. Beckley Securities Arbitration and Law Writing Competition (annual)
- Deadline for submission: "The submission deadline is 5 pm eastern on Friday, March 28, 2025."
2024 Prize in International Insolvency Studies [prize for "original legal research, commentary or analysis on topics of international insolvency and restructuring significance and on comparative international analysis of domestic insolvency and restructuring issues and developments"]
- Deadline for submission was: March 31, 2024.
2023-2024 Robert T. Matsui Writing Competition (annual) [a legal topic of importance to the Asian Pacific American community]
- Deadline for submission was: March 31, 2024.
April:
Human Rights Essay Contest (annual) [international human rights law]
- Note: "The International Law Section sponsors this annual essay contest as part of its commitment to provide information and guidance on international human rights issues to Texas lawyers and law students. The contest is open to any law student with a personal or essay nexus to Texas (e.g. Texas law school, Texas resident, topic addressing Texas, etc.)."
- Deadline for submission was: April 1, 2024.
New York State Bar Association Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Section: Phil Cowan – Judith Bresler Memorial Scholarship
- Deadline for 2025 Annual Phil Cowan-Judith Bresler Memorial Scholarship Writing Competition: "All papers should be submitted via email to Sharmin Woodall at swoodall@nysba.org with subject line “EASL Writing Competition” no later than April 1, 2025."
Berkeley Technology Law Journal 2024 Writing Competition
- Deadline for submission was: April 2, 2024.
UNIDROIT Essay Competition
- Deadline for submission was: April 2, 2024.
American Bar Association Section of Family Law: Howard C. Schwab Memorial Essay Contest (annual) [family law]
- Deadline for submission of entry forms: "Your completed entry form must be received by 5:00pm CT Friday, April 5, 2024, so we may assign you a number. No submissions after 5:00pm CT April 5, 2024 will be accepted." Deadline for submission of entries: "All entries must be e-mailed on or before 5:00 pm CT Friday, April 19, 2024."
Church, State & Society Writing Competition (annual) [topics related to church-state relations, law and religion, and religious liberty]
- Deadline for submission was: April 12, 2024.
Erik Olin Wright Prize (annual) [social justice]
- Requirements: Student's paper + "A nominating letter from a faculty member familiar with the student’s work."
- Deadline for submission: "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."
Smith-Doheny Legal Ethics Writing Competition
- Deadline for submission was: April 15, 2024.
LSCA/Center for Climate Integrity 2024 Writing Competition (annual)
- Deadline for submission was: April 19, 2024.
Annual Law Student Victims' Rights Writing Competition
- Deadline for submission was extended to: April 21, 2024.
American Bar Association Tort, Trial & Insurance Practice Section Admiralty and Maritime Law Committee: 2024 Law Student Writing Competition
- Deadline for submission was: April 30, 2024.
Nappert Essay Prize in International Arbitration (biennial - this competition occurred in 2024)
- Deadline for submission was: April 30, 2024.
May:
AUWCL National Health Law Writing Competition (annual)
- Deadline: Submission portal closed on May 5, 2024.
Michael Greenberg Writing Competition [legal issues of interest to the LGBTQ+ community]
- Deadline for submission was: May 10, 2024.
Marshall M. Schulman Annual Competition for Student Papers in Criminal Law and/or Criminal Procedure
- Deadline for submission was: May 12, 2024.
AALL/LexisNexis Call for Papers Competition [any subject relevant to law librarianship]
- Deadline for submission in the Student Division was: May 15, 2024.
ABA Journal/Ross Writing Contest for Legal Short Fiction
- Deadline for submission was: May 15, 2024.
American Bar Association Business Law Section: Mendes Hershman Student Writing Contest [business law]
- Deadline for submission was: May 15, 2024.
Morris L. Cohen Student Essay Competition (annual) [legal history, rare law books, or legal archives]
- Deadline for submission was: May 15, 2024.
Health Law Writing Competition (annual)
- Deadline for submission was: May 17, 2024.
New York State Bar Association Antitrust Law Section Annual Law Student Writing Competition
- Deadline for submission was: May 30, 2024.
American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy and Resources (SEER): Law Student Writing Competitions (5 competition topic categories)
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Deadline for submission was: May 31, 2024.
American Bar Association Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law: 2024 Law Student Writing Contest
- Deadline for submission was: May 31, 2024.
Everytown Law Fund Law Student Writing Competition [gun violence prevention & gun safety]
- Deadline for submission was: May 31, 2024.
Irish Legal History Society Student Essay Competition
- Deadline for submission was: May 31, 2024.
Judge John R. Brown Scholarship Foundation Annual Brown Award
- Award Description: "The Award honors excellence in legal writing in American law schools. Any law student currently enrolled in an accredited law school in the United States seeking a J.D. or LL.B degree is eligible to submit a paper for the Award."
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Requirement: "The article must be accompanied by a letter of recommendation from a law school faculty member or legal professional other than the author of the paper."
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Deadline for submission was: "The submission must be postmarked no later than May 31, 2024."
__________
National Security Law Writing Competition
- Last known deadline for submissions was: May 31, 2023. February 23, 2024: Sent email to the Air Force Judge Advocate General's School to try to obtain information about a possible 2024 National Security Law Writing Competition.
