January:
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, 2025.
Hirsh Student Writing Competition in Legal Medicine (annual)
- Deadline for submission was: January 15, 2025.
John D. Greenwald Writing Competition (annual) [international trade law]
- Deadline for submission was: January 20, 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: Jan. 27, 2025.
John F. Burton Jr. College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Law Student Writing Competition
- Deadline for submission was: January 31, 2025.
2025 Sterne Kessler IP Law Writing Competition (annual)
- Deadline for submission was: January 31, 2025.
Note: BLS Library staff wrote to the sponsor of the competition below, requesting information about any future competition/submission deadline:
International Law and Technology Writing Competition [note: there likely will be new "writing categories" in any future competition]
- Deadline for submission in prior 2024 competition was: Jan 1, 2024. Website states: "Follow vLex on social media to find out about next year's competition." Conversation with vLex vendor representatives at LegalWeek NY confirmed that there is no current, open 2025 competition as of early April 2025.
February:
Center for Alcohol Policy National Writing Competition (annual) [state alcohol regulation]
- Deadline for submission in a prior competition was: February 1, 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 2024-2025 Entry Form."
- Deadline for submission in 2024-2025 Competition was: February 3, 2025.
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 3, 2025.
Human Rights Essay Award (annual)
- Eligibility requirements in 2025 included: "Applicants for the Award must hold a law degree and have a demonstrated experience or interest in international human rights law." "Applicants must submit an unpublished legal essay in English or Spanish written solely by that person."
- Deadline for submission was: February 3, 2025.
Richard D. Cudahy Writing Competition on Regulatory and Administrative Law (annual)
- Deadline for submission was: February 3, 2025.
2025 Roy Snell Health Care Regulatory and Compliance Writing Competition
- Registration for the 2025 Competition is closed. The 2025 Competition ran Monday, February 3rd until Monday, March 17th, 2025.
Constance Baker Motley National Student Writing Competition [papers furthering and promoting a progressive vision of the Constitution, law, and public policy] - 01/12/2025: American Constitution Society's website states: "We are pausing the Constance Baker Motley National Student Writing Competition for 2025 and hope to reopen this competition in 2026. For other ACS writing opportunities, please see the Richard D. Cudahy Writing Competition on Regulatory and Administrative Law here.
American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section Consumer Protection Committee: Harvey Saferstein Consumer Protection Committee Student Essay Contest
- Deadline for submission in 2024-2025 Competition was: February 7, 2025.
2024-2025 Louis Jackson Memorial National Student Writing Competition [employment law, labor law, employee benefits, or employment discrimination]
- Deadline for submission was: February 7, 2025.
Family Law Writing Competition (annual)
- Deadline for submission was: February 15, 2025.
International Refugee Law Student Writing Competition (annual)
- Deadline for submission was: February 15, 2025.
Law Student Intellectual Property Legal Research and Brief Writing Competition (Litigation Focused)
- Deadline to declare an intent to participate in prior 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 prior 2024 Winter Essay Competition was: Friday, February 16, 2024.
Rule of Law Writing Competition (annual)
- Deadline for submission was: February 18, 2025.
Law Student Patent Claims Drafting Competition (Patent Prosecution Focused)
- Deadline to declare an intent to participate in prior competition was: February 22, 2024.
National Native American Law Students Association Writing Competition (annual) - "The National NALSA Writing Competition is sponsored by the National Native American Law Students Association ('National NALSA'). This 2024-25 academic year, Seattle University School of Law is hosting the Competition in collaboration with the Center for Indian Law and Policy, American Indian Law Journal ('AILJ'), and Seattle University’s Native American Law Students Association ('NALSA') chapter."
- 2024-2025 Official Rules stated: "The Competition is open to any law student who, at the time of entry in the Competition, (1) is enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school during the academic year of the Competition, (2) is a member in good standing with National NALSA and, if applicable, active in their local NALSA chapter, (3) have met all financial obligations of membership in National NALSA as well as their local NALSA chapter, (4) is a legal resident of the United States, and (5) is at least 18 years old."
- Deadline for submission in 2024-25 Writing Competition was: February 22, 2025.
David S. Rosenbaum Writing Competition [a legal issue relevant to the games industry]
- Deadline in prior competition was: "Submissions open Sept. 25, 2023 - Feb. 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 was: February 28, 2025.
Brooklyn Law & Political Economy Collective [a student organization] is currently soliciting papers for its Second Annual Student Symposium. ["Papers can be on a range of legal topics, including antitrust and economic justice, police and prison abolition, confronting US imperialism, climate crises, and so much more."]
- "Only current Brooklyn Law Students can submit."
- Deadline for submission was: February 28, 2025. Symposium date was: April 11, 2025.
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 28, 2025.
Fred Gray Civil Rights Writing Competition (inaugural)
- Deadline for submission was: February 28, 2025.
March:
IEL Hartrick Scholar Writing Competition [any topic related to energy development]
- Deadline for submission was: March 3, 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 in prior competition was: March 1, 2024.
Honorable William C. Conner Writing Competition (annual) [intellectual property law]
- Deadline for submission in 2025 Competition was: March 7, 2025.
American Bar Association Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development Law: 2025 Affordable Housing & Community Development Law Student Legal Writing Competition
- Deadline for submission was: March 10, 2025.
Trandafir Writing Competition (annual) [world affairs]
- Deadline for submission was: March 14, 2025.
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 U.S. 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: March 15, 2025.
2025 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 15, 2025.
2024-2025 Robert T. Matsui Writing Competition (annual) [a legal topic of importance to the Asian Pacific American community]
- Deadline for submission was: March 16, 2025.
Hager Prize [Awarded for the best writing, either student or Symposium faculty, on the ICWA [Indian Child Welfare Act] or any legal issue concerning Native American children]
- Deadline for submission in 2025 Competition was: March 24, 2025.
James E. Beckley Securities Arbitration and Law Writing Competition (annual)
- Deadline for submission was: Friday, March 28, 2025.
2025 Annual Law Student Victims' Rights Writing Competition
- Deadline for submission was: March 31, 2025.
Berkeley Technology Law Journal 2025 Writing Competition ["topics at the intersection of law and technology"]
- Deadline for submission was: March 31, 2025.
- Deadline for submission was: March 31, 2025.
April:
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 was: April 1, 2025. "All papers should be submitted to designated faculty members of each respective law school. Each designated faculty member shall forward all submissions to Sharmin Woodall, EASL’s Liaison to the New York State Bar Association. Sharmin, in turn, will forward all papers received to the Committee Co-Chairs for distribution. The Committee will read the papers submitted and will select the Scholarship recipient(s)." "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."
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 5:00 pm CT Friday, April 4, 2025, so we may assign you a number. No late entry forms will be accepted." "All entries must be e-mailed on or before 5:00 pm CT Friday, April 18, 2025."
Law & Social Inquiry Graduate Student Paper Competition (annual)
- Deadline for submission in 2025 Competition was: April 11, 2025.
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."
Scribes Law Review Award [annual award for the best student-written article in a law review or journal]
- 01/14/2025: Scribes: Law Review Award: Overview stated: "Nominations for the 2025 Best Law Review Award (2024-2025 School Year) are now open! To submit an entry, please email scribeslegalwriters@gmail.com for more information and to receive an entry form." (Scribes member schools also will engage in their processes to select nominees for the 2025 National Order of Scribes.)
- Deadline for a student-edited law review or journal to submit one "outstanding" student-authored note or comment that has been, or will be, published between June 1, 2024 and May 31, 2025 for the 2024-2025 Scribes Law Review Award Competition was: April 15, 2025.
Smith-Doheny Legal Ethics Writing Competition
- Deadline for submission in 2025 Competition was: April 15, 2025.
UNIDROIT Essay Competition
- Deadline for submission in prior competition was: April 15, 2024.
Selma Moidel Smith Law Student Writing Competition (annual) [writing on issues concerning women and the law]
- Deadline: "Entries are due April 18, 2025 (the third Friday in April each year). Entries received after the deadline will not be considered. Entries must be submitted via email as a Microsoft Word document to dpayne@nawl.org."
LSCA/Center for Climate Integrity 2024 Writing Competition (annual)
- Deadline for submission in prior competition was: April 19, 2024. April 15, 2025 email reply stated LSCA is not hosting this competition in 2025.
2025 Mirza Law Scholarship Program (inaugural) - ["Applicant must submit an informative essay of 1,000 to 1,500 words on a topic related to employment law (federal and/or New York) or personal injury law (New York), including but not limited to: workplace discrimination (such as race, national origin, gender, or disability discrimination), sexual harassment, wage and hour laws, medical malpractice litigation, complex vehicular accidents, or construction accidents."]
- Deadline to apply was extended to: April 30, 2025.
Nappert Essay Prize in International Arbitration (biennial - this competition occurred in 2024)
- Deadline for submission in prior competition was: April 30, 2024.
May:
ABA Journal/Ross Writing Contest for Legal Short Fiction
- Deadline for submission was: May 1, 2025.
AUWCL National Health Law Writing Competition (annual)
- Deadline for submission was: May 5, 2025.
Michael Greenberg Writing Competition [legal issues of interest to the LGBTQ+ community]
- Deadline for submission: Received May 19, 2025 email response noting that this Competition closed recently. Requested information about future 2026 Competition.
AALL/LexisNexis Call for Papers Competition [any subject relevant to law librarianship]
- Deadline for submission in the Student Division was: May 15, 2025.
Church, State & Society Writing Competition (annual) [topics related to church-state relations, law and religion, and religious liberty]
- Deadline for submission was: May 15, 2025.
Health Law Writing Competition (annual)
- Deadline for submission was: May 16, 2025.
American Bar Association Business Law Section: Mendes Hershman Student Writing Contest [business law] + Full Contest Rules and Guidelines
- Deadline for submission: May 30, 2025 at 11:59 PM CST.
American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy and Resources (SEER): Law Student Writing Competitions (5 competition topic categories)
- Deadline for submission in 2025 Competition: "Entries must be submitted by email on or before May 31, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. (central)."
American Bar Association Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law: 2025 Law Student Writing Contest
- Deadline for submission in 2025 Contest: "May 31, 2025, 11:59 pm Central Time."
Irish Legal History Society Student Essay Competition
- Deadline for submission: "Essays should be received no later than 31st May 2025."
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. Only one paper may be submitted on behalf of any student, and only one paper may be sponsored by any faculty member or legal professional."
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Deadline for submission: "The submission must be postmarked no later than May 30, 2025."
Marshall M. Schulman Competition for Student Papers in Criminal Law and/or Criminal Procedure (annual)
- Deadline in 2025 Competition: Friday, May 30, 2025.
