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Writing Competitions for Law Students: State & Local Government Law

Tip

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.  

State & Local Government Law

American Bar Association State and Local Government Law Section: Writing Competition (annual)

  • Sponsor: American Bar Association State and Local Government Law Section 
  • Topic, Format & Eligibility in 2025 Writing Competition was: "The Section invites all those who qualify as young lawyers (less than 36 years old or in practice for less than 10 years) and law students to submit articles of 25-50 pages in length, and properly footnoted, on any topic of state or local government law of their choice."  See also: The Urban Lawyer Submission Guidelines.
    • The Urban Lawyer's submission guidelines state: "The Urban Lawyer (TUL) welcomes submissions of Articles, Comments, Notes, Essays, and Student Notes on issues of significance in state, local, regional or tribal government law or urban legal affairs, including, without limitation the areas of land use, housing, environmental and energy law, ethics, local government, civil rights, employment, labor, public education, elections and voting rights, emergency management, resiliency, public contracts, public finance, the sharing economy and construction law."
  • Note stated: "Membership in the ABA as a Law Student or in the ABA Young Lawyer Division is encouraged but is not required to enter the competition (join at ambar.org/join)."
  • Prize in 2025 Writing Competition was: Publication in this Section’s Law Review: The Urban Lawyer.
  • Deadline for submission in 2025 Writing Competition was: "January 15, [2025], and the winners will be announced by February 15."