Skip to Main Content

Law Student Writing Competitions: Writing Competitions

A collection of upcoming law student writing competitions. The guide includes competitions from past years as well.

Upcoming Competitions

  • Hon. William C. Conner Writing Competition
    Sponsor: New York Intellectual Property Law Association
    Submission Deadline: March 7, 2025
    Topic: An entry must be directed to any of the following subject areas of intellectual property.

  • Trandafir Writing Competition
    Sponsor: University of Iowa College of Law 
    Submission Deadline: March 14, 2025
    Topic: Any contemporary international business or economic concern.

  • International Insolvency Institute Prize in International Insolvency Studies
    Sponsor: International Insolvency Institute
    Submission Deadline: March 15, 2025
    Topic: The III Prize is awarded 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. 

  • Robert T. Matsui Annual Writing Competition
    Sponsor: Asian Pacific American Bar Association Educational Fund
    Submission Deadline: March 16, 2025
    Topic: Submissions should address a legal topic of importance to the Asian-Pacific American community.

  • The Roy Snell Health Care Regulatory & Compliance Writing Competition
    Sponsor: Health Law Institute at Mitchell Hamline School of Law and the Health Care Compliance Association
    Submission Deadline: March 17, 2025
    Topic: Students must analyze the facts presented in the Competition Problem, identify any and all regulatory/compliance concerns, and advise the recipient of the memorandum.

  • White River Environmental Law Writing Competition
    Sponsor: Vermont Journal of Environmental Law and Vermont Law and Graduate School
    Submission Deadline: Monday, March 18, 2024
    Topic: Any article that explores a legal environmental topic is generally eligible. Topics generally include environmental law, natural resource law, energy law, environmental justice, land use law, animal law, and agricultural law.

  • Judith Bresler Memorial Scholarship

    Sponsor: NYSBA Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Section
    Submission Deadline: April 1
    Topic: Each Scholarship candidate must write an original paper on any legal issue of current interest in the area of entertainment, art or sports law.

  • American Bar Association Howard C. Schwab Memorial Essay Contest
    Sponsor: American Bar Association Section of Family Law
    Submission Deadline: April 4, 2025
    Topic: The subject may be any aspect of family law.
  • Smith-Doheny Legal Ethics Writing Competition
    Sponsor: Notre Dame Law School
    Submission Deadline: April 15, 2025.
    Topic: Entries should concern any issue within the general category of legal ethics.
  • Howard C. Schwab Essay Contest
    Sponsor: ABA Section of Family Law
    Submission Deadline: April 18, 2025.
    Topic: Entries should be original essays on any aspect of family law.
chat loading...

Past Competitions

Sponsor: American Society of International Law
Submission Deadline: January 10, 2025
Topic: Entries may address topics such as the use of force in international law, the conduct of hostilities during international and non-international armed conflicts, protected persons and objects under the law of armed conflict, the law of weapons, operational law, rules of engagement, occupation law, peace operations, counter-terrorist operations, and humanitarian assistance. Other topics bearing on the application of international law during armed conflict or other military operations are also appropriate.

Sponsor: Federal Bar Association
Submission Deadline: January 17, 2025
Topic: Students may submit any original paper concerning federal taxation

Sponsor: American Society of International Law
Submission Deadline: January 19, 2025
Topic: Papers may address any topic or issue within the field of  the law of armed conflict (LOAC) (also known as international
humanitarian law (IHL) or the law of war). 

Sponsor: Freedom From Religion Foundation
Submission Deadline: January 27, 2025
Topic: Judges will consider papers on any topic relating to laws governing the workplace, such as employment law, labor law, employee benefits, or employment discrimination.

Sponsor: The College of Workers' Compensation Lawyers
Submission Deadline: January 31, 2025
Topic: The scope of permissible topics is broad, i.e., any aspect of workers’ compensation law.

Sponsor: ABA Antitrust Law Section
Submission Deadline: February 3, 2025
Topic: Entrants must submit an original article on a current topic dealing with antitrust or consumer protection law

Sponsor: American University 
Submission Deadline: February 3rd, 2025
Topic: Participants have the flexibility to choose any subject related to human trafficking and human rights. 

Sponsor: The American Constitution Society
Submission Deadline: February 3, 2025
Topic: Submissions should be focused on American regulatory or administrative law, broadly construed.

Sponsor: Martin H. Malin Institute for Law and the Workplace
Submission Deadline: February 7, 2025
Topic: Under the First Amendment, may states require religious organizations that receive government funding to comply with anti-discrimination laws?

Sponsor: McGill University Faculty of Law
Submission Deadline: February 7, 2025
Topic: The theme of this year’s edition is Federalism: Thinking Outside the Box