Writing competitions are great opportunities to earn recognition, win monetary prizes, or even be published for the research and writing that you are already doing during law school! 

Some writing competitions target specific topics, while others ask students to answer a specific question. If you have completed a paper for a substantial writing course or directed research, there is likely a competition for that topic!

The Writing Center has compiled a list of annual competitions (see below). The Writing Center will also be sending deadline reminders and updates on new competitions through the weekly Writing Center email. Please keep track of and verify deadlines independently, and feel free to research additional competitions on topics you are interested in, as this list may not be exhaustive.

Yale Law Journal Student Essay Competition: September 5, 2025 (this year's topic is "Emerging Issues in the Executive Power") 

The Aviation and Space Law Committee Writing Competition: September 8, 2025 (papers that address space and aviation law, specifically on subjects of national interest)

Public Contract Law Journal Writing Competition: September 30, 2025 (papers that address issues on public contract and grant law)

Entertainment Law Initiative Writing Contest: October 8, 2025 (students are asked to research a current issue in the music industry and outline a proposed solution)

Dr. Emanuel Stein and Kenneth Stein Memorial Law Student Writing Competition: October 31, 2025 (papers that address an aspect of labor and employment law)

ACCFSL Annual Writing Competition: November 1, 2025 (papers that address U.S. consumer financial services law)

Law Student Tax Challenge: November 3, 2025 (a tax problem is released in September that two-person teams of students work to solve and then deliver a memorandum with the solution)

Albert S. Pergam International Law Writing Competition Award: Historically early November (papers that address public or private international law topics)

Law Student Writing Contest of the Standing Committee on Armed Forces Law: Historically mid-November (papers that address the military’s application of criminal law – this competition is the third competition listed on the above linked page)

Edward C. Mendrzycki Award: Historically early February (papers that address legal malpractice law, professional liability insurance, and loss prevention)

Roy Snell Health Care Regulatory and Compliance Writing Competition: Historically early February (students- or teams of two students- are given a problem and must identify the regulatory/compliance concerns, then advise the recipient on the situation in a memorandum)

Law Student Second Amendment Research and Writing Competition: Historically early March (papers that address a specific Second Amendment issue)

Howard C. Schwab Essay Contest: Historically early April (papers that address an issue of family law; please see the contest rules for what is or is not generally included in definition of “family law” for this contest)

Selma Moidel Smith Writing Competition: Historically mid-April (papers that address issues of women and the law)

Smith-Doheny Legal Ethics Writing Competition: Historically mid-April (papers that address legal ethics)

Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Student Writing Contest: Historically late May (papers that address an area of real property or trust and estate law)

SEER Law Student Writing Competition: Historically late May (papers should address a question of legal or policy significance relating to biodiversity, energy law and/or resource recovery, forest resources and public land, indigenous law, or water law)

The Marshall Manne Schulman Competition for Student Papers in Criminal Law and/or Criminal Procedure: Historically late May (papers must address issues of criminal law or procedure in California)

James B. Boskey Law Student Essay Contest on Dispute Resolution: Historically early June (papers can discuss any aspect of dispute resolution practice, theory, or research)

The Admiralty and Maritime Law Committee Writing Competition: Historically mid-June (papers that address a recent development in admiralty and maritime law)

Milani Writing Competition: Historically mid-June (papers that address an issue of disability law, theory, or practice, or papers that address an issue arising under any of the following statutes: Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Age Discrimination in Employment Act; Family and Medical Leave Act; or any state statutes or municipal ordinances prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation)

The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law Annual Law Student Writing Competition: Historically mid-June (papers that address current and relevant topics of labor and employment law)

Robert C. Watson Award: Historically late June (articles that address the protection of intellectual property)

The Warren E. Burger Prize: Historically early July (papers can focus on any topic that addresses an issue of professionalism, ethics, civility, and excellence)

Committee on Animals and the Law: Student Writing Competition: Historically early July (articles that address an area of animal law)

The Greenhalgh Student Writing Competition: Historically early July (students are provided with a specific prompt focused on criminal justice and the student response cannot exceed 4,000 words)

Zipporah B. Wiseman Prize for Scholarship on Law, Literature, and Justice: Historically late July (papers that engage in a comparative analysis of a legal and a literary text)