​Writing Competitions

2018-2019 ELI Constitutional Environmental Law Writing Competition

• More information on the ELI website
• Subject: Any topic addressing developments or trends in U.S. environmental law with a significant constitutional, "federalism," or other cross-cutting component.
• Deadline for entry is April 8, 2019.
  • Award: $2,000

Notre Dame Law School Smith-Doheny Legal Ethics Writing Competition

• More information on the Notre Dame website
• Subject: Any issue within the general category of legal ethics.
• Deadline for entry is April 26, 2019.
  • Award: $2,500

The California Lawyers Association Public Law Section Student Writing Competition

• More information on the CLA website
• Subject: Any topic related to public law.
• Deadline for entry is April 30, 2019.
  • Award: $2,000

2019 Hogan/Smoger Access to Justice Essay Competition

• More information on the Public Citizen website
• Subject: Legal strategies to address gun violence.
• Deadline for entry is April 30, 2019.
  • Award: $5,000

The American College of Employee Benefits Counsel 15th Annual Employee Benefits Writing Prize

• More information on the ACEBC website
• Subject: Any topic in the field of employee benefits law.
• Deadline for entry is June 3, 2019.
  • Alvin D. Lurie Memorial Award: $1,500
  • Sidney M. Perlstadt Memorial Award: $1,500

The Judge John R. Brown Scholarship Foundation 26th Annual Brown Award

• More information on the Brown Sims website
• Subject: Any current legal writing article on a legal subject.
• Deadline for entry is June 3, 2019.
  • First Place: $10,000
  • Second Place: $5,000
  • Third Place: $3,000
  • Finalists (2): $1,000 

The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law Annual Law Student Writing Competition for 2018-2019

• More information on the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers website
• Subject: Aspects of public or private sector labor and/or employment law relevant to the American labor and employment bar.
• Deadline for entry is June 15, 2019.
  • First Place: $3,000
  • Second Place: $1,000
  • Third Place: $500

The California Supreme Court Historical Society 2019 Selma Moidel Smith Student Writing Competition

• More information on the California Supreme Court Historical Society website
• Subject: Any aspect of legal history that deals significantly with California, ranging from the Supreme Court itself, and its justices and decisions, to local events of legal historical importance.
• Deadline for entry is June 30, 2019.
  • First Place: $2,500
  • Second Place: $500
  • Third Place: $250

Lodlois 2019 Scholarship

• More information on the Lodlois website
• Subject: A 700+ word essay on the topic of "Online Product Reviews: Why Both Consumers and Businesses Need Them."
• Deadline for entry is June 30, 2019.
  • First Place: $1,000
  • Second Place: $250

2019 Robert C. Watson Writing Competition

• More information on the AIPLA website
• Subject: Any intellectual property law-related topic.
• Deadline for entry is July 1, 2019.
  • First Place: Expense reimbursement to attend the AIPLA Annual Meeting in Washington, DC (October 24-26)

The 2019 Warren E. Burger Prize

• More information on the AIPLA website
• Subject: Any topic addressing the issues of excellence in legal skills, civility, ethics, and professionalism.
• Deadline for entry is July 1, 2019.
  • First Place: $5,000 and publication in South Carolina Law Review

2019 Chicago-Kent College of Law/Roy C. Palmer Civil Liberties Prize

• More information on the Kent Law website
• Subject: Any topic exploring the tension between civil liberties and national security in contemporary American society.
• Deadline for entry is July 1, 2019.
  • First Place: $10,000

The 2019 Tannenwald Writing Competition

• More information on the Tannenwald website
• Subject: Any federal or state tax-related topic.
• Deadline for entry is July 8, 2019.
  • First Place: $5,000
  • Second Place: $2,500
  • Third Place: $1,500

National Law Review 2018-2019 Monthly Law Student Writing Competition

• More information on the National Law Review website
• Subject: Please see competition details for list of suggested topics.
• Deadline for entry is the last day of each month.
  • Monthly Grand Prize: Publication on the National Law Review website.