Writing Competitions

The Privacy Law Section Writing Competition invites 2L, 3L, and LLM students to explore cutting-edge issues shaping the future of privacy law and to showcase practical, forward-thinking analysis that can inform real-world practice. First place will receive complimentary registration to the 2027 Annual Privacy Summit, offering an opportunity to network with leading privacy professionals.

The deadline for submission is October 29, 2026. More information can be found here.

The American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers is pleased to announce its 2027 annual writing competition to recognize significant written contributions to the field of U.S. consumer financial services law in the following categories: books; publishable articles, book chapters, or substantial book reviews by a professional in the field; and publishable student case notes, articles, or comments.

The deadline for submission is November 1, 2026. More information can be found here.

The ACREL Law Student Writing Award is given annually by the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL) to the law school student author(s) of an article relating to real property that is published, or accepted for publication, in a scholarly journal sponsored by a law school in the United States. The award recognizes and encourages thoughtful student scholarship and excellent writing in the area of real property law or related topics.

The deadline for submission is December 31, 2026. More information can be found here.

The Virginia Law Review is hosting an essay competition open to J.D. students nation-wide centered on “Lived Experience and the Law.” Through focusing on the concrete influence the law has on individuals, communities, and identities, we hope to highlight previously overlooked experiences through student scholarship. The winning student will receive a $2000 cash prize and a $5000 grant to put towards an organization or project that intersects with their article topic. Their article will also be published in Virginia Law Review Online.

The deadline for submission is January 7, 2027. More information can be found here.

The Law & Economics Center (LEC) at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School in Arlington, Virginia invites law students from across the country to submit an original, law review-style paper for a nationwide Writing Competition on: The Continued Relevance and Modern Insights of Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations on Debates in Law and Policy Today—On the Occasion of Its 250th Anniversary, with a Particular Focus on Adam Smith’s Impact on the Founders’ Enduring Constitutional Design.

The deadline for submission is January 18, 2027. More information can be found here.