Below are a variety of writing competitions available to all Drake University Law students;
Organized by submission due date:
January 15, 2013The College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Writing CompetitionTopic: Any aspect of workers' compensation law.
Length: 10-20 pages
Prizes: 1st place $1,500 plus $1,000 to winner’s law school scholarship fund and consideration for publication; 2nd place $1,000; 3rd place $500
January 31, 2013
2013 Hogan/Smoger Access to Justice Essay ContestTopic: Is democracy for sale?
Length: Maximum of 50 pages
Prizes: $5,000 and publication
Intent-To-Enter Submission Deadline: January 31, 2013
Essay Contest Submission Deadline: March 31, 2013
January 31, 2013International Humanitarian Law Student Writing CompetitionTopics related to international humanitarian law.
Two winners will be chosen to present their papers at an expert conference at American University Washington College of law in Washington D.C. with travel and accommodation expenses covered.
February 1, 2013
Human Rights Essay AwardTopic is the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered peoples and international human rights law.
Prize is full scholarship to attend the Program for Advanced Studies of the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. Articles may be published in the
American University International Law Review.
February 11, 2013Richard D. Cudahy Writing CompetitionTopics related to regulatory or administrative law
Length: Less than 25,000 words
Prize: Lawyer and student categories: 1st place in each is $1,500
February 22, 2013Bert W. Levit Essay ContestTopic is a hypothetical essay involves questions about a law firm’s potential malpractice exposure when it relied upon a third-party vendor to provide document review services for a client, which ultimately resulted in the release of privileged documents.
First prize: $5,000 and all-expense paid trip to the Spring 2013 National Legal Malpractice Conference in New Orleans, LA
February 22, 2013ACS National Student Writing CompetitionAny topic furthering and promoting a progressive vision of the Constitution, law, and public policy
Length: Between 25 and 50 pages
First prize $3,000 and each of the two runners-up will receive $1,000.
March 1, 2013ABI Bankruptcy Law Student Writing CompetitionTopics include bankruptcy jurisdiction, bankruptcy litigation, and evidence in bankruptcy proceedings.
Length: 10-12 double spaced pages
First place $2,000 and publication; second place $1,250 and publication; third place $750 and also publication (all winners receive one year membership to the ABI)
March 1, 2013 Berkeley Technology Law Journal Writing Competition Topics include but not limited to intellectual property, antitrust, First Amendment, entertainment and new media, telecommunications, biotechnology, internet, and cybercrime.
First place $2,000 and publication; second place $750, third place $500.
March 1, 2013 Trandafir International Business Writing Competition Topic is on international business or economic issues with a legal nexus.
First Prize: $2,000 and publication.
March 4, 2013National Law Review Writing CompetitionMarch issue topic: Labor Law
Prize: Publication.
March 4, 2013 Sarah Weddington Writing Prize in Reproductive Rights Law Topic: “Economic (in)Justice of Reproductive Regulation.”
First place $750 and presumption of publishability; Second place $500; Third place $250.
March 8, 2012
James Baker Hughes PrizeTopic is International economic law
Prize: $500 and publication
March 8, 2013 Hon. William C. Conner Writing Competition Topics: Traditional subject areas of intellectual property.
Winner will receive $1,500 and runner-up will receive $1,000.
March 15, 2013 Prize in International Insolvency Studies Topic: International or comparative insolvency
Gold Medal Prize ($3,000 and expenses to attend the III’s Thirteenth Annual Conference in Paris), Silver Medal Prize ($2,000), Bronze Medal Prize ($1,000), and up to 6 Finalist Prizes of $500.
March 15, 2013Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C./SalviLaw.com’s Law School Scholarship Essay Contest Topics: Cerebral Palsy or Car Accidents
First Prize - $2,500, Second Prize - $1,500, Third Prize - $500, Honorable Mention (5) - $100
April 12, 2013Constitutional Environmental Law Student Writing CompetitionTopic is recent developments or trends in U.S. environmental law that have a significant constitutional or "federalism" element.
Length: Maximum of 50 pages
Prize: $2,000, publication, and one-year membership to ELI
April 12, 2013 for participant number; April 26, 2013 for submitting paperHoward C. Schwab Memorial Essay Contest Topic: Family law subjects of national interest.
Prize: Possible publication and complimentary membership in ABA Section of Family Law.
April 12, 2013 University of Michigan Law School
Eighth Annual Constitutional Environmental Law Student Writing Competition
Topic: Any topic addressing recent developments or trends in U.S. environmental law with constitutional or “federalism” component.
Prize: $2,000 and offer of publication, one year membership to ELI
April 26, 2013 Notre Dame Law School Smith Doheny Legal Ethics Writing Competition Topic: Any issue within the general category of legal ethics.
Winner receives $2,500.
April 30, 2013
Georgia State Intellectual Property Student Writing CompetitionTopic: Legal issues and challenges in the intellectual property field.
First place ($3,000 and publication), second place ($2,000), third place ($1,000)
April 30, 2013NACTT Law Student Writing Competition
Any topic concerning Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code.
Prize: $1,000 and publication; trip to NACTT annual seminar, New York, NY
May 1, 2013 NAWL Selma Moidel Smith Law Student Writing Competition Topic is on an issue concerning women’s rights or the status of women in the law.
Prize: $500.00 and publication
May 15, 2013 College of Labor & Employment Lawyers Writing Competition Topic is any aspect of public or private labor or employment law.
First place $1,500 and publication; second place $1,000; third place $500
June 3, 2013University of Connecticut School of Law Student Legal Writing CompetitionTopic: Legal issues affecting persons struggling with homelessness, mental illness, addiction, or substance abuse.
Prize: First place $750, Second place $500, Third place $250
July 1, 2013 2013 Tannenwald Competition Papers must focus primarily upon technical or policy-oriented tax issues relating to any type of existing or proposed U.S. federal or state tax or U.S. federal or state taxation system.
Prizes: First place ($5,000), first runner up ($2,500), second runner up ($1,500)
July 15, 2013Warren E. Burger Writing CompetitionTopic is any aspect of legal excellence, civility, ethics, or professionalism of contemporary significance.
Prize: $5,000 and publication.
October 1, 2013 National Security Law Student Writing Competition Topic: Nuclear Issues and National Security Law: Student analysis of a timely issue at the intersection of law and national security
Prize: 1st place $500 and publication
November 30, 2013
Victoria Fisher Memorial Prize 2013
Topic: Women & The Law
Prize: £250
Be sure to check out the Legal Writing Competition Blog and get the latest information on competitions going on right now! The ABA also has a listing of writing competitions listed by section available on their website.
