Writing Competitions

Hoffman Bioethics Student Writing Competition
Deadline: January 15, 2008
Topic: Bioethics (ethical issues arising specifically within the health care arena). Examples include ethical implications of death and dying, reproductive rights, bioterrorism, organ donation and allocation, and biomedical research.
Length: 3,000-5,000 words
Prize: 1st place $1,000 + expenses to present paper at annual meeting in March 2007; 2nd place $500; 3rd place $250
Sponsor: American College of Legal Medicine

Letourneau Award
Deadline: January 15, 2008
Topic: Legal medicine, including medical licensure and regulation, business aspects of practice, physician liability, managed care, and public health law.
Length: 3,000-5,000 words
Prize: $1,000
Sponsor: American College of Legal Medicine
Larry M. Simonsmeier Award
Deadline:  January 15, 2008
Topic:  Pharmacy law, food & drug law, drug policy, or related areas.  Papers must have been published in or accepted for publication.
Prize:  Honorarium + expenses to attend the annual meeting of the American Society for Pharmacy Law
Length:  Not specified
Sponsor:  American Society for Pharmacy Law

Center for Global Trade & Development Writing Contest
Deadline:  January 20, 2008
Topic:  The Genocide Convention at Sixty
Prize:  $1,500
Length:  Not over 30 pages
Sponsor:  Center for Global Trade and Development of Chapman University School of Law
For more information:  Contact Dr. John A. Hall at jhall@chapman.edu.

Louis Jackson National Student Writing Competition
Deadline: January 22, 2008
Topic: Workplace law, including employment law, labor law, employee benefits, and employment discrimination.
Length: Not over 35 pages
Prize: 1st place $3,000 + web publication; 2 runners-up receive $1,000 + web publication
Sponsor: Jackson Lewis LLP and the Institute for Law and the Workplace at Chicago-Kent College of Law

Health Law Writing Competition
Deadline: January 25, 2008
Topic: Health law. Papers may address traditional areas of the law as applied to health care (e.g., antitrust, tax, corporate) or areas of law unique to health care (e.g., fraud and abuse, managed care, Medicare/Medicaid, clinical trials.)
Length: Not specified.
Prize: 1st place $4,000; 2nd place $2,000; 3rd place $500.  The top 20% of entries will be considered for publication in Loyola University Chicago's Annals of Health Law.
Sponsor: Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.

Antitrust Law Student Writing Competition
Deadline: January 28, 2008
Topic: Antitrust issues, including topics relating to civil and criminal antitrust law, competition policy, consumer protection, and international competition. The article must be published in and nominated by the Law Review.
Prize: $2,000 + expenses to attend the Section's Spring Meeting in Washington, D.C.; 2d place $500
Length: 20-30 pages preferred; not over 50 pages
Sponsor: ABA Section of Antitrust Law

American Indian Law Writing Competition
Deadline: January 31, 2008
Topic: American Indian Law
Length: 20–50 pages
Prize: 1st place $1,000 + publication, 2nd place $500, 3d place $250. Top three authors will also receive Felix S. Cohen's Handbook of Federal Indian Law.
Sponsor: American Indian Law Review

Roscoe Hogan Environmental Law Essay Contest
Deadline: January 31, 2008 for intent-to-enter submission; March 31, 2008 for essay submission
Topic: "Global Warming: How Litigation Can Make a Difference."
Length: Not over 50 pages
Prize: $5,000 + expenses to attend Public Justice Annual Meeting.
Sponsor: Public Justice

FEBRUARY 
Mark Gordon Memorial Technology Law Writing Competition
Deadline: February 1, 2008
Topic: Information technology law
Prize: 1st place Expenses to present paper at ITechLaw conference + publication; 2 runners-up receive publication.
Length: Not over 12,500 words.
Sponsor: International Technology Law Association (ITechLaw)

Trandafir International Business Writing Competition
Deadline: February 1, 2008
Topic: International business or economic issues.
Prize: $2,000 + publication
Length: Not over 50 pages
Sponsor: Journal of Transnational Law & Contemporary Problems and the University of Iowa College of Law

American Constitution Society National Student Writing Competition
Deadline: February 8, 2008
Topic: Varying topics on theme of "Liberty, Security, and Democracy in Our Evolving Society."
Prize: 1st place $3,000 + publication; 2 runners-up receive $1,000.
Length: 25-50 pages
Sponsor: American Constitution Society for Law and Policy

John T. Stewart, Jr. Scholarship Writing Competition
Deadline: February 8, 2008
Topic: Any topic relating to transportation or transportation security law.
Prize: $2,500 + possible publication.
Length: Not over 30 pages
Sponsor: Transportation and Transportation Security Law Section of the Federal Bar Association and the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association

Richard D. Cudahy Writing Competition
Deadline: February 15, 2008
Topic: Topics related to regulatory or administrative law, broadly construed.
Prize: 1st place $3,000
Length: Not over 25,000 words
Sponsor: American Constitution Society for Law and Policy

MARCH
Affordable Housing and Community Development Law Competition
Deadline: March 1, 2008
Topic: Affordable housing and/or community development law issues.
Prize: $1,000 + possible publication + expenses to attend the Forum’s annual conference
Length: 25-50 pages
Sponsor: ABA Forum on Affordable Housing & Community Development Law

Embryo Donation and Adoption Awareness Essay Competition
Deadline: March 2, 2008
Topic: Topics concerning a problem presented regarding embryo donation or embryo adoption
Prize: 1st place $2,500 + expenses to present paper at May 2008 Emerging Issues in Embryo Donation and Adoption Convention; 2d place $1,500; 3d place $1,000.
Length: Not over 25 pages
Sponsor: Nightlight Christian Adoptions

TTIPS Law Student Writing Competition
Deadline: March 3, 2008
Topic: Topics in a areas covered by the Section’s substantive law committees including admiralty, appellate advocacy, automobile law, aviation law, business torts, civil procedure, commercial transportation litigation, consumer law, defamation, employee benefits, environmental law, evidence, government liability, insurance law, international law, maritime law, medicine and law, privacy rights, products liability, reinsurance, space law, suretyship, toxic torts, trial techniques, and workers' compensation law.
Prize: $1,500 + expenses to attend ABA annual meeting + possible publication; 2d place $500
Length: Not over 35 pages
Sponsor: ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section

Prize in International Insolvency Studies
Deadline: March 15, 2008
Topic: Topics on international insolvency and restructuring issues.
Prize: 1st place $2,000 + expenses to present paper at the Institute's Annual Contest in Berlin in June, 2008; 2d place $1,500; 3d place $1,000; up to 3 finalist prizes of $500
Length: Prefer less than 50,000 words
Sponsor:  International Insolvency Institute

Gellhorn-Sargentich Law Student Essay Competition
Deadline:  March 30, 2008
Topic:  A problem or issue arising at the intersection of constitutional and administrative law, whether federal or state
Prize:  $500 + expenses to attend the Section's Fall Conference in Washington, D.C. 
Length:  Not over 12 pages
Sponsor:  ABA Section of Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice

APRIL
Endangered Environmental Laws Student Writing Competition
Deadline:  April 4, 2008
Topic:  Recent developments or trends in U.S. environmental law that have a constitutional law or "federalism" element
Prize:  $2,000 + publication
Length:  Not over 50 pages
Sponsor:  Environmental Law Institute and the ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources

William W. Greenhalgh Writing Competition
Deadline: April 11, 2008
Topic: A pending legal controversy with the potential to impact upon American criminal constitutional procedure
Prize: $2,000 + expenses to attend Section's annual meeting + possible publication. 
Length: Not over 3,500 words
Sponsor: ABA Section of Criminal Justice

MAY
Mary Moers Wenig Student Writing Competition
Deadline:  May 1, 2008
Topic:  Trusts and estates and related taxation
Prize: 1st place $5,000 + publication; 2d place $3,000 + online publication; 3d place $1,000 + online publication
Length: 20-30 pages
Sponsor: American College of Trust and Estate Counsel

College of Labor & Employment Lawyers Writing Contest
Deadline:  May 15, 2008
Topic:  Any aspect of public or private labor or employment law
Prize: 1st place $1,500 + publication; 2d place $1,000; 3d place $500
Length: 10–20 pages
Sponsor: College of Labor & Employment Lawyers

Howard C. Schwab Memorial Essay Contest
Deadline: May 15, 2008
Topic: Family law subjects of national interest
Prize: Possible publication + complimentary membership in ABA Section of Family Law
Length: 5,000 words
Sponsor: ABA Section on Family Law

Program for Judicial Awareness Writing Competition
Deadline:  May 30, 2008
Topic:  Specified public policy topics.  Note: Packets of background research materials are compiled and available upon request.  There is also a blog associated with this contest
Prize:  1st place $5,000; 2d place $3,000, 3d place $1,500
Length:  8,000-14,000 words
Sponsor:  Pacific Legal Foundation

JUNE
NACC Law Student Essay Competition
Deadline: June 1, 2008
Topic: Legal interests of children
Prize: $1,000 + scholarship to attend NACC conference + publication
Length: Not specified
Sponsor: National Association of Counsel for Children

NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund Law Student Essay Contest
Deadline:  June 1, 2008
Topic: Second Amendment rights
Prize:  1st place $5,000; 2d place $3,000; 3d place $2,000; 4th place $1,000
Length:  Not over 30 pages
Sponsor:  NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund

NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund Scholarship
Deadline:   June 1, 2008
Topic:  Second Amendment rights
Prize:  1st place $12,500; 2d place $5,000; 3d place $2,500 
Length:  Not specified
Sponsor:  NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund
Note:  This "scholarship" amounts to an essay contest because it requires the student to submit an article suitable for publication in a law review

American Judges Association Law Student Essay Competition
Deadline: June 2, 2008
Topic: "Search and Seizure Arising from Motor Vehicle Stops"
Prize: 1st place $3,000 + possible publication; 2nd place $1,500; 3rd place $1,000
Length: 10-25 pages
Sponsor: American Judges Association and American Judges Foundation with the support of the National Court Reporters Association

James William Moore Federal Practice Award
Deadline: June 2, 2008. Paper must be submitted by the Editor in Chief of the Law Review
Topic: Federal civil practice and procedure
Prize:  $1,000 + CD-ROM version of the Civil and Appellate volumes of Moore’s Federal Practice
Length: Not under 20 pages
Sponsor: LexisNexis

Attorney-CPA Foundation Essay Contest
Deadline: June 4, 2008
Topic: Restrictions on the simultaneous multidisciplinary practice of law and accounting by an attorney
Prize: 1st place $2,500; 2d place $1,500; 3d and 4th places $500; 4 regional prizes of $250
Length: 30 pages
Sponsor: Attorney-CPA Foundation

H. Thomas Austern Memorial Writing Long Paper Competition
Deadline: June 13, 2008
Topic: Regulation of foods, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, and biologics.
Prize: 1st place $1,500 + possible publication; 2d place $1,000 + possible publication.
Length: 41-100 pages
Sponsor: The Food and Drug Law Institute

H. Thomas Austern Memorial Writing Short Paper Competition
Deadline: June 13, 2008
Topic: Regulation of foods, drugs, devices, cosmetics, and biologics
Prize: 1st place $1,500 + possible publication; 2d place $1,000 + possible publication
Length: Not over 40 pages
Sponsor: The Food and Drug Law Institute

William Pew Religious Freedom Scholarship Competition
Deadline: June 15, 2008
Topic: Issues in the areas of religious liberty, sanctity of life, or family values.  Must advocate legal positions consistent with ADF’s perspectives
Prize: $2,500
Length: Not over 30 pages
Sponsor: Alliance Defense Fund

RPPT Section Student Writing Contest, aka Jacques T. Schlenges Contest and Quarles & Brady Contest
Deadline:  June 20, 2008
Topic:  Real property, probate, or trust law
Prize: 1st place $2,000 +  expenses to attend the Section’s Fall Council Meeting + possible publication; 2d place $500; 3d place $250
Length: Not over 50 pages
Sponsor: ABA Section of Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law

AIPLA Fellows Award
Deadline:  June 30, 2008
Topic:  Issues relative to the proptection of business methods
Prize:  $2,000 + expenses to attend the AIPLA's annual meeting in October
Length:  30-40 pages
Sponsor:  American Intellectual Property Law Association

Nathan Burkan Memorial Competition
Deadline: June 30, 2008
Topic: Copyright law
Prize: 1st place $600 + possible publication; 2d place $250 + possible publication. Prizes awarded at each participating law school at discretion of Dean
Length: Not over 50 pages
Sponsor: American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP)
For more information: Contact UI’s Office of Academic Support, or contact ASCAP at 212-621-6280 or NBMC@ascap.com.

Shannon Bybee Scholarship Award
Deadline:  June 30, 2008
Topic: Gaming law
Prize:  Two prizes of $2,500
Length:  3,000-5,000 words preferred
Sponsor:  International Association of Gaming Advisors
For more information:  Contact Bob Faiss at 702-383-8839 or rfaiss@lionelsawyer.com

Robert C. Watson Award
Deadline: June 30, 2008
Topic: Protection of intellectual property
Prize: $2,000 + expenses to attend the AIPLA’s Annual Meeting
Length: 30–40 pages
Sponsor: American Intellectual Property Law Association

JULY
Holocaust Remembrance Essay Award
Deadline:  July 1, 2008
Topic:  The relationship between law, human rights, and the Holocaust.
Prize:  $500 Canadian
Length: 7,500-10,000 words
Sponsor: University of Alberta Faculty of Law

AUGUST
The Labor Lawyer Student Writing Contest
Deadline:  August 31, 2008
Topic:  Labor and employment law
Prize: $500
Length: Not over 40 pages
Sponsor: ABA Labor & Employment Law Section

NOVEMBER
Chicana/o Latina/o Law Review
Deadline: November 1, 2008
Topic:  Chicana/o Latina/o legal topics of interest.
Length:  Not over 25,000 words
Prize:  Publication
Sponsor: Chicana/o Latina/o Law Review

ASECA Securities Law Writing Competition
Deadline: November 15, 2007
Topic: Securities law
Prize: 1st place $5,000 + expenses to attend the ASECA Annual Dinner; 2d place $3,000; 3d place $2,000
Length: Not specified
Sponsor: Association of Securities and Exchange Commission Alumni

DECEMBER
ABA Health Law Section Annual Writing Competition
Deadline: December 7, 2007
Topic: General health care topics
Prize: $500 + publication + expenses to attended the ABA Health Law Section Emerging Issues conference
Length: 25–50 pages
Sponsor: ABA Health Law Section

American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers Writing Competition
Deadline: December 1, 2008
Topic: Consumer financial services law
Prize: $1,000 for the best student case note or comment + expenses to attend the annual meeting of the ACCFSL.
Length: Unspecified.
Sponsor: American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers.
For more information:  contact James L. Brown at 414-227-3255 or jbrown@uwm.edu.

Transbeman Persons Paper Writing Contest
Deadline:  December 10, 2007
Topic:  An analysis of the legal rights and obligations of "transbeman" persons, defined as those beyond currently accepted notions of legal personhood.  One example would be a computer claiming to be conscious. 
Prize:  $1,000 + expenses to attend the Third Annual Colloquium on the Law of Transbeman Persons
Length:  6,000-10,000 words
Sponsor:  Terasem Movement

Transbeman Persons Appellate Brief Writing Contest
Deadline:  December 10, 2007
Topic:  Appellate brief in support or opposition to the 2006 mock trial rulings in the matter of the BINA48 intelligent computer 
Prize:  $1,000 + expenses to attend the Third Annual Colloquium on the Law of Transbeman Persons
Length:  4,000-6,000 words
Sponsor:  Terasem Movement

Midwest BLSA Law Journal Call for Submissions
Deadline:  December 15, 2007
Topic:  Sound legal scholarship on any topic reflecting the interests of Midwestern communities
Prize:  Publication
Length:  Not specified
Sponsor: Midwest BLSA Law Journal

Entertainment Law Initiative (GRAMMY) Writing Contest
Deadline: December 20, 2007
Topic: Issues confronting the music industry
Prize: 1st place $5,000; 4 runners-up each receive $1,500. All winners receive expenses to attend the GRAMMY Awards
Length: Not over 3,000 words
Sponsors: Grammy Foundation & ABA Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries
William J. Pierce Writing Contest
Deadline:  December 31, 2007
Topic:  Uniform or model acts, or issues arising from a uniform or model act.
Prize:  $1,000 + publication
Length:  Not specified
Sponsor:  National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws

William E. Swope (Jones Day) Antitrust Writing Competition
Deadline: December 31, 2007.
Topic:  Antitrust
Prize:  1st place $10,000; 2 honorable mentions $1,500
Length:  Not over 15,000 words
Sponsor:  Jones Day

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