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Law School Scholarship Databank – Writing Competitions

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A scholarship can make all the difference.

Search over 800 carefully curated and vetted scholarship opportunities and writing competitions — totaling more than $3 million in aid.

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80 results

Law Student Writing Competition

The scope of permissible topics include any aspect of workers' compensation law.

More
Sponsoring Organization:

The College of Workers' Compensation Lawyers

Award Maximum:
$3,000
Application Deadline:
January 31
Eligibility Requirements:

Current student

Enrolled in accredited law school in U.S.

2025 graduates

National Essay Contest

This national academic event is intended to foster debate, analysis, and examination of state alcohol regulation in the 21st Century.

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Sponsoring Organization:

Center for Alcohol Policy

Award Maximum:
$5,000
Application Deadline:
February 1
Eligibility Requirements:

All persons over the age of 18 as of December 2023

Students, academics, practicing attorneys, policymakers, regulators, public health representatives, and any person with an interest in alcohol law and policy are encouraged to submit essays.

May not be offered this year - verify status with the scholarship provider

The Roy Snell Health Care Regulatory & Compliance Writing Competition

The Roy Snell Health Care Regulatory & Compliance Writing Competition recognizes law students for innovative, strategic, and sound approaches to tackling complex contemporary health care regulatory and compliance issues.

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Sponsoring Organization:

Health Law Institute at Mitchell Hamline School of Law and the Health Care Compliance Association

Award Maximum:
$5,000
Application Deadline:
February 2
Eligibility Requirements:

Current J.D. Students who have completed 1L year

Full or part-time

Registration will occur approximately a month and a half prior to the deadline; review details on provider's website carefully.

Robert Pitofsky Law Student Writing Competition

The goal of the Competition is to encourage and reward law student writings on antitrust law and competition law subjects of general and current interest.

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Sponsoring Organization:

American Bar Association (ABA) Antitrust Section

Award Maximum:
$5,000
Application Deadline:
February 3
Eligibility Requirements:

Current law school student in good standing

Over the age of 21

Attending an ABA accredited law school within the United States and its possessions

U.S. Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident

Ed Mendrzycki Essay Contest

This essay contest is to encourage scholarship and innovative research and writing in the area of legal malpractice law, professional liability insurance, and loss prevention.

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Sponsoring Organization:

American Bar Association (ABA) Standing Committee on Lawyers' Professional Liability and Long & Levit LLP

Award Maximum:
$5,000
Application Deadline:
February 3
Eligibility Requirements:

ABA Law Student Division member in good standing

ABA Young Lawyers Division member in good standing

Richard D. Cudahy Writing Competition on Regulatory and Administrative Law

This writing competition seeks to encourage and reward the qualities demonstrated by Judge Richard D. Cudahy in the fields of regulatory and administrative law, and an appreciation of the public impact of doctrinal and institutional choices, including the consequences for fundamental values such as fairness, participation, and transparency in the scholarship of others.

More
Sponsoring Organization:

American Constitution Society (ACS)

Award Maximum:
$1,500
Application Deadline:
February 3
Eligibility Requirements:

Lawyers

Current Law Students

Enrolled in a J.D. or LL.M. program at a U.S. law school

Constance Baker Motley National Student Writing Competition

The American Constitution Society welcomes all papers furthering and promoting a progressive vision of the Constitution, law, and public policy. Entrants are encouraged to view this topic broadly, and we welcome submissions on a variety of substantive areas.

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Sponsoring Organization:

American Constitution Society (ACS) and the University of Pennsylvania Law School ACS Chapter

Award Maximum:
$3,000
Application Deadline:
February 5
Eligibility Requirements:

Current law student

Dues paying member of ACS

May not be offered this year - verify status with the provider

Consumer Protection Committee Law Student Essay Contest

This project provides an opportunity to expand the role of the ABA in the area of Consumer Protection among law students, professors and practitioners by inviting students to participate in a discussion on hot topics in consumer protection.

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Sponsoring Organization:

American Bar Association (ABA) Antitrust Section Consumer Protection Committee

Award Maximum:
$5,000
Application Deadline:
February 7
Eligibility Requirements:

2nd and 3rd year law students

Enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school

At least 21 years of age

Legal resident of the U.S.

Baxter Family Competition on Federalism

The overarching goal of this prestigious bi-annual competition, which is run by the Peter MacKell Chair in Federalism, is to advance research and foster informed debate on federalism.

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Sponsoring Organization:

McGill University Faculty of Law

Award Maximum:
$3,910
Application Deadline:
February 7
Eligibility Requirements:

Current undergraduate or graduate

Enrolled in program in law or political science

Graduates from these programs after 2/7/2020

Anywhere in the world

Louis Jackson Memorial National Student Writing Competition in Employment and Labor Law

Judges will consider papers on any topic relating to the law governing the workplace, such as employment law, labor law, employee benefits, or employment discrimination.

More
Sponsoring Organization:

IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law's Institute for Law and the Workplace (ILW) and Jackson Lewis LLP

Award Maximum:
$3,000
Application Deadline:
February 7
Eligibility Requirements:

Current law student

Enrolled in an accredited law school

Must have completed or be currently taking course work in employment or labor law

Harvard Law School Trans Rights Writing Competition

HLS Lambda, Harvard Civil Rights–Civil Liberties Law Review, and the Harvard Journal of Law & Gender are seeking submissions that broadly address trans rights issues. 

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Sponsoring Organization:

Harvard Law School Lambda, Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review, and the Harvard Journal of Law and Gender

Award Maximum:
$1,000
Application Deadline:
February 11
Eligibility Requirements:

Currently matriculated law students from any law school.

May not be offered this year - verify status with the scholarship provider

David S. Rosenbaum Writing Competition

A scholarship to encourage and reward students interested in the field of interactive entertainment law.

More
Sponsoring Organization:

Video Game Bar Association (VGBA)

Award Maximum:
$2,500
Application Deadline:
February 25
Eligibility Requirements:

None currently listed at time of publication. Visit provider's website for possible updates.

May not be offered this year - verify status with the scholarship provider

American Indian Law Review Writing Competition

Papers will be accepted on any legal issue specifically concerning American Indians or other indigenous peoples.

More
Sponsoring Organization:

American Indian Law Review (AILR)

Award Maximum:
$1,500
Application Deadline:
February 28
Eligibility Requirements:

Current J.D. or graduate law students

Accredited law schools in the U.S. and Canada

NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund Law Student Research and Writing Competition

Research and write a scholarly article suitable for publication on one of two cutting edge Second Amendment issues - or you can write separately on both questions for two chances to win.

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Sponsoring Organization:

NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund

Award Maximum:
$10,000
Application Deadline:
March 1
Eligibility Requirements:

Currently enrolled in an ABA accredited law school.

The Blanch Law Firm Scholarship Award

We are looking for an excellent writer to contribute an outstanding article to our online publication.

More
Sponsoring Organization:

The Blanch Law Firm

Award Maximum:
$5,000
Application Deadline:
March 1
Eligibility Requirements:

Open to all students

Rolling deadline. Submissions due within 14 days of receipt of assignment.

Honorable William C. Conner Writing Competition

The Honorable William Conner Writing Competition was established to recognize exceptionally written papers that are submitted by law students.

More
Sponsoring Organization:

New York Intellectual Property Law Association

Award Maximum:
$2,500
Application Deadline:
March 7
Eligibility Requirements:

Current J.D. or LL.M. student

Day or evening

Accredited law school in the U.S.

Trandafir Writing Competition

Each year, Transnational Law and Contemporary Problems, in conjunction with the University of Iowa College of Law International and Comparative Law Program, conducts an annual world affairs student writing competition.

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Sponsoring Organization:

Transnational Law and Contemporary Problems and the University of Iowa College of Law

Award Maximum:
$2,000
Application Deadline:
March 14
Eligibility Requirements:

Currently enrolled in law or graduate degree programs.

Prize in International Insolvency Studies

The III Prize is awarded for original legal research, commentary or analysis on topics of international insolvency and restructuring significance and on comparative international analysis of domestic insolvency and restructuring issues and developments.

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Sponsoring Organization:

International Insolvency Institute (III)

Award Maximum:
$3,000
Application Deadline:
March 15
Eligibility Requirements:

Undergraduate or Graduate students

Full or part-time

Researchers or practitioners in practice for less than five years

Robert T. Matsui Annual Writing Competition

Through this Writing Competition, AEF seeks to encourage legal scholarship on issues of importance to the Asian Pacific American community.

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Sponsoring Organization:

Asian Pacific American Bar Association Educational Fund (AEF)

Award Maximum:
$2,000
Application Deadline:
March 16
Eligibility Requirements:

Current law students

Law school graduates within the last three years (i.e., 2022 or later)

In the U.S.

White River Environmental Law Writing Competition

The White River flows through the village of South Royalton and borders the campus of Vermont Law School. The idyllic waterway embodies the Journal’s view of the field of environmental law.

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Sponsoring Organization:

Vermont Journal of Environmental Law and Vermont Law School

Award Maximum:
$1,000
Application Deadline:
March 18
Eligibility Requirements:

Current J.D. or LL.M. students

Attend accredited law school in the U.S.

May not be offered this year - verify status with the scholarship provider

Phil Cowan - Judith Bresler Memorial Scholarship

The Phil Cowan - Judith Bresler Memorial Scholarship is named after two esteemed former EASL Chairs to recognize student who are committed to a practice concentrating in one or more areas of entertainment, art or sports law.

More
Sponsoring Organization:

New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Section

Award Maximum:
$2,500
Application Deadline:
April 1
Eligibility Requirements:

Current J.D. and LL.M. candidates

Attend accredited law school within New York State, Rutgers University Law School and Seton Hall Law School in New Jersey, and up to ten other accredited law schools throughout the country to be selected, at the committee's discretion, on a rotating basis.

All students submitting a paper for consideration, who are NYSBA members, will immediately and automatically be offered a free membership in EASL (with all the benefits of an EASL member) for a one-year period, commencing the day of the EASL Spring Meeting of the year of the paper submission

Berkeley Technology Law Journal Writing Competition

We will accept submissions from graduate-level law students on a wide variety of topics at the intersection of law and technology, including but not limited to: technology and the public interest, privacy, internet law, intellectual property, antitrust, First Amendment issues, entertainment and news media, telecommunications, biotechnology, and cybercrime.

More
Sponsoring Organization:

Berkeley Technology Law Journal University of California, Berkeley School of Law

Award Maximum:
$1,000
Application Deadline:
April 2
Eligibility Requirements:

Current J.D., LL.M. and J.S.D. students

Law students outside the U.S.

May not be available-check with scholarship provider

Howard C. Schwab Memorial Essay Contest

The purpose of the contest is to create greater interest in the field of family law among all law students, and particularly the Law Student Division of the American Bar Association.

More
Sponsoring Organization:

American Bar Association (ABA) Family Law Section

Award Maximum:
$1,500
Application Deadline:
April 5
Eligibility Requirements:

J.D. students

ABA-approved law school

Second or third year full-time students or second through fourth-year part-time students

First-year students enrolled in schools where family law is part of the first-year curriculum

U.S. Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident

The Program on Church, State & Society Writing Competition

The purpose of this writing competition is to encourage scholarship related to the intersection of church, state & society, and in particular how the law structures and governs that intersection.

More
Sponsoring Organization:

The Program on Church, State & Society at Notre Dame Law School

Award Maximum:
$3,000
Application Deadline:
April 12
Eligibility Requirements:

Current law students

J.D., LL.B., LL.M., SJ.D., J.S.D., Ph.D.

Attend an ABA-accredited law school within the U.S.

In good standing

May not be offered this year - verify status with the scholarship provider 

Smith-Doheny Legal Ethics Writing Competition

Notre Dame Law School sponsors an annual writing competition on the topic of legal ethics.

More
Sponsoring Organization:

Notre Dame Law School

Award Maximum:
$2,500
Application Deadline:
April 15
Eligibility Requirements:

Current law students

Attend U.S. and Canadian law schools

Hogan/Smoger Access to Justice Essay Competition

Each year, students will write about a different topic. This year, students are directed to write about legal remedies to combat climate change.

More
Sponsoring Organization:

R. Ben Hogan III of Hogan Law Office and Gerson H. Smoger of Smoger & Associates

Award Maximum:
$5,000
Application Deadline:
April 29
Eligibility Requirements:

Current law students

Current masters of law students

Law graduates post 2015

May not be offered this year - verify status with the scholarship provider

Mendes Hershman Writing Contest

The Mendes Hershman Student Writing Contest is a highly regarded legal writing competition that encourages and rewards law students for their outstanding writing on business law topics.

More
Sponsoring Organization:

American Bar Association (ABA) Business Law Section

Award Maximum:
$1,000
Application Deadline:
April 30
Eligibility Requirements:

Current J.D. student

Enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school

In good standing

21 years old

Legal resident of U.S.

Admiralty and Maritime Law Committee Law Student Writing Competition

The goal of the Competition is to encourage scholarship and to assist law students interested in careers in admiralty and maritime law by providing a platform to showcase their work and develop their professional networks through the Admiralty & Maritime Law Committee (“AMLC”) and TIPS of the ABA.

More
Sponsoring Organization:

American Bar Association (ABA) Tort Trial and Insurance Practice (TIPS) Section

Award Maximum:
$1,000
Application Deadline:
April 30
Eligibility Requirements:

Current J.D. student or LL.M. candidate

ABA-accredited school

21 or older

U.S. Citizen

Annual AUWCL National Health Law Writing Competition

This competition is designed to encourage law students to write scholarly papers on current topics of interest relevant to health law and/or food and drug law.

More
Sponsoring Organization:

American University Washington College of Law Health Law and Policy Program

Award Maximum:
$1,500
Application Deadline:
May 5
Eligibility Requirements:

Current 2L, 3L, and 4L J.D. and LL.M. students

Full or part-time

Enrolled in U.S. law school

Litigation Section Writing Award

This annual law student scholarship program focuses on recognizing outstanding writing on a litigation-related topic. The program is intended to encourage students to pursue a career in litigation and to become active in the Ohio Bar. 

More
Sponsoring Organization:

Ohio Bar

Award Maximum:
$2,500
Application Deadline:
January 26
Eligibility Requirements:

Enrolled in an Ohio accredited law school.

A student member of the Ohio State Bar Association (membership is free).

May not be offered this year - verify status with the scholarship provider

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