Student Writing Competitions
Sort competitions by Deadline Date (earliest or latest) or Title or Added/Updated Date
Family Law Writing Competition
Deadline: Friday, 3/16/2012
Award: 500; Honorable Mention (up to two) $250
Website: www.hofstra.edu/pdf/law_fcr_writing_competition.pdf
SPONSOR: Hofstra Law School and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.
TOPIC: The subject of entries may be within any area of family law, although topics which focus on international or interdisciplinary subjects of family law are especially encouraged. Articles should concentrate on a current legal issue and must have a strong foundation in legal research. Use of interdisciplinary sources may also be appropriate for many topics.
Some potential topics include: International Adoption, Use of Mental Health Experts in Divorce, Domestic Violence in Same-Sex Partnerships, Third Party Visitation Rights, Mediating in Child Protective Cases, or create your own.
FORMAT: (1) Entries cannot be more than 25 double spaced pages in length; (2) Must be in Times New Roman 12-point font with one inch margins; (3) Must comply with Harvard's The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, 19th ed.; (3) Submissions must be the work of one person and must be originally argued and researched legal papers.
ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION ONLY: Entries must be submitted as an e-mail attachment in electronic format as a Microsoft Word or PDF document. E-mail to: The Family Court Review at fcr@hofstra.edu.
QUESTIONS: Please contact the Managing Editor of the Family Court Review at fcr@hofstra.edu.
Competition #17 (Added/Updated: Friday, 12/2/2011)
Chief Justice John B. Doolin Writing Competition
Deadline: Saturday, 3/31/2012
Award: First Prize $500; Second Prize $300; Third Prize $200
SPONSOR: The Supreme Court of Oklahoma and the Sovereignty Symposium, Inc. John B. Doolin was appointed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court in 1972, and he served as Chief Justice from 1987-1988. He loved to read and write, collect Indian art, and buy Navajo rugs. He recognized the need for a forum to address Native American issues as a result of his service on the Indian Affairs Committee at the National Chief Justices' Conference. He authorized the formation of the Sovereignty Symposium in 1988.
TOPIC: Native American Issues.
FORMAT: (1) Entries must not be less than thirty {3o} single-spaced pages nor more than fifty {50} single-spaced pages in length; (2) Must be on 8 1/2" x 11" white paper; (3) The title of the paper, the name of the author and a current mailing address and telephone number must be placed on a cover page. Only the title of the paper should appear at the top of the first page of the text. The author's name should appear on the cover page only; (4) Papers must be submitted in Word or Word Perfect format using a 12-point font in Times New Roman format, with 2" right and left margins and top and bottom margins at 1.5".
SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY TO: kyle.shifflet@oscn.net
OR MAIL TO:
The Sovereignty Symposium
Oklahoma Judicial Center, Suite 1
2100 North Lincoln Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
For more information, contact Julie Rorie at (405) 556-9371, or e-mail julie.rorie@oscn.net
Competition #20 (Added/Updated: Thursday, 1/12/2012)
Hogan/Smoger Access to Justice Essay Contest
Deadline: Saturday, 3/31/2012
Award: First Prize Only - $5,000 (cash)
Website: www.publicjustice.net
Public Justice Foundation. The Public Justice Foundation is a non-profit membership organization of over 3,000 attorneys, law students and others supporting the national public interest law firm Public Justice, P.C.
TOPIC: "Are Factory Farms Hog-Tying People's Rights?"
ENROLLMENT INFORMATION:
Entry into the writing contest must be submitted through a faculty advisor.
All entrants must fill out and submit an "intent-to-enter" form by January 31, 2012 (download the form from website noted above).
RULES:
Students must submit an abstract (limited to 100 words) describing the paper.
The abstract must include name, address, law school and phone number.
The author's name and law school must NOT appear anywhere in the essay other than on the cover page and abstract.
SUBMISSION:
Applicants must submit both HARD COPY and ELECTRONIC COPY of the Essay AND Abstract.
A hard copy (typed) and a computer disc containing the essay and the abstract in Microsoft Word or WordPerfect format should be mailed to the Public Justice Foundation at: Hogan/Smoger Access to Justice Essay Contest, Public Justice Foundation, Attention: Cassandra Goings, 1825 K Street, NW, Suite 200, Washington, D.C. 20006.
The pages of the hard copy must be firmly fastened together with a cover page which must contain the following information:
Title of essay
Author's name; author's year in law school and expected graduation date
Law school name and address
Date submitted for academic credit (if so submitted)
Author's permanent and school addresses and phone numbers (must indicate effective dates for all addresses)
Sponsoring faculty member name and phone number.
LENGTH: Essays must not exceed 50 pages of 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper, double-spaced, excluding footnotes.
AUTHORSHIP: Essays must have only one author. Joint essays will not be accepted.
QUESTIONS:
Cassandra Goings
Telephone: 202.797.8600
E-mail: cgoings@publicjustice.net Please indicate "Access to Justice Essay Contest" in the Subject line if contacting via e-mail.
Competition #12 (Added/Updated: Tuesday, 11/22/2011)
ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources Writing Competition
Deadline: Friday, 4/13/2012
Award: $2,000 cash prize and publication
Website: www.eli.org
SPONSORS: The Environmental Law Institute, The American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, and the National Association of Environmental Law Societies.
TOPIC: Any topic addressing recent developments or trends in U.S. environmental law that have a significant constitutional or "federalism" component.
FORMAT: (1) Submissions may be any length up to a maximum of 50 pages (including footnotes); (2) Text should be typed double-spaced in 12-point font (10-point font for footnotes); (3) Must comply with Harvard's The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, 18th ed.; (4) Each entry must have a separate cover sheet that includes the following information: (a) title; (b) author's name [the author's name and law school must NOT appear anywhere in the essay, other than on this cover page]; (c) year in law school and expected graduation date; (d) author's permanent and school mailing address, e-mail address, and phone number; (e) abstract [limited to 100 words] describing the piece; (f) certification that the article has not been published and is not slated for future publication; and (g) statement as to where the author learned about this competition.
SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY: Entries must be submitted electronically to Cory Connolly at: connolly@eli.org
QUESTIONS: E-mail questions to Cory Connolly at: connolly@eli.org
Competition #5 (Added/Updated: Wednesday, 9/14/2011)
Smith-Doheny Legal Ethics Writing Competition
Deadline: Friday, 4/27/2012
Award: Winner to receive $2,500
Website: www.nd.edu/~ndlaw/writing_competitions/smith_doheny.pdf
SPONSOR: Notre Dame Law School.
TOPIC: Legal ethics.
FORMAT: (1) Entries must not exceed 50 pages, including notes; (2) Entries must be submitted on 8.5 x 11 inch paper, double-spaced, using a standard font; (3) Entries must be original and previously unpublished; (4) Entries must include a cover letter with contact information and name of current law school.
SUBMIT TO:
Smith-Doheny Legal Ethics Writing Competition
Notre Dame Law School
P.O. Box 780
Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
Contact Information:
Telephone: (574) 631.6749
Fax: (574) 631.3980
E-Mail: sumption.1@nd.edu
Competition #22 (Added/Updated: Thursday, 2/2/2012)
College Labor & Employment Lawyers Writing Competition
Deadline: Tuesday, 5/15/2012
Award: 1st Place: $1,500; 2nd Place: $1,000; 3rd Place: $500
Website: www.laborandemploymentcollege.org
TOPIC: Entries may address any aspect of public or private sector labor and/or employment law relevant to the American labor and employment bar. Students are encouraged to discuss (a) a public policy issue, (b) practical implications of a leading case or doctrine, (c) a statute or the need for a statutory modification, or (d) a common law doctrine.
ELIGIBILITY: All currently enrolled law students attending accredited law schools in the United States. Articles must be original from the applicant. Student's article must not presently be under consideration for any other publication or written as part of paid employment.
FORMAT: (1) Typewritten in Microsoft Word using Times New Roman 12-point font, (2) Double-spaced on 8 1/2" x 11" paper with 1" margins; (3) May not exceed 20 pages in length; (4) Citations are to conform to The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, 19th Edition; (5) Include a title page with your entry stating your name, e-mail and mailing address, phone number (both school and permanent), name of school and year of graduation; (6) Submit the manuscript and cover page as a single attachment in both Microsoft Word and PDF documents.
SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY TO: swan@laborandemploymentcollege.org using the subject line "Writing Competition."
Competition #18 (Added/Updated: Friday, 12/2/2011)
The International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) 2012 Legal Writing Contest
Deadline: Friday, 5/18/2012
Award: First Prize - $2,000; Second Prize - $1,000; Third Prize - $500
Website: www.iadclaw.org/publications/contest.aspx
SPONSOR: The International Association of Defense Counsel. The IADC is a professional association that has been serving an invitation-only membership of international corporate and insurance civil defense lawyers since 1920.
TOPIC: Subject of practical concern to lawyers engaged in the defense or management of the defense of civil litigation, such as relevant aspects of tort law, insurance law, civil procedure, evidence, damages, alternative dispute resolution procedures, and professional ethics.
FORMAT: (1) Must be written in the English language with a suggested word limit of 12,000 words, including footnotes; (2) Must use Microsoft Word format; (3) Must use The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, 19th Edition for style; and (4) Must complete an entry form (see website) to submit with paper.
SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY TO: Mary Dannevik at - mdannevik@iadclaw.org
Competition #19 (Added/Updated: Thursday, 1/12/2012)
American Inns of Court Warren E. Burger Prize Writing Competition
Deadline: Friday, 6/1/2012
Award: 1st Prize $5,000; and publication in the South Carolina Law Review
Website: www.innsofcourt.org/burgerprize
SPONSOR: American Inns of Court. Chief Justice Burger was a lifelong advocate of legal ethics and civility and a “founding father” of the American Inns of Court movement. The American Inns of Court is a national association of judges, lawyers and professors of law and their students who endeavor to maintain the highest standards of the legal profession.
TOPIC: Authors should address one or more aspects of excellence in legal skills, civility, ethics or professionalism within the legal profession. The selected issue(s) should be of contemporary significance with clear relevance to the legal community at large.
FORMAT: (1) Entries should be on 8 1/2 x 11 white paper, double-spaced, 1" margins; (2) Use footnotes, not endnotes; (3) The body and footnotes will be of the same font - Times New Roman (or equivalent), 12-point font; (4) Only the first page of the paper will contain the name of the article. It shall be in bold face, centered in the first line of the paper; (5) The author's name or other identifying marks or references must not appear anywhere in the body of the paper; (6) Guidelines for the body of text should generally conform to any good style guide, such as The Chicago Manual of Style; (8) Footnotes and citations should conform to The Bluebook - A Uniform System of Citation.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: (1) Submissions must be original and unpublished works of 10,000 - 25,000 words, including footnotes; (2) Collaborative submissions are allowed; (3) A submission must include a completed cover page (download from website), one original copy of the paper, and 3.5" diskette or CD containing both the cover page information and paper in Microsoft Word or Corel Word Perfect format for PC; (4) Submissions shall not be stapled or bound. A single binder clip should secure the cover page and the article.
SEND SUBMISSIONS TO:
Cindy Dennis
Awards and Scholarships Coordinator
American Inns of Court
1229 King Street, 2nd Floor
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
DIRECT QUESTIONS TO:
Cindy Dennis
(800) 233.3590, ext. 104
E-Mail: cdennis@innsofcourt.org
Competition #21 (Added/Updated: Monday, 1/23/2012)
The University of Connecticut School of Law Student Legal Writing Competition
Deadline: Friday, 6/1/2012
Award: First Prize - $750, Second Prize - $500, Third Prize $250
Website: www.law.uconn.edu/node/9768
SPONSOR: The University of Connecticut School of Law.
TOPIC: Issue(s) affecting persons struggling with homelessness, mental illness, addiction, or substance abuse.
FORMAT: (1) Papers should be a minimum of 15 pages in length and shall not exceed 30 pages, including footnotes; (2) Entries must be typed, double-spaced with 1 inch margins, on 8.5 x 11 inch paper, in 12-point Times New Roman font; (3) All citations and footnotes should conform to 19th edition of The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation and should also be in a 12-point font.
SUBMIT TO: Entries must be submitted in both of the following two formats:
(1) E-mail an electronic version (Microsoft Word or PDF) to: Jennifer.Mailly@law.uconn.edu
(2) Mail four (4) copies (postmarked by June 1) to:
Student Legal Writing Competition
University of Connecticut School of Law
55 Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
Attn: Professor Jennifer Mailly
Competition #23 (Added/Updated: Thursday, 2/2/2012)
The American Judges Association 24th Annual Essay Competition
Deadline: Friday, 6/1/2012
Award: First Prize - $3,000; Second Prize - $1,500; Third Prize - $1,000
Website: aja.ncsc.dni.us
SPONSOR: The American Judges Association, an independent organization for all local, state, provincial, and federal judiciary.
TOPIC: "Is it Constitutional for a Legislative Body to Require a DNA Test for All Persons Arrested and Charged with a Felony?"
FORMAT: (1) Papers should be 10-25 double-spaced pages; (2) Extensive footnoting or end noting is discouraged and is included in the paper's length; (3) Citations, footnotes, and endnotes should be in accord with the current edition of The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation.
SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY TO: aja@ncsc.org
Competition #10 (Added/Updated: Tuesday, 11/22/2011)
11th Annual Environmental Law Essay Contest
Deadline: Saturday, 6/30/2012
Award: First Place - $2,000; Second Place - $1,000; Third Place - $500
Website: www.michbar.org/environmental/essay.cfm
SPONSOR: The State Bar of Michigan Environmental Law Section.
TOPIC: Any environmental law topic of current interest to Michigan practitioners.
FORMAT: (1) Paper must be between eight and twenty typed double-spaced pages in length including footnotes; (2) Entries must by submitted on 8.5 x 11 inch plain white bond paper, along with a disk or e-mail version in MS Word rich text format; (3) Entries must follow the Michigan Uniform System of Citation; (4) Entry must include a cover letter stating your name, mailing address (both school and permanent), telephone number, name of law school, year of graduation, and a statement that the essay was not written as part of paid employment.
SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY TO: Christopher J. Dunsky at cdunsky@comcast.net
or
MAIL TO:
Christopher J. Dunsky
28 McKinley Place
Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236
Phone: (313) 418.0913
Competition #13 (Added/Updated: Tuesday, 11/22/2011)
The 2012 Tannenwald Writing Competition
Deadline: Tuesday, 7/3/2012
Award: 1st Place: $5,000; 2nd Place: $2,500; 3rd Place: $1,500
Website: www.tannenwald.org
SPONSORS: The Theodore Tannenwald, Jr. Foundation for Excellence in Tax Scholarship and The American College of Tax Counsel.
TOPIC: Submitted 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 (including topics relating to tax practice ethical and professional responsibility matters).
ELIGIBILITY: The competition is open to law students, undergraduate (J.D.) or graduate (L.L.M. or S.J.D.), enrolled full or part-time in a U.S. law school during the 2009-2010 academic year; and other students enrolled during such academic year in a U.S. law school tax course as part of an MBA or other non-law degree program.
FORMAT: (1) Papers shall be 25 - 50 typewritten pages in length, double-spaced in Times New Roman or Arial typeface, including footnotes and appendices (both of which may be single-spaced). (2) 12 point font size shall be used for text and appendices; 10 point or 12 point font size may be used for footnotes. (3) All margins shall be at least 1" (4) Same-page footnotes are strongly preferred instead of endnotes. (5) Proper citation forms must be used. (6) Papers should be clipped or stapled; do not hole-punch or place in a binder. (7) Papers may not be co-authored.
SUBMISSION: The original of each paper (but no additional copies), along with the signed faculty sponsor communication, should be mailed to the following address:
The Tannenwald Foundation
1275 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 200
Washington, DC 20004-2415
Attn: Melnie Moore
ADDITIONALLY: Each paper and faculty sponsor communication should be transmitted electronically, in MS Word, to Ms. Moore at: melnie.moore@sutherland.com.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Nancy Abramowitz at 202.274.4164 or nabramo@wcl.american.edu.
Competition #11 (Added/Updated: Tuesday, 11/22/2011)
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