LibGuides: Law Student Writing Contests: Home & ABA Competitions

Why a Writing Contest?

Listed below, are some law student writing contests that students can get involved in over the course of their 3 to 4 years at Capital. There are a wide variety of topics (e.g., family law, criminal justice, employment law, etc.). In particular, these contests may be of interest to those students who write papers for seminars and/or join law review. In that way, it is not added work to an already busy schedule. For any student, the contests may be a way to incentivize learning about a topic they are interested in plus practice their writing skills. Additionally, many of the competitions have large money prizes (e.g., $5,000). Make sure to routinely check the list, as it is routinely updated.

ABA Writing Competitions for Young Lawyers & Law Students

Antitrust Law
The goal of the Robert Pitofsky Law Student Writing Competition is to encourage and reward law student writings on antitrust law and competition law subjects of general and current interest. As part of this effort, the ABA will sponsor the Competition which invites editors of law school publications to submit to the ABA Antitrust Law Section published articles on a current topic dealing with antitrust law and consumer protection law. The Competition is designed to attract students to the antitrust law and consumer protection law field and to strongly encourage scholarship in these areas.
Antitrust Law
Second and third year law students are invited to submit original articles on a relevant and timely consumer protection topics. A diverse panel of judges will evaluate the submissions and select three winners. Each winner will receive a monetary award in varying amounts based on placement. The first place recipient will also have their article published and receive complementary registration, flight and hotel accommodations for the Antitrust Law Section’s annual Spring Meeting.
Armed Forces Law
The Law Student Writing Contest of the Standing Committee on Armed Forces Law (SCAFL) is a competitive writing contest with the goal of recognizing law students who have exceptional written work that focuses on the military’s application of criminal law—also known as military justice.
Construction Law
The competition is open to law students in good-standing who were enrolled in an ABA accredited law school any time during calendar years 2021 and 2022. Papers should address a topical issue of interest to the construction industry. Papers prepared for law school credit are eligible for entry in the competition. Articles prepared for law review, or publication elsewhere, are eligible for the competition as well. Joint papers are not acceptable. Law professors may submit their students’ submission directly to The Forum for consideration.
Criminal Justice
This Competition is sponsored by Criminal Justice (“Section”) of the American Bar Association (“ABA”), (the “Sponsor”). The goal of the Competition is to encourage law students to become involved in the Section. It is also intended to attract students to the Criminal Justice practice field, and to encourage scholarship in this field. Each entrant must follow the rules of the competition detailed herein.
Environment Energy & Resources
SEER sponsors up to eight law student writing competitions each year. Topics vary.
Family Law
The purpose of the Howard C. Schwab Memorial Essay 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.
Real Property Trust & Estate Law
The goal of the Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law student writing contest is to encourage and reward law student writing on the subjects of real property or trust and estate law. It is designed to attract students to these law specialties, and to encourage scholarship and interest in these areas.
Standing Committee on Armed Forces Law
The Law Student Writing Contest of the Standing Committee on Armed Forces Law (SCAFL) is a competitive writing contest with the goal of recognizing law students who have exceptional written work that focuses on the military’s application of criminal law—also known as military justice.
Standing Committee on Lawyers & Professional Responsibility
Essay contest for law students and young lawyers encouraging scholarship and innovative research and writing in the area of legal malpractice law, professional liability insurance, and loss prevention.