Writing Competitions

• Asian Pacific American Bar Association Education Fund’s 2025-2026 Robert T. Matsui Writing Competition

  For unpublished entries from J.D. or LL.M. students discussing legal topics of importance to the Asian-Pacific American community, particularly on subject areas that have been underrepresented/under published in American legal scholarship. (Deadline March 29, 2026; award of $2,000 and publication by the UCLA Asian Pacific American Law Journal.)

• The University of Wisconsin-Madison Havens Wright Center for Social Justice’s Erik Olin Wright Prize

  For papers written by graduate or professional students from any of the social sciences, history, philosophy, or any professional discipline. Student submissions must be accompanied by a nominating letter from a faculty member familiar with the student’s work. (Deadline April 15, 2026; award of $1,000.)

• The American College of Employee Benefits Counsel’s Employee Benefits Writing Competition Awards

  For papers on any topic in the field of employee benefits law. (Deadline June 1, 2026; up to two winning papers may receive awards of $2,500, as well as publication on the College’s website and in a suitable Wolters Klewer journal.)

• The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers 2026 Annual Law Student Writing Competition

  For original papers on topics which can be written about through the legal lens with a balanced full spectrum legal analysis and that are nationally relevant, engaging, and useful to labor and employment lawyers in their practice. (Deadline June 15, 2026; first, second, and third-place awards of $3,000, $1,000, and $500 respectively. LLM students are not eligible.)

• American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law Writing Competition 2026

  For original papers written by a single author addressing topics of interest to the construction industry. Faculty may also submit students’ work directly to the forum. (Deadline June 30, 2026; award of $1,000 travel expenses to attend the fall 2026 fall meeting of the Forum in Boston.)

• American Inns of Court 2026 Warren E. Burger Prize

  For unpublished essays on a topic of your choice addressing issues of professionalism, ethics, civility, and excellence. (Deadline July 1, 2026; cash prize awarded to winning author.)

Collections of Writing Competitions

• American Bar Association

  Writing Competitions for Young Lawyers and Law Students

• AccessLex Institute

  Law School Scholarship Databank: Writing Competitions

• Suffolk University Law School

  iCompete Writing: A Compilation of Legal Writing Competitions

• Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law

  A Guide to Legal Writing Competitions for Law Students