Law students are eligible to enter writing competitions sponsored by organizations around the country. Many of these competitions award scholarships or cash prizes to the winning students.
Here are some you may be interested in (in order of deadline):
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The Paper Chase Legal Writing Competition
Respond to a challenging real-world problem adapted from actual case files, with a closed-universe packet of authorities. The prompt will be released on Monday, November 2, 2026. (First, second, and third place awards of $5,000, $1,500, and $500 respectively; deadline November 9, 2026.)
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Law & Economics Center at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School’s Law Student Writing Competition on Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations, and the American Constitutional Order
For papers on the continued relevance and modern insights of Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations on debates in law and policy today, with a particular focus on Adam Smith’s impact on the founders’ enduring constitutional design. (First, second, and third prizes of $7,500; $5,000; and $2,500 respectively; deadline January 18, 2027.)
Collections of Writing Competitions
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American Bar Association
Writing Competitions for Young Lawyers and Law Students
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AccessLex Institute
Law School Scholarship Databank: Writing Competitions
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Suffolk University Law School
iCompete Writing: A Compilation of Legal Writing Competitions
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Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
A Guide to Legal Writing Competitions for Law Students