Writing Competitions

The Law Student Writing Contest of the Standing Committee on Armed Forces Law (the “Writing Contest”) 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. It is also intended to advance interest and attract students to laws, regulations, and practices in the Armed Forces and the court-martial system, along with the protection of the legal rights and constitutional guarantees of personnel in the Armed Forces.

The deadline for submission is December 1, 2026. More information can be found here.

The ACREL Law Student Writing Award is given annually by the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL) to the law school student author(s) of an article relating to real property that is published, or accepted for publication, in a scholarly journal sponsored by a law school in the United States. The award recognizes and encourages thoughtful student scholarship and excellent writing in the area of real property law or related topics.

The deadline for submission is December 31, 2026. More information can be found here.

The Virginia Law Review is hosting an essay competition open to J.D. students nation-wide centered on “Lived Experience and the Law.” Through focusing on the concrete influence the law has on individuals, communities, and identities, we hope to highlight previously overlooked experiences through student scholarship. The winning student will receive a $2000 cash prize and a $5000 grant to put towards an organization or project that intersects with their article topic. Their article will also be published in Virginia Law Review Online.

The deadline for submission is January 7, 2027. More information can be found here.

The Law & Economics Center (LEC) at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School in Arlington, Virginia invites law students from across the country to submit an original, law review-style paper for a nationwide Writing Competition on: The Continued Relevance and Modern Insights of Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations on Debates in Law and Policy Today—On the Occasion of Its 250th Anniversary, with a Particular Focus on Adam Smith’s Impact on the Founders’ Enduring Constitutional Design.

The deadline for submission is January 18, 2027. More information can be found here.

The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers is pleased to announce their 2026-2027 writing competition. This competition is open to articles written while the author is an active student at an accredited law school in the United States. Authors may not have graduated from law school prior to December 1, 2026. Graduate students in law school (LLM candidates) are not eligible.

The deadline for submission is June 15, 2027. More information can be found here.