The National Sports Law Institute of Marquette University Law School announces the 2012 National Sports Law Student Writing Competition. The goal of this annual competition is to encourage law student scholarship on current topics in sports law. The winner of the competition will receive complimentary registration for the National Sports Law Institute's annual fall conference on Friday, October 19, 2012, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and an offer to publish their article in the fall 2012 issue of the Marquette Sports Law Review.

ELIGIBILITY: Any law student in good standing who is currently attending an accredited law school within the United States and its territories may enter the competition. All submissions must be original and unpublished student work that has been produced after January 1, 2012. This could include a paper written for a law school course or unpublished student comments written as a membership requirement for a law journal or review. Submissions to this competition cannot be submitted to any other competition (this includes any past competitions as well), and cannot be submitted for publication consideration to any publication until the review process is complete for this competition.

DEADLINE: Entries must be received by Friday, May 18, 2012.  More information:  https://law.marquette.edu/national-sports-law-institute/2012-national-sports-law-student-writing-competition.

The Pennsylvania Bar Association Intellectual Property Law Section announces its annual writing competition.  The competition was established to provide an opportunity for law students to express in writing their insight and knowledge in the areas of patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade screts or trade dress.  The first and second place winners will receive $2,500 and $1,500, respectively and will be published on the Section page of the PBA website.  Entries must be received by Monday, April 16, 2012.  Additional information.

Notre Dame Law School Smith-Doheny Legal Ethics Writing Competition calls for papers concerning any issue within the general category of legal ethics.  Submissions will be judged by a panel of faculty, and a prize of $2,500 will be awarded for one winning entry.  Entires must be received before 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 27, 2012.  Additional information.

The New York State Bar Association Committee on Animals and the Law announces the Fifth Annual Student Writing Competition.  Law students are invited to submit an article concerning any area of animal law.  The winner will be chosen according to the competition rules, and the first and second place winner will receive a certificate of achievement and $1,000 and $500, respectively.  Additional information.  Submissions are due by Friday, June 29, 2012.

Seventh Annual Constitutional Environmental Law Student Writing Competition (2011-2012) Co-sponsored by The Environmental Law Institute, The American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, The National Association of Environmental Law Societies

The U.S. Constitution has long been interpreted by the courts and understood by most Americans to support comprehensive environmental protections. However, arguments questioning the constitutional legitimacy of environmental law have continued to gain traction in the federal courts. In response to this trend, ELI, ABA SEER’s Constitutional Law Committee, and NAELS invite law students to submit papers exploring current issues of constitutional environmental law.

Award: $2000 cash prize, an offer of publication in the Environmental Law Reporter, and a one-year individual membership to ELI.

Topic: Any topic addressing recent developments or trends in U.S. environmental law that have a significant constitutional or “federalism” component. (See sample topics at http://www.eli.org/writing_contest.cfm.)

Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in law school (in the U.S. or abroad) are eligible, including students who will graduate in the spring or summer of 2012. Any relevant article, case comment, note, or essay may be submitted, including writing submitted for academic credit. Jointly authored pieces are eligible only if all authors are students and consent to submit. Previously published pieces, or pieces that are already slated for publication, are ineligible.

Deadline: Entries must be received no later than 5:00 PM ET on Friday, April 13, 2012. Email entries (and any questions) to Cory Connolly at connolly@eli.org. You will receive a confirmation by email.

Website:  http://www.eli.org/writing_contest.cfm.

Fourteenth Annual EspteinBeckerGreen Health Law Writing Competition

Epstein Becker & Green, P.C., a national firm engaged in the practice of health care and life sciences law, is pleased to announce its Fourteenth Annual Health Law Writing Competition.  The competition is designed to encourage the preparation of scholarly papers on current topics of interest relating to health law.  Cash prizes will be awarded for the three best papers (1st place: $4,000; 2nd place: $2,000; 3rd place: $500).  Entries will also be considered for publication in the Annals of Health Law, which is published by the Loyola University Chicago School of Law.  Additional information and an official entry form can be found at http://www.ebglaw.com/healthlawwriting.  Entries are due by Tuesday, January 31, 2012.

Elliot A. Spoon Business Law Writing Competition

The Michigan State University College of Law Journal of Business & Securities Law is now accepting submissions for the Elliot A. Spoon Business Law Writing Competition.  Submit a journal style article on any current topic concerning business or securities law.  Current students may submit an electronic copy of their article (Word or Rich Text Format), a brief abstract about the article, and curriculum vitae with complete contact information.  Submissions must be sent to jbsl@law.msu.edu by Friday, March 2, 2012.  The author of the winning article will receive $500, and the article will be published in the MSU College of Law Journal of Business & Securities Law.  (Prize is contingent upon receipt of a signed publication contract.)  The winner will be notified by March 23, 2012. 

The Center for Human Rights at Trinity Law School is holding a writing competition. Papers must address the subject of "A Christian's Response to Human Rights."

Papers may consider addressing issues of the source of Human Rights, the nature of Human Rights, why it matters if Human Rights have a religious or secular basis, how Human Rights are (or should be) protected and enforced, religion's role in protecting Human Rights, etc. Scholars are not bound by these suggestions and are encouraged to thoroughly address the topic in a manner that best addresses the pertinent issues.

Submissions must be original, unpublished academic works by one author. Students can only submit one paper. Multiple submissions will result in disqualification. Cash prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place papers, as well as expedited consideration for publication in a symposium journal to be published by the Trinity Law Review.
Submissions are due on or before Sunday, April 15, 2012. No papers will be accepted after that date.  Winners will be announced by May 30, 2012, via e-mail.  For more detailed information and requirements, please visit http://www.tls.edu/writing-competition.

The American College of Employee Benefits Counsel is pleased to announce the Eighth Annual Employee Benefit Writing Competition. Submissions may pertain to any topic in the field of employee benefits law.  Two $1,500 prizes will be awarded to the top articles.  Articles must be submitted by Friday, June 1, 2012.  Additional information and rules.