Writing Competitions

Earn money, possible publication, and glory for your writing. 

Writing contests and the months in which their deadlines fall are as follows. Contact Dr. Tarenko for further information about the contests.

If you win a contest, please contact Dr. Tarenko so you can be recognized appropriately by the law school and your fellow students.

November 2022 Deadlines

Brooks Kushman Patent Claims Drafting Competition, on an announced (11:00 a.m. Nov. 19) hypothetical invention, with a prize of $2000, with deadlines of 5:00 p.m. Nov. 16 for resume and intent to compete, and with 4.5 hours after announced invention to submit claim set by 3:30 p.m. Nov. 19.

December 2022 Deadlines

State Bar of Texas Insurance Law Writing Competition, on the student's choice of insurance-law related topic, with prizes of $4000, $2000, and $1000, and a deadline of Dec. 16, 2022; for details, see https://www.insurancelawsection.org/about/law-student-writing-competition/. 

January 2023 Deadline

Brooks Kushman Intellectual Property Writing Competition, on any aspect of trademark or patent law, with a $5000 prize, and an 11:00 p.m. deadline for paper and resume.

April 2023 Deadline

2022-2023 Hogan/Smoger Access to Justice Essay competition, on the topic of ensuring access to the right to vote, with a prize of $5000, and an email deadline of Fri., Apr. 29, 2023; for details, see citizen.org/article/2022-2023-law-essay-writing-competition.

Ongoing Publishing Opportunities

Texas Entertainment and Sports Law Journal is willing to publish articles by law students, as well as soliciting help in proofreading articles and writing sections of the journal, such as an overview of recent cases in the field. See the website https://teslaw.org/publications/journals/.

National Law Review Monthly Student Writing Competition, on topics of cybersecurity issues, immigration rights, tax issues, constitutional issues such as First Amendment or gun control, or employment issues (Ban the Box laws, minimum wage, transgender accommodations, or age/sex discrimination), with a prize of online publication, and a deadline of 5:00 p.m. CST by the last day of the month. See the website http://www.natlawreview.com/NLR-law-student-writing-competition.