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Writing Competitions for Law Students: International Law

International Law Competitions

Georgetown Law Institute of International Economic Law John D. Greenwald Writing Competition

The annual John D. Greenwald Writing Competition commemorates the life of John D. Greenwald, former Deputy General Counsel at the Office of U.S. Trade Representative and the first Head of Import Administration at the U.S Department of Commerce.  Law students are invited to submit papers on current issues relevant to international trade law, the jurisprudence of the WTO or regional trade organizations, jurisprudence concerning U.S. trade organizations, or on issues relating to the political economy or the efficacy of U.S. or international trade regimes.

Customs and International Trade Bar Association Andrew P. Vance Memorial Wrting Competition

The Customs and International Trade Bar Association (CITBA) and partner law schools sponsor an annual writing competition to encourage law students who are interested in careers in customs and international trade law. The competition honors the memory of Andrew Vance, past president of CITBA and a distinguished practitioner and public servant.

International Law Students International Refugee Law Student Moot Court Competition

The Competition is a simulation of a fictional dispute between countries before the International Court of Justice, the judicial organ of the United Nations.

McGill University Nappert Prize in International Arbitration

The competition is open to law students, junior scholars and junior practitioners from around the world.

UNIDROIT International Institute for the Unification of Private Law

Participants are invited to submit a 2000-3000 word essay (excluding footnotes and references) in English examining the use of the UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts in practice and their role in the development of the law, examining the use of the UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts in contract drafting and dispute settlement as well as their influence on domestic laws and other international instruments, and their possible role in new frontiers of contract law.

International Insolvency Institute (III) Writing Competition

The III Prize is awarded for original legal research, commentary or analysis on topics of international insolvency and restructuring significance and on comparative international analysis of domestic insolvency and restructuring issues and developments. The Prize Competition is open to full and part-time undergraduate and graduate students and to practitioners in practice for five years or less.  Submit by March 15, 2025.

V|Lex International Law and Technology Writing Competition

The vLex International Law and Technology Writing Competition invites students from around the world to submit a 1000-word, blog-style article on one of three topics.

Association of International Energy Negotiators Student Writing Competition

The competition is open to all full-time seniors in a four-year program and all graduate students enrolled at an accredited university. Essays should be an original work at editorial length (no more than 4,000 words, excluding footnotes) on any specific issue of the student's choice which is directly related to international petroleum negotiations, such as matters of contract, law, or policy.  Submit by November 20, 2024.

NYSBA Albert S. Pergam International Law Writing Competition Award

The competition is intended to encourage students of law to write on areas of public or private international law.  Submit by November 8, 2024.

Trandafir International Business Writing Competition

Topic of entry should be on any contemporary international business or economic concern.  Submit by March 14, 2025.