Church, State & Society Writing Competition

Open to law students in good standing at ABA-accredited U.S. law schools in JD, LLM, or doctoral law programs, plus recent graduates not yet practicing law (e.g., clerks). Co-authored papers are not accepted. Papers must address intersections of church, state, and society.

First place receives $3,000; second place $2,000; third place $1,000; honorable mentions $500. Papers must be 9,000 to 13,000 words including footnotes.

Submissions are emailed as PDFs to Alicia Cummins (acummin2@nd.edu) by April 30 each year, with separate cover letter and resume. The 2026 deadline was April 30, 2026.

Notre Dame Law School's Program on Church, State & Society sponsors this competition to encourage scholarship on how law structures the relationship between religious and civic institutions.