The Association of American Law Schools has announced the launch of a nationwide 2026 Student Writing Competition on Professional Independence and the Legal Profession. The competition challenges law students to write an academic paper focused on current issues related to professional independence in the legal profession.

Paper topics may address a range of issues raised by recent executive orders and other actions by members of the Executive Branch affecting lawyers and the judiciary, including: the impacts of executive orders and other government actions on lawyer representation, law firms, and legal clinics, including concerns about anticipatory self‑censorship; the legality and effects of government–firm agreements entered into by law firms that settled with the government; the reported increase in intimidation, disinformation, and threats directed at the judiciary; conflicts arising from compliance with executive orders, including questions about a law firm leader’s fiduciary duties to sustain the firm’s practice while upholding professional obligations such as pro bono service, advocacy for the rule of law, and prioritizing client interests over government favor.

Entries are due by August 1, 2026 and can be submitted to writingcompetition@aals.org. A selection committee of judges, attorneys, and legal profession leaders will review submissions. The selected paper will receive a $3,000 cash prize , and the Journal of Legal Education has agreed to review the student paper for publication consideration. In addition to conformity with the subject matter of the competition, submissions will be reviewed for their thoroughness and depth of analysis, the quality of the thesis and argument, their originality and writing style, and the form and quality of citations. Find more details about the competition and its requirements on the AALS Website.