Trusts and Estates Writing Competition
The Trusts and Estates Section is seeking submissions for its first annual Trusts and Estates Writing Competition. First place article will be recognized with (1) a $2,500 cash prize and (2) publication of the article in the Trusts and Estates Quarterly.
Deadline: August 31, 2026 – 11:59 p.m Pacific Time
Who is Eligible to Submit?
Law students enrolled and in good standing at any accredited law school in the United States and lawyers who have been practicing for three years or less. Submissions can be co-authored but all co-authors have to meet the eligibility requirements.
What is the criteria?
The article must be related to legal issues that affect the area of trust and estates law in California. This includes a wide range of topics such as trust administration, probate, estate planning, conservatorships, guardianships, elder law, trust and estates litigation, and estate and gift taxes.
Articles must be between 1,500 to 4,500 words, not including endnotes. Articles should be written in a style suitable for publication in the Trusts and Estates Quarterly and should include citations in the California Style Manual format. The article should also use endnotes, and not footnotes, nor parenthetical citations. AI-generated submissions are not permitted.
Articles must be submitted by email, as a Microsoft Word document in Times New Roman 12-point font, double-spaced.
Judging Process and Awarding
The Executive Committee of the Trusts and Estates Section of the California Lawyers Association will review and judge all the submissions based on numerous factors, including, topic and relevancy to the trust and estate law in California, and quality of writing.
The winner will be contacted by a member of the Executive Committee of the Trusts and Estates Section. The winner will receive a cash price of $2,500 and the winner’s article will be published in the Trusts and Estates Quarterly. The winner will also be recognized publicly on CLA Trusts and Estates Section’s websites, social medial accounts, etc.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the contest, please email TrustsAndEstates@calawyers.org