Scholarship Amount: Up to $4,000
Application Deadline: January 30, 2026
Overview:
The First Amendment Scholars Law Student Essay Competition is hosted by the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) and invites law students to explore constitutional law issues related to civil liberties. FFRF is awarding more than $9,000 in total prizes for the top essays submitted, along with an opportunity for publication. Honorable mention awards may also be granted at the judges’ discretion.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must be a current law student attending a North American law school
- Students graduating in spring or summer 2026 remain eligible
- Students beginning law school for the first time in fall 2026 are not eligible
- Prior recipients of an FFRF law student essay award may not re-enter
Application Requirements:
- Essay responding to the topic: Analyze how the principle of “parental rights” has changed
- Maximum essay length of 1,500 words
- Submission must comply with all contest rules and guidelines outlined by FFRF
Prize Information:
- 1st Place: $4,000
- 2nd Place: $3,000
- 3rd Place: $2,000
- $500 honorable mention awards may be given at the judges’ discretion
For more information, visit the website at: https://ffrf.org/studentessay