The Warren E. Burger Prize

Purpose

The Warren E. Burger Prize is a writing competition designed to encourage outstanding scholarship that "promotes the ideals of excellence, civility, ethics and professionalism within the legal profession," the core mission of the American Inns of Court.

Overview

The American Inns of Court invites judges, lawyers, professors, students, scholars, and other authors to participate in the competition. Please submit an original, unpublished essay of 10,000 to 25,000 words on a topic of your choice addressing issues of legal excellence, civility, ethics and professionalism.

Judges

• Professor Stephen Gillers, Chair, Elihu Root Professor of Law at the New York University School of Law
• Professor Geoffrey C. Hazard, Jr., Emeritus Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School
• Professor Nancy J. Moore, Nancy Barton Scholar and Professor of Law at the Boston University School of Law
• Dean Robert M. Wilcox, Dean and Professor of Law at the University of South Carolina School of Law

Prize

• The author of the winning essay will receive a cash prize of $5,000
• The essay will be published in the South Carolina Law Review
• The prize will be presented to the recipient at the American Inns of Court annual Celebration of Excellence at the Supreme Court of the United States 

Procedures

• Review and follow the Warren E. Burger Prize Rules
• Complete the Warren E. Burger Cover Page before submitting your essay
• Send a completed cover page with the required materials no later than July 15
• Submissions should be addressed Cindy Dennis, American Inns of Court, 1229 King Street, Second Floor, Alexandria, VA 22314
• For additional information, contact Cindy Dennis at (571) 319-4703, or e-mail Cindy

The winning essay will be selected by September 15.