2027 Writing Competition
27th Annual
National NALSA
Writing Competition
The goal of the National NALSA Writing Competition is to encourage law students to become involved with National NALSA and increase awareness and education regarding legal issues that impact Native Nations, Tribal organizations, and Indigenous communities and people.
This year, the Competition will be hosted by the Michigan Law Review Online!
Michigan Law Review Online is the online-exclusive counterpart of the Michigan Law Review, one of the oldest and most prestigious legal scholarship journals in the country. MLR Online places emphasis on timely legal scholarship and, in accord with that goal, has an expedited production process compared to most other journals.
Submissions are now being accepted! The gist? Here you go:
4,000–8,000 words (Yes—you read that right. A much shorter writing requirement than traditional law review Notes and Articles; after all, our goal is to make legal scholarship ACCESSIBLE!);
Deadline: March 19, 2027; and
One of the best law journals in the country.
All of the rest of the nitty gritty details can be found at the link below for the 2027 NNALSA Writing Competition Rules.
This year, Manuel Lewis (Gila River Indian Community, first descendant) is serving as the Writing Competition Administrator. He is an Executive Online Editor of the Michigan Law Review and can be contacted at writingcompetition@nationalnalsa.org if you have any questions!
SECTION 14 – HOST SCHOOL BIDDING PROCESS
RULE 14.1 – Solicitation of Host School Bids
The Executive Board shall solicit bids from prospective host schools during each academic year. The Board will send written invitations to all active Chapters by February 1, and create an official list of bids by April 1. In the event no school submits a bid, the Executive Board may solicit bids during the Annual NNALSA Meeting and thereafter.
RULE 14.2 – Prior Screening by NNALSA
After receiving bid packages from prospective host schools, the NNALSA Secretary shall confirm that the bidding NALSA chapters are in good standing before publishing such bid packages.
RULE 14.3 – Publication of Host School Bids
The Executive Board shall publish a notice of each bid from prospective host schools to the NNALSA email listserv and post each bid to the NNALSA website. Bidding chapters are encouraged but not required to attend the Annual NNALSA Meeting to present their bids to the general membership.
RULE 14.4 – Content of Bid Packages
NALSA chapters are strongly encouraged to compile professional bid packages that are accessible via the NNALSA website. Bidding NALSA chapters shall also have an opportunity to present their bid to the NNALSA general membership during the Annual NNALSA Meeting. Bid packages shall include: letters in support of the bid from the NALSA chapter's law school administration, Indian Law program (where applicable), and the law journal that will be publishing the winning submission(s). Bid packages may also include: prize pledges and any other information that may be relevant to running a successful Competition.