SUBMISSION DEADLINE: June 30, 2026
The MIRACLE Competition (Mental Illness Rights and Court Litigant Empowerment) is a law student innovation contest organized by MH Mediate to address mental illness discrimination in family courts and court-connected dispute resolution processes. The initiative aims to inspire law students to develop practical innovations that promote fairness, reduce stigma, and improve how courts handle mental health issues affecting litigants.
Students are invited to submit a 1,000-word proposal outlining a practical idea that empowers litigants facing stigma, bias, or unequal treatment due to known or perceived mental health conditions. The competition encourages students to identify problems such as privacy invasions, discriminatory treatment, or barriers to reasonable accommodations that people with mental health conditions may encounter in court systems.
Each submission must include three sections: a description of the problem being addressed, a proposed intervention to address it, and the expected impact of the solution. Possible interventions include reporting mechanisms, educational initiatives for court professionals, preventive tools to reduce bias, programs to address discrimination once it occurs, or support services for affected individuals. The competition encourages feasible, scalable ideas that could realistically be implemented in court systems.
Entries are judged on impact, feasibility, and scalability by MH Mediate with input from experts in dispute resolution, family law, mental health, and disability advocacy. The winning submission receives a $1,000 prize and may earn an additional $1,000 by contributing twenty hours to help implement the idea through MH Mediate’s Mental Health Safe Project.
Click here to read the full outline of the MIRACLE Competition and its rules