The Order of the Coif presents one or more awards to the author or authors of outstanding publications that evidence creative talent of the highest order. As a U.S. organization, the Order of the Coif recognizes outstanding scholarship by authors resident in the United States when the book was written or published. We welcome nominations of lively and creative books for the 2025 award, published in 2024, that have advanced a field, illuminated new areas of thought and research, and/or explored the many hard questions that law raises.

Interdisciplinary submissions are eligible and the Book Award Committee may consider any eligible book, whether those titles were proposed through nominations or because they have come to the Committee’s attention through other routes. Books such as compilations, conference proceedings, casebooks, encyclopedia, or handbooks are not eligible for the award.

The Order of the Coif Book Award was established in 1961 as a triennial award. The first award covered the publication period 1961-1963 and was presented in January 1964. In 2004 the Executive Committee voted to change the award to a Biennial award, and as of 2020, it is an annual award. The winner of the Book Award receives a $10,000 prize.

Submit a nomination for the 2025 Book Award