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The writing competition to get onto Law Review at my school begins immediately after finals end, and lasts for 6 days. However, I might take a job that will completely occupy 2 of those, so I wouldn't be able to get any work done on those days.

Typically, is the time granted for the writing competition usually excessive, or do they give you just enough time to submit a quality piece of work? Would you think that the 8-page submission required for the competition can be completed by working on it nonstop for 2-3 days?

yes, but i'm saying that knowing nothing about your particular situation

I have heard the writing competition is an absolute monster but can be done in less time than given assuming you seriously commit yourself.

Yea, did it last year, and it took way too long. However, if you are diligent, you should be able to get it done in the four days you have.

I'm sure there will be some substantial burnout from month of finals and studying that precedes, but I'd imagine that having finals over with will provide a nice boost and a feeling of relief. And anyway, it will all be the last few steps down the homestretch, so all the more reason to really give it your best. I'd like to think that I won't be working all day every day for a week, but if thats the last hump before I reach the light at the end of the tunnel, then I guess thats what it will be.

I'd also consider raising this point with your potential employer. A delayed start of two or three days should not be a big deal for most employers, especially considering that you need the time for a write-on competition. I'm fairly confident that most legal employers would recognize the importance of a law review write-on competition and empathize with your situation.

My school gives automatically admits the top 10% of the class into law review. Should someone in the top 3-5% after the first semester write on just in case they bomb 2nd semester finals?

^ Yes, if you really want to make you that you get it.

You only get six days? I'm counting my blessings that we get over three weeks after finals, but I'm still beating myself up over scheduling a week-long trip to California as soon as finals end.

I'm sure you'll be fine, because this type of thing can inevitably be done in less than the allotted time. But you should figure out exactly what your writing competition consists of. Some schools have a separate cite-checking exercise, for example, which apparently takes forever; my school, on the other hand, has no such thing. So how time consuming the whole process will be depends a lot on what exactly you're required to do.