Difference between revisions of "Law Essay Competitions"

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There are lots of opportunities to try out your writing expertise throughout the year...sometimes for money (oh and prestige and worldwide fame of course...).
 
There are lots of opportunities to try out your writing expertise throughout the year...sometimes for money (oh and prestige and worldwide fame of course...).
 
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===Justis International Law & Technology Writing Competition===
 
  
This annual competition centres around three themes:
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===The Andrew Lockley Public Law Essay Competition===
* social media, data and privacy
 
* technology and the future of legal practice
 
* access to justice and technology.
 
  
Excitingly the winner receives a whopping £2000!
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Irwin Mitchell run this competition for aspiring public law and human rights solicitors and it is a fantastic opportunity to get your name out there, win a £250 Blackwell's gift card and to develop your legal writing skills. 
  
The [https://www.justis.com/writing-competition-2020-guidance-and-inspiration/#oct2019-wc guidance and inspiration page] gives links to articles in each of the themes to get you thinking, and also lets you see the work of winners from the previous year's competition.
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It is open to law students, graduates, paralegals and trainee solicitors.  
  
To enter you need to [https://promos.vlex.com/wc2020/ signup and receive the submission link] - deadline is 8th December.
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Entrants are asked to submit an essay of no more than 1500 words on the following topic:  
  
===Times Law Award===
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''What key factors should the courts consider and give most weight to when balancing the rights to freedom of expression and assembly of protestors with disruption to other members of the public?''
  
The biggest of these is The Times Law Award — an annual award of £3500 for a 1000 word essay on a given topic.
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Deadline is: 31st October 2023. Find full details of the competition, including the rules via the [https://www.irwinmitchell.com/terms-conditions/essay-competition-sept-2023 Irwin Mitchell website].
  
This year's title is:
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===vLex International Law & Technology Writing Competition===
  
''Taming the Social Media Giants: How far should the state go in regulating online content?''
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This annual competition (it has been running since 2018) centres around three new themes each year. For 2024 these are:  
 +
* Immigration
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* Large language models
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* Industrial action
  
Deadline is 29th November 2019 at 6pm.
 
  
Find out more on the [https://www.oeclaw.co.uk/times-law-awards One Essex Court/Times Law Award website].  
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As in previous years, the winner receives a whopping £1500, with additional prizes for runners-up.  
  
We're very proud of the incredible number of City students and alumni who have performed so well in this competition over the years. In recent years we have seen the following successes:
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Have a look at the [https://vlex.com/writing-competition vLex Writing Competition page] to see the rules, Ts &Cs and the [https://blog.vlex.com/tagged/vlex-law-students work of winners from the previous competitions]. You can also get inspiration on the set themes.
  
BPTC students William Beddows was runner-up in 2019, Katie Ratcliffe was 3rd in 2018. Genevieve Woods (1st) in 2017 and Joshua Brown (1st) and Gavin Dingley (2nd) in 2016.  
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Max number of words is 1000.
 +
Deadline is 1st December 2023.
  
2014 saw first and third place taken by current City students, with second awarded to a BPTC alumnus. George White (1st) and Lara Hassell (3rd) are both BPTC students (Lara completed the GDL at City in the previous year) and James Beeton (2nd), a BPTC alumnus. The 2014 essay question was ''Morality versus legality: when is war justified?''. All [http://www.oeclaw.co.uk/times-law-awards/winners winning essays] can be found online. 
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===Golding Essay Prize===
  
In 2013 City GDL students secured first and second place in the competition. Andrew Lomas won overall, with Lara Hassell taking second prize with their essays on ''Privacy and the press: Is state regulation in the public interest?''
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The Competition Law Association runs an annual competition for any student, trainee solicitor, pupil barrister or trainee patent and trade mark attorney. First prize is £1000.
  
in 2012 both first and second prizes, as well as two runners-up prizes were won by lawyers with links to City. The title of the essay was as topical as ever: ''Cameras in court: justice's loss or gain?'' First prize was taken by James Potts, City GDL and BPTC alumni and now pupil barrister at 4-5 Grays Inn Square. Read James' [http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/law/article3367071.ece essay]. Second prize was taken by Thomas Coates, then a City GDL student. Read Thomas's [http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/law/article3364605.ece essay].
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The 2024 Essay Prize title asked for entrants to address the following title:  
  
In 2011 first prize was won by [http://www.oeclaw.co.uk/images/uploads/essays/Anthony_Pavlovich.pdf Anthony Pavlovich], from City's Graduate Diploma in Law course. Anthony addressed the question ''Justice under the axe: can the Government's cuts be fair?''
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''As the importance of renewable energy increases, will patents continue to play a central role in protecting those rights or will renewable companies rely on trade secrets and confidential information only?''
  
In 2010 first prize was won by a City GDL student, [https://www.oeclaw.co.uk/images/uploads/essays/2010_davies.pdf Anita Davies], (who went on to take the BPTC with us). Anita addressed the question: ''Supreme Court UK: radical change or business as usual?'' This very prestigious award usually has a judging panel of gravitas; this one included Jack Straw; Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, the President of the Supreme Court; Lord Grabiner; James Harding, Editor of The Times and David Cavender, QC, of One Essex Court.  
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Look at the [https://www.competitionlawassociation.org.uk/essay.htm competition website] for inspiration from previous winning essays. The rules and background for this year's competition can be accessed [https://www.competitionlawassociation.org.uk/essay_56_2443754593.pdf via the CLA website].
  
Anita's winning essay, described by Jack Straw as ''"an engaging, erudite piece of prose"''. can be seen on the One Essex Court [https://www.oeclaw.co.uk/images/uploads/essays/2010_davies.pdf website].
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===Times Law Awards===
  
In 2006, [http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article742566.ece Amy Rogers], another City GDL student won the award with her essay on ''Terrorism v human rights: Where do you draw the line?,'' [https://www.oeclaw.co.uk/images/uploads/essays/2005_love.pdf Sarah Love] (City GDL), won joint first prize in 2005 with ''The shape of things to come? Will Clementi be good for consumers but bad for lawyers?'', [https://www.oeclaw.co.uk/images/uploads/essays/2004_brilliant.pdf James Brilliant] (City BVC) won it in 2004 with ''Constitutional reform: will the justice system benefit?'' [https://www.oeclaw.co.uk/images/uploads/essays/2002_gullick.pdf Mathew Guillick] (City GDL) in 2002 with ''International terrorists: what role should the law play?'' and finally in 2001, [https://www.oeclaw.co.uk/images/uploads/essays/2001_davey.pdf Jonathan Davey](City GDL) with ''Ethical dilemmas who should decide - lawyers, scientists or God?''. Not a bad record eh? 
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The biggest of these law essay competition is The Times Law Award. Last year's competition deadline was mid-Jan and prizes were substantial, with £3,500 for the winner and £2,500 and £1,500 for second and third place. Not bad for a 1000 word essay on a given topic!
  
All previous prize winners (including runner-ups) of The Times Award can be found on the [http://www.oeclaw.co.uk/times-law-awards/winners One Essex Court] site, who the awards are held in association with.
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Last year's title was:
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''Should states and private parties be entitled to recover reparations from aggressor states, and if so, how??''
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You can see the prize-winning essays (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 3 runners-up going all the way back to 1995) on the [https://www.oeclaw.co.uk/times-law-awards/winners One Essex Court/Times Law Award website]
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 +
We'll update this as soon as this year's competition is announced.
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We're very proud of the incredible number of City students and alumni who have performed so well in this competition over the years. We have seen the following successes from them:
 +
 
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GDL student Charlie Colenutt was runner-up in 2020 *
 +
BPTC student William Beddows was runner-up in 2019 *
 +
BPTC student Katie Ratcliffe (3rd) in 2018 *
 +
GDL student Genevieve Woods (1st) in 2017 *
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Joshua Brown (1st) and Gavin Dingley (2nd) in 2016 *
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BPTC students George White (1st) and Lara Hassell (3rd) (Lara completed the GDL at City in the previous year) and BPTC alumnus James Beeton (2nd) in 2014 *
 +
GDL students Andrew Lomas (1st) and Lara Hassell (2nd) in 2013 *
 +
GDL and BPTC alumni James Potts (1st) and GDL student Thomas Coates (2nd) in 2012 *
 +
GDL student Anthony Pavlovich (1st) in 2011 *
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GDL student Anita Davies (1st) in 2010. Anita's winning essay was described by Jack Straw as ''"an engaging, erudite piece of prose"'' *
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GDL student Amy Rogers (1st) in 2006 *
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GDL student Sarah Love (joint 1st) in 2005 *
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BVC student James Brilliant (1st) in 2004 *
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GDL student Mathew Guillick (1st) in 2002 *
  
 
===The Graham Turnbull Memorial International Human Rights Essay Competition===
 
===The Graham Turnbull Memorial International Human Rights Essay Competition===
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An annual competition named after Graham Turnbull, an English solicitor who did much to promote respect for human rights. Graham was killed in 1997, working as a human rights monitor on the United Nations Human Rights Mission in Rwanda.  
 
An annual competition named after Graham Turnbull, an English solicitor who did much to promote respect for human rights. Graham was killed in 1997, working as a human rights monitor on the United Nations Human Rights Mission in Rwanda.  
  
Open to law students, trainee solicitors, pupil barristers and all solicitors/barristers within 3 years of admission/call.  
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Until 2023, the competition was administered by the Law Society but is now managed by the Graham Turnbull Memorial Fund independently.  
  
The competition asks for essays of no more than 2000 words in length and awards the winner of this prestigious award £500 from the Graham Turnbull Memorial Fund.
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The competition is open to law students, trainee solicitors, pupil barristers and all solicitors/barristers within 3 years of admission/call. It asked for essays of no more than 2000 words in length and awards the winner of this prestigious award, £500. The title for the 2023 competition is:
  
Previous winners include Niall Coghlan (2013 competition) and Nick Jones (2019 competition), both on the GDL programme at City. 
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''What are the human rights implications of the failure of a state to take action to prevent global temperature rises which threaten the health or lives of their citizens?''
  
Find out more about the deadline for the current year's competition, as well as the competition rules, via the [https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/practice-areas/human-rights/graham-turnbull-essay-competition-lecture-2019/ Law Society Human Rights Community].
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Previous winners include Niall Coghlan (2013 competition) and Nick Jones (2019 competition), who were both on the GDL programme at City.  You can read the [https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/topics/human-rights/graham-turnbull-international-human-rights-essay-competition winning entries] all the way back to 2010 on the Law Society page for inspiration in the meantime...
  
Deadline is usually in November, the 2019 competition asked entrants asked to address the following question:
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Entries should be sent to tfisher@fjg.co.uk prior to the deadline - 5pm on the 20th October 2023. I've put the full rules on the Lawbore blog for you.
 
 
''Has the Rule of Law been replaced by the Rule of Politics?''
 
  
 
===Bar Council Law Reform Essay===
 
===Bar Council Law Reform Essay===
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City GDL students have won in previous years: '''Daisy Ricketts''' (2011) and '''Calum Docherty''' (2010) were both successful. Calum proposed the reform of copyright law in [http://www.barcouncil.org.uk/media/61898/calum_docherty__54_.pdf Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: Reforming Fair Dealing in English Copyright Law] and Daisy with [http://www.barcouncil.org.uk/media/61886/_74__daisy_ricketts.pdf Strengthening the Rule of Law: Reforming the Scope on Parliamentary Privilege]. In 2012 City student '''Mek Mesfin''' was runner-up in the CPE category and in 2013 '''Ross Beaton''', a City GDL alumni won the overall prize. You can see all previous winners and read their essays via the Bar Council [http://www.barcouncil.org.uk/about-us/constitution-and-structure/committees/law-reform-committee/winning-essay-entries/ website].  
 
City GDL students have won in previous years: '''Daisy Ricketts''' (2011) and '''Calum Docherty''' (2010) were both successful. Calum proposed the reform of copyright law in [http://www.barcouncil.org.uk/media/61898/calum_docherty__54_.pdf Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: Reforming Fair Dealing in English Copyright Law] and Daisy with [http://www.barcouncil.org.uk/media/61886/_74__daisy_ricketts.pdf Strengthening the Rule of Law: Reforming the Scope on Parliamentary Privilege]. In 2012 City student '''Mek Mesfin''' was runner-up in the CPE category and in 2013 '''Ross Beaton''', a City GDL alumni won the overall prize. You can see all previous winners and read their essays via the Bar Council [http://www.barcouncil.org.uk/about-us/constitution-and-structure/committees/law-reform-committee/winning-essay-entries/ website].  
  
'''Phoebe Whitlock''' won in the GDL category for 2016's competition with an entry entitled Rivalling Silicon Valley: The case for the reform of Software Patents. Take a look at the [http://www.city.ac.uk/news/2016/november/gdl-student-wins-first-prize-in-wins-first-prize-in-bar-council-law-reform-essay-competition CityNews story] about this. For the 2017 competition, GDL student '''Clarissa Wigoder''' won first prize with her essay Spare the rod: Why the law on corporal punishment needs to be reformed, and '''Daniel Fox''' was named runner-up with his piece: I hate being idle: Asylum seekers and the right to work.  
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'''Phoebe Whitlock''' won in the GDL category for 2016's competition with an entry entitled Rivalling Silicon Valley: The case for the reform of Software Patents. Take a look at the [http://www.city.ac.uk/news/2016/november/gdl-student-wins-first-prize-in-wins-first-prize-in-bar-council-law-reform-essay-competition CityNews story] about this. For the 2017 competition, GDL student '''Clarissa Wigoder''' won first prize with her essay Spare the rod: Why the law on corporal punishment needs to be reformed, and '''Daniel Fox''' was named runner-up with his piece: I hate being idle: Asylum seekers and the right to work. In 2020 BPTC alumnus Oliver Brewis won for his piece: [https://www.barcouncil.org.uk/uploads/assets/9c48c9e8-8569-42bf-a4baf192c4ea917f/Unravelling-the-sleeve-of-care-Oliver-Brewis.pdf?dm_t=0,0,0,0,0 Unravelling the Sleeve of Care: Fair Remuneration for Employer-contracted Sleep]. In 2021, GDL student '''Annika Weis''' won with her entry: [https://www.barcouncil.org.uk/uploads/assets/410e0b3c-d6d0-4b30-aa7d3ad6421db75e/Licence-to-Sanction-Stopping-Environmental-Crimes-through-UK-Magnitsky-Legislation.pdf Licence to sanction - Stopping Environmental Crimes through UK Magnitsky legislation]. Last year, GDL student '''Raphael Marshall''' was first runner-up in the competition.  
  
Take a look at their entries (and all other winners) via the [https://www.barcouncil.org.uk/about-us/constitution-and-structure/committees/law-reform-committee/winning-essay-entries/ Bar Council website]. The information usually comes out in April and the deadline for entries is always late September.
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Take a look at their entries (and other winners back to 2018) via the [https://www.barcouncil.org.uk/becoming-a-barrister/students-and-graduates/law-reform-essay-competition/past-winners.html Bar Council website]. The competition information usually comes out in April and the deadline for entries for 2023 is 23rd October at 5pm.
  
 
===JLD Essay Competition===
 
===JLD Essay Competition===
  
Open to its members, the [http://communities.lawsociety.org.uk/junior-lawyers/ Junior Lawyers Division of the Law Society], have an annual competition for those registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority. This includes LPC students and those qualified and working as paralegals. The deadline is normally around the end of November each year.  
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Open to its members, the [https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/topics/junior-lawyers Junior Lawyers Network of the Law Society], have an annual competition for those registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority. This includes LPC students and those qualified and working as paralegals. The deadline is normally around the end of November each year and they generally ask for essays of no more than 2000 words. I can't currently find any information about this year's competition, so have fired off an email to the organisation. Update soon!
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 +
Essay titles from previous years include:
  
This year's essay title (deadline for submissions is 30th November) is as follows:
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''Is there a role for the legal profession in environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations?''
  
 
''What’s in a name? Is the title of solicitor still relevant??''
 
''What’s in a name? Is the title of solicitor still relevant??''
  
Maximum words = no more than 2000 words
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''How will the rule of law be affected by advances in legal technology?''
 
 
For inspiration you might wish to look at the winners from previous years, these are linked to below, along with the essay titles for that year.
 
 
 
''How will the rule of law be affected by advances in legal technology?'' [https://communities.lawsociety.org.uk/news/jld-essay-competition-2018-winners-announced/5066853.article 2018 Winners]
 
 
 
''Where is the line between legitimate accountability and calling judges ‘enemies of the people’?''
 
[http://communities.lawsociety.org.uk/junior-lawyers/news/jld-essay-competition-2017-winners-announced/5064443.article 2017 Winners]
 
 
 
''How do you think Brexit will affect junior lawyers?''
 
[http://communities.lawsociety.org.uk/junior-lawyers/news/news-archive/jld-essay-competition-2016-winners-announced/5060923.article 2016 Winners]
 
  
 
===UKELA Andrew Lees Prize===
 
===UKELA Andrew Lees Prize===
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Named for a former Friends of the Earth Campaign Director (Andrew Lees, a leading environmental campaigner who died unexpectedly in 1994) [https://www.ukela.org/UKELA/Networks/Students/Andrew-Lees-Essay-prize.aspx this prize] has been going many years.  You can view previous winners on the site and the winner normally receives support for travel and attendance at the UKELA annual conference as well as see your work published in their members' journal.  
 
Named for a former Friends of the Earth Campaign Director (Andrew Lees, a leading environmental campaigner who died unexpectedly in 1994) [https://www.ukela.org/UKELA/Networks/Students/Andrew-Lees-Essay-prize.aspx this prize] has been going many years.  You can view previous winners on the site and the winner normally receives support for travel and attendance at the UKELA annual conference as well as see your work published in their members' journal.  
  
The deadline for submissions is usually around early April of each year.  
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The deadline for submissions is usually around early April of each year. The 2024 competition is likely to launch in January 2024.  
  
Find out more about the competition and associated rules on the [https://www.ukela.org/UKELA/Networks/Students/Andrew-Lees-Essay-prize.aspx UKELA website].
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Find out more about the competition and associated rules on the [https://www.ukela.org/UKELA/Networks/Students/Andrew-Lees-Essay-prize.aspx UKELA website], as well as essay winners from past years.  
  
The 2018 competition pivoted around the following statement: ‘The right to a healthy environment is a fundamental human right’
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The 2023 competition pivoted around the following statement: 'If we are to meet the challenges of the climate and nature crises, it is essential to strengthen current approaches to environmental governance. Discuss'. You can read the [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GmgPAaOLmfzVj49MHs1lqEocgyJAMfnz/view winning entry] via the UKELA website.
  
 
===ARDL Marion Simmons QC Essay Competition===
 
===ARDL Marion Simmons QC Essay Competition===
  
Annual essay competition from the [http://www.ardl.org.uk/ Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers]. Students (undergraduates and postgraduates, trainee solicitors and pupil barristers) are asked to write no more than 3000 words on a topic. The [https://www.ardl.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/ARDL-2019-Marion-Simmons-QC-prize-announcement.pdf 2019 competition] asked applicants to submit an essay on a regulatory law or disciplinary law topic of their choice.  
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Annual essay competition from the [http://www.ardl.org.uk/ Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers]. Students are asked to write no more than 1500 words on a topic. The [https://www.ardl.org.uk/essay-competition/ competition] asks applicants to submit an essay on a regulatory law or disciplinary law topic of their choice.  
  
First prize winner takes home £2000, second prize winner £1000 and third prize £500. Details of the competition are normally released in February, with a deadline for submission in May.
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First prize winner takes home £2000, second prize winner £1000 and third prize £500. Details of the competition are normally released in February, with a deadline for submission in late April.
  
===CEPLER Student Essay Competition===
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Entry is open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students in the UK and a wide range of early practitioners too. You can see full eligibility details via the [https://www.ardl.org.uk/essay-competition/ competition website].
  
The [http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/CEPLER/index.aspx Centre for Professional Legal Education and Research] at Birmingham Law School (CEPLER) launched its national law student essay writing competition in 2014. The winner ([http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/CEPLER/news/2014/cepler-essay-competition-winner---october-2014.aspx City GDL student Chris Richards]) received an iPad mini and the opportunity to have their essay published on the CEPLER website as a CEPLER Working Paper. He had just 1500 words to tackle the following title: “In an age of austerity, access to justice is a luxury", and received comments like this from the judges:
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===FIDE Essay Prize===
  
''"Chris' submission was a beautifully written, well-argued and original essay which all three of us chose as the best in a competitive field".''
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The UK Association for European Law also run an essay competition, with the winner securing a bursary to attend the biennial FIDE CONGRESS Conference, which usually takes place in May.
(The Chief Executive of Birmingham Citizen's Advice Bureau Service)
 
  
In 2015 students were asked to tackle the following question:
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Students are generally asked to write no more than 2000 words (including footnotes) on the topic provided.
  
''"A 'brexit' would be a serious threat to London as the centre of globalised legal services. Discuss"''
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Submissions are judged by a panel from the UKAEL committee, who will award the winner registration at the conference in addition to £600 towards accommodation and travel. The winner of this prize in 2018 was William Spence, GDL student at City. In 2014 another City student (BPTC) took the prize, Niall Coghlan. You can [http://www.ukael.org/associates.html read both their essays] via the UKAEL website. Niall has had a great year for developing his European Law expertise - he was also part of the team that won the European Human Rights Moot in Strasbourg.
Deadline was 19th November 2015. The winning entry can be seen via the [http://epapers.bham.ac.uk/2100/1/cepler_working_paper_13_2015.pdf CEPLER website].  
 
  
[http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/CEPLER/for-students/cepler-essay-competition.aspx More info and the competition rules] can be found via the CEPLER website.  
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Sadly the competition has been on pause in recent years and will likely not run in 2024.
  
'''Want inspiration?''' [http://epapers.bham.ac.uk/1938/ Read Chris's winning entry] via the University of Birmingham's ePapers repository.
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===Future Legal Mind Award===
  
===FIDE Essay Prize===
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Launched in 2014 by the [http://www.national-accident-helpline.co.uk National Accident Helpline] the winner of this competition will receive £1500 towards their career development, as well as gain access to mentoring and a work experience placement.
  
The UK Association for European Law also run an essay competition, with the winner securing a bursary to attend the biennial FIDE CONGRESS Conference, which usually takes place in May.
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There are separate awards for undergraduates and postgraduates.  The last time the competition ran was 2022. You can find out more about the competition and see the winning entries via the [https://www.national-accident-helpline.co.uk/news/future-legal-mind National Accident Helpline competition website]. The organisers have confirmed that it will run again in 2024.  
  
Last year students were asked to write no more than 2000 words (including footnotes) on the following:
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The 2015 winner in the postgraduate category was Lukas Hamilton-Eddy (City GDL student). In 2016 the prize was again won by a City GDL student, Tom Phillips. He wowed judges with his essay on the future of legal services for firms and consumers. Another City student, Pavlos Artemios Xagoraris also made the finalists stage. Pavlos is in the first year of his Graduate Entry LLB. Katherine Strange (GDL) was a finalist in 2017. We're overdue another City winner!
  
''The future EU-UK relationship will be like no other – a bold and bespoke new model is therefore needed. Discuss''
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===Property Bar Association Essay Competition===
  
Submissions are judged by a panel from the UKAEL committee, who will award the winner registration at the conference in addition to £600 towards accommodation and travel. The winner of this prize in 2018 was William Spence, GDL student at City. In 2014 another City student (BPTC) took the prize, Niall Coghlan. You can [http://www.ukael.org/associates.html read both their essays] via the UKAEL website. Niall has had a great year for developing his European Law expertise - he was also part of the team that won the European Human Rights Moot in Strasbourg.
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This [https://www.propertybar.org.uk/events/pba-essay-competition-2020?be=1 competition] was launched in November 2015 and asks students each year to write a 1000-word essay, with the winner taking home £1000, a copy of ''Megarry & Wade'' AND their essay published in the ''Estates Gazette''.  
  
===Commonwealth Law Student Essay Competition===
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The question for 2023 was ''Has equity been taken too far in enforcing informal promises of interests in land?''
  
This competition happens every two years, and is open to all students registered on an undergraduate degree course.  
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The question is normally released in November each year and the essay deadline in early January.  
  
In 2018 the organisers, the Commonwealth Legal Education Organisation (CLEO), asked for 2500 words maximum on the following:
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Arabella Adams (City GDL) won the 2017 competition and Elijah Granet (City GDL) won first prize in the [https://www.city.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2020/04/elijah-granet-wins-2020-property-bar-association-essay-prize 2020 competition].
  
''In the context of the Commonwealth Principles, how can the law achieve a balance between the freedom of the media to report and criticise the government and/or judiciary, and the need for respect, responsibility and regulation in reporting?''
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===SCL Student Essay Prize===
  
[http://www.clea-web.com/essay-competition/ Find out more and access the rules online].
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The [https://www.scl.org/ Society for Computers and Law] annual essay competition asks entrants to write a maximum of 2000 words in order to be in with a chance of winning a free place at the annual SCL Conference, publication of your essay in the SCL Computers and Law magazine and £300. The competition honours the memory of the amazing Sir Henry Brooke, a former President of SCL.  
  
===Future Legal Mind Award===
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The [https://www.scl.org/student-essayprize-2021 2021 competition] (deadline was in November of that year) asked students to address the following question in fewer than 2500 words:
  
Launched in 2014 by the [http://www.national-accident-helpline.co.uk National Accident Helpline] in association with The Lawyer magazine, this competition offers £5000 towards future studies to one undergraduate and one postgraduate law student. In addition there's a work experience placement at the London or Manchester office of solicitor firm Colemans-CTTS.
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''There is increasing concern that machine learning tools embed bias in their operations and outputs. To what extent does the law currently provide adequate protection from or adequate redress in respect of any such discrimination?''
  
Entrants need to submit an essay of up to 1000 words - the winning essays will be published in full on the Lawyer2B website.
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We've contacted the SCL to find out if this competition will run in 2024.
  
Find out more via the [https://www.national-accident-helpline.co.uk/future-legal-mind National Accident Helpline website]. Worth registering on the website in order to be alerted of the essay titles, once launched in early November 2015.
+
===Shamnad Basheer Essay Competition on Intellectual Property Law===
  
The 2015 winner in the postgraduate category was Lukas Hamilton-Eddy (City GDL student). The [https://www.national-accident-helpline.co.uk/future-legal-mind/2016 2016 prize] was again won by a City GDL student, Tom Phillips. He wowed judges with his essay on the future of legal services for firms and consumers. Another City student, Pavlos Artemios Xagoraris also made the finalists stage. Pavlos is in the first year of his Graduate Entry LLB. Katherine Strange (GDL) was a finalist in 2017.
+
This competition was launched in 2020 by [https://spicyip.com/ SpicyIP], in honour of their founder Professor Shamnad Basheer. Excitingly this competition asks for submissions on anything related to intellectual property rights – the more creative the better. The call generally comes out in May of each year.  
  
===Property Bar Association Essay Competition===
+
The word limit for submissions is 5,000 words (inclusive of footnotes) and the deadline for submissions is June 30, 2020 (23:59 IST).
  
This [https://www.propertybar.org.uk/events/pba-essay-competition-2020?be=1 competition] was launched in November 2015 and asks students each year to write a 1000-word essay, with the winner taking home £1000, a copy of ''Megarry & Wade'' AND their essay published in the ''Estates Gazette''.  
+
All submissions and any queries should be e-mailed to submissions@spicyip.com.  
  
The question for 2019-20 will be released on the 1st November. Deadline will be 3rd January 2020.  
+
The competition is open to students currently enrolled in any LLB program (or its equivalent – meaning students enrolled in J.D. programs can take part) across the world.
  
Arabella Adams (City GDL) won the 2017 competition.
+
Deadline for the [https://spicyip.com/2024/05/announcing-the-2024-shamnad-basheer-essay-competition-on-intellectual-property-law.html 4th annual essay competition] is July 14th. For inspiration you can see the winners of the 2022 competition and their essays via the [https://spicyip.com/2022/11/announcing-the-winners-of-the-3rd-shamnad-basheer-essay-competition-on-ip-law.html SpicyIP website].
  
===Legal Cheek Blogging Prize===
+
===UK Centre for Animal Law Essay Competition===
  
For 2018 the focus of this competition was Privacy Law.  For 2019, this changed to a vlogging competition with participants given just 60 seconds to impress and creatively condense their thoughts into a short video detailing who their US legal icon is, and why. You can see the Top 5 via [https://www.legalcheek.com/lc-careers-posts/top-5-entries-for-my-us-legal-icon-vlogging-prize/ Legal Cheek].
+
The details of the [https://www.alaw.org.uk/essay-competition/ 2024 competition] will be released in November 2023.  
  
Who knows what 2020 will bring! Details are likely to be released in April with a deadline the following month.
+
Last year's competition title was:
  
Entrants are been asked to write no more than 1000 words on the topic, with a return transatlantic flight on offer for the winner! The sponsor is BARBRI International.
+
''Can the UK’s hunting legislation be reformed to ensure practical protection for UK wildlife?''.
  
===ELSA Amicus Essay Prize===
+
The inaugral competition was won by City GDL and BVS student Sam Groom. You can see a fantastic video of Sam speaking about the competition on the competition website.
  
[http://scelr.com/amicus-essay-prize/ This competition] asks entrants to address a question in no more than 1500 words. For 2018-19 the title was ''The role of the jury: should individuals who are not experts be able to decide whether someone is sentenced to death?''
+
First prize is a £150 book voucher and the chance to get your essay published in the UK Journal of Animal Law.
  
Amicus ALJ, with assistance from ELSA UK and ELSA Ireland, compiles a shortlist of essays on the recommendation of the Panel. This shortlist will be sent for consideration by the final judge and Amicus ALJ Trustee, Mark George QC, who will declare the winning essay and the runner-up essay.
 
  
First prize is a Work Experience Placement in Amicus ALJ’s London office, duration and date to be decided between both parties. Additionally, the winning essay shall be featured in the upcoming edition of the Student Comparative and European Law Review (SCELR). The author of the runner-up essay will be awarded a prize of £150 worth of OUP books or a Law Trove module, at their discretion, courtesy of Oxford University Press. Both entrants will be awarded complimentary membership of their respective ELSA national group for the upcoming term.
+
===The Cambridge Centre for Animal Rights Law Essay Competition===
  
Find full details of the competition via the [http://scelr.com/site/amicus-essay-prize/ SCELR website] but any questions should be directed to info@scelr.com. Deadline usually end of January.
+
The organisers state that the aim of their competition is to:  
  
===SCL Student Essay Prize===
+
''...encourage students to explore the fascinating questions that animals rights raise, and to discuss these questions in an original piece of writing that may inspire them to engage further with the topic in the future.''
  
The Society for Computers and Law annual essay competition asks entrants to write a maximum of 2000 words in order to be in with a chance of winning a free place at the annual SCL Conference, publication of your essay in the SCL Computers and Law magazine and £250.
+
No information regarding the 2024 competition yet but in 2023 the question was as follows:
  
The 2020 competition asks students to address the following question in fewer than 2500 words:
+
''Richard Ryder once wrote: “Since Darwin, scientists have agreed that there is no ‘magical’ essential difference between human and other animals, biologically-speaking. Why then do we make an almost total distinction morally?” Assuming that is correct, how does this affect the arguments for and against animal rights laws?''
  
''At the start of the 2010s, two billion people used the Internet, MySpace rivalled Facebook as the most popular social network, iPads did not exist and few people had swapped their trusty Nokias for iPhones. Peer to peer networking was seen as an existential threat to copyright industries and net neutrality was not yet the law anywhere, while cloud computing was unknown to the general population. The future was unpredictable.” What, where, how, and when will the greatest regulatory challenges for the Internet of 2030 be? Justify your answer with reference to existing laws, regulation, and government policy documents.''
+
The winning essay in the university category receives £750. You can read winning essays from the previous years of the competition via the [https://animalrightslaw.org/essaycompetition competition website].
  
Find full details of how to enter and the rules on the [https://www.scl.org/student-essayprize-2020 SCL website]. Deadline is 22 May 2020 at 5pm.
+
===Littleton Chambers Sports Law Essay Competition===
  
===Michael Mustill Essay Prize===
+
This annual competition from Littleton Chambers offers young lawyers the chance to get their ideas out to the wider sporting community and various monetary prizes, plus a sports law mini-pupillage. First prize is £1000, second prize £500 and third place receives £250.
  
This biennial prize was established by The International Dispute Resolution Centre (IDRC), in association with St John’s College, Cambridge, to commemorate the life and work of Lord Mustill, one of the great figures of arbitration.
+
The 2023 competition deadline was end of February 2023, so we anticipate a similar one for the 2024 competition. Entrants were asked to submit a piece of work between 1,500 and 2,500 words, on the following title:
  
It is open to all postgraduate students (not just students of law) and asks for submissions of no more than 6000 words. The prize is £10,000. Uniquely students are given free reign; asked to write on any aspect of the law and practice of arbitration in England and Wales.
+
''Transparency has been prized as foundational to good governance in sport (see, for instance, the International Olympic Committee’s Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance, principle 2). To what extent (if at all) are sport regulators justified in using confidential procedures, such as arbitration, to deal with participant misconduct?''
  
Find out more about the prize via the [https://www.idrc.co.uk/about-us/the-michael-mustill-essay-prize-2020.aspx IDRC website], where you can also find out who won in 2018 and read the accompanying speech by Michael Payton.
+
Until we get the info for the 2024 competition, have a look at the information on the [https://littletonchambers.com/sports-law-essay-competition-2023/ 2023 competition pages].
  
Deadline is 15 Jan 2020.
+
===Human Rights Essay Award===
  
===The European Centre for Space Law Essay Competition===
+
The [https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/initiatives-programs/hracademy/award/ Human Rights Essay Award] is an annual competition (sponsored by the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at Washington College of Law) that seeks to stimulate the production of scholarly work in international human rights law.
  
Bit different this one! The ECSL's competition challenges students to think critically about a particular topic in space law and policy and to present cogent arguments in support of a position.The 2017/18 competition asked students to address 'The Rescue and Return Agreement in times of non-governmental spaceflights'.
+
The Academy will grant two Awards, one for the best article in English and one for the best article in Spanish. The Award in each case will consist of:
  
First prize winners will receive a trip to attend the ECSL Practitioners’ Forum and Young Lawyer Symposium (at the European Space Agency HQ), an annual ECSL Membership and see the publication of their essay on the ECSL website.
+
# A full scholarship to the Program of Advanced Studies on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law for either the Diploma or Certificate of Attendance options.
 
Find out more and read the winning entries from previous years on the [https://www.esa.int/About_Us/ECSL_European_Centre_for_Space_Law/ECSL_Essay_Competition ECSL website]
 
  
Unfortunately this competition hasn't run for a couple of years now...
+
# Travel expenses to and from Washington D.C. (if the competition is not virtual)
  
===The Sir Henry Brooke Essay Prize===
+
# Housing at the university dorms
  
Started in 2019 in honour of Sir Henry Brooke, former Court of Appeal judge, this competition is organised by the [http://www.younglegalaidlawyers.org/ Young Legal Aid Lawyers]. Sir Henry was well-known for his involvement in access to justice issues, being Chairman of BAILII and also involved in significant portions of the [http://www.fabians.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Bach-Commission_Right-to-Justice-Report-WEB.pdf Bach Commission] report on access to justice. He was also a big fan of technology and penned a [https://sirhenrybrooke.me/ hugely engaging blog] during retirement.
+
# Per diem for living expenses
  
The 2019 title was as follows:
+
# The best articles may also be published in the American University International Law Review
  
"Technology has the capacity to enhance, empower and automate, but it also has the potential to exclude vulnerable members of society" – Sir Henry Brooke, September 2017
+
It is open to all lawyers around the world regardless of their nationality, but participants must already have a law degree Juris Doctor, (J.D.), Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or equivalent by the submission due date to be eligible.
 +
They must also have a demonstrated experience or interest in international human rights law. 
  
Discuss, with examples, how technology can be used to advance access to justice in the UK.  
+
The 2022 topic was ''Climate Change and Human Rights: Impacts, Responsibilities, and Opportunities'' and the deadline was the end of January.  
  
The 2020 essay title has not been announced yet but you can get inspired by the 2019 winners via the [http://www.younglegalaidlawyers.org/essay competition website].  
+
We are awaiting information on the 2024 competition.
  
===LGBT+Lawyers Division competition===
+
===FSLA Essay Competition===
  
Last year's competition had a deadline of end of March 2019, so we should hear more about this one soon. The organisers ask for no more than 2000 words.  
+
The Financial Services Lawyers Association runs an annual essay competition, normally with a deadline of early October each year.  
 +
First prize is a generous £1500 and a legal internship at the FCA.  
  
Title last year was:
+
The 2023 competition title is ''Can the risks and opportunities of AI in financial services be managed by fine-tuning existing regulation, or is a new approach required?'' You need to get your entries in by midnight on 6th October 2023.
  
''What remaining legal barriers exist for the LGBT+ community in terms of equality, including any issues with the application of the current law?''
+
Look at the [https://fsla.org.uk/fsla-essay-competition-2023/ FSLA website] for full details/rules. Note that membership of the FSLA is free to students!
  
The winner will receive a cash prize of £750 and their essay will be published on the Law Society website.
+
===National Uehiro Oxford Prize in Practical Ethics===
 
 
The competition is open to GDL and LPC students, GDL and LPC graduates, paralegals, trainee solicitors and solicitors.
 
  
 +
Entries from all graduate and undergraduate students (full and part-time) are welcomed, in the form of an essay of up to 2000 words on any topic relevant to practical ethics.
 +
 +
Whilst all students are encouraged to take part, this will be particularly relevant to those studying philosophy, medicine and biological sciences, law, AI and data sciences.
 +
 +
The winner from each category will receive a prize of £500, and the runner up £200. Revised versions of the two winning essays will be considered for publication in the Journal of Practical Ethics. Deadline for this competition is 2nd February 2025  (23:00). For more information, including rules, take a look at the [https://www.practicalethics.ox.ac.uk/oxford-uehiro-prize competition website].
  
===UK Centre for Animal Law Essay Competition===
+
===ITSA Essay Competition===
  
The details of the [https://www.alaw.org.uk/student-essay-competition/ 2020 competition] will be released in November 2019.
+
Open to students members of the Inner Temple, the 2023 competition asks entrants for essays of 2500 words maximum (including refs) on the following topic:  
  
Last year's competition title was:
+
''Is the Cab Rank Rule now redundant at the self-employed Bar?''
  
''Explain the potential significance of granting legal personhood to animals in the UK'' and was won by City student (GDL and now BPTC) Sam Groom.  
+
Deadline is 4pm on Monday 6th November 2023 and first prize is £150 and publication of your essay in the Inner Temple Yearbook. Look at the competition website for full [https://www.innertemple.org.uk/membership-services-support/societies/student-societies/inner-temple-students-association/itsa-essay-competition/ rules of the competition].
  
  
 
[[Category:Legal Writing]]
 
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[[Category:Section 3]]

Latest revision as of 09:12, 17 October 2024

Feeling like a winner?

There are lots of opportunities to try out your writing expertise throughout the year...sometimes for money (oh and prestige and worldwide fame of course...).


The Andrew Lockley Public Law Essay Competition

Irwin Mitchell run this competition for aspiring public law and human rights solicitors and it is a fantastic opportunity to get your name out there, win a £250 Blackwell's gift card and to develop your legal writing skills.

It is open to law students, graduates, paralegals and trainee solicitors.

Entrants are asked to submit an essay of no more than 1500 words on the following topic:

What key factors should the courts consider and give most weight to when balancing the rights to freedom of expression and assembly of protestors with disruption to other members of the public?

Deadline is: 31st October 2023. Find full details of the competition, including the rules via the Irwin Mitchell website.

vLex International Law & Technology Writing Competition

This annual competition (it has been running since 2018) centres around three new themes each year. For 2024 these are:

  • Immigration
  • Large language models
  • Industrial action


As in previous years, the winner receives a whopping £1500, with additional prizes for runners-up.

Have a look at the vLex Writing Competition page to see the rules, Ts &Cs and the work of winners from the previous competitions. You can also get inspiration on the set themes.

Max number of words is 1000. Deadline is 1st December 2023.

Golding Essay Prize

The Competition Law Association runs an annual competition for any student, trainee solicitor, pupil barrister or trainee patent and trade mark attorney. First prize is £1000.

The 2024 Essay Prize title asked for entrants to address the following title:

As the importance of renewable energy increases, will patents continue to play a central role in protecting those rights or will renewable companies rely on trade secrets and confidential information only?

Look at the competition website for inspiration from previous winning essays. The rules and background for this year's competition can be accessed via the CLA website.

Times Law Awards

The biggest of these law essay competition is The Times Law Award. Last year's competition deadline was mid-Jan and prizes were substantial, with £3,500 for the winner and £2,500 and £1,500 for second and third place. Not bad for a 1000 word essay on a given topic!

Last year's title was:

Should states and private parties be entitled to recover reparations from aggressor states, and if so, how??

You can see the prize-winning essays (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 3 runners-up going all the way back to 1995) on the One Essex Court/Times Law Award website.

We'll update this as soon as this year's competition is announced.

We're very proud of the incredible number of City students and alumni who have performed so well in this competition over the years. We have seen the following successes from them:

GDL student Charlie Colenutt was runner-up in 2020 * BPTC student William Beddows was runner-up in 2019 * BPTC student Katie Ratcliffe (3rd) in 2018 * GDL student Genevieve Woods (1st) in 2017 * Joshua Brown (1st) and Gavin Dingley (2nd) in 2016 * BPTC students George White (1st) and Lara Hassell (3rd) (Lara completed the GDL at City in the previous year) and BPTC alumnus James Beeton (2nd) in 2014 * GDL students Andrew Lomas (1st) and Lara Hassell (2nd) in 2013 * GDL and BPTC alumni James Potts (1st) and GDL student Thomas Coates (2nd) in 2012 * GDL student Anthony Pavlovich (1st) in 2011 * GDL student Anita Davies (1st) in 2010. Anita's winning essay was described by Jack Straw as "an engaging, erudite piece of prose" * GDL student Amy Rogers (1st) in 2006 * GDL student Sarah Love (joint 1st) in 2005 * BVC student James Brilliant (1st) in 2004 * GDL student Mathew Guillick (1st) in 2002 *

The Graham Turnbull Memorial International Human Rights Essay Competition

An annual competition named after Graham Turnbull, an English solicitor who did much to promote respect for human rights. Graham was killed in 1997, working as a human rights monitor on the United Nations Human Rights Mission in Rwanda.

Until 2023, the competition was administered by the Law Society but is now managed by the Graham Turnbull Memorial Fund independently.

The competition is open to law students, trainee solicitors, pupil barristers and all solicitors/barristers within 3 years of admission/call. It asked for essays of no more than 2000 words in length and awards the winner of this prestigious award, £500. The title for the 2023 competition is:

What are the human rights implications of the failure of a state to take action to prevent global temperature rises which threaten the health or lives of their citizens?

Previous winners include Niall Coghlan (2013 competition) and Nick Jones (2019 competition), who were both on the GDL programme at City. You can read the winning entries all the way back to 2010 on the Law Society page for inspiration in the meantime...

Entries should be sent to tfisher@fjg.co.uk prior to the deadline - 5pm on the 20th October 2023. I've put the full rules on the Lawbore blog for you.

Bar Council Law Reform Essay

Sponsored by the Bar Council Scholarship Trust, this competition is open to students and pupils and requires entrants to write a piece of less than 3000 words proposing the case for a law reform which is desirable, practical and useful. Top prize is £4000 which could come in very handy for funding some part of your legal education.

City GDL students have won in previous years: Daisy Ricketts (2011) and Calum Docherty (2010) were both successful. Calum proposed the reform of copyright law in Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: Reforming Fair Dealing in English Copyright Law and Daisy with Strengthening the Rule of Law: Reforming the Scope on Parliamentary Privilege. In 2012 City student Mek Mesfin was runner-up in the CPE category and in 2013 Ross Beaton, a City GDL alumni won the overall prize. You can see all previous winners and read their essays via the Bar Council website.

Phoebe Whitlock won in the GDL category for 2016's competition with an entry entitled Rivalling Silicon Valley: The case for the reform of Software Patents. Take a look at the CityNews story about this. For the 2017 competition, GDL student Clarissa Wigoder won first prize with her essay Spare the rod: Why the law on corporal punishment needs to be reformed, and Daniel Fox was named runner-up with his piece: I hate being idle: Asylum seekers and the right to work. In 2020 BPTC alumnus Oliver Brewis won for his piece: Unravelling the Sleeve of Care: Fair Remuneration for Employer-contracted Sleep. In 2021, GDL student Annika Weis won with her entry: Licence to sanction - Stopping Environmental Crimes through UK Magnitsky legislation. Last year, GDL student Raphael Marshall was first runner-up in the competition.

Take a look at their entries (and other winners back to 2018) via the Bar Council website. The competition information usually comes out in April and the deadline for entries for 2023 is 23rd October at 5pm.

JLD Essay Competition

Open to its members, the Junior Lawyers Network of the Law Society, have an annual competition for those registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority. This includes LPC students and those qualified and working as paralegals. The deadline is normally around the end of November each year and they generally ask for essays of no more than 2000 words. I can't currently find any information about this year's competition, so have fired off an email to the organisation. Update soon!

Essay titles from previous years include:

Is there a role for the legal profession in environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations?

What’s in a name? Is the title of solicitor still relevant??

How will the rule of law be affected by advances in legal technology?

UKELA Andrew Lees Prize

Named for a former Friends of the Earth Campaign Director (Andrew Lees, a leading environmental campaigner who died unexpectedly in 1994) this prize has been going many years. You can view previous winners on the site and the winner normally receives support for travel and attendance at the UKELA annual conference as well as see your work published in their members' journal.

The deadline for submissions is usually around early April of each year. The 2024 competition is likely to launch in January 2024.

Find out more about the competition and associated rules on the UKELA website, as well as essay winners from past years.

The 2023 competition pivoted around the following statement: 'If we are to meet the challenges of the climate and nature crises, it is essential to strengthen current approaches to environmental governance. Discuss'. You can read the winning entry via the UKELA website.

ARDL Marion Simmons QC Essay Competition

Annual essay competition from the Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers. Students are asked to write no more than 1500 words on a topic. The competition asks applicants to submit an essay on a regulatory law or disciplinary law topic of their choice.

First prize winner takes home £2000, second prize winner £1000 and third prize £500. Details of the competition are normally released in February, with a deadline for submission in late April.

Entry is open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students in the UK and a wide range of early practitioners too. You can see full eligibility details via the competition website.

FIDE Essay Prize

The UK Association for European Law also run an essay competition, with the winner securing a bursary to attend the biennial FIDE CONGRESS Conference, which usually takes place in May.

Students are generally asked to write no more than 2000 words (including footnotes) on the topic provided.

Submissions are judged by a panel from the UKAEL committee, who will award the winner registration at the conference in addition to £600 towards accommodation and travel. The winner of this prize in 2018 was William Spence, GDL student at City. In 2014 another City student (BPTC) took the prize, Niall Coghlan. You can read both their essays via the UKAEL website. Niall has had a great year for developing his European Law expertise - he was also part of the team that won the European Human Rights Moot in Strasbourg.

Sadly the competition has been on pause in recent years and will likely not run in 2024.

Future Legal Mind Award

Launched in 2014 by the National Accident Helpline the winner of this competition will receive £1500 towards their career development, as well as gain access to mentoring and a work experience placement.

There are separate awards for undergraduates and postgraduates. The last time the competition ran was 2022. You can find out more about the competition and see the winning entries via the National Accident Helpline competition website. The organisers have confirmed that it will run again in 2024.

The 2015 winner in the postgraduate category was Lukas Hamilton-Eddy (City GDL student). In 2016 the prize was again won by a City GDL student, Tom Phillips. He wowed judges with his essay on the future of legal services for firms and consumers. Another City student, Pavlos Artemios Xagoraris also made the finalists stage. Pavlos is in the first year of his Graduate Entry LLB. Katherine Strange (GDL) was a finalist in 2017. We're overdue another City winner!

Property Bar Association Essay Competition

This competition was launched in November 2015 and asks students each year to write a 1000-word essay, with the winner taking home £1000, a copy of Megarry & Wade AND their essay published in the Estates Gazette.

The question for 2023 was Has equity been taken too far in enforcing informal promises of interests in land?

The question is normally released in November each year and the essay deadline in early January.

Arabella Adams (City GDL) won the 2017 competition and Elijah Granet (City GDL) won first prize in the 2020 competition.

SCL Student Essay Prize

The Society for Computers and Law annual essay competition asks entrants to write a maximum of 2000 words in order to be in with a chance of winning a free place at the annual SCL Conference, publication of your essay in the SCL Computers and Law magazine and £300. The competition honours the memory of the amazing Sir Henry Brooke, a former President of SCL.

The 2021 competition (deadline was in November of that year) asked students to address the following question in fewer than 2500 words:

There is increasing concern that machine learning tools embed bias in their operations and outputs. To what extent does the law currently provide adequate protection from or adequate redress in respect of any such discrimination?

We've contacted the SCL to find out if this competition will run in 2024.

Shamnad Basheer Essay Competition on Intellectual Property Law

This competition was launched in 2020 by SpicyIP, in honour of their founder Professor Shamnad Basheer. Excitingly this competition asks for submissions on anything related to intellectual property rights – the more creative the better. The call generally comes out in May of each year.

The word limit for submissions is 5,000 words (inclusive of footnotes) and the deadline for submissions is June 30, 2020 (23:59 IST).

All submissions and any queries should be e-mailed to submissions@spicyip.com.

The competition is open to students currently enrolled in any LLB program (or its equivalent – meaning students enrolled in J.D. programs can take part) across the world.

Deadline for the 4th annual essay competition is July 14th. For inspiration you can see the winners of the 2022 competition and their essays via the SpicyIP website.

UK Centre for Animal Law Essay Competition

The details of the 2024 competition will be released in November 2023.

Last year's competition title was:

Can the UK’s hunting legislation be reformed to ensure practical protection for UK wildlife?.

The inaugral competition was won by City GDL and BVS student Sam Groom. You can see a fantastic video of Sam speaking about the competition on the competition website.

First prize is a £150 book voucher and the chance to get your essay published in the UK Journal of Animal Law.


The Cambridge Centre for Animal Rights Law Essay Competition

The organisers state that the aim of their competition is to:

...encourage students to explore the fascinating questions that animals rights raise, and to discuss these questions in an original piece of writing that may inspire them to engage further with the topic in the future.

No information regarding the 2024 competition yet but in 2023 the question was as follows:

Richard Ryder once wrote: “Since Darwin, scientists have agreed that there is no ‘magical’ essential difference between human and other animals, biologically-speaking. Why then do we make an almost total distinction morally?” Assuming that is correct, how does this affect the arguments for and against animal rights laws?

The winning essay in the university category receives £750. You can read winning essays from the previous years of the competition via the competition website.

Littleton Chambers Sports Law Essay Competition

This annual competition from Littleton Chambers offers young lawyers the chance to get their ideas out to the wider sporting community and various monetary prizes, plus a sports law mini-pupillage. First prize is £1000, second prize £500 and third place receives £250.

The 2023 competition deadline was end of February 2023, so we anticipate a similar one for the 2024 competition. Entrants were asked to submit a piece of work between 1,500 and 2,500 words, on the following title:

Transparency has been prized as foundational to good governance in sport (see, for instance, the International Olympic Committee’s Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance, principle 2). To what extent (if at all) are sport regulators justified in using confidential procedures, such as arbitration, to deal with participant misconduct?

Until we get the info for the 2024 competition, have a look at the information on the 2023 competition pages.

Human Rights Essay Award

The Human Rights Essay Award is an annual competition (sponsored by the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at Washington College of Law) that seeks to stimulate the production of scholarly work in international human rights law.

The Academy will grant two Awards, one for the best article in English and one for the best article in Spanish. The Award in each case will consist of:

  1. A full scholarship to the Program of Advanced Studies on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law for either the Diploma or Certificate of Attendance options.
  1. Travel expenses to and from Washington D.C. (if the competition is not virtual)
  1. Housing at the university dorms
  1. Per diem for living expenses
  1. The best articles may also be published in the American University International Law Review

It is open to all lawyers around the world regardless of their nationality, but participants must already have a law degree Juris Doctor, (J.D.), Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or equivalent by the submission due date to be eligible. They must also have a demonstrated experience or interest in international human rights law.

The 2022 topic was Climate Change and Human Rights: Impacts, Responsibilities, and Opportunities and the deadline was the end of January.

We are awaiting information on the 2024 competition.

FSLA Essay Competition

The Financial Services Lawyers Association runs an annual essay competition, normally with a deadline of early October each year. First prize is a generous £1500 and a legal internship at the FCA.

The 2023 competition title is Can the risks and opportunities of AI in financial services be managed by fine-tuning existing regulation, or is a new approach required? You need to get your entries in by midnight on 6th October 2023.

Look at the FSLA website for full details/rules. Note that membership of the FSLA is free to students!

National Uehiro Oxford Prize in Practical Ethics

Entries from all graduate and undergraduate students (full and part-time) are welcomed, in the form of an essay of up to 2000 words on any topic relevant to practical ethics.

Whilst all students are encouraged to take part, this will be particularly relevant to those studying philosophy, medicine and biological sciences, law, AI and data sciences.

The winner from each category will receive a prize of £500, and the runner up £200. Revised versions of the two winning essays will be considered for publication in the Journal of Practical Ethics. Deadline for this competition is 2nd February 2025 (23:00). For more information, including rules, take a look at the competition website.

ITSA Essay Competition

Open to students members of the Inner Temple, the 2023 competition asks entrants for essays of 2500 words maximum (including refs) on the following topic:

Is the Cab Rank Rule now redundant at the self-employed Bar?

Deadline is 4pm on Monday 6th November 2023 and first prize is £150 and publication of your essay in the Inner Temple Yearbook. Look at the competition website for full rules of the competition.