The competition rules

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Subject 

Your essay must:

  • Identify and make the case for a law reform that is desirable, practical and useful
  • Be about a reform to English, Welsh or European law
  • Propose reform that is legislative or propose reform to common law

Format

Your essay must be:

  • Your individual work
  • Submitted in Microsoft Word
  • Attached to an email to [email protected] 
  • Submitted with an application form
  • Submitted without your name on the essay document
  • Arial size 12
  • Double line spacing
  • A maximum of 3,000 words

Your word count:

  • Must be included at the foot of the essay
  • Includes the main body of the essay and annexes
  • Excludes the title and footnotes (for example citations and brief references to other research)
  • (For footnotes) is no more than 25 words

Use of generative AI tools: your essay must be your sole creation and original work. AI may be used for research, proofreading and checking spelling. If an entrant chooses to use generative AI, the entrant is responsible for checking the accuracy of the output. Entrants are not permitted to use any AI programme to write all or part of an essay to enter this competition. Any essay which has been written, in part or in whole, by ChatGPT or similar programmes will be excluded from the marking and judging process and ineligible.

You must keep a record of all searches using AI tools and the text of the corresponding output. We may carry out spot checks and randomly select entrants to produce a record of your research and work. We may also carry out any other investigation into suspected unauthorised use of AI. If appropriate, we may refer the entrant to the Bar Standards Board, relevant higher education institution or chambers for potential investigation and disciplinary proceedings for academic or professional misconduct.

References should be inserted using the Harvard style referencing system or OSCOLA referencing system.

Reworked coursework, journals or articles: each essay must be an original piece of work written by the entrant for the competition and has not been peer reviewed and edited.

Proof of eligibility

We will only transfer the prize money to you if you are successful once confirmation of your eligibility to enter the competition has been received. You must show proof of eligibility in one/more of the following ways:

  • If you are undertaking pupillage, an email from your pupil supervisor confirming that you are a pupil at their chambers and at what stage you are in pupillage
  • If you have an offer of pupillage, a letter/email from the chambers or organisation confirming that offer of pupillage and your acceptance
  • If you are undertaking the vocational component of training or integrated academic and vocational training, proof of enrolment such as a letter or email from the applicable institution
  • If you completed the vocational component of training within the last 5 years and are seeking pupillage, a copy of the certificate to show completion of the course

The prize winners grant the Bar Council the right to publish or reproduce at any time all or part of the award-winning entries.

Eligibility criteria

When the essay is submitted and at the date of the close of the competition, you must satisfy one or more of the following criteria:

  1. A person who is undertaking a pupillage, as defined in the Bar Qualification Manual of the Bar Standards Board (see Section 4A in particular), which is registered with the Bar Standards Board
    1. Please note: pupils undertaking a third six pupillage or probationary tenancy (or howsoever termed) are not eligible. An applicant who met the eligibility criteria at the time of submitting their essay who commences tenancy before the deadline has closed will remain eligible to enter
  2. A person who holds an offer of such a pupillage registered in the years 2026 to 2027
  3. A person who is undertaking the vocational component of training for the Bar with an Authorised Education and Training Organisation (AETO) during the academic session 2024/25 or will be doing so during the academic session 2025/26
  4. A person who is undertaking an integrated academic and vocational course with an AETO as recognised by the Bar Standards Board, during the academic session 2024/25, or will be doing so during the academic session 2025/26 with a settled intention to become a practising member of the Bar of England and Wales
  5. A person who is actively seeking pupillage and is eligible to do pupillage having completed the vocational component (e.g. the Bar course, the Bar/barrister training course, the Bar practice course, the Bar vocational course, the Bar vocational studies or Bar professional training course within the last 5 years)

Plagiarism policy

View and download the full plagiarism policy [PDF]

Data protection notice

View or download the full data protection policy [PDF]