Published on August 20, 2019 by ottohopkinsfagan

Studying for a LLB law degree can be expensive. With all of the textbooks, course material, stationary, living expenses and everything else that comes with studying law at university, finding spare cash to cover emergencies can be difficult. Legal essay competitions are a great way to boost your income whilst at university.


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What is a Law Essay Competition?

A Law Essay Competition is exactly how it sounds: a competition which requires the applicant to write an essay that has a focus on a particular aspect of the law. Some essay competitions have monetary rewards, enabling you to earn while you learn, such as those offered by The Inns of Court or The Bar Council, whereas others offer the chance to take up an internship or work experience at a top law firm.

What are the Requirements?

Usually these essay competitions will have certain requirements that must be met. These usually include a stipulation on what stage of education you’re at as well as other selective criteria depending on your experience.

Why Compete?

Whether you are thinking of applying to a law firm, chambers, scholarship or considering another career there is certainly value in entering these competitions to boost your CV. It has been reported on by The Bar Council that chambers mark applicants for pupillage based on a number of criteria and these often include whether they have won an award for something law related.

The awards that firms look for could be those that demonstrate oral advocacy or through writing competitions that demonstrate written legal skills. The same is true when applying for scholarships, as it helps to show capability and is often seen by many in the legal field as a better gauge for discerning the quality of their candidates.

Lastly, aside from the reputational value, some offer very nice incentives for winners, such as paid internships (Clifford Chance under Intelligent Aid offered 50 placements in 2016 this way) and monetary incentives sometimes of between £100 to £4000.

Want some essay writing tips? Read our blog on how to write a first-class law essay

Improve Your Writing Skills

Competitions Available at University Level

Competitions Available at Sixth-Form Level

These are just a sample of the many student essay competitions on offer. Find one with a title that suits your interests and enjoy writing. These competitions give you an inspiring opportunity to simultaneously explore an area of the law in great depth and also prepare you for future applications. Therefore, I encourage you to seriously consider participating in one.

Want to know another great way to get legal work experience? Click here to read more. >>

How to earn while you learn at university >>

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