So you’re already thinking about Christmas looming and all the assessments you have to squeeze into the festive period…but there might be time for a bit of writing for fun (and the chance to win some cold hard cash)?

There are a few deadlines ahead for some of the big essay competitions; here’s a rundown if you haven’t yet noted them:

Justis International Law & Technology Writing Competition 2020

• Write on one of 3 themes – 1. Social media, data and privacy, 2. Technology and the future of legal practice and 3. Access to justice and technology.
• 1,000 words or less
• Deadline = 8th December 2019
• Top prize = £2000 plus publication in Legal Cheek

I’ve been lucky enough to judge this competition since it started but this year the judging team has grown and now includes Judge Rinder and the Secret Barrister! All the information you need (rules, essays of past winners etc) can be found on the competition website.

Center for Legal and Court Technology Annual International Writing Competition (2019-2020)

The CLCT competition runs an annual writing competition dedicated to innovative legal issues likely to arise from Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and/or related technologies.

• Students are asked to “set forth the likely issue, explain why it likely will arise and to what degree; and analyse the probability that it can be readily resolved by the application of existing law”
• 3,500 words or less
• Deadline = 20th December 2019 (note the exact time in rules (remembering it is EST)
• Top prize = $2,500

PBA Essay Competition 2020

The Property Bar Association asks students to address a different question each year. This year it is:

“Which property law decision of the Court of Appeal would you most like to see overturned by the Supreme Court, and why?”

• 1,000 words or less
• Deadline = 3rd January 2020 (note exact time in rules).
• Top prize = £1,000 + a copy of Megarry & Wade: The law of real property + essay published in Estates Gazette

Keep an eye on the listings available on Learnmore for future essay competitions.