The Columbia Undergraduate Law Review (CULR) High School Essay Contest is an annual competition open to high school students from across the globe that provides a platform for students to engage with legal issues and express their opinions through writing. Participants are invited to submit essays answering prompts related to law, society, and justice. The contest offers a great opportunity for young scholars to explore their interest in law, refine their writing skills, and earn recognition for their work.
Every year in the summer, the winning essay is published on the Columbia Undergraduate Law Review website, and the winner and runners-up are invited to a speaker event hosted by CULR.
Location(s)
- Remote
Schedule
- Spring/Summer
Cost/Compensation
- Free entry
Eligibility Requirements
- Open internationally to all current high school students
- Recent graduates (graduating in May/June) are not allowed to enter the contest
Deadline
- End of June
Application or Entry Requirements
- Responses must reference at least one court case or legal document
- International law or legislation and court cases from different countries may also be applicable
- No more than 1,500 words
- Participants should cite all information that is not common knowledge in Chicago citation format with a works cited page at the end of the document
- All essays should be submitted as PDF files
- Each contestant may only submit one essay for consideration
Notifications of Decisions
- Submissions are reviewed throughout July
- Notices to the winner and runners-up are typically sent out by the first week of August
Financial Aid Details
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
Have other questions?
The Columbia Undergraduate Law Review (CULR) is an undergraduate legal publication whose goal is to provide Columbia University and the public with opportunities for the discussion of law-related ideas and the publication of undergraduate legal scholarship. CULR publishes long-form pieces by undergraduate students internationally in its print journal as well as original pieces by Columbia and Barnard undergraduates in its online journal and its roundtable, current events, and podcasting initiatives.
