CBA Law Student Essay Contests

What you will need

• ✓ An essay submission for one of the 25 contests
• ✓ Submission by December 4 at 8:00 pm ET

About this award

You can win cash prizes ranging from $500 to $2,500. This is a prize, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are a law student looking to build your profile in the legal community and sharpen your research skills. You must submit your entry by December 4 at 8:00 pm ET. When you apply, ask the Canadian Bar Association (CBA — the national association of lawyers in Canada) how and when you will be notified of the results. Selection criteria aren't published — ask the Canadian Bar Association how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask the Canadian Bar Association during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. Renewal conditions aren't listed — since these are essay contests, confirm with the Canadian Bar Association if you can enter multiple categories or apply again in future years.

Who qualifies

This is open to law students. You can enter any of the 25 essay contests, each with its own requirements, including Aboriginal Law, Administrative Law, Air and Space Law, Dispute Resolution, Business Law, Charities and Not-for-Profit Law, Child & Youth Law, Civil Litigation, Competition Law and Foreign Investment Review, Constitutional and Human Rights Law, Construction and Infrastructure Law, Criminal Justice, Elder Law, Environmental, Energy and Resources Law, Health Law, Intellectual Property, International Law, Labour & Employment Law, Municipal Law, Privacy and Access Law, Public Sector Lawyers, Real Property, Small, Solo and General Practice, Wills, Estates and Trusts, and the Women Lawyers Forum.

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

• ✓ Open to undergraduate students
• ✓ Studying Aboriginal Law, Administrative Law, Air and Space Law, Dispute Resolution, Business Law, Charities and Not for Profit Law, Child & Youth Law, Civil Litigation, Competition Law and Foreign Investment Review, Constitutional and Human Rights Law, Construction and Infrastructure Law, Criminal Justice, Elder Law, Environmental, Energy and Resources Law, Health Law, Intellectual Property, International Law, Labour & Employment Law, Municipal Law, Privacy and Access Law, Public Sector Lawyers, Real Property, Small, Solo and General Practice, Wills, Estates and Trusts or Women Lawyers Forum

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's official page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Write your essay

   Be specific about what you did and what changed because of it. Proofread it twice.

3. 3

   Submit your application

   Save a copy, and submit at least a day before the deadline shown above.

Tips for applying

• Research StatementAvoid writing a general overview of a legal topic. Instead, focus on a specific, narrow legal problem that allows you to show off your deep research skills. Pick one of the 25 contests that matches your strongest interest.
• SupportAvoid submitting your draft without a second pair of eyes. Instead, ask a professor or a peer to critique your argument for clarity and logic. Ensure your citations follow a standard legal referencing method.
• StrategyAvoid ignoring the specific theme of the named award. Instead, tailor your essay to the particular interests of the section sponsoring the prize, such as the Women Lawyers Forum or the Public Sector Lawyers group.

Questions students ask

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