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Eligibility:
- This essay competition is open to current law students at accredited educational institutions, and those that may have completed their studies but are still searching for pupillage and are a member of an Inn.
- Entrants must be able to provide valid proof of their student status, such as a copy of their student ID, a copy of their Inn ID or an official letter from their educational institution.
- Employees, affiliates, and immediate family members of the organisers and judges of the Competition are not eligible to participate.
Entry Requirements:
- To enter the Competition, participants must submit an essay that complies with the essay guidelines
- Only one entry is allowed per participant.
Essay Guidance:
Essays must adhere to the following guidelines:
- The essay must be written in English.
- The essay should not exceed 1,000 words, excluding citations, sources, and references.
- Entrants should include citations and references in accordance with Practice Direction (Citation of Authorities) [2012] 1 WLR 780.
- The essay must not include the entrant’s name, contact information, or any identifying information within the document itself. All identifying information should be provided separately during the submission process.
Submission Process:
- All entries must be submitted electronically through the 4PB website by 5pm on 20 May 2024.
- Entrants must provide their name, contact information, educational institution, and proof of student status in a separate cover letter or submission form. This information will be kept confidential and will not be visible to the judges during the evaluation process.
Evaluation and Judging:
Essays will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Originality of ideas
- Clarity, coherence and impact of writing
- Relevance to the competition’s theme or topic
- Proper citation and use of sources
A panel of qualified judges selected by the organisers will review and score the essays anonymously.
The decision of the judges is final and binding.
Awards:
The judging panel will select one essay as the winning entry and an additional essays as the runner-up.
The Essay Competition winner will be awarded:
- A £500 monetary prize.
- The opportunity for their essay to be published in the New Law Journal
- An invitation to drinks and networking evening with a guest speaker and an opportunity to meet our team. This event will take place on 19th June 2024.
- An invitation for a mini-pupillage
The runner-up will receive:
- A £250 monetary prize.
- An invitation to drinks and networking evening with a guest speaker and an opportunity to meet our team. This event will take place on 19th June 2024.
Payment of Monetary Prize and Consent for Bank Details:
- Monetary prizes will be paid by bank transfer.
- To receive the monetary prize, winners must provide their bank account details to the organisers. By participating in the competition, entrants consent to providing their bank account details for the purpose of receiving the prize.
- The organisers will handle all personal and financial information provided by winners in accordance with applicable privacy laws and regulations. This information will only be used for the purpose of prize disbursement and will not be shared with third parties without consent.
Copyright and Plagiarism:
- By submitting an essay to the Competition, entrants grant the organisers a non-exclusive licence to reproduce, publish, and distribute their work for promotional and educational purposes.
- Plagiarism will not be tolerated. All submitted essays will be checked for originality, and any essay found to contain plagiarised content will be disqualified.
- Entries prepared with the aid of artificial intelligence will be disqualified.
Announcement of the Winning Entry and Top Entries:
- The winners will be notified via the contact information provided during submission. The results will also be posted on the Competition Website/Platform and through other communication channels chosen by the organisers.
Privacy and Personal Data
- The organisers will handle all personal information in accordance with the 4PB Privacy Notice.
- Personal information will only be used for the purposes of the Competition and will not be shared with third parties without consent.
- If entrants have any questions about data protection at 4PB, they can email dataprotection@4pb.com
By participating, entrants agree that:
- the organisers’ use of their name in connection with the announcement of the winners. The winners’ names may be published on the 4PB Website and Social Media Platforms, in promotional materials, and in other communication channels chosen by the organisers for the purpose of announcing the winners and promoting the competition.
- if they are selected as winners, their winning essay may be published by a third-party family law journal or publication, subject to their terms and conditions. The organisers will seek the entrants’ consent before sharing their essays with such third-party publications.
Disqualification:
- The organisers reserve the right to disqualify any entrant who violates these terms and conditions or engages in any conduct that is deemed unfair or inappropriate.
Modification or Cancellation:
- The organisers reserve the right to modify or cancel the Competition at their discretion. In the event of cancellation, entrants will be notified.
By participating in a 4PB Essay Competition, entrants agree to abide by these terms and conditions. Failure to comply with these terms may result in disqualification.