Columbia Undergraduate Law Review High School Essay Contest
by Columbia University Pre-College Programs
Published on Columbia Law Review site
Columbia Undergraduate Law Review High School Essay Contest is a competition by Columbia University Pre-College Programs for students in Class 9 to 12. It is free to take part.
Mode
Online
Eligibility
Class 9 to 12
Fee
Free
Duration
Submission within the contest window
Format
Individual
Time needed
Varies based on preparation; typically several weeks of reading and writing
About this opportunity
The Columbia Undergraduate Law Review High School Essay Contest is an annual international essay competition organised by the Columbia Undergraduate Law Review, a student-run academic journal at Columbia University. The contest invites current high school students worldwide to engage with timely constitutional and legal questions through rigorous academic writing.
The 2026 edition asks students to respond to the prompt Due Process and the Limits of Government Power, with a focus on immigration law and legal protections afforded to non-citizens. Essays must explore how courts should balance protections for disenfranchised individuals against government authority concerning national sovereignty, non-citizen legal access, and national-security considerations.
Entries are capped at 1,500 words (excluding citations) and must use Chicago citation format with a works-cited page. Submissions are made as PDFs through an online Google Form. Winning essays are published on the CULR website, and the winner and runners-up are invited to a CULR speaker event on immigration and legal protections for non-citizens.
Eligibility
- Grade level
- Class 9 to 12
- Location
- Specific locations
Academic requirement
Open to current high school students worldwide. Recent graduates are not eligible.
Prerequisites
- Current enrolment in high school at the time of submission
- Ability to write a legal-analytical essay in English
- Capability to use Chicago citation format
The contest is open to current high school students worldwide. Recent graduates are not eligible. Submissions must follow the Chicago citation format and address the specified prompt within the 1,500-word limit.
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Academic details
Difficulty: Advanced
What's covered
Independent research and writing on a specified constitutional-law prompt, requiring engagement with at least one court case or legal document and adherence to formal academic citation.
Rewards and recognition
Opens doors to
Recognition from a Columbia University student-run academic journal can strengthen high-school applicants' profiles for top universities, particularly in humanities, law, and political-science programmes.
Recognition
International recognition by CULR
Skills your child builds
Highlights
- Organised by Columbia Undergraduate Law Review, a student-run journal at Columbia University
- Winning essay published on the CULR website
- Winner and runners-up invited to a CULR speaker event
- Prompt updated annually to reflect timely legal and constitutional questions
- Open to high school students worldwide
Rounds & format
Single round; submitted essays are evaluated by Columbia Undergraduate Law Review editors.
How entries are judged
Quality of legal analysis, originality of argument, depth of research, clarity of writing, and adherence to citation and word-limit requirements.
Selection process
Based on holistic evaluation of legal reasoning, research depth, and writing quality by Columbia Undergraduate Law Review editors.
How to apply
- 1Read the official contest prompt on the CULR website.
- 2Research and write an essay of no more than 1,500 words referencing at least one court case or legal document.
- 3Format citations in Chicago style with a works-cited page.
- 4Submit the essay as a PDF through the CULR Google Form before the deadline.
Fees & financial support
Fee details
No application fee is mentioned on the official contest page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Columbia Undergraduate Law Review High School Essay Contest free?
This opportunity is free to participate in.
Who can participate in Columbia Undergraduate Law Review High School Essay Contest?
Students in Class 9 to 12.
What will my child gain from Columbia Undergraduate Law Review High School Essay Contest?
Winning essay published on the Columbia Undergraduate Law Review website. Winner and runners-up invited to a CULR speaker event on immigration and legal protections. International recognition for academic legal writing. Strengthens college applications with a competitive humanities credential. Develops constitutional-law analysis and academic writing skills.
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