Columbia Undergraduate Law Review High School Essay Contest
by Columbia University School of Professional Studies
Published on Columbia Law Review site
International essay contest by the Columbia Undergraduate Law Review for high school students, with the 2026 prompt focused on due process and immigration law.
Mode
Online
Fee
Free
Participation format
Individual
Duration
Submission within the contest window
Time needed
Depends on individual research and writing time
Eligibility
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.
- Grade level
- Grade 9 to 12
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- 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
See if your child qualifies.
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
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.
Rules and guidelines
- Open to current high school students only; recent graduates are not eligible.
- Essays must not exceed 1,500 words (excluding citations and works-cited).
- Essays must reference at least one court case or legal document.
- Chicago citation format with a works-cited page is mandatory.
- Submissions must be made as PDF files through the official Google Form.
- Late submissions are not accepted.
Technology requirements
- Word processor capable of exporting to PDF
- Internet access to submit through the Google Form
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.
Rounds and 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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Are international high school students eligible to participate?
Yes, the contest is open to current high school students worldwide. The only restriction is that recent graduates (Class of 2026) are not eligible to enter the 2026 cycle.
What is included and excluded from the 1,500-word limit?
The 1,500-word limit covers the body of the essay only. Citations and the works-cited page are excluded from the word count, allowing participants to provide thorough sourcing without sacrificing analytical depth.
How should participants format references and citations?
All citations must follow Chicago citation format, and the essay must include a works-cited page at the end. Information that is not common knowledge should be cited; at least one court case or legal document must be referenced in the essay.
When are results announced and how are winners notified?
Results are typically announced by the first week of August. The winning essay is 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.
What approach to the 2026 prompt do CULR editors look for?
Editors look for rigorous legal analysis that engages with how courts balance protections for disenfranchised individuals against government authority around national sovereignty, non-citizen legal access, and national-security considerations. Strong submissions combine clear argumentation with well-sourced research.
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