John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize - Law
$10,000 Scholarship
A prestigious international essay competition for students 18 and under to tackle challenging legal questions and win scholarships up to $10,000.
Mode
Online
Fee
Free
Participation format
Individual
Duration
Participants work independently on their essays. The main period is from the release of questions until the submission deadline.
Time needed
Depends on individual research and writing time
Eligibility
Open to students of any nationality, including India. Candidates must be eighteen years old, or younger, on the submission deadline.
- Age range
- 6 to 18 years
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Academic requirement
- Students must be enrolled in a school or equivalent educational program.
- Prerequisites
- A strong command of the English language is essential.
- Ability to conduct independent research and formulate a coherent, evidence-based argument.
- Interest in complex legal, philosophical, and ethical questions.
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Award
$10,000
The overall best essay across all categories wins a Grand Prize scholarship of $10,000. The winner in the Law category receives a $5,000 scholarship. Second and third place receive $2,000 and $1,000 respectively. These scholarships are for attending John Locke Institute programs.
Certificate
eCertificate of Achievement
All shortlisted candidates are able to download an eCertificate that acknowledges their achievement, which is a valuable addition to academic and university profiles.
Opens doors to
Success in this competition is a significant credential for applications to top-tier universities worldwide, as it demonstrates high-level academic and analytical skills valued by institutions like Oxford and Princeton.
Recognition
International Recognition
Skills your child builds
Key dates
Last edition
- Registration opened
- 2 Feb 2026
- Registration closed
- 31 Mar 2026
- Competition
- 1 Apr 2026 to 31 May 2026
- Results
- 3 Oct 2026
How to apply
- 1Register on the John Locke Institute website before the registration deadline.
- 2Choose one essay question from the Law category.
- 3Write an essay of no more than 2000 words, addressing the question directly.
- 4Submit the essay online in PDF format by the submission deadline.
Rules and guidelines
- The essay must not exceed 2000 words, excluding bibliography, endnotes, and diagrams.
- Each candidate may submit only one essay per subject category.
- Footnotes are not permitted, but endnotes and a bibliography are allowed.
- Essays must be submitted in PDF format with a specific filename: FirstName-LastName-Category-QuestionNumber.pdf.
- Essays must be the original work of the student, without the use of AI for content generation.
Technology requirements
- A computer with internet access
- PDF creation software
- A computer with a word processing program
About this opportunity
The John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize is a distinguished international competition that challenges students to develop exceptional writing and analytical skills by exploring complex questions in Law. It encourages young thinkers to move beyond the standard school curriculum, fostering independent thought, in-depth knowledge, and a persuasive, evidence-based writing style.
Open to students aged 18 or younger from any country, including India, this competition provides a global platform to showcase intellectual talent. Essays are evaluated by a panel of senior academics from world-renowned universities like Oxford and Princeton, offering participants a unique opportunity for high-level academic feedback and recognition that significantly strengthens university applications.
Rounds and format
Single submission round.
How entries are judged
Essays are judged on knowledge and understanding of the relevant material, competent use of evidence, quality of argumentation, originality, structure, writing style, and persuasive force. The best essays are those capable of changing someone's mind and that address the strongest counter-arguments.
Selection process
A panel of senior academics from leading universities, including Oxford and Princeton, selects a winner from each subject category. From these winners, a Grand Prize winner is chosen for the best essay overall.
Academic details
Difficulty: Advanced
What's covered
Not applicable. Participants choose from a list of provided essay questions.
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