UC Law 2021 Essay Competition 

Do you have students interested in entering our essay competition? The questions are based on topical events in Aotearoa to encourage their thinking about current issues. There are two categories (with the questions modified appropriately): Year 9-10 and Year 11-13.

Each category will have three placement prizes.

1st Prize: $200 for you and $100 for your school

2nd Prize: $150 for you and $100 for your school

3rd Prize: $100 for you and $100 for your school

Start watching the news, research your topic and discuss the issues at school. Most importantly, start writing!

Year 9 - 10 Competition

What do I need to do to enter?

It’s simple. Write a 600-word essay on any of the following topics.

Year 9 – 10 Essay Questions

Is prison the best way to punish criminal offending?

Read the He Waka Roimata report by the Safe and Effective Justice Advisory Group. Describe the main findings of this report and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of prison as a form of punishment. Consider different cultural perspectives of alternative ways of resolving criminal wrongdoing in your answer.

Should we continue to keep our borders closed to try and prevent the spread of Covid-19?

Identify the key health and economic issues created by Covid-19 and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of keeping the border closed. Use examples of how other nations have successfully or unsuccessfully addressed Covid-19 at the border.

Year 11-13 Competition

What do I need to do to enter?

It’s simple. Write a 1000-word essay on any of the following topics.

Year 11 -13 Essay Questions

How would you change our criminal justice system?

Read the He Waka Roimata report by the Safe and Effective Justice Advisory Group and critique two or more of the recommendations for change that they propose.. Give examples of other nations who have similar policies to support your answer. Include your own suggestions about possible legal reforms that you think would improve our criminal justice system and/or better reflect Te Ao Māori, especially regarding the current over-representation of Māori in our current criminal justice system. You may wish to discuss criminal justice systems in other countries to support your answer.

What are the legal and wider societal implications of Aotearoa’s approach to Covid-19?

Identify the key legal and societal issues created by Covid-19 and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the approach taken in Aotearoa. Use examples of how other nations have successfully or unsuccessfully addressed Covid-19. Include a detailed discussion of the High Court case of Borrowdale v Director-General of Health [2020] NZHC 2090, which found that the first nine days of the Level 4 lockdown were unlawful but justified.

How to Apply

Go online here complete the entry form and submit your entry. It’s that easy!  You can enter more than one category. Each entry must be submitted on a separate entry form online. Good luck! Entries close: 5pm, Sunday 17 October 2021.

Terms and Conditions

• The essay competition is open to secondary school students in New Zealand.
• Winners and their schools will be notified by 8 November 2021.
• Prize money will be direct credited to the winners’ accounts. By entering, students agree to have their names and school included on the UC School of Law website for publicity, in presentations to prospective students and their schools and for other marketing and publicity as decided by the UC School of Law.
• The decision of the UC School of Law will be final. The UC School of Law may choose to award fewer prizes at their discretion. No correspondence will be entered into.