Join us in extending congratulations to our winners of the 2025 Annual Student Essay Competition. In first place, Luke McLaughlin, second place, Julia Kadas, and in third place, Tilly Green.
Luke is a second-year Solicitor Apprentice pursuing an LLB at The University of Law. He also contributes regularly to The Student Lawyer as a volunteer writer, with a focus on emerging trends in the legal sector. Read Luke’s award winning essay here.
Julia is a third-year Law with French Law student at University College London. She is passionate about using the law to support those in need through pro bono. She was awarded second place in A-LAW’s annual essay competition for her piece on the applicability of extreme animal conformations to the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Exploring this topic challenged her thinking and sparked a deeper curiosity about how law can shape our treatment of animals and other vulnerable groups. Read Julia’s award winning essay here.
Tilly is an undergraduate LLB student at Oxford Brookes University, entering her penultimate year of study. With a strong interest in criminal advocacy and a commitment to rigorous legal analysis, she intends to undertake the Bar Practice Course upon graduation, with the aim of pursuing a career at the Criminal Bar. She entered the A-LAW essay competition to deepen her understanding of current legal challenges and is thrilled to have been awarded third place. Read Tilly’s award winning essay here.
Congrats to all three of you, and thank you to all the students who participated in the 2025 competition. It is always inspiring to us to see the students engage with the yearly question with much care and consideration.
Why did you partake in this competition?
I chose to partake in A-LAW’s annual essay competition because I was excited about the prospect of exploring a unique area of law that isn’t covered in my current studies. It provided an opportunity to combine my passion for advocacy with my interest in legal writing. The experience allowed me to step outside my usual academic focus and engage with important issues concerning animal law, deepening both my understanding and appreciation of the subject matter.
– Luke
What did you learn partaking in this competition?
Through the competition, I learned a lot about the complexities of Animal Law, from legal protections for animals to ethical considerations. It helped me develop critical thinking and research skills, and gave me insight into how law can be used to advocate for animal welfare effectively.
– Tilly
Working on this project has deepened my knowledge and appreciation of the complexities of animal welfare law. I’ve come to understand that protecting animals isn’t just about compassion, it involves navigating a wide range of legal, ethical, and practical challenges. From exploring cross-jurisdictions regulations to the evolving threats faced by animals, the animal welfare landscape is far more intricate than I initially considered. This experience has allowed me to appreciate both the importance of strong, well-integrated laws and the need for ongoing reform to ensure animals are properly protected.
– Luke
Do you think it’s important for students to learn about Animal Law?
Animal Law is important because it intersects with so many key issues – environmental protection, ethics, and social justice. Understanding it prepares students to engage with these challenges and make a positive impact, whether in legal careers or broader society.
– Tilly
Animal welfare law occupies an increasingly important place in modern society and merits close attention. In particular, as animals are becoming more vulnerable to threats such as overbreeding, inbreeding for commercial gain, and deprivation of their basic needs—intentionally or unintentionally—all this constitutes a growing legal concern. Understanding the laws that protect animals is essential for ensuring compliance and promoting their overall safety. However, it is also key to identifying areas in need of reform and strengthening the connection between animal protection and animal welfare law, and in doing so, raising the legal status of animals.
– Luke
What is the Annual Student Essay Competition?
Each year A-LAW runs an essay competition for students on a topical issue or theme within the field of animal law. This year our student was:
Is breeding companion animals with extreme conformations contrary to the UK Animal Welfare Acts?
Our competition provides students with the opportunity to hone their research and writing skills, whilst gaining experience in a niche area of law. It also offers an opportunity to get published in a peer reviewed journal, the UK Journal of Animal Law, the first of its kind within the UK.
Our competition is judged by esteemed lawyers and academics from around the UK.
This competition is open to all students, inclusive of undergrad and postgrad studies. Learn more about our competition here, or message [email protected] for further information.