ESSAY COMPETITION
Annual Student Essay Competition!
Our 2026 Annual Student Essay Writing Competition is open for submission!
Our Annual Student Essay Competition is the perfect way to put your animal law research and writing skills to the test! Click on the pictures below for more information about the competition.
Click to learn more about the essay competition
A-LAW Animal Law Student Essay Competition
2026 question:
What are the primary challenges in enforcing animal protection laws and what practical steps can be taken to address underenforcement?
The deadline for submission is:
March 28, 2026 [11:59pm]
Essays should be no more than 1,500 words long. The competition is open to all students during any stage of their studies. Submissions should be reasonably compliant with OSCOLA (Oxford University Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities). If you have any questions, please email [email protected]. Please submit your essay to [email protected].
Congrats to our 2025 winners!
You can learn about our 2025 winners below and read their award winning essays!
Read our 2025 Annual Student Essay Competition Question
Our 2025 question was:
Is breeding companion animals with extreme conformations contrary to the UK Animal Welfare Acts?
Learn more about our students and read their award winning essays below. You can also learn what they had to say about their participation in the competition here.
Luke: First Place
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: Second Place
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 winning essay here!
Tilly: Third Place
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!
Our Essay Competition Prizes!
An opportunity to win a prize for the best animal law essay!
£100 book voucher and winning article published in our UK Journal of Animal Law
£70 book voucher
£30 book voucher