Essay Competition

SUBMISSIONS NOW CLOSED
Winners to be announced by the end of September 2024!

We are excited to announce our first essay competition in celebration of our new publication. We invite law students and legal professionals within England and Wales to explore critical issues related to neurodiversity in the law, society, and the legal profession through well-researched and compelling articles.

Participants can choose from two questions, with a limit of one entry per person. Each question will have one winner. Each will receive a £200 prize, and their article published in the first edition of The Journal.

The Questions

Please choose from one of the two questions

1. Should the law mandate neurodivergent representation in film and television?

This article should analyse the legal implications and artistic considerations of casting decisions in the entertainment industry, particularly in relation to casting neurodivergent actors in neurodivergent roles. It should explore how such casting practices align with or challenge the principles set out in the Equality Act 2010, any further legislative proposals, and consider issues of authenticity, representation, and inclusivity. Consider how authentic representation of neurodivergence in media may or may not influence public perception.

2. Is the Criminal Bar truly accessible to neurodivergent practitioners?

This article should analyse the accessibility of the Criminal Bar for neurodivergent barristers. It should explore the potential barriers, if any, that neurodivergent individuals may encounter in entering and thriving in a career in criminal law, such as structural, cultural, and attitudinal obstacles. The analysis should also spotlight any existing support systems and suggest possible solutions to improve accessibility and inclusivity within the Criminal Bar.

Terms and Conditions

Introduction:

This competition offers a platform for emerging voices in the legal community to contribute to the important conversation about neurodiversity and inclusivity within the law.

Eligibility:

The competition is open to all law students and legal professionals who are studying at Higher Education institutions and / or who practise (or intend to practise) in England and Wales. If you have any questions about your eligibility, please contact us using the contact information below. Over 18s only.

Submission Requirements:

Entries:

Entrants may only submit one entry for one of the two topics.

Word Count:

Each article should be between 1,500 and 3,500 words. Footnotes are optional and not included in the word count.

Formatting:

Articles must be written in an appropriate style for publication in clear English and submitted electronically in PDF using the assigned Google form.

Plagiarism:

The essay must be the sole creation and original work of the entrant. Plagiarism will result in your entry being disqualified.

Submission Process:

Please use the Google Form https://forms.gle/87pjxZGRCJV5dSWK8 to upload your entry.

**The deadline for submissions has been extended to Monday 02 September 2024 at 17:00 (5pm) BST**

Judging Criteria and Process:

Articles will be judged by a specialist panel of barristers and solicitors based on the following criteria:

Relevance and Insight: How well the article addresses the topic and provides insightful analysis, from both a neurodiversity and legal perspective.
Argument: The strength and coherence of the arguments presented.
Research: The quality and depth of legal research underpinning the article.
Clarity and Style: The clarity of writing and overall presentation.

The panel’s decision is final.

All articles will be anonymised by a member of Neurodiversity in Law not on the judging panel to prevent any conflicts of interest.

Judging will take place over the 14 days after the close of submissions and winners will be announced in due course via email, and thereafter via social media with the winner’s consent.

Prizes:

There will be two winners, one for each question. The winning essays will receive a total of £200 and be published in the first edition of The Journal. They will also receive a printed copy of The Journal.

Intellectual Property:

Any article that is not selected as a winner will remain your own. However, if your article is selected for publication, it will be considered as jointly authored as defined in the terms of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. This allows us to publish your article under The Journal.

Privacy:

All personal data will be used solely for competition purposes and will not be shared with third parties, which aligns with our Privacy Policy. Winning entries will be contacted to sign a disclosure form.

Disqualification:

Essays that do not adhere to the guidelines or are plagiarised will be disqualified.

Any late entry will not be accepted.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact thejournal@neurodiversityinlaw.co.uk