This competition is CLOSED and will reopen in Summer 2025.

One prize of £1,000 may be awarded every year for an essay from a member of the Middle Temple on a prescribed topic of no more than 3,000 words.  The word count does not include footnotes, but footnotes should be used for pure reference purposes and not include analysis.

Submissions will be accepted from members of the Inn who are students or newly Called and looking for pupillage or currently undertaking pupillage.  Candidates must intend to practise at the Bar of England and Wales.

Entries must be typed and clearly marked with the entrant’s membership number.  They must be accompanied by an electronically signed and dated copy of the cover sheet which is provided with the essay topics. Entries must be sent to the Scholarships Officer at scholarshipapplications@middletemple.org.uk by the deadline below.

The Guidance on Plagiarism and Note on Penalties can be found here - please read this carefully.

You can find the cover sheet that you need to download and submit alongside your essay at the bottom of this page, as well as a guidance document.

Past Winners

2024
Catrin Gregory-Wallace
Click here to read her essay.

2023
Saniya Mehmood 
Click here to read her essay.

2021

Sapandeep Singh Maini-Thompson
Click here to read his essay.

2020
Imogen Beltrami
Click here to read her essay.

First runner up: Robert Lewis
Click here to read his essay.

Second runner up: Lara Sheehan
Click here to read her essay.

2019
Timothy Hall
Click here to read his essay.

2018
Christian Fox

2017
Toby Roseman

2016
Rebecca de Hoest

2015
Jointly awarded to Daniel Black and Daniel Grutters

2014
James Beeton

2013
Eyimoyowa Ekperigin