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SALRC Legal Essay Writing Competition

BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY IN LAW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF SOUTH AFRICA’S LEGAL GIANTS

South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) is engaging young legal minds in generating innovative ideas on issues of law reform. The competition aims to honour a range of South African legal achievers who have dedicated their lives to the advancement of our constitutional democracy.

The competition is currently dedicated to the memory of the late Chief Justice Pius Nkonzo Langa who served South Africa with dignity and distinction.

Drawing on the inspirational legacy of Justice Pius Langa, the South African Law Reform Commission (in partnership with sponsors Juta) invites all law students studying towards an LLB or LLM at a South African university to submit their innovative ideas championing law reform issues into the 2023 South African Law Reform Commission Legal Essay Writing Competition.

Join the ranks of future legal achievers destined to shape our evolving jurisprudence by entering this prestigious law student essay writing competition.

Follow this link to read more about the 2025 South African Law Reform Commission Legal Essay Competition and read the Guide to Legal writing compiled by the SALRC.

Join the ranks of legal scholars destined to play a future role in shaping our country’s evolving jurisprudence by entering this prestigious competition and stand a chance of winning a share of R100 000 worth of prizes!

ESSAY SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 30 JUNE 2024

• The Law Reform Essay Coordinator, South African Law Reform Commission
• Private Bag x668, Pretoria 0001
• Email: AMakhwanya@justice.gov.za

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

• The South African Law Reform Essay Competition encourages critical legal writing by students while generating new ideas for law reform. These ideas should be aligned with South Africa’s priorities as a developmental state and be aimed at keeping the law abreast of developments in society and in tune with the needs of South Africa’s diverse population and national policy priorities.
• Essays can be on any topic relating to the modernisation, improvement, development or reform of any aspect, area or branch of South African law.
• Entries should be in English and must be 4000 to 6000 words in length.
• The competition will be judged by a panel appointed by the South African Law Reform Commission.

WHO CAN ENTER?

• The competition is divided into two categories and is open to registered LLB and LLM students respectively at a South African university or tertiary institution, in any year of study.
• Abridged versions of completed Masters dissertations will also be accepted.
• PhD students are not eligible to enter.

RULES OF THE COMPETITION

The following information needs to be included in your submission:

• Name and Surname.
• Contact number & email address.
• Name of the institution at which you are studying.
• The category which you are entering (LLB or LLM) and the word count of your essay.
• Essays must be submitted via email in MS Word or PDF format clean versions (without plagiarism report) for assessment.
• No late submissions will be accepted. Essays that are below or exceed the word count, or do not have a plagiarism report and/or with a similarity index above 15% will be disqualified.

ABOUT THE PRIZES

• Winners of the LLB and LLM categories of the 2024 edition of the competition will get a R20 000 Incredible Connection voucher.
• The Supervisor of the winner of both LLB and LLM competition categories will each receive a R2 500 Juta credit voucher.
• Runners-up of the LLB and LLM categories will get a R10 000 Incredible Connection Voucher.
• The Supervisor of the runner-up of both LLB and LLM competition categories will each receive a R2 500 Juta credit voucher.

PLAGIARISM NOTIFICATION:

By submitting your work, you are conrming that it is your own work and have fully acknowledged all the sources you referenced. For further information regarding the SALRC on plagiarism, please read the Legal Essay Writing Competition Rules.

SALRC contacts: AMakhwanya@justice.gov.za and Reform@justice.gov.za