Secondary School Essay Contest

The Law Society of British Columbia is the governing body of the legal profession in BC and regulates lawyers to protect the public interest in the administration of justice. As part of its mandate, the Law Society is committed to bringing a voice to issues affecting the justice system.

In 2015, the Law Society’s Rule of Law and Lawyer Independence Advisory Committee initiated an annual essay contest for BC secondary school students as a way of reaffirming the significance of the Rule of Law and enhancing students’ knowledge and willingness to participate actively in civic life.

For the 2026-2027 school year, the Law Society invites all Grade 11 or 12 students in British Columbia and any secondary school students currently enrolled in Law 12, Political Studies 12, Social Justice 12, Social Studies 11 or a similar course in British Columbia, to submit an essay on the following topic:

In a recent decision, 2026 BCSC 779 (CanLII) | Law Society of British Columbia v British Columbia (Attorney General), the Supreme Court of British Columbia held that the independence of the Bar is an unwritten constitutional principle. Why would an independent bar be so important in a constitutional democracy like Canada?

The Law Society will select one winning essay and one runner-up from the entries it receives. The winning entry will be awarded a $1,000 prize, and the runner-up will receive $500.

Deadline for submissions is 11:59 pm on Sunday, April 18, 2027.

For details, read the submission guidelines and information sheet.

We invite secondary schools throughout the province to encourage their students to participate in the essay contest. The Law Society believes that a solid understanding of the relevance of the Rule of Law is critical to good citizenship and to preserving the rights, freedoms and democratic values we share as Canadians.

If you have questions about the contest, contact communications@lsbc.org.