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 2025-2026 school year, the Law Society invited 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 famous case in 1958 called Roncarelli v. Duplessis, the Supreme Court of Canada held that the rule of law was a fundamental postulate of the Canadian constitutional structure. What do you think the Court meant by that, and give examples of how the Court’s judgment may still be relevant today.
The Law Society congratulates the essay contest winner and runner-up for their exceptional essays on the rule of law:
Winner: Muhammed Goghari (Victoria High School) “Political Authority and Legal Limits: The Rule of Law in Roncarelli v. Duplessis and its Continuing Significance”
Runner-up: Beau Wong (Prince of Wales Secondary School) “The Rule of Law: A Safeguard Against Arbitrary Government”
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.