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 2024-2025 school year, the Law Society invites all Grade 12 students and students who have taken, or are currently enrolled in, either Law 12, Political Studies 12, Social Justice 12 or Social Studies 11, to submit an essay on the following topic:
How can the rule of law be affected — positively or adversely — through the actions of politicians or political parties? In your essay, reference any examples from Canada or the United States that illustrate your point.
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.
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.
For further details, download the information sheet and submission guidelines.
If you have questions about the contest, contact Policy & Legal Services.
2023-2024 contest winners
The Law Society congratulates the essay contest winner and runner-up for their exceptional essays on the rule of law:
Winner: Pui Chi Lau (Prince of Wales Secondary School) “What do you think is the greatest threat to the rule of law in Canada, and what steps can you take to defend it?”
Runner-up: Anita Pan (York House School) “Politicization and Legitimacy: Exploring Threats to the Canadian Rule of Law”