Application now open. Please see below for details.
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 not 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, Madeleine Cirdei at m.cirdei@middletemple.org.uk by the deadline below.
The Guidance on Plagiarism and Note on Penalties can be found here - please read this carefully.
Applications for the 2020 competition are open as of 20 July 2020. The deadline has been extended by a month to take into account the August centralised examinations and will close at 4 p.m. on 25 September 2020. You can find the essay topic in the document entitled "Colombos Essay Prize Cover Sheet", downloadable at the bottom of this page.
Past Winners
2019
Timothy Hall
2018
Christian Fox
2017
Toby Roseman
2016
Rebecca de Hoest
2015
Jointly awarded to Daniel Black and Daniel Grutters
Click here to read Daniel Black's essay.
Click here to read Daniel Grutters' essay.
2014
James Beeton
2013
Eyimoyowa Ekperigin