Essay Title
“What is the case for a unified international code of law governing commercial and financial transactions and why might such a code be undesirable?”
Competition Rules
Failure to comply with these rules may result in disqualification.
Eligibility
The competition is open to undergraduate law students at UK institutions.
Essay Requirements
- Essays must not exceed 1,000 words (excluding title and footnotes). Over-length essays are automatically rejected.
- Essays must be the entrant’s own original work, not drafted, in whole or in part, by Artificial Intelligence tools, and not previously published or submitted for any other competition or assessment.
Submission Process
- Submit essays as a Word document via ILBFessay@gmail.com from your university email account. Personal emails will not be accepted.
- Include your surname, first name, and university ID number in the email subject line (as on your student card).
- State your surname, first name, and year of undergraduate study clearly at the top of your essay.
Key Dates
- Deadline: 5pm (London time) 1st June 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted.
- Judging occurs during June 2026 and we aim to announce the winner on the 1st July 2026. The judges’ decision is final.
Publication
By submitting an essay, entrants grant ILBF a non-exclusive licence to publish the winning essay on ILBF’s website, in the Commonwealth Lawyers Association newsletter and in the New Law Journal, with appropriate attribution to the author.
Submission and Referencing Guidelines
These guidelines are intended to assist entrants and ensure consistency.
- Use OSCOLA referencing. Footnotes are for references only and must not include substantive discussion.
- Footnotes should appear at the end of the essay and should not be excessive. No bibliography required.
- Entrants will receive an automatic email confirmation upon submission.
- Send queries to ILBFessay@gmail.com before submission.
Announcement of Results
The winner will be announced on our website and LinkedIn page on 1 July 2026.
Staying in Touch
Entrants are encouraged to follow the International Law Book Facility (ILBF) on LinkedIn for updates on future competitions.
