Lawyer2B Competition

This competition is now closed for 2012. Please refer back to this page later in the year for details of how to enter for 2013.

BPP Law School has teamed up exclusively with Lawyer2B to give away two free places on our Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) and Legal Practice Course (LPC).

How do I enter?

For this year’s competition we are asking you to write about a subject that is fundamental to the legal profession: integrity.

To enter, you'll write a feature expressing your views on whether the City can act ethically, and whether or how it can be effectively regulated. 

With the recent Occupy LSX and Occupy Wall Street ­movements, integrity is a topical issue and there’s plenty of scope for investigation as well as argument.

All you have to do is prepare a 1,500 word feature to appear in the summer 2012 issue of Lawyer 2B magazine. Your article can be focused on one particular issue or event, or a series of examples.

What's on offer?

The two winners will: 

  • have their ­articles printed in Lawyer2B magazine
  • win a free place on our GDL or LPC for September 2012.

You can choose to study in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds, Liverpool, London or Manchester. In Cambridge and Liverpool the GDL place is subject to validation. The prize covers all programme fees, examination fees and a range of books and materials.

Entry checklist

All articles are to be submitted with a covering page, which must include the following:

  • A headline for the article
  • Total word count
  • Title, first and last names
  • Home and term-time addresses
  • Landline and mobile ­numbers, with the number you want for your main ­correspondence highlighted
  • Email address
  • University and course/degree (for current students and graduates)

Closing date

The closing date for the ­submission of articles is Friday 10 February 2012.

Judging criteria

Articles will be judged on the following:

  • Eye-catching headline
  • Clarity and style of writing
  • Research (paper-based and interviews)
  • Structure
  • Content and relevance to audience
  • Spelling, grammar and punctuation
  • Engagement with audience

Top tips for writing a winning feature

  • Before attempting to put pen to paper, read ­articles in Lawyer 2B and other magazines to see how the professionals do it.
  • Don't forget to check out last year’s winning entries, which can be found online at Lawyer2B.com
  • When coming up with ideas for the article think about who reads Lawyer 2B. Is the subject matter relevant for aspiring lawyers, or will they switch off after the first paragraph?
  • Remember, you do not have to be involved in the project you are writing about, and bear in mind that the best features focus on issues that are topical or controversial
  • All features must be based on real projects and not on fiction
  • If you plan to interview someone senior (for ­example the head of a charity or project affected by the issue), we ­recommend that, unless you know the individual, you get in touch with their press office
  • Get permission before quoting someone directly in your feature and do not forget to include their job title. You do not have to quote everyone you ­interview.
  • Put direct quotes in speech marks, for example: Catrin Griffiths, editor of The Lawyer, says: “I’m very excited about reading the entries for this year’s competition.” Allow interviewees to check ­their quotes for accuracy, but do not show them the finished article - you are the author, not them
  • Stick to the word count. Articles that are too short or too long will be disqualified

Terms and conditions

  • BPP is offering two prizes: one free place on the GDL and one free place on the LPC
  • The places can be taken at any of BPP’s law school ­centres, and the prizes apply for September 2012 only. There is no cash alternative
  • Articles must be submitted by email no later than ­midnight on Friday 10 ­February 2012
  • Articles should be sent to lawyer2b@bpp.com
  • Anything sent to an ­incorrect email address or past the deadline will not be counted. No other form of entry will be accepted
  • The decision of the judging panel is final and no correspondence will be entered into concerning the outcome of the competition
  • BPP and Lawyer 2B reserve the right to edit the winning articles
  • Winners must agree to take part in any publicity BPP or Lawyer 2B may require
  • Articles must be original work and any form of ­plagiarism will result in ­automatic disqualification
  • The full name, job title and organisation of ­everyone who has been ­interviewed for the purpose of the article must be ­provided
  • Full consent must be obtained from all persons who are quoted in the article. BPP and Lawyer 2B reserve the right to contact such ­persons to fact-check their quotes, where appropriate
  • Shortlisted entrants must be able to attend a final ­selection panel interview in London. If you are successful at getting through to this stage but either fail to attend or are unable to attend due to, but not excluding, other circumstances, holidays, ­sickness or work placements, you will forfeit your place on the course
  • BPP and Lawyer 2B reserve the right to change the date of the final selection panel. Finalists will be notified as soon as possible should this occur
  • Finalists called to the final selection panel in London will be provided with more detailed information of what will be involved nearer the time
  • The competition is open only to students whose ­GDL or LPC is not being ­sponsored by any other source. A candidate or finalist who obtains sponsorship ­during the competition will be disqualified. Existing BPP GDL students are eligible to enter
  • Competition winners must be available to attend publicity and events as requested. If competition ­winners are unable to attend, the free place will pass to the runner-up in their category
  • To accept the prize the ­winner must meet BPP’s admissions criteria (including residency) and have applied for a place at any of BPP’s five law school centres
  • Employees, and their ­immediate families, of BPP and Lawyer 2B and anyone connected with members of the judging panel are not eligible to enter either of the competitions.