Stephen Lawrence Essay Competition 2026: Winners Announced!

We are delighted to announce the winners of the Stephen Lawrence Day Essay Competition 2026!

This year, we received an impressive range of thoughtful and engaging essays in response to the question: “Is Education the Key to a Fair Justice System?” We would like to warmly congratulate our winners:

Winner: Aleksandra Mitevska (Woodhouse College)
Runners-up: Ewan Cartledge (St Anselm’s College) and Arfa Noman (Grey Court school)

The winners will receive legal book vouchers, work experience with barristers at New Square Chambers, and career mentoring/CV advice to support their future aspirations at the Bar.

You can read Aleksandra Mitevska winning essay by clicking here.

Thank you to all the students who entered the competition for their hard work, insight, and enthusiasm. We were truly impressed by the quality of submissions received.

About the Competition

The competition is held each year in commemoration of Stephen Lawrence and in support of Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation’s 2026 theme, “A Legacy for Change”, encouraging greater inclusion, opportunity, and access to the legal profession.

We look forward to continuing to support and inspire the next generation of advocates.