1. Constitutional & Human Rights Law
This branch of law focuses on the rules and principles embedded in a nation’s institutions, including government structure, distribution of powers, and protection of human rights. If you’re interested in examining how laws and government policies must align with constitutional mandates or how human rights are safeguarded, here are some topics you can consider:
1. Freedom of speech in the digital age
2. Privacy rights in smartphones and apps
3. How should laws regulate bullying apps or online harassment?
4. Rights of refugees under international law
5. How do constitutional rights change during national emergencies?
6. Should schools accommodate religious clothing and practices?
7. Are laws against gender discrimination enforced fairly in schools?
8. How far can government surveillance go before violating citizens’ rights?
9. Rights of people with disabilities
10. The role of constitutional courts in democracy
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2. Criminal Law & Justice
After a crime is committed, have you ever thought about how society decides who is held accountable? Criminal Law & Justice examines how wrongdoing is defined, investigated, and punished, while balancing individual rights and fair treatment under the law. Under this field, here are emerging issues that you can explore:
11. Should AI ever serve as a judge in criminal trials?
12. Criminal responsibility of AI-driven actions
13. Death penalty and human rights considerations
14. How do laws address teen domestic or dating violence?
15. Cybercrime legislation and enforcement
16. Legal challenges in prosecuting war crimes
17. Should criminal liability extend to corporations as well as individuals?
18. Gender-based violence and criminal law
19. Hate crime legislation and enforcement
20. How should international law prosecute war crimes committed by leaders?
3. International Law
International Law examines the rules and principles that govern relations between states and international organizations, addressing issues such as trade, diplomacy, wars, migration, and global human rights.
21. Enforcement of international human rights treaties
22. The law of the sea and territorial disputes
23. Cyber warfare and international law
24. International criminal court jurisdiction
25. Cybercrime across borders
26. Should nations accept more refugees during crises?
27. Are economic sanctions a fair tool in international law?
28. Climate change and international legal obligations
29. Recognition of statehood in international law
30. Space exploration laws`
4. Business & Economy Law
This field of law highlights the legal rules that guide commercial activities and corporate behavior. It discusses how laws influence market competition and consumer protection, as well as the balance between private enterprise and the public interest.
31. Corporate social responsibility and the law
32. Insider trading and securities regulations
33. Online gaming and gambling laws
34. Consumer protection in e-commerce
35. Intellectual property rights in the digital era
36. How copyright protects music, movies, and apps
37. Competition law and monopoly control
38. What companies can and cannot do to advertise?
39. Cryptocurrency regulation and blockchain law
40. Trademark laws for logos and brands
5. Technology, Privacy & AI Law
With technology evolving faster than ever, artificial intelligence is increasingly reshaping how we live and communicate. Technology, Privacy & AI Law is an important emerging field in the legal discipline, as it addresses essential issues related to data protection, cybersecurity, and the ethics of AI.
41. Should social media companies face legal obligations to combat fake news?
42. Regulation of autonomous vehicles
43. Is algorithmic bias a legal issue, and how can it be addressed?
44. Cybersecurity laws and enforcement
45. Biometric data and privacy rights
46. Intellectual property for AI-generated works
47. Deepfake technology and legal accountability
48. Internet censorship and free speech laws
49. Who owns your data online?
50. Cross-border data transfer regulations
6. Environmental & Energy Law
Environmental & Energy Law focuses on the rules and policies that govern natural resources, pollution control, and climate action, exploring how the law can enable development while protecting the environment.
51. Legal frameworks for renewable energy
52. Should natural resources be considered a legal “commons” for all?
53. Water rights and environmental justice
54. Regulation of pollution and emissions
55. Legal consequences of littering
56. Can legal frameworks enforce global carbon neutrality?
57. Plastic bans and legal enforcement
58. Legal challenges in nuclear energy regulation
59. Green spaces and public land laws
60. Wildlife protection in your country
7. Family & Society
Family & Society Law examines the legal rules that affect one’s personal and social life, from marriage, parenting, and inheritance to social welfare. It discusses laws that cover relationships, promote fairness, and address the challenges that families commonly face. Below are some good topics about family and society to delve into:
61. Should legal frameworks allow same-sex parents equal adoption rights?
62. Should governments regulate genetic editing in humans?
63. Teen rights in healthcare decisions
64. Adoption and foster care rules
65. Domestic violence legislation effectiveness
66. Guardianship laws for minors and the elderly
67. Inheritance laws and gender equality
68. Should parents be legally responsible for minors’ online behavior?
69. Child labor laws in developing countries
70. Legal frameworks for elder care
8. Labor & Employment Law
This field of law particularly centers on the rules that shape our lives as workers. Some common topics here include fair wages, workplace safety, discrimination, and labor disputes.
71. How unions protect workers
72. Paid vs. unpaid internships and laws
73. Workplace discrimination and legal remedies
74. Rights of part-time or gig workers
75. Can remote work be legally regulated to prevent exploitation?
76. Health & safety regulations in modern workplaces
77. Should automation liability fall on employers or developers?
78. Whistleblower protections
79. Gender pay gap and legal enforcement
80. Immigration law and employment rights
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9. Media, IP & Creativity
Media, Intellectual Property, and Creativity Law is about protecting artists’ ideas and creations. From music, movies, and books to technological applications, this field of law shows how creators can claim their work while keeping it accessible in the digital world.
81. How can copyright laws balance creator rights and public access?
82. Patent law reforms in biotech
83. Trademark disputes in global markets
84. Media regulation and freedom of press
85. Digital piracy and enforcement challenges
86. Licensing of creative works in the internet age
87. Open-source software and legal implications
88. Defamation law in social media
89. Are media monopoly regulations sufficient?
90. Should online games enforce intellectual property rights?
10. Emerging Topics
What’s next for law in a world that’s changing faster than ever? Emerging Topics addresses this question by examining legal issues arising from trends such as AI, crypto, climate innovation, and futuristic tech. It’s less about rules we already know, and more about asking “How should the law catch up?” and “What challenges are around the corner, and how would policies shape them?” Find interesting questions or topics to explore about current trends below.
91. Should virtual reality worlds follow real-world law?
92. Legal implications of genetic engineering
93. Sports law and doping regulations
94. Law and artificial consciousness
95. Should virtual reality platforms be regulated for minors?
96. Disaster law and emergency management
97. Are robotics competitions regulated by law?
98. Legal ethics in the age of AI
99. Law and economic inequality
100. How can school competitions teach legal responsibility?
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Legal research isn’t just an academic exercise; most importantly, it builds skills you’ll need to be an effective leader, critical thinker, and advocate. For high school students aiming to compete at the international level, focusing on cutting-edge legal topics can set you apart from most participants. That’s where Aralia Education’s John Locke Competition prep comes in to help. Aralia students consistently excel on the global stage, earning 137 prestigious awards in just 4 years:
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- 2024: 55 global awards
- 2025: 47 global awards
These results highlight how Aralia’s guidance consistently translates student potential into international success, equipping young scholars with the skills to write award-winning essays and compete at the highest level.
Through our program, students can take their interest in law beyond the classroom by crafting award-winning essays and gaining confidence in articulating complex legal ideas.
John Locke Essay Competition Prep
In this John Locke Essay Competition Prep course, students will learn the ins and outs of essay writing, in preparation for entering the competition. We offer prep classes in all categories: philosophy, politics, economics, history, psychology, theology, and law. Students will choose one topic, compose an original thesis and argument, and write an essay for submission. Students will engage in a guided analysis of primary and secondary sources, develop critical thinking skills, and discover interesting insights. In addition to the group lecture classes, students will receive guidance on their individual projects from the instructor, in one-on-one sessions.
