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1. What is the CULR High School Essay Contest?
The CULR High School Essay Contest is a perfect opportunity for high school students to deepen their enthusiasm for and knowledge of law, compete amongst peers nationwide and internationally, and gain recognition for their skills. The CULR writing competition runs annually and “provides a platform for young scholars to engage with complex legal topics, express their perspectives, and showcase their analytical abilities” (view the contest’s official website). Each year, the contest introduces a different topic related to the current legal, political, and social climate; high school students then write about their opinion on the issue and defend it with evidence from reputable sources.
2. Eligibility
The competition is open to current high school students only. Recent graduates (Class of 2026) are not eligible.
3. Submission Deadline
- Submission Deadline: June 26, 2026 (11:59 PM EST)
- Submission Review: July 2026
- Winner and Runners-up Notification: Early August 2026
4. What is the 2026 CULR Essay Contest Topic?
Prompt Heading: Due Process and the Limits of Government Power
Immigration law has been and continues to be at the forefront of various legal battles, frequently centering around the balance between protecting individual liberties–particularly those of non-citizens–and upholding national sovereignty and security. While the U.S. Constitution provides protections to all individuals within U.S. territory, the judiciary has historically deferred to the broad authority of the executive and legislative branches to regulate the entry and exclusion of non-citizens, often with minimal judicial oversight. However, in the instances where courts do intervene, decisions carry considerable weight for the future of non-citizens or refugees. Today, key concepts such as asylum law, birthright citizenship, the regulation of travel and re-entry, and deportation and detainment processes remain under fierce scrutiny amidst ongoing immigration-related crises both in the U.S. and abroad.
Prompt Question:
Given the ongoing conflict between providing legal protections for non-citizens while also maintaining a state’s ability to oversee issues of immigration, discuss how courts ought to balance the protections for disenfranchised individuals with a government’s broad authority to supersede such protections in the name of national sovereignty. To what extent should non-citizens have access to legal recourse within the U.S. and around the world? Does the government’s interest in national security justify a diminished standard of legal protections in immigration proceedings? Reflect on these questions and present a legal argument in response to this prompt. Use legal reasoning and historical or contemporary examples to support your argument.
5. What are the CULR Essay Contest Rules and Format Requirements?
The word limit is 1,500 words, which is roughly 5-7 pages double-spaced (excluding citations and bibliography).
Your response must include at least one reference to a court case or legal document. Students can include U.S. federal or international cases.
Cite your paper using the Chicago notes and bibliography format. Winning papers have included between 8 and 27 sources in their bibliographies, commonly citing scholarly articles, legal cases, news reports, and international documents.
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6. What are the Previous CULR Essay Contest Topics and Winners?
The 2025 CULR High School Essay Contest topic was Due Process and the Limits of Government Power. Read the first-place winning essay for CULR 2025 titled “In Defense of Liberty: Due Process When the Nation Is Afraid” by Zoya Rabby.
The 2024 CULR High School Essay Contest topic was Freedom of Speech and Social Media: The Battle Between Censorship and Misinformation. Read the first-place winning essay for CULR 2024 titled “Media Literacy and Accountability in the Age of Misinformation” by Katie Kim.
The 2023 CULR High School Essay Contest topic was Education and the Law: A Way Forward. Read the winning essay from CULR 2023 titled “Prison Education: Laying the Groundwork for Accountability and Rehabilitation” by Ashwin Telang of West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South.
7. Awards and Recognition
The winning essay will be published on the CULR website, and top participants will be invited to a speaker event on immigration and non-citizens’ rights.
8. Key Changes from 2025
Essay Prompts
- 2025: Students were asked to engage broadly with the concept of “Due Process and the Limits of Government Power.”
- 2026: Using the same prompt, the competition narrows this focus to immigration law and the legal protections afforded to non-citizens.
This change encourages students to explore a more specific and timely legal issue, one that intersects with human rights, national sovereignty, and evolving global migration patterns.
Case/Document Requirements
- 2025: Requires at least 1 court case or legal document and encourages students to look into federal cases that may be currently before the Supreme Court
- 2026: Requires at least one court case or legal document
In 2026, this specific reference to the federal cases has been removed. The revision suggests a move away from focusing solely on ongoing Supreme Court cases and toward a broader interpretation of relevant legal sources.
International Cases Mentioned
The 2026 competition introduces a new encouragement for students to incorporate international perspectives, with updated guidelines stating that students may draw from both federal and international cases. This addition invites students to adopt a more comparative and globally informed approach in their analysis.
9. What Type of Student Should Enter the CULR High School Essay Contest?
Students with previous experience in debate, mock trial, and/or Model United Nations should consider entering the CULR High School Essay Contest. Students who excel at weaving a tight, strong argument for their opinions on current events or history, including accounting for counterarguments, will do well in the CULR essay contest.
Advanced history and social studies courses will also help students by introducing them to background information and the historical context of current social issues. These courses often require students to write multiple long-form historical research essays, equipping them with the research, critical reading, and academic writing skills required to produce an eloquent essay for the CULR contest. Students enrolled in courses such as AP US History, AP History, AP Government, and IB History HL should consider entering the CULR High School Essay Contest.
A winning essay requires participants to exercise their persuasive writing skills, knowledge of historically relevant legal cases, and critical thinking skills to forecast future political climates.
10. How do I Prepare for the CULR High School Essay Contest?
Read published articles by New York City high school students affiliated with the Columbia University Double Discovery Center, which is a Saturday school that teaches Introduction to Legal Writing.
Additionally, stay up to date with current news, including the latest orders issued by the White House. Read from both traditionally left-wing and right-wing publications to ensure a well-rounded grasp of the current political climate. Study significant Supreme Court cases that have shaped our current society and directly impact social issues, such as Roe v. Wade.
If you are not involved in a similar extracurricular club or academic course, try to gain relevant experience through volunteer work or internships in companies within the legal and social justice industries.
Learn more about CULR on their website and find event and announcement information on their Instagram.
11. Take Aralia's CULR Contest Preparation Class
The best way to prepare for the CULR High School Essay Contest is to practice writing legal opinion essays and receive personalized feedback. Consider taking Aralia Education’s CULR Contest Preparation Class! Taught by experienced teachers from top private high schools in the US, this course covers legal writing, argument development, and source citation. Aralia students can expect to leave the course with a publication-worthy, competitive essay ready to stand out amongst peers’ submissions.
CULR High School Essay Contest Preparation
The CULR High School Essay Contest Preparation class will navigate students through brainstorming, researching, outlining, drafting, and revising their essays. They will provide personalized feedback and suggestions to help students improve their writing and critical thinking skills.
