The 2026 competition invites TY students to submit a 1,500 word essay on the topic “Protecting Voices, Preventing Harm: Legal Challenges in Online Freedom of Speech”.

Now in its fourth year, the national competition aims to inspire young peoples’ legal learning by encouraging students from a wide range of backgrounds to consider contemporary justice issues.

The competition is run by the Law Society of Ireland as part of its work to widen access to legal education.

Last year, 350 students from 52 schools across 16 counties entered the annual national competition, with Kerry student Hazel Barrett emerging as winner.

Law Society president Eamon Harrington said: “The Gráinne O’Neill Memorial Legal Essay Competition is just one of the Law Society’s many school outreach programmes aimed at expanding access to the law and legal education for young people.

“The legal profession is evolving, and we are committed to supporting this change and widening access to legal careers for the next generation of solicitors.

“With this timely essay topic, we encourage students to explore the law and their legal rights and responsibilities while considering freedom of speech.

“Each essay is personal, and this is what makes this competition so unique. We hope this topic will ignite curiosity and will give students a better understanding of the law and how it impacts them and society.

“The Law Society runs a full suite of student initiatives, including Solicitors of the Future, Street Law, and Legal Ambitions and ahead of this school year, we invite schools to engage with us and take part in these comprehensive programmes.”

Last year’s winner, Hazel, of Presentation Secondary School in Listowel, Kerry, said: “The competition gave me a chance to learn more about the law and learn how the legal system can be used to protect people and uphold equal rights.”

The Gráinne O’Neill Memorial Legal Essay Competition honours the life and legacy of the late Judge Gráinne O’Neill, who became the youngest judge in Ireland on her appointment to the District Court in 2014 and died in 2018 following a period of illness.

The competition was initiated by Judge Keenan Johnson of the Circuit Court, in collaboration with the Midland Solicitors’ Bar Association in 2019.

Applications for the 2026 competition close on 21 November 2025. Further information is available on the Law Society website.