42 Bedford Row Disability Law Essay Prize *Call for Applicants*

The 42 Bedford Row Disability Law Essay Prize is the first academic writing award to be established by the Oxford Faculty of Law which focuses on legal issues affecting persons with a disability.

It has been established to draw attention to the professional challenges faced by legal practitioners and academics who work in fields in which issues relating to disability frequently arise.

** The deadline for submission is: Noon on Friday 22nd January 2016 (First Week of Hilary Term). **

The first place winner will be awarded £500 at a prize-giving ceremony and drinks event, which will be held on Friday 5th February 2016 at 5.00pm. Second place and third place will receive £200 and £100 respectively.

Participants in this competition will have the chance to showcase their academic writing and argument to our distinguished judges, Tina Cook QC, leading family law barrister at 42 Bedford Row, and Professor Jonathan Herring, DM Wolfe-Clarendon Fellow in Law, University of Oxford. 

Essay Question:

In 2006 the Social Care Institute for Excellence reviewed existing research and found that “social workers and local authorities were less interested in supporting families with disabled members to stay together than in safe-guarding children’”.

How should the law balance the best interests of the child with the duty of states to eliminate discrimination against parents with a disability?
Admissions should be submitted by email to: luke.rostill@law.ox.ac.uk
Word Limit: 1,000 (Minimum) to 1,200 (Maximum)
Please consult the Rules for Submission in the dropbox folder here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rsvcrdkwhsvwpye/AAB_lEr_veVGt6PKlpRXCoPRa?dl=0