The competition known as the Kevin De Silva Memorial Legal Article contest has been running since 2013 in honour of a young lawyer named Kevin De Silva. This year, participants can choose from three prompts: discussing the data breach at the Legal Aid Agency, Lord Leveson's proposals for non-jury trials and AI's use in a court setting. The article should not exceed 800 words and provides an excellent opportunity to share opinions on one of these topics. The winning entry will be featured in the Society bulletin.
For this year’s competition we are asking you to write an article/blog for publication in the Nottinghamshire Law Society’s Bulletin.
You can choose from one of the following legal topic areas:
· What are the implications of Lord Leveson's proposals for non-jury trials in some Crown Court cases for young lawyers? Threat or opportunity?
· The Legal Aid Agency's data breach in April of this year compromised more than 2 million records of individuals who are often the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in society. Have the Legal Aid Agency therefore complied with
the GDPR by simply putting a notice of the breach on their website?
· You have been asked to look after drafting a document for new lawyers on the ethical and operational implications in the use of generative AI in a court setting.
Explain what the pitfalls are; where it can be used safely and why.
Explain how you think it will be used in the next five years.
Each entry shall be limited to no more than 800 words.
PRIZE
The Kevin De Silva Shield and a cash prize of £300
Two Runners Up prizes of £75.00 may also be awarded, in the discretion of the Judging Panel.
The winning article will be published in the Nottinghamshire Law Society’s Bulletin.
The winner will be announced at our Newly Qualified Solicitors & Newly Called Barristers Dinner at Revulcion De Cuba, on Tuesday 18th November 2025.
The trophy will be formally presented at the Nottinghamshire Law Society AGM, which will be held on Tuesday 12th May 2026.
The judging panel will be comprised of senior legal professionals from the Nottinghamshire legal community.
This competition is open to trainee solicitors, solicitor apprenticeships, pupil barristers, students (including LPC, SQE and Bar Training Course) and those still engaged in professional training in the workplace (including trainee solicitors and those doing SRA SQE Solicitors and paralegal apprentices, pupil barristers, paralegals (with up to 2 years' experience) that work and/or study in Nottinghamshire.
Download all the competition information here:
Kevin De Silva Memorial Legal Article Competition 2025 Rules, Marking Criteria, Hints & Tips
Kevin De Silva Memorial Legal Article Competition 2025 Entry Form
Closing date for entries, is Wednesday 5th November, 5pm. All entries to emailed to Head of Operations, Michelle Foster: michelle.foster@nottslawsoc.org
Good luck!
Helen Fanning
Education & Training Committee Chair