To enter, students are asked to submit a 1,500-word essay examining “the role the law can play in addressing hate crime” by Friday 22 November.

Now in its third year, the competition forms part of the Law Society’s continued drive to widen access to legal training. Last year, 140 students from 48 schools across 16 counties took part.

Law Society president Barry MacCarthy said: “The solicitors’ profession is changing, and the Law Society is committed to widening access to legal training for the next generation.

“Hate crime, the theme of this year’s Gráinne O’Neill Memorial Legal Essay Competition, is a topical issue. Students are encouraged to explore the role the law can play in addressing hate crime in Irish society.

“Essays that are well planned out, have a good analysis of the law and application to Irish life have stood out in previous years. Each student approaches the essay topic in their own personal way, and this is what makes the competition so unique.”

He added: “The Gráinne O’Neill Memorial Legal Essay Competition is just one of the Law Society’s school outreach programmes aimed at expanding access to the law for young people.

“Schools can also engage with other Law Society student initiatives including Solicitors of the Future, Street Law, and Legal Ambitions.”

Patrick Galvin of Abbey Community College, Waterford was last year’s competition winner.

He said: “I was inspired to enter as I thought the themes sounded interesting and topical.

“My advice to those entering this year would be to spend some time thinking about the topic and researching it before you start writing your essay, and to aim for depth, rather than breadth. I got my information from the British and Irish Legal Information Institute, the Irish Statute Book and Oireachtas.ie.”

More information is available from the Law Society website.