ELI Welcomes Young Lawyers Award Submissions for 2026

30.04.2026

For the 10th year, the European Law Institute is amplifying the voices of young lawyers through the Young Lawyers Awards.

Established in 2016, the competition aims to provide the young legal community in Europe with a platform to propose suggestions for the improvement of European law. At the same time, it is a chance to contribute to ELI’s mission of improving the quality of law. 

Requirements 

  • Applicants must be currently undertaking a university law degree, whether undergraduate or postgraduate or be within five years of being awarded a law degree at the date by which entries must be submitted.
  • Candidates must submit a unique and original paper which was not previously published and deals with a European legal issue that could be improved. The contribution must be submitted in English.

Submissions 

  • Interested young lawyers are invited to submit their papers by 30 April 2026.
  • Applicants to send submissions to secretariat@europeanlawinstitute.eu with application form. 

Candidates stand the chance to win six prizes

  • Extract of paper published in ELI Newsletter and website
  • Best efforts to publish paper in UNIDROIT’s Uniform Law Review, an Oxford University Press Journal
  • Presentation of the paper at the ELI Annual Conference or other platform (expenses covered)
  • EUR 750 cash
  • 5-year ELI membership
  • Up to 3 months paid internship at a law firm affiliated with Interleges