Image of Alastair Farley, some of the prize winners, and the Master of Jesus College

Teenagers receive Jesus College law essay prize

The annual Lord Toulson Essay Prize was awarded by Alastair Farley, founding partner of the firm Watson, Farley & Williams, at a ceremony yesterday (16 July). 

Ernest, who is in year 12 at Sevenoaks School, won the prize with his essay discussing the statement: 'There are some things that should not, and cannot, be for sale.' 40 students took part in the competition, with entrants from Australia, Bahrain, Bulgaria, China, Hungary, Poland, Singapore, the UK, and the USA.

The annual prize, which is open to students in their final two years of school, is run by the Law Fellows of Jesus College and sponsored by firm Herbert Smith Freehills. As well as the main prize, some students will receive an honourable mention. All of the prize winners are invited to the ceremony at Jesus College.

Lord Toulson (1946-2017) was a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. He was educated at Mill Hill School, London, and at 16, he came to Jesus College to study law. He worked as a barrister for many years, before being appointed as a judge of the High Court in 1996. From 2002 he served as the Chairman of the Law Commission of England and Wales, and in 2007, was promoted to the Court of Appeal. In 2013, he was appointed to the Supreme Court. Lord Toulson was an Honorary Fellow of the College.