GLSA Writing Comp!

Entries close Friday, 12 September at 11:59 pm.

 Do you have something to say? We wait to hear it! The GLSA Legal Writing Competition is officially open to all Griffith Law students (including JD students).

We are launching out writing competition, and invite students to submit a short piece on the theme of Youth Crime in Queensland.

Theme: Youth Crime in Queensland

Youth crime is one of the most contested and emotionally charged areas of law and policy in Queensland today. In recent years, a rise in media attention, public concern and political pressure has led to several waves of legal reform. It has often been controversial and sometimes in tension with evidence-based or rights-based approaches. 

Queensland has taken a notably punitive turn, including: the reintroduction of breach of bail as an offence for children; increased use of watch house detention and adult prison transfers; the construction of new youth detention centres; calls for ankle monitoring and curfews; and disproportionate impacts on First Nations youth.

At the same time, advocates, legal professionals, and community groups continue to push for justice reinvestment, community-based alternatives to incarceration, trauma-informed approaches to youth offending, and upholding Queensland’s commitments under international conventions. 

This theme invites students to reflect on the legal, social, ethical and personal dimensions of youth crime in Queensland. 

See the below for several prompts for your writing:

  • Analytical

    • Are Queensland’s youth justice laws consistent with Australia’s obligations under international law?

    • How does recriminalisation of breach of bail for young people reflect broader trends in penal populism?

    • What role does media framing play in shaping youth justice policy?

    • What alternatives to incarceration have been proven effective? Are they underutilised?

  • Opinion

    • ‘Tough on crime’ isn’t working - Queensland needs a new approach to youth justice.

    • Should children ever be held in adult prisons or watch houses?

    • The youth justice system is failing First Nations children. What must change?

  • Interview

    • Interview a youth worker, criminal lawyer or advocate about their perspective on current reforms.

    • Profile a community organisation working to prevent youth offending.

  • Creative

    • Write a short story from the perspective of: a young person going through the justice system, a parent/teacher witnessing the impact of incarceration, a community trying to rebuild after a cycle of youth offending

    • Write a ‘Letter to a Lawmaker’ asking for change

    • Reflect on what ‘justice’ means for youth offenders.

Submission Guidelines

  • Open to: All currently enrolled Griffith Law Students (LLB or JD)

  • Word limit: 800 - 1,000 words

  • Style: Any format - analysis, opinion piece, essay, fiction, submission, etc

  • Submission: Email your piece as a Word or PDF document to education@griffithlsa.org.au with the subject line: GLSA Writing Competition Entry 

  • Anonymity: Submissions will be judged blind. They will be passed onto the judging panel without names. Please do not include your name in the document. 

Judging

We will be using a double blind system where participants will not know the identify of judges and judges will not know the identity of participants. The competition will be judged by three non-submitting anonymous GLSA committee members and submissions will be read and scored anonymously.  

Criteria

  • Relevance to Theme (20 marks): clearly engages with the topic, demonstrates understanding of current sociopolitical issues in the youth justice space, responds thoughtfully to prompt 

  • Insight & Originality (25 marks): demonstrates depth of thought, offers new perspectives, avoid generalisation or cliches 

  • Structure & Clarity (20 marks): clear and logical structure, flows smoothly, effective paragraphing 

  • Expression & Style (15 marks): engaging and appropriate tone, strong word choice, shows confidence and purpose 

  • Evidence, Accuracy & Ethics (10 marks): factual or legal claims are accurate and supported, demonstrates sensitivity and respect when discussing marginalised groups 

  • Technical Proficiency (10 marks): within the word limit, proofread (minimal spelling, grammar or formatting issues), anonymous (no identifying information)


Prizes

  • 1st Place: $50 gift card (TBD) + publication + certificate

  • Runner up: Publication + certificate 

  • All entrants will receive brief feedback from the judges

Got questions? Reach out to us at education@griffithlsa.org.au