Andrew Murray Signature Prize
Terms & Conditions
1. Promoter
The promoter of this competition is Murray Beith Murray LLP, a law firm incorporated in Scotland with its principal office in Edinburgh (“the Firm”).
2. Eligibility
2.1 The competition is open to individuals who:-
2.1.1 are enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate law degree, or Diploma in Professional Legal Practice in a recognised Scottish institution during the 2025-26 or 2026-27 academic year; and
2.1.2 have successfully completed, or are on track to complete, the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice by 2028 and are likely to be eligible to commence a legal traineeship in Scotland from September 2028.
2.2 Eligibility includes individuals who have recently completed such studies but who were enrolled during one of the academic years stated above.
2.3 Employees of Murray Beith Murray LLP, members of their immediate families, and anyone directly involved in the administration or judging of the competition are not eligible to enter.
3. Entry Requirements
3.1 Entry is free and no purchase is necessary.
3.2 Each entrant may submit one essay only.
3.3 Essays must:-
3.3.1 Be original work authored solely by the entrant.
3.3.2 Not have been previously published or submitted for academic credit.
3.3.3 Comply with the word limit and topic specified in the competition brief.
3.3.4 Be submitted by the stated closing date.
3.4 Entries that are incomplete, late, or fail to comply with these Terms and Conditions may be disqualified at the Firm’s discretion.
4. Intellectual Property and Use of Entries
4.1 Entrants retain copyright in their essays.
4.2 By entering the competition, entrants grant Murray Beith Murray LLP a non‑exclusive, royalty‑free licence to use, reproduce and publish submitted essays (in whole or in part), with appropriate attribution, for promotional, educational or professional purposes.
4.3 This licence includes publication in the Law Society of Scotland Journal, subject to editorial requirements and any additional consents reasonably required by the Law Society of Scotland.
4.4 No commercially sensitive, confidential, or defamatory material should be included in any submission.
5. Judging Process
5.1 Submissions will be judged by a panel comprising:
5.1.1 Two partners of Murray Beith Murray LLP.
5.1.2 One representative of the Journal of the Law Society of Scotland.
5.2 Essays will be assessed against published criteria, which may include legal analysis, structure, originality, clarity of expression, and relevance to legal practice.
5.3 The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the outcome.
6. Prize
6.1 The winner will receive:
6.1.1 A cash prize of £1,000.
6.1.2 Publication of the winning essay in the Law Society of Scotland Journal, subject to editorial processes.
6.1.3 A guaranteed interview for a legal traineeship with Murray Beith Murray LLP in the next recruitment round.
6.2 The interview forms part of the Firm’s recruitment engagement and does not guarantee an offer of employment, traineeship, or work placement.
6.3 The prize is non‑transferable and no alternative prizes will be offered.
7. Winner Obligations and Presentation Event
7.1 The winner will be expected, subject to reasonable availability, to attend a presentation or award event relating to the competition, anticipated to take place in September following the judging of entries.
7.2 Reasonable travel and attendance arrangements will be confirmed separately.
8. Winner Notification
8.1 The winner will be notified using the contact details provided at entry, within a reasonable period following the closing date.
8.2 If the winner cannot be contacted or fails to respond within a specified timeframe, the Firm reserves the right to select an alternative winner.
9. Data Protection
9.1 Personal data provided by entrants will be processed in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation, including the UK GDPR.
9.2 Data will be used solely for the administration of the competition, judging, publication of results, and related promotional activity, unless otherwise agreed.
10. Liability
10.1 Murray Beith Murray LLP accepts no responsibility for entries lost, delayed, misdirected or corrupted.
10.2 Nothing in these Terms limits liability for death or personal injury resulting from negligence, fraud, or any other liability which cannot lawfully be excluded.
11. Right to Amend or Withdraw
The Firm reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions or to withdraw the competition where necessary due to circumstances outside its reasonable control.
12. Governing Law
These Terms and Conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the law of Scotland, and the Scottish courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction.