Kalisher Essay Competition 2023 – Winner announced
The Trust is delighted to announce that Sophie Nandy, a pupil at 25 Bedford Row, is the winner of the Trust’s 2023 Essay competition. Sophie submitted an outstanding essay, and is a worthy winner in a high-quality field, which continues to be a very popular part of the Trust’s support for under-represented groups seeking a career at the criminal Bar. Our annual essay competition is open to any pupil undertaking a criminal pupillage, and is assessed anonymously by a panel drawn from the Trust.
The entrants were asked to respond to this essay question:
The Public Order Bill can expect a rough Parliamentary ride. It proposes wider “stop and search“ powers for the police; even searches where the police have no suspicion of an offence having been committed. Are its policing measures a step too far or as presented by the Government, a proportionate response to active protest?
The judging panel commented on Sophie’s entry as follows:
Just an excellent read. Great opening foray into the practical “face to face” between a member of the public and an officer seeking to exercise such powers. It grips the imagination and demonstrates in a journalistic style the real practical issues that emerge from expansive and, it is argued, arbitrary exercise of intrusive power.
Reflecting on her achievement, Sophie said:
I am absolutely delighted to have been chosen as winner of the Kalisher Essay Competition. It is an honour to receive recognition from the Kalisher Trust, given the important work it does in offering educational and training opportunities to young aspiring criminal barristers from all backgrounds. I hugely admire the exceptional work of the Trust, in particular its encouragement of those still in school to get involved in advocacy.
Looking into the legislative intricacies and differing perspectives on stop and search powers was fascinating and thought provoking. It will be interesting to see how the new Public Order Act 2023 will be interpreted and applied by the Courts.
I am very grateful to the Trust for the generous prize, and to the judging panel in particular for their praise
Congratulations Sophie! Thank you to all those who entered this year’s competition and to our panel of Trustees / Senior Counsel Group members who assessed each entry.
