The competition - generously sponsored by the Bar Council Scholarship Trust -was open to pupils, law students, CPE and BVC students and entrants were asked to write an essay of not more than 3000 words making the case for a law reform that is desirable, practical and useful. Prize winners were announced and prizes presented at the Law Reform Lecture on 17 November, by Lord Hoffmann who gave an interesting and stimulating lecture on the topic " Reforming the Law of Public Authority Negligence". A transcript of Lord Hoffmann’s speech, and the winning entries in the essay competition, are available on the Bar Council website www.barcouncil.org.uk.