The Princeton Legal Journal High School Essay Contest is an annual competition open to high school students worldwide. Each year centers on a new legal theme; for the 2026 cycle, the theme is religious liberty under the US Constitution. Essays must be 1,500–3,000 words (excluding footnotes) and submitted anonymously with a $15 fee.
The top three essays are published in the Princeton Legal Journal and authors participate in a full editing process. Winners are announced in late May. The contest is run by the student editorial board of the Princeton Legal Journal.