The 2009 Essay Writing Competition attracted high-quality jurisprudential papers from every state of Australia making shortlisting and judging a competitive process. But, as announced at the ALPSA Launch Event, we have our winners! They are as follows:

Congratulations to NICOLAS ELIAS (Juris Doctor, University of Melbourne), who's essay entitled "Law's claim to Ethical Responsibility: The Law and Morality of Torture" was awarded the first place prize of $300.

Second place was awarded to THOMAS GRAHAM (Final Year Undergraduate, University of Melbourne) with "Securities Related Litigation in the People's Republic of China" winning $150.

LIZ KOFOED's (Juris Doctor, University of Melbourne) essay "The Relationship between Technical and Aspirational Aspects of Law Pertaining to the Figure of the Refugee" won third place and $50.

We sincerely appreciate the time our Judges, the Hon. Justice PA Keane (Qld Court of Appeal), Prof. Wilfrid Prest (University of Adelaide) and Prof. Woljiech Sadurski (University of Sydney), generously gave to consider the shortlisted essays; without their distinguished opinions this competition would not have been possible. Thank-you to all of the contestants who put aside their time to get another essay together alongside their assignments! And, we extend our gratitude to the University of Queensland who donated the $500 prize money.