International law firm Gowling WLG's annual ESG Essay Competition results are in, and law graduates Rabia Irshad and Sakshi Sahoo are named joint winners.

Launched last August, the competition invited university students or recent graduates to answer the question: "ESG: What drives our clients to make a difference?". Entrants were asked to discuss the question from the perspective of one of the key sector's that Gowling WLG's clients operate in and to consider the type of issues these organisations face. In the region of 100 entries were received and, after extensive review and shortlisting, Rabia and Sakshi received the prize of a week's paid work experience with the firm's ESG legal services team.

With ESG issues increasingly a focus of company boards and business decision-making, Gowling WLG's ESG Essay Competition seeks to bring these issues to the fore and highlight how the law in this area continues to evolve. The competition reaches out to students and graduates with a passion for ESG and encourages them to consider pursuing this area of legal specialism.

This year's winners are Rabia, a paralegal from London who recently finished the Legal Practice Course, and Sakshi Sahoo, an international student who recently obtained her undergraduate Degree in Management and Law in India before completing a Master's Degree in international law at the University of Edinburgh. During their week's work experience with Gowling WLG they have gained first-hand insight into life in an international law firm and the firm's work in relation to ESG. From researching a variety of issues including biodiversity net gain, European sustainability reporting and human rights issues to helping draft ideas to support presentations to clients, they described the week as "invaluable in gaining a broader view into law" and "helping to clarify future career aims".

Lucy Dolan, Early Talent Manager at Gowling WLG, said: "We had some fantastic entrants to the competition, and it wasn't an easy decision to choose our winners, but Rabia and Sakshi really stood out for their enthusiasm, passion and understanding of ESG and the law. It's been a pleasure to be able to give them this experience of the legal profession and help inspire them in their studies and careers."

Ben Stansfield, Sustainability Partner at Gowling WLG, added: "Being able to introduce the next generation to the legal profession in this way is really important to us. Capturing young minds on topical issues is vital for the work we have started on ESG to continue and for it to have the intended impact. The challenges of mitigating and adapting to climate change continue and it's reassuring to see the next generation of legal professionals coming through to help drive change further."

Alongside awarding the winners, Gowling WLG also held an ESG open day for 15 of the shortlisted finalists to thank them for their contributions and provide an opportunity to meet and talk with some of the firm's ESG legal experts, trainees and recruitment professionals.

Gowling WLG's specialist ESG team is fully engaged in developments around ESG. Comprising lawyers from a diverse range of practice areas and across the firm's international offices, the team supports clients on a wide spectrum of matters – helping them understand their responsibilities and identify areas of risk and opportunity as they move forward with their sustainability strategies and long-term ambitions. You can find out more about the team through its ESG web pages and also read about the firm's own activities and progress across ESG through its latest Sustainability Report.