Is it okay for school administrators to go undercover or use false identities to dig out secret information from students’ social media pages? What if that information includes a test stolen from the school?

A competition with almost $7,000 in prize money asks Virginia high school students to weigh in on these issues.

The essays, which must be between 750 and 1,000 words, will be judged on how well they demonstrate the student’s understanding of the role and value of the legal system in everyday life, and are intended to awaken an interest in the law and an appreciation of the U.S. Constitution.

Virginia high school students age 19 or younger and enrolled in grades 9–12 (or a home-school equivalent) are eligible to submit an essay for a chance to win the competition and cash prizes.

The contest is co-sponsored by the Virginia State Bar (VSB) Litigation Section and Communications Committee. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 12, 2016.

Contestants are asked to address whether a school administrator can demand that a student share her list of “friends” on a social media site, whether a school administrator or teacher can demand that a student surrender his or her cell phone and share private text messages and whether there is a better course of action the school could take.

The first place winner will receive $2,300 and the winning essay will be published on the VSB website. Other awards include $1,850 (second place), $1,350 (third place) and five honorable mentions of $250 each.

All winners receive a plaque and a copy of Strunk and White’s Elements of Style. Awards will be presented in the spring at the winners’ schools.

The contest gives some of Virginia’s sharpest student writers and analysts an opportunity to win money while also earning them recognition that can be added to their college application resumes.

Last year’s contest was won by Remy Oliver of Dominion High School in Sterling, and second prize went to Alissa Wang of Broad Run High School in Ashburn.

Additional information, including contest rules and last year’s winning essay, are avalaible at www.vsb.org.