Courtney Conner Wins Baylor Law’s 2023 Ultimate Writer Competition

Winners of the 2023 Ultimate Writer Competition. (L-R) Anna Schmidt (honorable mention), Jordan Gonzales (honorable mention), Courtney Conner (first place), Andrew Boone (second place), Winston Bribach (third place), and Riley Zoch (honorable mention)

Courtney Conner’s Rule 12(b) Motion to Dismiss won first place in the Seventh Annual Ultimate Writer Legal Writing Competition. Conner received an $8,000 cash prize for her efforts thanks to the generous underwriting of the Charles and Lisa Frazier Endowed Fund for Excellence in Writing and the law firm of Durham, Pittard & Spalding LLP.

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The legal writing team at Baylor Law is pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 Ultimate Writer Legal Writing Competition. Courtney Conner took first place and an $8,000 prize. The second-place winner, Andrew Boone, who won the competition in 2022, took home $1,500, and Winston Bribach took third place and a $500 prize. Jordan Gonzales, Anna Schmidt, Jake Weathers, and Riley Zoch received honorable mentions.

The Ultimate Writer Competition opened on February 13, and students had until February 20 to submit their written entries. This year’s writing prompt focused on a § 1983 case involving a plaintiff’s allegations that she was arrested in retaliation for expressing political views. Competitors had to write the defense’s motion to dismiss using only the cases outlined in the writing prompt.

Kirk Pittard (R) of Durham, Pittard & Spalding LLP speaks with the 2023 Ultimate Writer, Baylor Law 6Q, Courtney Conner

“Participating in the Ultimate Writer Competition provides students with a unique opportunity to showcase their legal analysis and persuasive writing skills to a wider audience,” remarked Professor Matt Cordon, Director of Baylor Law’s Legal Writing Program. “Selecting the winners was no easy task, given that this year’s participants demonstrated an extremely high level of professional legal writing ability.“

“I am so happy to have won. I have a lot of respect for everyone else recognized today—they are all fantastic writers. I’m honored to be in their company,” stated this year’s winner Courtney Conner, a 2L with experience in the energy sector who plans to work in energy law after graduation. “Baylor has a very robust legal writing program that provides us with practical writing experience and intensive feedback. My professors at Baylor have helped me become a more fluid and concise writer, and I am grateful for their guidance.”

Lisa and Charlie Frazier (JD’ 86) of Alexander Dubose Jefferson LLP graciously underwrite the Ultimate Writer through their Endowed Fund for Excellence in Writing at Baylor Law. Kirk L. Pittard (JD ’99) and the appellate law firm of Durham, Pittard & Spalding, LLP, also provide generous sponsorship. Mr. Frazier and Mr. Pittard served as this year’s competition judges.

“We deeply appreciate Charlie and Kirk’s support of the Ultimate Writer competition and our legal writing program,” stated Cordon. “The Ultimate Writer has become a key component of the intramural competitions at Baylor Law and could not have happened without their commitment and sponsorship,” he added.

Finalist of the Summer 2022 Mad Dog Mock Trial Competition Lexie Ammons Converses with the Presiding Judge During the Final Round

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