Jessica Hawk '12 Wins CEB Writing and Research Award
Jessica Hawk '12 was named as the recipient of the 2010 CEB Award for Excellence in Legal Writing and Research at an awards ceremony at the King Hall Wilkins Moot Courtroom on October 18. The annual award, which includes a $2,500 cash prize, is sponsored by Continuing Education of the Bar, California (CEB), a nonprofit organization of the California State Bar Association and the University of California.
Also receiving recognition as finalists in the competition were Scott Judson '12 and Lindsey McNeill '12, who were chosen by King Hall faculty for having submitted the best briefs in their respective sections of the Law School's first-year Legal Research and Writing Course.
The award ceremony featured statements from Professor Clay Tanaka, director of the UC Davis School of Law Legal Writing Program, the Honorable Kathleen Butz '81, Associate Justice of the California Courts of Appeal, Third Appellate District; the Honorable Nathan D. Mihara, Associate Justice of the California Courts of Appeal, Sixth Appellate District; and Pam Jester, CEB's executive director.
Also in attendance were Dean Kevin R. Johnson, Michael Mills '97, a member of Stoel Rives in Sacramento who helped to judge the competition, Kathryn Doi '85, a partner in the Healthcare Law Practice Team of Murphy Austin Adams Schoenfeld in Sacramento, who also helped to judge, Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs Hollis Kulwin, Professor Lawrence Green, and Professor Rachana Shah.
All of the speakers praised the quality of the students' work and affirmed the importance of legal writing and research skills.
"As you will learn in law school and in practicing the law, there is no substitute for good writing in legal advocacy," Judge Butz told the student contestants. "Throughout your career, you should continue to focus on improving your writing skills. Never give up on trying to make them better."