First Year Best Briefs | School of Law Student Scholarship | St. Mary's University

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First Year Best Briefs

Each year, each Legal Research and Writing faculty member submits one brief from her or his class to the St. Mary s Law Journal editorial board. The board then selects one winner from each 1L section, resulting in four briefs which represent the best brief from each section. The editorial board then selects a “super brief” from amongst those winners, representing the best brief of the 1L class. Results are announced at the annual Law Journal banquet in April.

Submissions from 2022 2022

Gabriela Salinas, Best of Section A, Best Overall, Gabriela Salinas

Jacklyn Dhaemers, Best of Section B, Jacklyn Dhaemers

Falak Momin, Best of Section C, Falak Momin

Janell Thompson, Best of Section D, Janell Thompson

Submissions from 2021 2021

Dave Gravely, Best of Section A, Dave Gravely

Gerardo Villegas-Juarez, Best of Section B, Gerardo Villegas-Juarez

Julia Tillman, Best of Section C, Julia Tillman

Michael Tucker, Best of Section D, Best Overall, Michael Tucker

Amy Russo, Best of Section O, Amy Russo

Submissions from 2020 2020

Louisa Karam, Best of Section A, Louisa Karam

Julie Whitson, Best of Section B, Julie Whitson

Muniza Samiullah, Best of Section C, Muniza Samiullah

Mark Stevens, Best of Section D, Best Overall, Mark Stevens

Submissions from 2019 2019

Melissa Fulmer, Best of Section A, Best Overall, Melissa Fulmer

Taylor J. Newman, Best of Section B, Taylor J. Newman

Tim Burton, Best of Section C, Tim Burton

Kimberly Cruz, Best of Section D, Kimberly Cruz

Submissions from 2018 2018

Aaron Diaz, Best of Section A, Best Overall, Aaron Diaz

William Todd Keller, Best of Section B, William Todd Keller

Jeffrey Della Rocco, Best of Section C, Jeffrey Della Rocco

Sara Beth Smith, Best of Section D, Sara Beth Smith

Submissions from 2017 2017

Brittany Olsen, Best of Section A, Brittany Olsen

Robert Biedrzycki, Best of Section B, Robert Biedrzycki

Mary Kathryn Brown, Best of Section C, Mary Kathryn Brown

Cody Hearrell, Best of Section D, Best Overall, Cody Hearrell

Submissions from 2016 2016

Zoe Russell, Best of Section A, Zoe Russell

Daniela Mondragon, Best of Section B, Daniela Mondragon

Whitney Hill, Best of Section C, Whitney Hill

Scott Fee, Best of Section D, Best Overall, Scott Fee

Submissions from 2015 2015

Jesus Joslin, Best of Section A, Jesus Joslin

Ana Zabalgoitia, Best of Section B, Ana Zabalgoitia

Devin deBruyn, Best of Section C, Best Overall, Devin deBruyn

Cole Ruiz, Best of Section D, Cole Ruiz

Submissions from 2014 2014

Steven Gilmore, Best of Section A, Steven Gilmore

Logan A. Wheeler, Best of Section B, Logan A. Wheeler

Nadine Rodriguez, Best of Section C, Nadine Rodriguez

Katie Neidig , Best of Section D, Best Overall, Katie Neidig

Submissions from 2013 2013

James Alexander N. Smith, Best of Section A, James Alexander N Smith

Sarah E. Benavides, Best of Section B, Sarah E. Benavides

Meagan McKeown, Best of Section C, Meagan McKeown

Jennifer Neal Bruning, Best of Section D, Best Overall, Jennifer Neal Bruning

Submissions from 2012 2012

Taylor Pack Ellis, Best of Section A, Taylor Pack Ellis

Sidney Mandella, Best of Section B, Sidney Mandella

Alyssa Saenz, Best of Section C, Best Overall, Alyssa Saenz

Kent Ninomiya, Best of Section D, Kent Ninomiya

Submissions from 2011 2011

Stephanie Miller, Best of Section A, Best Overall, Stephanie Miller

Lauren Valkenaar, Best of Section B, Lauren Valkenaar

John Ellis, Best of Section C, John Ellis

Maria Flores, Best of Section D, Maria Flores

Corey Stewart, Best of Section E, Corey Stewart

Submissions from 2010 2010

Kellie Player, Best of Section A, Kellie Player

Kristine Rodriguez, Best of Section B, Kristine Rodriquez

Shari Mao, Best of Section C, Shari Mao

Catherine McCartney, Best of Section D, Best Overall, Catherine McCartney