UniCourt Announces Winners of Nationwide Legal Research & Writing Competition
on Topics: Legal Tech | News
Improving access to legal information is a cornerstone of access to justice and narrowing the widening chasm of unmet legal services needs across the United States.
As a part of UniCourt’s ongoing mission to make court records more easily accessible and meaningfully useful, we kicked off our first ever UniCourt Legal Research & Writing Competition to highlight the importance of improving access to the law, as well as the excellent legal writing skills of law students throughout the U.S.
In this post, we’ll share who the winners of this year’s LRW Competition are, provide a window into their personal stories and perspectives, and also share how lawyers and legal professionals who love legal writing can become contributors to UniCourt Legal News.
Winners of the UniCourt LRW Competition
In our inaugural LRW Competition, we received several submissions from law students around the country. The most popular category in our first competition was Intellectual Property, with multiple submissions for both ModernaTX, Inc. et al v. Pfizer Inc. et al and Netflix Worldwide Entertainment, LLC et al. v. Barlow et al.
Congratulations to this year’s winners!
Antitrust Category
Brenda Alves, 2L at Rutgers Law School
Winning Summary: Smart et al v. National Collegiate Athletic Association
On November 29, 2022, Taylor Smart and Michael Hacker (“Plaintiffs”), individually and on behalf of all those similarly situated, represented by Stephen M. Tillery, Steven M. Berezney, and Garrett R. Broshuis of Korein Tillery, LLC, filed an antitrust class action lawsuit against the National Collegiate Athletic Association (“Defendant” or “NCAA”), seeking damages, an injunction, and equitable relief for alleged violations against Section 1 of the Sherman Act. This case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, Sacramento Division, with Judges William B. Shubb and Kendall J. Newman presiding.
Cryptocurrency & Blockchain Category
Kjerstin Lewis, 2L at North Carolina Central University School of Law
Winning Summary: Johnson v. Musk et al
On June 16, 2022, Keith Johnson (“Plaintiff”), represented by Evan Spencer, of Evan Spencer Law, PLLC, filed a class action lawsuit against Elon Musk, Space Exploration Technologies (“SpaceX”), and Tesla, Inc. (“Defendants”), seeking an accounting, monetary damages, punitive damages, and equitable relief for alleged misleading representations regarding Dogecoin cryptocurrency. Plaintiff filed this class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York with Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein. Santos A. Perez is the assigned Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Provider.
Intellectual Property Category
Abigael Diaz (they/she), 3L at University of Washington School of Law
Winning Summary: Netflix Worldwide Entertainment, LLC et al. v. Barlow et al.
On July 29, 2022, Netflix Worldwide Entertainment, LLC and Netflix Studios, LLC (collectively, “Plaintiffs” or “Netflix”), represented by Ginger D. Anders; Rose Leda Ehler; and Virginia Grace Davis of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, filed a claim for infringement of federally registered copyrights and trademarks in violation of 17 USC § 501 and 15 USC § 1114 and for declaratory Judgment under 28 USC § 2201 against Abigail Barlow d/b/a Abigail Barlow Publishing, Emily Bear d/b/a Jordan King Music USA, Pink & Purple Lady, Inc., and Barlow & Bear, LLC, (collectively, “Defendants” or “Barlow & Bear”), seeking declaratory, injunctive, and equitable relief with damages for alleged violations to the Copyright Act and Lanham Act. This case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, with Judge Timothy J Kelly presiding.
Privacy & Cybersecurity Category
C.P. Stewart, 2L at North Carolina Central University School of Law
Winning Summary: Mark v. Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
On September 19, 2022, Roald Mark (“Plaintiff”), on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, represented by Mark Samuel Reich of Levi & Korsinsky LLP, filed a class action suit against Samsung Electronics American, Inc. (“Samsung” or “Defendant”), seeking injunctive relief and damages for alleged data breach. This case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, with Judge Valerie E. Caproni presiding.
Securities & White Collar Defense Category
Ryan Lam, 2L at George Washington University Law School
Winning Summary: USA v. Holmes et. al
On June 14, 2018, the United States of America (“Plaintiff”), represented by Alex G. Tse of the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, filed a criminal lawsuit against Elizabeth Holmes and Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani (collectively, “Defendants”), alleging Defendants engaged in a conspiracy in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349 and committed wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343. This case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division. The Judges overseeing this case are Susan van Keulen and Edward J. Davila.
We also want to thank all of the law students who participated in this UniCourt’s LRW Competition. There were several other wonderful case summary submissions we received that are not featured here.
We hope you enter again to win our next competition!
Learn More About the Winners of the LRW Competition
To learn more about the winners of the Legal Research & Writing Competition and share their stories with you, we asked each of them to provide answers to three questions:
- Why did you decide to go to law school?
- What area of law is most fascinating to you and why?
- How do you think advances in legal tech will impact the future of law?
Here are the responses from the great legal writers who won the 2023 UniCourt LRW Competition.
Brenda Alves, 2L at Rutgers Law School
Why did you decide to go to law school?
As an undergraduate, I double majored in Women’s and Gender Studies and Criminal Justice. Throughout my studies, I understood the law to provide a sense of vindication for those who suffered an injustice. I found the law to be endlessly fascinating and considered going to law school after graduation, but imposter syndrome got to me! After 5 years of working for a large media news company, I decided to finally take the leap.
What area of law is most fascinating to you and why?
Up until now, I have found bankruptcy law to be the most fascinating. I appreciate the very structured way bankruptcy works while at the same time, the bankruptcy code calls for creative lawyering in trying to navigate through it.
How do you think advances in legal tech will impact the future of law?
I think advances in legal tech can positively impact the future of law with a caveat. There have already been such positive impacts by, for example, the use of CCTV during trial or even the use of legal research databases that help lawyers (and law students!) delve even further into various topics so the future is bright for how tech can help all of those involved in the legal world. On the other hand, I think that certain advances in legal tech can be difficult to navigate and require regulation. For example, AI regulation will need to be swift and strong because of all of the different ways that AI could be used negatively and because AI use is growing more and more.
Kjerstin Lewis, 2L at North Carolina Central University School of Law
Why did you decide to go to law school?
Seeing the smile on the face of a new lawful permanent resident, holding their green card, is one of the most meaningful life experiences. Prior to entering law school, I worked in the immigration law services field with an international non-profit as a Department of Justice (DOJ) Accredited Representative, which allowed me to lawfully represent immigrants and their families in immigration applications and petitions. I witnessed both immigrant challenges and celebrations. I was determined to return to this field after law school because of these experiences.
In addition to being generally familiar with the challenges in applying for immigration status, I saw an increasing need for immigration representation in my community and around the nation. My community is home to one of the highest percentages of unrepresented immigrants in deportation proceedings in North Carolina. Most of these individuals receive denials, even if they are eligible for immigration relief, because of an inability to present the case effectively to the court. Denials are especially common in Charlotte, North Carolina, the court in my district, which has one of the highest denial rates in the nation. I hope that through my representation, I can give my future clients the best chance for relief, which is my way of taking a step towards justice.
Lastly, I feel further called to immigration law because of the increasing need for competent, affordable, and accessible representation. By becoming an attorney, I can meet some of this demand for immigration representation in this increasingly complex field.
Ultimately, I came to law school to continue my career in immigration law. While I was working, I identified a growing need for immigration legal representation in my community, and I believed that the best way to address that need was to enter law school and become an attorney.
What area of law is most fascinating to you and why?
Even after learning about other areas of law the past two years, intrigues me the most. Immigration law is interconnected to several other areas of law. This interconnectedness requires an attentiveness to the law and the impacts of other areas of law on immigration status. For instance, an immigration attorney, like a defense attorney, is required to advise a client about how a criminal conviction or plea may impact immigration status. Family law is also related to immigration law as well—custody arrangements, martial status, and other family issues can determine whether an immigrant is eligible for different legal status. Civil issues, too, can be determinative of someone’s eligible for immigration relief.
In addition to exposure to other areas of law, immigration law is interesting because there are so many ways for attorneys to practice it. For instance, a practice focused on humanitarian-based immigration cases will look distinct from a large firm preparing work-based sponsorship applications. Further, when the federal government introduces proposed and finalized rule changes to immigration law, numerous groups and firms may file federal litigation in district court. These types of cases range from benefits for a small group of immigrants to class action suits. Each of these areas of immigration law are unique and require their own individualized skills, but still rely on the same basic foundational knowledge of how the immigration system in this country works. I appreciate the openness and diversity within this field and how every day I can learn something new.
Finally, learning about immigrants’ journeys of coming to the United States fascinates me, too. Many stories include insight into past or current events from around the world and how these events impacted the immigrant and their communities. Many immigrant stories reflect values that the U.S. prioritizes, such as hard work, compassion, family, and more. Even though the stories from my future clients will be protected by privilege, by working in immigration, I feel that I am becoming a more informed citizen about what is going on in the world.
How do you think advances in legal tech will impact the future of law?
The growth of legal tech allows for the possibility for making competent legal services and representation more accessible across the world to individuals low-income individuals and to rural communities. Even though the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the world, in the U.S. many legal practitioners learned to adapt their practices to work with clients virtually through a number of communication platforms. Virtual meetings can allow for some cost savings on both the practice and the client, such as cutting costs for office space and travel time. The cost of legal representation in the United States is so high that it can oftentimes be a barrier for individuals who may need the representation but have no access to it.
Additionally, legal tech may grow to allow for greater language access to legal representation and resources. As a multicultural nation, there is an immense need to have this type of language support for non-English and non-Spanish speakers. Many individuals who may require legal representation may not obtain it because of an inability to find someone with whom they can communicate. In other situations, an individual may not understand that legal proceedings have been brought against them because of an inability to read any related legal notices. Legal tech has the potential to give individuals access to these language resources so they can make more informed decisions about their legal matter.
Even though I can envision the benefits that will come from legal tech, I am still a bit cautious about how it will be used and whether people can, and should, trust new legal technology. I worry about the ways in which legal technology can be used maliciously or fraudulently. Still, through appropriate regulations and through our ethical duties to our clients, I believe that legal technology can benefit our practices and our communities.
Abigael Diaz (they/she), 3L at University of Washington School of Law
Why did you decide to go to law school?
I decided to go to law school because, despite my background in business and women’s studies, I found myself drawn to legal problems that intersected with my work. The more I delved into the intricacies of the law, the more I realized just how much it intersects with everything in our lives.
However, I soon realized that the law is very inaccessible, especially for minority communities where many first-generation students like myself come from. It became important for me to go to law school and gain this knowledge so that I could, in turn, share it with my community. I want to use my legal and business education to empower women and nonbinary people of color to navigate the complexities of the legal system and build successful businesses that utilize their creative talents.
What area of law is most fascinating to you and why?
I am most fascinated by the intersection of law with technology, entertainment, and business. As someone who loves pop culture, horror films, and video games, I find it incredibly exciting to think about how the law can help bring these artistic expressions to life and support those who create them. I am particularly interested in helping creators navigate the legal aspects of their work. Whether it’s negotiating contracts, protecting intellectual property, or dealing with licensing agreements, I believe that the law can play a crucial role in ensuring that creative works are protected and that their creators are fairly compensated for their efforts.
How do you think advances in legal tech will impact the future of law?
One of the most important changes that I see coming is increased accessibility to the law, particularly for minority groups who may have traditionally faced barriers to accessing legal services. With technology such as online legal services, online dispute resolution, and mobile access, it should become easier for people to get necessary legal help.
Another major impact of legal technology will be increased efficiency. With automation and AI tools, legal professionals and those in the criminal justice system will be able to work more quickly and accurately. By automating routine tasks and using data analytics to identify patterns and trends, courts will be able to process cases more quickly and efficiently, allowing them to clear the backlog of cases that have accumulated over time. Hopefully, the increase in efficiency will lower costs and allow the courts to take on the increasing number of cases that come with increased access to legal services. This will help to ensure that justice is served in a timely manner, which is crucial in cases such as sexual assault and immigration, where there are current backlogs, and their delays can have serious consequences.
It is crucial that the legal system embraces new technology because it has the potential to improve access to justice, increase efficiency, improve quality, and keep pace with the changing needs of society.
C.P. Stewart, 2L at North Carolina Central University School of Law
Why did you decide to go to law school?
I have wanted to be an attorney since I was a kid, and the reasons have changed and will continue to change with time. Simply put, I’m living my dream. If I must choose a purpose, my focus is helping Veterans. I currently support Veterans filing claims with the VA, but my role is restricted. I look forward to the day when these restrictions disappear, and I can zealously advocate for my brothers and sisters in arms.
What area of law is most fascinating to you and why?
Tech Law is the new frontier and, by far, the most fascinating. Big Tech’s reach is extensive, and we have yet to realize technology’s full capabilities and impact on our society. Also, the law moves slowly, and technology rushes. Consequently, our courts use centuries-old laws to address these contemporary issues, and it’s somewhat chaotic.
How do you think advances in legal tech will impact the future of law?
Advances in legal tech have impacted and will continue to impact every area of law. Technology provides a constant stream of new and improved systems, which we cannot escape. Technology can answer our phones, write our emails, schedule our appointments, brief a case, summarize a book, etc.; the list has no end. The impacts will result from everyone’s implementation of these new technologies. The question becomes: “What will individuals choose to do with all this technology?” And the possibilities are limitless.
Ryan Lam, 2L at George Washington University Law School
Why did you decide to go to law school?
I wanted to understand why the world operates in the way that it does and what changes can be made to make a more equitable and efficient system.
What area of law is most fascinating to you and why?
Intellectual property, technology, and media law are fascinating because they deal with cutting-edge innovation, creativity, and communication issues in the modern world. Technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace, so much so that legislatures are struggling to keep up with regulating certain industries. This is driving many legal challenges in areas such as patent law, copyright law, and privacy law. How can the law protect consumers as new technology exponentially advances?
How do you think advances in legal tech will impact the future of law?
Legal technology and AI can streamline many administrative processes in the legal field. Legal technology can make it faster to access documents and research.
Become a UniCourt Legal News Contributor
Are you an excellent legal writer, who wants to see their work published on UniCourt Legal News with a byline? Want to share your legal expertise in a certain practice area on a high-ranking legal industry website?
Law students, law professors, and other legal professionals, who are interested in improving access to legal information and love legal writing, are encouraged to reach out to our Legal News team at legalnews@unicourt.com for opportunities to become a contributor and have your work published on UniCourt.com.