2025 Winners

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1st PLACE WINNER

Allison Huang

Cornell Law School

Allison Huang is a 3L at Cornell Law School and earned her Bachelor’s in History at Princeton. While at Cornell, she worked for two years for the Farmworker Legal Assistance Clinic, whose clients inspired this paper. She has previously published in the American Immigration Law Association Journal and The Christian Lawyer. She wants to thank her professors Estelle McKee and Stewart Schwab and librarian Nina Scholtz for their guidance with her paper, and professor Beth Lyon for the opportunity to work with victims of trafficking.
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2nd PLACE WINNER

Morgan Mercer

University of South Carolina

Morgan is a third-year law student at the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law, where she serves as President of the Pro Bono Board and as a Research Editor for the South Carolina Law Review. Before law school, Morgan graduated magna cum laude from Davidson College and spent five years teaching elementary school as part of Teach for America. Her time in the classroom motivated her to pursue law to better understand and address the systemic issues that impact students and their families. Following graduation, Morgan will clerk for the Honorable Judge Martin Reidinger of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.
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3rd PLACE WINNER

Carolyn Barrett

University of South Carolina

Carolyn is a third-year law student at the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law. Before attending law school, Carolyn graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia with a B.A. in Criminal Justice and Sociology. While at UGA, Carolyn interned at the Western Circuit Public Defender’s Office. Carolyn now serves as a research assistant examining access to justice, civil remedies for gender-based violence, and the rights of children and adolescents. She is also a student advocate in the Education Rights Clinic, helping children with disabilities and their families access special education services. Alongside her academic work, Carolyn develops practical experience at a civil defense firm. Upon graduation, Carolyn is planning to stay in the South to begin her legal career.