Recently, I had the chance once again to serve as a judge in a law school writing competition. Thank you to the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law.

Richard Grand

Here is the school’s news release.

Richard Grand Competition Rewards Excellence in Legal Writing

Five law students received recognition and cash awards for their writing skills in the 11th Annual Richard Grand Legal Writing Competition at the University Of Arizona James E. Rogers College Of Law. This year, instead of receiving a specific topic or court case, contestants were given the opportunity to write a story from personal experiences pertaining to law or law school.    

This year’s winners competed against a record number of participants. From within a total of 40 contestants, the 2011 Student winners were:

  • Jared Jorde (2L), First Place—$2,000
  • Matthew Chandler (2L), Second Place—$1,000
  • Joseph Austin (1L), Third Place—$375 (tie)
  • Benjamin Harville (3L), Third Place—$375 (tie)
  • Annie Ross (1L), Honorable Mention—$250

Judges included: Justice Robert M. Brutinel, Arizona Supreme Court; Commissioner Wendy Morton, Maricopa County Superior Court; Timothy Eigo, Editor of Arizona Attorney Magazine; Troy Larkin, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Attorney, and Jeremy A. Lite, Attorney, Quarles and Brady, LLP.

The competition is one of two annual events funded by internationally-recognized plaintiffs’ lawyer Richard Grand to improve student skills. The Richard Grand Competition tests student skills in oral arguments and will be held later this spring.

Grand, a 1958 graduate of the University of Arizona College of Law, began his practice in Tucson as a deputy county attorney. Since 1962, his practice has been limited to representing plaintiffs. On 100+ occasions he has obtained either a verdict or settlement in excess of $1 million.

In 1972, he received a jury verdict of $3.5 million, at that time the largest in the United States for a single injury. (Wry v. Dial, 18 Ariz. App. 503 (1972)). Most recently, he and co-counsel Mike Meehan successfully settled a personal injury case with the City of Tucson for $1.25 million.

Grand is the Honorary President of The Richard Grand Society—“The Injury Lawyers Alliance”—a society of preeminent personal injury and medical malpractice lawyers entitled to practice in the United Kingdom. In 1972 he founded the Inner Circle of Advocates, which is limited to 100 U.S. lawyers who have completed at least 50 personal injury trials and have at least one verdict in excess of $1 million for compensatory damages. In 2002, the University of Arizona Alumni Association Board of Directors awarded him the University of Arizona’s Professional Achievement Award.