Michigan State Law Student Wins Two National Writing Awards

Recent Michigan State University College of Law graduate Jacqueline Clarke, ’13, received top awards in the Selma Moidel Smith Law Student Writing Competition and the annual Howard C. Schwab Memorial Essay Contest.

Clarke’s paper titled, “[In]equitable Relief: How Judicial Misconceptions About Domestic Violence Prevent Victims from Attaining Innocent Spouse Relief Under §6015(f),” earned an honorable mention in this year’s Selma Moidel Smith Law Student Writing Competition, which was hosted by the National Association of Women Lawyers.

The competition was created “to propel and praise unique law student writing on topics concerning women and the law.” Clarke’s paper was described as “a clear favorite among many of the judges.”

Additionally, a second piece of Clarke’s writing, an essay titled “Do I Have A Voice? An Empirical Analysis of Children’s Voices in Michigan Custody Litigation,” received second place overall in the 2013 Howard C. Schwab Memorial Essay Contest, which is sponsored by the American Bar Association Section of Family Law.

The contest is “intended to promote interest and scholarship in Family Law.” Clarke’s essay will published in the ABA Section of Family Law’s fall 2013 issue of Family Law Quarterly.

While a student at Michigan State Law, Clarke served as senior notes editor for the Michigan State Law Review, and a student clinician in the Alvin L. Storrs Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic. She also worked as a law clerk for Fahey, Schultz, Burzych, and Rhodes PLC in Okemos, Michigan, and a court extern/investigator for the Ingham County Probate Court.

Clarke has since earned her Juris Doctor degree as part of the May 2013 graduating class.