Tiffany Dunkin of Baylor University School of Law tied for second place in the prestigious Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Competition, held during the 2025 Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Conference (JCOW). The event took place from February 20 to 22 at The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law.

Dunkin holds a degree in Theatre Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and graduated summa cum laude from Baylor University School of Law in August 2024. She will serve as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Joel Carson III on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in Roswell, New Mexico, during the 2025-2026 term.

Reflecting on her experience at JCOW, Dunkin emphasized the conference’s value for future law clerks. “The most valuable part of the Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Conference was hearing directly from federal judges about their approaches to opinion writing. We also received personalized feedback from judges on our draft opinions, offering a rare chance to discuss our work with them before starting our clerkships. Thanks to this experience, I feel significantly more prepared to begin my clerkship.”

Dunkin expressed deep gratitude for the support and guidance she received along her journey. “I owe so much to Baylor Law School’s exceptional legal writing program, led by the incomparable Matthew Cordon, for equipping me with the skills needed to excel in the legal field. I am especially thankful for the mentorship of Professor Cordon and Professor Berry, as well as Professor Brian Serr, who introduced me to the fundamentals of judicial opinion writing.”

Reflecting further, she shared, “After spending a decade in education between undergrad and law school, I now work as a Legal Fellow at First Liberty Institute in Plano, Texas. My passion for religious liberty fueled my decision to attend law school, and it continues to drive my work today.”

To learn more about the Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Conference, click here.