Will Vickery of Notre Dame Law School took first place in the prestigious Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing competition, held as part of 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.

Vickery, who earned degrees in philosophy and Spanish from the University of Texas at Austin in 2019, is set to graduate from Notre Dame Law School in May 2025. Following graduation, he will clerk for the Honorable Matthew Kacsmaryk of the Northern District of Texas during the 2025-2026 term and for the Honorable Kurt Engelhardt of the Fifth Circuit during the 2026-2027 term.

Reflecting on his experience at JCOW, Vickery highlighted the conference’s unique value for aspiring law clerks. “The Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Conference provides an unparalleled opportunity to learn directly from some of the federal judiciary’s top writers and thinkers. Hearing circuit judges discuss what makes a judicial opinion truly exceptional was both fascinating and enlightening. It’s also a fantastic chance to connect with future clerks from across the country. I highly recommend JCOW to fellow law students.”

Vickery expressed gratitude upon winning the competition, thanking the judges, mentors, and his wife for their support. “I want to extend my deepest thanks to the JCOW faculty and judges, especially Professor A.G. Harmon, for their dedication to this incredible event. I’m also deeply appreciative of Notre Dame’s outstanding legal writing faculty, who have been instrumental in my development. Finally, I am profoundly grateful to my wife, Sara, for her unwavering support throughout my law school journey.”

He added, “It’s an incredible honor to have my opinion selected by the judges. I look forward to applying the skills I gained at the Conference during my clerkships and beyond.”

Click here to learn more about the Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Conference.