Trial Advocacy Awards

Oral Trial Advocacy Awards

Hugh Miracle Award

An annual prize for the best opening statement made by a student in trial advocacy.

Submission Process: Students must submit a video of an original opening statement. You may use what you did for your Trial Advocacy class or a previous competition, but it must be your own work. Video submissions need to be limited to not more than 10 minutes and must include your full name and UW NetID. For questions, please email trialad@uw.edu.

  • Opens: March 1
  • Restrictions: 2L-3L
  • Award: $1,000
  • Application:
    • Email trialad@uw.edu by Feb. 28, 2025, to confirm your intent to participate in this competition.
    • Applications to be submitted online through the Hugh Miracle Competition Submission form. Video submission due March 14, 2025.
    • Process includes an in-person presentation of opening statement for top 10 video submissions on April 3, 2025.
  • Deadline: March 14, 2025

John C. Coughenour Award

Annual award for the Best Oral Advocate to a student in the Trial Advocacy Program at the University of Washington School of Law.

Submission Process: Qualification for this award is based on participation in the Hugh Miracle Award. The top 4 vote getters from that award shall be eligible to participate in the mock trial competition hosted by Judge Coughenour. Judge Coughenour hosts and judges a mock trial put on with 2 teams of 2. For questions, please email trialad@uw.edu.

  • Opens: March 1
  • Restrictions: 2L-3L who are in the top 4 finalists of the Miracle Opening Statement competition
  • Award: $3,000
  • Application: Must participate in the Miracle Award competition
  • Competition: Mock Trial in Judge Coughenour's courtroom — April 18, 2025
  • Deadline: See Hugh Miracle Opening Statement Award

Written Trial Advocacy Awards

These awards are similar in their submission and review process. Please read carefully through the descriptions for each. All three written awards require a paper, resume and transcript. All are looking for the elements below.

Commitment to building trial advocacy skills. Interest in working as a trial attorney, participation in advocacy related activities including, but not limited to an externship related to trial advocacy and/or participation in trial advocacy competitions.

Commitment to excellence. Professionalism, diplomacy and leadership. Service to the law school's Trial Advocacy/Moot Court program through leadership.

Commitment to equity in our justice system. The focus for this commitment is different for each award.

James B. McMillan Award

To be awarded to the student in trial advocacy whose performance shows a commitment to the kind of excellence in trial advocacy that Judge McMillan manifested.

Judge McMillan played a vital role in ending the era of Jim Crow laws & practices. The most famous of his many civil rights cases was Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, the case which in 1971 finally forced the desegregation of school districts throughout the US, fulfilling the promise first made in Brown v. Board of Education. He lived a life of great courage and integrity and held a deep and abiding commitment to the principal of equal justice for all. For him, the jury was the great protector of civil rights and liberties, but experienced lawyers were necessary for this process to work.

  • Opens: March 1
  • Restrictions: 3L
  • Award: $2,000
  • Deadline: April 11, 2025
  • Application: Paper, Resume and Transcript

Applications must be submitted to trialad@uw.edu with subject line: McMillan Award Submission.

If not submitted via your UW email, include full name and NetID in email.

Save and submit all 3 elements (paper, resume, transcript) as a single PDF document.

  1. Submit a paper stating your interest in trial work, activities related to trial work to date and the importance of — and the changes needed for — providing equity in our justice system. We are looking for students who show participation in student associations related to equity, recognition of the importance of the court system in protecting human rights, an understanding of how bias corrupts the fairness of the court system and what should be done to change this.
    1. No more than 2 pages
    2. Not smaller than 12-point font with at least 1-inch margins on all sides
  2. Resume
  3. Law School Transcript

John D. MacGillivray Award

The John D. MacGillivray Memorial Scholarship is awarded to third year Trial Advocacy students who demonstrate excellence, leadership, commitment and impact in their coursework and activities.

Mr. MacGillivray and his family are dedicated to supporting the community through legal advocacy, in particular offering services to those who might not otherwise be able to afford an attorney.

  • Opens: March 1
  • Restrictions: 3L
  • Award: $5,000
  • Deadline: April 11, 2025
  • Application: Paper, Resume and Transcript

Applications must be submitted to trialad@uw.edu with subject line: MacGillivray Award Submission.

If not submitted via your UW email, include full name and NetID in email.

Save and submit all 3 elements (paper, resume, transcript) as a single PDF document.

  1. Submit a paper stating your interest in trial work, activities related to trial work to date and your commitment to providing ongoing community support through legal advocacy. We are looking for noteworthy work in the legal community, separate from the law school, that demonstrates impact. We are also looking for: Participation in local and national Trial Advocacy/Moot Court competitions; Service to the school Moot Court and Trial Advocacy programs through leadership (ex: serving as an officer, recruiting judges) and service (ex: practice rounds, witnessing, volunteering as a bailiff); Enrollment in Trial Advocacy law school courses and clinics; Externship related to trial advocacy.
    1. No more than 2 pages
    2. Not smaller than 12-point font with at least 1-inch margins on all sides
  2. Resume
  3. Law School Transcript

William L. Dwyer Jury Project Award

Established in 2004, the William L. Dwyer Jury Project recognizes the late U.S. District Judge William L. Dwyer and honors his memory by promoting two important public causes that he worked for in his life: the education of young lawyers and the maintenance and support of the American jury system.

  • Opens: March 1
  • Restrictions: 2L/3L/LLM
  • Award: $3,000
  • Deadline: April 11, 2025
  • Application: Paper, Resume and Transcript

Applications must be submitted to trialad@uw.edu with subject line: Dwyer Award Submission.

If not submitted via your UW email, include full name and NetID in email.

Save and submit all 3 elements (paper, resume, transcript) as a single PDF document.

  1. Submit a paper stating your interest in trial work, activities related to trial work to date, and discusses the importance of the American jury system to you.
    1. No more than 2 pages
    2. Not smaller than 12-point font with at least 1-inch margins on all sides
  2. Resume
  3. Law School Transcript

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