The University of North Texas at Dallas College of Law continues to make a name for itself as an emerging force in the state on the strength of its students. Kamran Anwar set a new standard last week by winning the 2018 The Paper Chase Legal Writing Competition, which crowns the best practical writer in all of the Texas law schools.

All three UNT Dallas College of Law students that entered the competition finished in the top six.

Anwar, an alumnus of UNT Dallas, beat out Darrick Monson of the University of Texas, and Aaron Diaz of St. Mary’s University School of Law. Created by Baylor Law School and judged by the Texas Young Lawyer Association (TYLA), first place came with $7,000 in cash prizes. Only UT Law School and South Texas College of Law placed at least two competitors in the top 10.

“When I saw my name in bold next to first place, I was honestly stunned," Anwar said after learning of his triumph. "I am confident in my writing abilities, but to be selected over other hard-working students from across the state, including students from very reputable law schools, was truly a shock. Like every second-year law student across the state, I have been working hard to refine my legal writing skills for the last year-and-half. To see that hard work pay off is an immense honor.”

UNT Dallas College of Law student Brittney Thompson took fourth place, and Tara Bush finished in sixth place.

"In this competition, we're competing against two top-tier law schools in the country and our students outperformed them," said Melissa Shultz, UNT Dallas College of Law assistant professor and director of legal writing.

"When you do it here," Anwar said of winning a statewide competition, "you've now helped create the basis and the foundation of what this school is. And so, I hope everybody that comes after us realizes we are going to demand excellence in these fields because we did it from the start."