Graysen Mechler, University of Houston Law Center student
March 1, 2024 — University of Houston Law Center student Graysen Mechler raced to produce an efficient, concise legal document under time restraints, earning a semifinalist placement in the 2024 The Paper Chase, an annual legal writing competition hosted by Baylor Law and judged by the Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA).
“Participating in The Paper Chase Legal Writing Competition was an incredibly rewarding experience. It challenged me to work efficiently under pressure and put my legal writing skills to the test.” Mechler said. “I had never drafted a motion to dismiss before, so it really pushed me to use my resources wisely and get creative in how I structured my arguments.”
This year’s event accumulated the largest number of entries yet, with eight different Texas law schools participating. This competition differs from other legal writing competitions because students are required to craft legal documents under time constraints they may face as lawyers, compared to drafting a traditional essay. At least one student from each law school submitted a top entry, according to TYLA.
In preparation for the 2024 The Paper Chase, Mechler worked with Professor Maikieta Brantley, a Clinical Assistant Professor at the UHLC who works with law students on their lawyering skills, strategies and legal writing.
“I want to thank Professor Brantley for encouraging me to compete in the Paper Chase and for teaching me all I know about legal writing!” Mechler said. “Competing in the Paper Chase, and placing as a semifinalist, provided me with invaluable experience for my legal career. It gave me great exposure to writing legal documents under time pressure, which will directly benefit my future as a lawyer.”
