Official Rules

1. Purpose and structure of the competition

The Cubbon and Associates Legal Writing Competition (the “Competition”) is designed to engage new lawyers in a scholarly exercise that showcases their capacity to develop compelling legal arguments across criminal and civil law. It will evaluate briefs and motions that have already been written and filed, rather than soliciting new works.

Participants are encouraged to submit their best previously filed documents in any Ohio or Federal Court or any administrative agency. This approach ensures that the submissions are rooted in practical, real-world legal scenarios and reflect the legal writing skills they have honed during law school and their early practice. The competition serves not only to highlight these skills but also to foster creativity and innovative thinking in addressing complex legal issues amongst the newest members of the bar.

2. Participant eligibility

Eligible participants are defined as those who are, by the date of the Bench Bar Conference, within ten years of their bar admission and licensed to practice in Ohio, or law students who have been certified by the Ohio Supreme Court for limited practice of law. All entrants will receive complimentary access to the October 30, 2026 Bench Bar Conference, and all (especially finalists) are expected to attend.

3. Submission guidelines

• Entries must be submitted electronically as PDFs, with each document bearing a file stamp from an Ohio or Federal Court or any administrative agency.
• The deadline for submissions is set for midnight on September 30, 2026.

4. Evaluation criteria

Submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria, each worth up to 20 points, for a total of 100 points:

• Novelty and Originality: Focuses on the uniqueness of the legal issue and the originality of the approach. This criterion rewards innovative thinking and the ability to find new angles on traditional legal questions.
• Complexity and Relevance: Evaluates the legal complexity and contemporary relevance of the issues addressed in the motion. High marks are given for tackling sophisticated legal problems that are pertinent to current legal challenges.
• Persuasiveness and Coherence of Argument: Assesses the logical structure, clarity, and overall persuasiveness of the legal argument. Effective use of legal precedents and evidentiary support are critical for scoring well in this area.
• Depth of Legal Research: Measures the thoroughness and scope of the legal research employed. Entries that demonstrate a deep understanding of applicable laws and judicial opinions will excel.
• Quality of Writing and Presentation: Considers the overall quality of legal writing, including grammar, syntax, organization, and style. Clear, concise, and well-organized submissions will achieve higher scores.

5. Steering Committee

The Competition will be guided and overseen by a Steering Committee, comprised of the following members of the legal community:

• Jim Yavorcik: Serving as the Chair of the Steering Committee, Mr. Yavorcik brings extensive experience in legal practice and a deep commitment to the professional development of new lawyers.
• Ben Syroka: An attorney known for his strategic insights and as a professor of motion practice, Mr. Syroka will contribute significantly to the organization and execution of the competition.
• Mark Hanusz: With a background in finance, publishing, and administration, Mr. Hanusz offers a well-rounded perspective to the committee, ensuring a comprehensive approach to the competition's planning and implementation.

The Steering Committee will work closely to coordinate all aspects of the Competition, from initial planning stages through to the final awards ceremony.

6. Selection Committees

There will be two tracks, and each track shall have a Selection Committee comprising up to five members of the legal community:

• Criminal Law Committee: This committee may include law professors specializing in criminal law, a judge with extensive criminal case experience, seasoned criminal defense attorneys, and prosecutors.
• Civil Law Committee: This committee may include civil litigation experts, a judge with experience in civil cases, and legal scholars or professors with a focus on civil law developments.

The two selection committees shall review their submissions, with the author’s name and identifying details redacted, during the late September and early October. The scores will be provided to the Steering Committee no later than October 9.

7. Recognition and awards

All entrants will receive complimentary access to the 2026 Bench Bar Conference. Finalists and winners will gain further recognition through features in the Toledo Bar Association Monthly Newsletter and on the TBA website. Additionally, winners will be awarded a commemorative plaque during the conference luncheon, sponsored by Cubbon and Associates.

8. Promotion

This Competition will be actively promoted through direct email campaigns and prominently featured on the TBA website.

9. Certification of authorship

To maintain the integrity and the individual merit of the Competition, participants are required to certify that the documents they submit, whether motions or briefs, have been substantially authored by themselves. While submissions may appear under another person's name or may have involved minor drafting or editing assistance from others, including supervisors, paralegals, or artificial intelligence tools, the core of the work must be the participant’s own. This certification of authorship ensures that the competition truly reflects the participants' legal analysis, writing skills, and creative thinking. Participants will be required to affirm that their submission meets this criterion before their entries are accepted for review by the competition committees.

10. Timeline

• Early July: Webpage developed and announcement by email and in the Toledo Bar Association newsletter.
• August 30: Committees for each track are finalized, with five members per track.
• Months of August and September: Evangelizing and socializing event and encouraging submissions.
• September 30: Deadline for all competition submissions and committees are finalized. Participants must upload their entries by midnight.
• Early October: Committee members review and evaluate all submissions.
• October 15: Scores are finalized and submitted to the steering committee.
• October 16: Finalists for each track are publicly announced.
• October 30: Winners are announced during the Toledo Bar Association Bench Bar Conference.

Updated August 26, 2026. Questions? Email admin@cubbonlwc.com.