Monique Hemli-Munoz (JD ’23) and Rachel McMains (JD ’23) have been named the recipients of the 2021 Rutan & Tucker Golden Quill award. Presented annually, the award recognizes “top briefs” for the plaintiff and the defendant in the Chapman University Fowler School of Law’s first-year Legal Research and Writing competition.

Hemli-Munoz, representing the plaintiff, and McMains, representing the defendant, researched and briefed a mock federal employment law case involving the interpretation of Title VII and the Equal Pay Act. A panel of practicing attorneys reviewed the top briefs to select the winners, each of whom receive a certificate of honor and a $500 award sponsored by Rutan & Tucker, LLP—a Costa Mesa, California-based law firm that also sponsors the law school’s annual Golden Gavel competition.

Hemli-Munoz and McMains follow in the footsteps of last year’s Golden Quill winners, Tyler Angelini (JD ’22) (defense) and Dina Gawad (JD ‘22) (plaintiff).