Madeline McKenzie Connelly
Atascocita, Texas
- Juris Doctor, Graduate Diploma in Comparative Law
- 2023 Dean’s Cup Moot Court Competition winner
- Director of Internal Appellate Competitions, Board of Advocates
- Journal of Civil Law Studies Junior Graduate Editor
- Undergraduate: LSU, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science; Minors in Sociology and Vocal Performance
What are your immediate career plans?
I will be competing for the opportunity to serve my home state as Miss Texas shortly before taking the Louisiana bar exam in July. I also plan to obtain my LLM in Health Law and will be preparing for the Texas bar exam in February 2025.
What are your long-term career aspirations?
My ultimate career aspiration is to be the Texan version of Elizabeth Prelogar! I would love to serve as the Solicitor General of Texas and represent my state before the Supreme Court.
Please tell us about the organizations and activities you participated in at LSU Law, including any awards or honors you received.
- Board of Advocates – Director of Internal Appellate Competitions
- LSU Law Transactional Negotiation Competition, Semifinalist (Spring 2024)
- ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition Team (Spring 2024)
- National Veterans Law Moot Court Team (Fall 2023)
- Dean’s Cup Moot Court Competition, Winner (Spring 2023)
- Duberstein National Bankruptcy Moot Court Team (Spring 2023)
- Peter James Johnson National Civil Rights Trial Team (Fall 2022)
- Robert L. Tullis Moot Court Competition, Octofinalist (Fall 2022)
- Ira S. Flory Mock Trial Competition, Octofinalist (Fall 2022)
- Journal of Civil Law Studies – Graduate Editor
- Public Interest Law Society – IT/Publicity Chair, Section 2 Representative
- Student Bar Association – Academic Mentor
- Barrister’s Bowl – Cheerleader and Fundraiser
- Women’s Law Student Association – 3L Class Representative
Please tell us about any LSU Law faculty, classes, or other experiences that were particularly impactful on your legal education.
I really must thank Professor (Jeff) Brooks for being such a great mentor and inspiration throughout my law career. Preparing for the many advocacy events and competitions shaped me into a better leader and advocate. Traveling to D.C. with Olivia Maynard (’23) and Brock McKiness was an incredible experience. I received my first perfect score in a competition and gained a much greater appreciation of veterans law. I will never forget the experience of arguing admin law issues in our nation’s capital! I fell in love with the city and knew that I wanted a future in appellate law.
What are your fondest memories from your time at LSU Law?
Overall, traveling for external competitions was my fondest memory. I think my absolute highlights were either going to New York during my 2L year for the Duberstein Competition and exploring the city or going to Disneyland after the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition with my friend and teammate Gaven DeVillier. I also loved traveling with our advocacy fellow Liv Maynard to D.C. and L.A. Truly some of the greatest memories were made on those trips, and I cannot thank LSU Law enough for these experiences.
What advice would you give to students entering law school who aspire to become Order of the Barristers members when they graduate?
Put 100% effort into every opportunity before you. Give your all into every advocacy experience because this is a learning experience first and foremost. Don’t go into your advocacy experience laser-focused on Order of Barristers membership because you will miss out on all the fun! I am so grateful for my incredible external trips to New York, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. Competing in externals, winning the Dean’s Cup, and running internals were the highlights of my law school experience! Soak up every moment and your experiences will mean so much more than just the Order of Barristers membership.
