Two students from the USC Rice School of Law took top prizes in the annual writing competition sponsored by the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Labor and Employment Law.
Morgan Mercer won second place for her article "The Americans with Disabilities Act and ADHD: Societal Misconceptions as Barriers to Reasonable Accommodations." Carolyn Barrett won third place for her article “Autism in the Workplace: Advancing ADA Protections and Accommodations for Employees with Autism.”
Mercer and Barrett will both receive cash awards, have their accomplishments publicized in the ABA Labor and Employment Section newsletter, and their articles will be sent to all labor and employment lawyers in the ABA.
The papers they submitted were completed in the Fall 2024 Disability Law in the Workplace seminar taught by Doug Ray, adjunct professor of law.
“A review of past competition top three winners prior to 2023 reveals that Yale, Harvard, Penn and Fordham students seemed to dominate the competition. South Carolina is now the most successful,” Ray says. “This tells me that USC law students can compete with anyone in the country.”
Mercer’s paper argues that societal misconceptions about ADHD limit employees’ ability to secure accommodations under the ADA. It explores ADHD’s medical and workplace impacts, critiques inconsistent court rulings, and advocates for individualized assessments and broader recognition of ADHD as a qualifying disability.
Mercer initially intended to examine gender differences in ADHD accommodations, but after preliminary research, she discovered the skepticism surrounding ADHD generally. With Ray’s guidance, she “shifted the paper to examine how those societal misconceptions about ADHD impact the legal system and hinder access to accommodations.”
Barrett’s paper examines the legal issues autistic individuals face in the workplace and how these issues intersect with the ADA. Barrett argues that the ADA's subparts and its precedent create individualized barriers that autistic employees must overcome and emphasizes the need for employers to remain open to accommodating autistic employees.
“The number of autistic individuals entering the workforce is rising, yet they continue to face lower rates of employment, fewer hours, and reduced pay compared to non-autistic adults,” Barrett says. “I wanted to bring awareness to these challenges and explore how the ADA can better protect and support autistic employees.”
Postgraduation, Mercer will serve as a judicial term clerk for the Honorable Chief Judge Martin Reidinger in the Western District of North Carolina. Barrett plans to pursue a career in employment law or business litigation.
“I am proud that together we could shed light on such important issues,” Barrett says. “This recognition... inspires me to continue pursuing work that creates meaningful legal and social impact.”
Both students hope their papers highlight misconceptions about protected conditions, inspire others to use legal scholarship for advocacy, and educate the legal community about advancing protections.
“It feels incredibly rewarding to be recognized on a national stage, especially for work that I poured so much thought and effort into,” Mercer says. “Having a classmate from my own law school also place makes the honor even more meaningful – it highlights the strength of our program and the supportive academic community we share.”
Mercer and Barrett join fellow alumni Max Rieumont (‘25) and Christel Purvis (‘23) who each placed third, respectively, in 2024 and 2023 with their disability law seminar papers.
“These students worked very hard, completed multiple drafts, and richly deserved these honors,” Ray says. “With students like this, it is a pleasure to teach here.”