Michael Dillon '12 has been named a 2012 Distinguished Legal Writing Award recipient by the Burton Awards for Legal Achievement, a nonprofit program associated with the Library of Congress.  Dillon was nominated for his article,Water Scarcity and Hydraulic Fracturing in Pennsylvania: Examining the Potential for Pennsylvania Water Law to Adequately Manage Potential Water Shortage Issues Presented by Natural Gas Operations in the Marcellus Shale, 84 Temp.L.Rev. _ (2011).  His paper was supervised by Professor Amy Sinden.

Only fifteen student authors in the nation are recognized by the Burton Awards each year.  Winners are invited to receive their awards at an event in Washington, D.C. This year's event features United States Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens (retired) as the guest speaker and a performance by two-time Emmy award winner Bernadette Peters. 2012 marks the third time in four years that a Temple Law student has been recognized by the Burton Awards.

While at Temple Law, Dillon has served as the managing editor of the Temple Law Review. In September 2012, he will begin his legal practice with the environmental and energy law firm Manko, Gold, Katcher & Fox, LLP in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.