It’s been a busy two months for the College of Law’s Trial Advocacy program, reports Professor Kathleen O’Connor, faculty director of the Moot Court Honor Society and Advocacy, with intercollegiate teams reaching the final four in three competitions and with students and teams bringing home individual awards.
The team of second- and third-year students made it to the final four of the Buffal-Niagara Mock Trial Invitational in mid-November.
On Nov. 9-11, the National Moot Court Competition team of third-year students Anna Pinchuk and Erin Shea and second-year student Erika Simonson participated in the Boston Regional round of the New York City Bar’s national appellate competition. The team advanced to the semifinal round and brought home the award for Best Brief. The team is coached by Professor Richard Risman, who was assisted by David Katz ’17.
The National Board of Trial Advocacy Tournament of Champions Competition team competed from Nov. 2-4, in Los Angeles. Making it into the semifinals were second-year students Adam Carey and Dennis Scanlon and third-year students Christopher Clark and Annie Millar. Joanne Van Dyke L’87 coached the team, and second-year student Sara Fitzpatrick served as the team alternate and practice partner. Additionally, Justin St. Louis L’17 helped prepare the team as an assistant coach.
The team of third-year students Tom DeBernardis, Stephanie Martin-Thom and Jennifer Pratt and second-year student Matt Wallace competed at the Buffalo-Niagara Mock Trial Invitational on Nov. 10-13, advancing to the final four. Pratt was named Best Overall Advocate through the Preliminary Rounds. The team was coached by Jeff Leibo L’03 and Colleen Gibbons L’17, with second-year student Ahmed Khattab serving as alternate and practice partner.
Coached by Professor Yelena Duterte, a second-year team of Olivia Fontana and Ryan Harrison advanced to the quarterfinals in the College of Law’s first-ever appearance in the National Veterans Law Moot Court Competition in Washington, D.C., which took place from Nov. 4-5. The team lost in the Elite Eight round in a split decision.
In another first-time appearance for the college, the Judith Kaye Arbitration Competition team returned from New York City on Nov. 12 with two awards. The second-year team of Sophie Bober, Sarah Knickerbocker and Ursula Simmons brought home trophies for Best Cross Examination and Best Brief. James Sonneborn and Casey Johnson of Bousquet Holstein PLLC coached the team. This competition is sponsored by the New York State Bar Association and the American Arbitration Association.
A team of third-year students Michelle Futch and Aidan Scott, and second-year student Porsche Skenandore-Wheelock took part in the St. John’s University School of Law Securities Dispute Resolution Triathlon. Coached by Professor Gary Pieples, these student advocates competed through three rounds of arbitration, negotiation and mediation.
For more information about the College of Law’s award-winning moot court and advocacy programs, click here.
