Loyola Recognized for Prowess in Trial Advocacy
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles’ Trial Advocacy Program has been top-ranked nationally for more than a decade for good reason: The Law School's moot court teams consistently achieve record results in a wide array of competitions.
“Loyola has always been known as a litigator’s law school, and our trial and appellate teams are no exception,” says Professor Susan Poehls, Loyola’s Director of Trial Advocacy Programs. “The best part is that generations of our best advocates regularly return to campus to help our students. It’s a true team effort, and it makes a difference."
Byrne Trial Advocacy Team
Loyola’s Byrne Trial Advocacy Team swept the National Trial Competition (NTC) regional championships in February 2019, with two of its teams selected as the only winners of the prestigious tournament and advancing to the next round of competition in San Antonio. Student competitors included Chip Brookes, Nicole Enyart, Stephanie Grimaldi, Abigail Hudson and Bryan Luther (pictured, from left).
The victories give the Byrne team bragging rights as the winner of 24 of the last 29 competitions. The NTC victory comes on the heels of its national semifinalist honors at the 2018 National Board of Trial Advocates’ Tournament of Champions last November.
“Our students are great, but we couldn’t have done it without the support and mentorship of our amazing alumni,” says Poehls, a Loyola alumna herself.
Scott Moot Honors Board
Loyola’s National Criminal Procedure Moot Court Team advanced to the round of 16 at the National Competition in San Diego last November, besting more than two dozen teams in the preliminary oral rounds in Loyola’s debut in the competition. Team members Jane Davidson and Andrea Steffan also won “Best Respondent Brief” in the competition.
To prepare, the team participated in an advanced writing seminar over the summer. The team prepared their oral arguments by arguing before panels of guest judges that included faculty and practitioners, including one-on-one coaching throughout the competition by alumna Samantha Gold’16.
Environmental Negotiations Competition Team
Loyola’s delegation to the California Lawyers Association Environmental Negotiations Competition won the competition of 14 teams earlier this month. Students Paige Samblanet '20 and Ross Zelen '20 made their way through two preliminary rounds to beat a team from UCLA in the finals.
ICC International Commercial Mediation Team
Loyola’s Mediation Team was one of 16 teams to advance to the elimination rounds from among a field of 70 at the ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition in Paris in February.
“This was only the second year that Loyola has participated in the competition, so I consider this a huge accomplishment – in no small measure due to the raw talent and hard work of our team members,” said Professor Hiro Aragaki, director of Loyola’s Project on Dispute Resolution & Development.
Student competitors included Meaghan Henderson ’19, Paola Leon ’19, Christine Strother ’19 and Sarkis Yeretsian ’19. Alumnus Cynthia Pasternak served as a coach.
These recent victories punctuate a 2018-19 season that also included other major wins:
- National Environmental Moot Court Competition: Quarterfinalists and “Best Brief/Oralist”
- Roger J. Traynor Moot Court Competition: Bernard Witkin Award for Excellence in Oral Advocacy, the competition's top overall award
- Tulane International Baseball Arbitration Tournament: Semifinalists
- Uvalda Herrera Moot Court Competition: Finalists and “Best Brief”
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