University of Richmond law students win national trial advocacy competition
February 19, 2009
A team of students from the University of Richmond School of Law has won the national finals of the American Bar Association's Student Trial Advocacy Competition. They defeated teams from 69 other law schools.
The ABA's Labor and Employment Law Section hosted the finals, with federal judges, law professors and prominent employment lawyers from around the nation serving as evaluators. Students were judged on their advocacy skills and courtroom presence at each stage of the trial. Teams consisted of four students each, two serving as lawyers and two acting as witnesses. The Richmond law team won seven preliminary trials in order to advance to the finals, judged by U.S. District Court Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer.
Representing Richmond law were third-year students Scott Jones of Stafford, Va., Kristen Wright of Atlanta, Ga., Jeannine Panzera of Rockville, Md., and second-year student Hank Gates of Richmond, Va. Paul Thompson, adjunct professor of law, coached.
"The team worked very hard and conducted themselves in a very professional way. It was a pleasure to be their coach," said Thompson.
Joe Tilson, competition co-chair and a lawyer with Chicago-based Meckler Bulger Tilson Marick & Peason LLP, said "Our competition began five years ago as a pilot program and has steadily grown into a national competition with eight regions. Each year, we continue to be impressed by the polished trial skills shown by these law students."