Stetson wins national moot court, arbitration championships

GULFPORT, Fla., Jan. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Stetson won the Andrews Kurth National Moot Court Championship and the ABA Law Student National Arbitration Competition this weekend.

The invitation-only Andrews Kurth National Moot Court Competition determines the 16 "best of the best" moot court programs in the United States. Stetson's team of Nick Sellars, Melaina Tryon and Giovanni Giarratana won the final round on Jan. 24 at the University of Houston Law Center, and Tryon also won Best Oralist. Professor Brooke Bowman and Erin Okuno '13 co-coached the team.

Stetson and the University of Missouri both won championships at the ABA Law Student National Arbitration Competition on Jan. 24 in Chicago. The 40-team competition was designed to produce two sets of champions. Stetson students Lauren Eliopoulos, Alexandria Lewis, Andrew Tuttle and Jennifer Wilson won over a second Stetson team of Chelsea Johnson, Ashley Petefish, Kristy Rowsey and Scott Tolliver in the finals. Professors Kelly Feeley and Roberta Flowers co-coached Stetson's teams. 

Also this weekend, Stetson student Phylicia Pearson was named best advocate at the Florida Bar Trial Lawyer Section's Chester Bedell Mock Trial Competition in West Palm Beach. Stetson's team of Pearson, Stephanie Baker, Kyle Ross and Harold Velez placed second in the competition. This year, 11 law schools sent 22 teams of students. Stetson has won the competition 21 times in its 32-year history. Professor Michele Joiner co-coached the team with Sara Mieczkowski '10 and Shaun Cummings '14.

Stetson law school's advocacy record includes five world titles, 67 national championships, and 111 best advocate/oralist awards.

"One of the most important skills in a lawyer's toolkit is effective advocacy," said Dean and Professor of Law Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz. "Stetson's dedication to producing effective advocates is unmatched. This weekend, our students proved that they are exceptionally well-prepared for the courtroom."

Stetson's trial advocacy ranking has been best in the nation 16 times according to U.S. News & World Report. To learn more about advocacy at Stetson, visit www.stetson.edu/law/advocacy.

Editor's Note: Download high-resolution images of Stetson's advocacy champions from Stetson Law News.

About Stetson University College of Law
Stetson University College of Law, Florida's first law school, has prepared lawyers and leaders since 1900. Today, Stetson leads the nation in blending legal doctrine with practical training, evidenced by its top-ranked programs in advocacy and legal writing. Through our academically rigorous curriculum and commitment to social responsibility, Stetson lawyers are ethical advocates ready to succeed in the legal profession.  

SOURCE Stetson University

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