Blakely Advocacy Institute - 2020-21 Advocacy Awards and Recognitions: A Year-End Report - UH Law Center
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2020-21 Advocacy Awards and Recognitions:
A Year-End Report
Blakely Advocacy Institute
Dear Colleagues: Welcome to what would have been the 2021 Advocacy Awards Banquet – a celebratory dinner for the Blakely Advocacy Institute’s and the Advocates’ year of advocacy. We are not able to meet in person, but I want to take this opportunity to provide this greeting to you. It has been a challenging and difficult year, and both our advocacy program and our students showed tremendous resilience in maximizing the benefit of their experience. I want to personally thank our advocacy faculty and competition team coaches. You devote countless hours to teaching our students how to become more effective advocates, and you are a significant reason for Blakely’s national recognition and our students’ successes. I also want to acknowledge all the students who participated in the advocacy program this year, and in particular, I want to congratulate those students who are receiving scholarships and awards. Collectively, your participation and successes are another key component of the Blakely’s national recognition. The efforts of our advocacy faculty and the hard work of our students earned the Blakely Advocacy Institute a #44 ranking by U.S. News, an A+ rating (for Trial Advocacy) from prelaw Magazine, and an Honor Roll Award (for Alternative Dispute Resolution) also from prelaw Magazine. Advocacy skills are incredibly important to the practice of law. Our students’ opportunity to learn these skills is such an important part of the law school experience, whether the students become litigators or not. These skills will allow our students to zealously represent their clients and make strong arguments in any venue. Sincerely, Leonard M. Baynes Dean and Professor of Law University of Houston Law Center
TABLE OF CONTENTS
• Lifetime Achievement in Advocacy Award
• BAI Courses and Faculty
• 2021 Order of the Barristers
• 2021 Scholarship Award Winners
• BAI Interscholastic Competition Teams
• The Advocates Student Organization
• BAI-Created Competitions
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN ADVOCACY AWARD
K. Byron McCoy
1944–1997
Director
Trial Advocacy Institute
University of Houston Law Center
1985–1997
McCoy was the designer and creator of
the Law Center’s advocacy program.
Byron changed my life. I went to law school because I truly wanted to become a lawyer, I was lucky enough to have taught Trial Ad with Byron in his last semester teaching.
but I doubted whether I had the aptitude for it. As a second-year law student in 1989, I Despite his declining health, he was always laser focused on what the students learned.
took Byron’s trial advocacy course. At that point I had never been to a courthouse, and I Not what he taught, but what they learned. Byron had his tried and true techniques that
had never seen a trial. Byron watched me bumble through a cross examination one day. were proven effective, but he was not afraid to drop them if they were not working and
After, he took me to his office and said, “George, you’re special. You have a natural ability try something else. He put the focus on the student. I am forever grateful to have had that
to try cases. You should consider becoming a trial lawyer.” I left Byron’s office and life mindset illustrated so perfectly.
immediately changed for me. I had purpose, direction and what ultimately would be my Kevin Hedges ’89
calling. His kind words and confidence in me ultimately helped me change for the better
the lives of others -- like Byron did for me.
George Murphy ’90 In November 1994, I was asked by an acquaintance to judge a Saturday trial at the Harris
County Courthouse for the University of Houston Trial Advocacy Program. I had nothing special
planned, so I agreed. While critiquing the students after a well-tried case, I saw a tall, thin man
Byron was very passionate about trial advocacy (and evidence; he really knew his leaning against the back wall of the courtroom, studying me. As I was leaving, he approached
evidence.) Since it was the first year, he recruited the trial advocacy class and approached and introduced himself. It was Byron. He said he was recruiting adjunct professors to teach
people and asked them if they would be interested in doing it. I also remember me and Trial Advocacy in the evenings and was short of women. He believed in team teaching with
my partner John Herberger went to a Rockets game on Friday night, and many beers later, a mix of lawyers and judges, men and women, with both civil and criminal experience to
made a pact with each other that we would not show up for the early Saturday morning give students a diversified perspective. Would I like to give it a try? Because I had just seen a
class. Our logic, in that moment, was that if both of us didn’t show up it wouldn’t be so bad truly wonderful example of well-trained student advocates in trial, it was obvious that those
as if one of us didn’t show up. As you might expect, Byron was not too happy about it. (In previously recruited by Byron taught with his own level of skill and commitment. That, and
fact, Herberger later told me that Byron called his house to try to wake him up and find out the fact that no one ever said no to Byron, hooked me and I have been with the program
where I was) and said we were either kicked out of the class or we could watch 4 hours of ever since. During the far too few remaining years of Byron’s life, he was always there for me,
Irving Younger videos on cross-examination etc. Needless to say, we watched the videos. making time for my questions and concerns. Except for when he was traveling and painting the
I still remember the critique he gave me during the class on my closing argument. It was beauty of those travels, he was teaching and finding new ways to inspire the students and his
probably the most important critique I received in law school and made me a much better adjuncts with his innovative ideas. He was a man of great humor, gentleness and grace. He
trial lawyer. was the heart of the program and will always be missed by those whose lives he changed.
Mike Griffin ’86 Karen Lukin ’89
The University of Houston Law Center now has a nationally recognized advocacy program through the hard work of talented students and a dedicated group of professors and adjunct
professors. The person who is responsible for laying the foundation for the program was Byron McCoy. In the 1990s, as director of the advocacy program, Byron had a clear vision of what
was needed to establish a first rate program. He implemented his vision that grew into a program that today produces class after class of first-rate advocates who have become some of
the best lawyers and judges in the state. It is because of his tireless work, dedication, and devotion to that vision that the advocacy program enjoys its well-deserved reputation. It is an
honor and privilege to have worked with him and to have been part of his vision for UHLC.
David Cunningham ’82
BLAKELY ADVOCACY INSTITUTE RECOGNITIONS
Trial Advocacy program Awarded
ranked
A+ ADVOCACY
#
44
in the nation in
rating by preLaw Magazine (Winter
2020 edition), one of only five schools
nationwide – and the only Texas school –
U.S. News & World Report to achieve this highest grade
Awarded
“TOP SCHOOL/ADVOCACY/LITIGATION”
by preLaw Magazine (Spring 2021 edition)
Awarded
“HONOR ROLL, ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION”
by preLaw Magazine (Spring 2021 edition)
2020-21 BLAKELY COURSES & ADJUNCT FACULTY
Advanced Negotiations Advanced Trial Advocacy Applied Advocacy
Megan Daic Brandon Draper Megan Daic
Kevin Hedges Hon. Genesis Draper Kevin Hedges
Natalie Ware Julia Peebles
Client Interviewing & Counseling Hon. Christine Weems
W. Clark Martin Criminal Litigation & Legal Issues In
Hon. Christine Weems Criminal Procedure Depositions
Jennifer Lowery Bill Daw
International Arbitration Advocacy John Parras Mike Morfey
Derrick Carson
David Harrell Legal Negotiations Pretrial Litigation
Ann Ryan Robertson Karen Jones John Buckley Mark Goranson
Jim Lawrence Amy Hawk Brandon Renken
Storytelling Brandon Schrecengost Janet Rushing Hon. Jeff Shadwick
Jim M. Perdue, Sr. Brad Wyly
Trial Advocacy
Steve Baldassano Gabriela Barake Trial Advocacy For Non-Litigators
Zenobia Bivens Hon. Lesley Briones Karen Lukin
Daragh Carter David Cunningham Elizabeth Weinmann
Bill Daw Hon. Andrew Edison
Scott Ellis Erin Epley
Rebecca Grant Michael Griffin
Hon. Belinda Hill Dan Kasprzak
Lena Laurenzo Jordan Lewis
Sunni Mitchell Hon. Chris Morales
Hon. Chris Morton Grace Murphy
Jim M. Perdue, Sr. Steve Pate Ken Phillips
Storytelling Jimmy Ray Janan Sharaf
April Strahan Hon. Vanessa Velasquez
Sepi Zimmer Bill Daw Hon. Jeff Shadwick
Trial Advocacy Pretrial Litigation
The Order of the Barristers is a national honorary organization that encourages the development of oral advocacy and legal writing skills through effective law school moot court, mock trial, and ADR programs. The Order also serves to recognize, on a national basis, graduating law students who have excelled in advocacy activities in their respective law schools. Martindale- Hubbell acknowledges membership in the Order by listing the distinction in a lawyer’s biography – one of the few scholastic honors that rates such a mention. Applicants must be graduating 3Ls. To be eligible, a student must have competed in a minimum of three intra-scholastic and/ or inter-scholastic competitions, and it is important to note that our Order also considers service and professionalism as a part of the selection process. The National Office allocates 10 Barrister slots to UHLC each year.
ORDER OF THE BARRISTERS John Appel Kade Beyer Amanda Blons Haley Kurisky Emily Lucot Cody Miller Pyke Spencer Packard Jaclyn Riff Janie Rios Mario Sanchez, Jr.
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Andrew B. Thigpen ’93 Jim M. Perdue, Sr. Trial Ben DeVries Achievement in
Scholarship Advocacy Award Alternative Dispute Resolution
Chelsea Klumpp Spencer Packard Haley KuriskySCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
SBA Award for Excellence in HBA Alternative Dispute Brenda Karabatsos Memorial
Appellate Advocacy Resolution Scholarship Award Endowed Scholarship
Kade Beyer Mark Kritzer Laura Gómez DuarteINTERSCHOLASTIC COMPETITION TEAMS LEADERSHIP Judge Christine Weems Brandon Draper Julia Peebles Megan Daic Mock Trial, Director Mock Trial Asst. Director Moot Court, Director ADR, Director
INTERSCHOLASTIC COMPETITION TEAMS UPCOMING STUDENT LEADERSHIP BOARDS 2021-22
ADR Mock Trial Moot Court
Executive Board Executive Board Executive Board
Executive Chair Executive Chair Executive Chair
Cassandra Georgantas Stephanie Steele Emory Powers
Competitions Chair Administrative and Managerial Chair Administrative Chair
Alexandra Pierce Danielle Giaccio Danielle Giaccio
Coordinating Chair Communications Chair Hunton Andrews Kurth
Meghan Beytebiere Laura Gómez Duarte Competition Chair
Piper Replogle
Community Outreach Co-Chairs Competitions Chair
Elina Doolabh Youssef Abdelhafiz Communications Chair
Kristen Wheeler Nicholas Closuit
Community Chair
Events Chair Drew Simmons
Chris BoydUniversity of Houston
Law Center
Alternative Dispute Resolution Team
2020–21
Team Practice
FINALIST
National Health Law & Regulatory Compliance Competition
FINALIST
Transatlantic Negotiation Competition2020–21 UHLC ALTERNATIVE 2020–21 UHLC ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE
DISPUTE RESOLUTION TEAM RESOLUTION TEAM COMPETITIONS
Members of the ADR Team learn the techniques and methods of negotiating, ABA Client Counseling Competition
Emily Hall, Mark Kritzer
mediation and other forms of dispute resolution and then apply these essential Regional Finalists
advocacy skills in national and international ADR competitions. Meghan Beytebiere, Cawlyn Robinson
Regional Semi-Finalists
ADR Team Members ABA Negotiation Competition
Meghan Beytebiere Chris Boyd Haley Kurisky, Stephanie Snyder-Zuasnabar
Taylor Calfee Sadaf Deedar Regional Finalists
Elina Doolabh Cassandra Georgantas Mark Kritzer, Alexandra Pierce
Trey Gifford Emily Hall ABA Representation in Mediation
Mark Kritzer Haley Kurisky Sadaf Deedar, Cassandra Georgantas, Haley Kurisky, Madison Richburg
Mercedes Landry Alexys Mathis
Maria Medellin Morgan Morrow UHLC Bilingual Dispute Resolution Competition
Julio González, Aletsey Hinojosa
Christine Olivo Alexandra Pierce International Finalists
Jimmy Ramirez Madison Richburg Eric Esqueda, Mario Sánchez, Jr.
Cawlyn Robinson Mario Sánchez, Jr.
Drew Simmons Stephanie Snyder-Zuasnabar Health Law Regulatory & Compliance Competition
Emily Hall, Nhu Huynh, Michelle Trang
Kristen Wheeler Lama Zakzok National Finalists
ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition
Sadaf Deedar, Cassandra Georgantas, Madison Richburg
ADR Coaches
Je’Anna Abbott Samin Agha National Transactional LawMeet Competition
Christopher Boyd, Alexys Mathis
Anya Bolshakov Austin Campbell
Kasi Chadwick Lindsay Contreras Queen’s University Belfast Transatlantic Negotiation Competition
Megan Daic James Dorough-Lewis Mark Kritzer, Alexandra Pierce
Sherra Gilbert Karen Jones International Semi-Finalists
Jim Lawrence Mike Meltser South Texas Energy Law Negotiation Competition
Brit N. Mitchell Niki Roberts Drew Simmons, Kristen Wheeler
Adam Robertson Megan Rollag
Tulane Pro Football Negotiation Competition
Brandon Schrecengost Zach Scott Christine Olivo, Mario Sánchez, Jr., Lama Zakzok
Raul Suazo Jonah Toennies National Quarter-Finalists
Andrew Vaughan Ashley Washington Elina Doolabh, Trey Gifford, Mercedes Landry
Hon. Christine WeemsUniversity of Houston
Law Center
Mock Trial Team
2020–21
SEMI-FINALIST REGIONAL FINALIST
South Texas Challenge Mock Trial Competition National Trial Competition2020–21 UHLC MOCK TRIAL TEAM 2020–21 UHLC MOCK TRIAL TEAM COMPETITIONS
ABA Arbitration Competition
The Mock Trial Team competes in a number of prestigious mock trial competitions around Stasja Drecun, Jesse Guadiana, Drew Simmons, Stephanie Steele
the country. Team members attain heightened understanding of the rules of procedure and Regional Semi-Finalists
evidence and develop strong courtroom skills and persuasion techniques. Youssef Abdelhafiz, Spencer Packard, Mykal Peterson, Jackie Riff
All Star National Mock Trial Bracket Challenge
Mock Trial Team Members Youssef Abdelhafiz, Brooke Bentley, Aditi Deal, Billie Parker, Mykal Peterson
Regional Outstanding Advocate – Aditi Deal
Youssef Abdelhafiz Alex Abokhair John Appel
Alejandro Arredondo Brooke Bentley Amanda Blons American Assoc. of Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition
Kasey Borthwick Aditi Deal Mycal Dédé John Appel, Laura Gómez Duarte, Jackie Riff, Mario Sánchez, Jr.
National Semi-Finalists
Stasja Drecun Danielle Giaccio Trey Gifford
Youssef Abdelhafiz, Spencer Packard, Billie Parker, Drew Simmons
Laura Gómez Duarte Julio Gonzalez Gabriella Gonzalez-Brown
Jesse Guadiana Stefan Guerrero Brett Hargis Buffalo Niagara Mock Trial Tournament
Alejandro Arredondo, Amanda Blons, Janie Rios, Alejandra Rodriguez
John Herrmann Aletsey Hinojosa Sammy Homsi
Priyanka Kasnavia Chelsea Klumpp Emily Lucot Capitol City Challenge
Kasey Borthwick, Trey Gifford, Brett Hargis, Chelsea Klumpp
Reilly McAfee Spencer Packard Billie Parker
Tiffany Penner Mykal Peterson Jackie Riff John L. Costello National Criminal Law Trial Advocacy Competition
Janie Rios Alejandra Rodriguez Mario Sánchez, Jr. Youssef Abdelhafiz, Brooke Bentley, Aditi Deal
Drew Simmons Stephanie Steele MLK National Civil Rights Challenge
Alex Abokhair, Laura Gómez Duarte, Stefan Guerrero, Jackie Riff
Mock Trial Coaches National Ethics Trial Competition
Stasja Drecun, John Herrmann, Reilly McAfee, Alejandra Rodriguez
Justen Barks Erik Baumann
Matt Bergeron Alex Boylhart Puerto Rico Trial Advocacy Competition
Youssef Abdelhafiz, Trey Gifford, Gabriella Gonzalez-Brown, Mykal Peterson
Frank Carroll Kasi Chadwick
Monica Cooper Megan Daic South Texas Mock Trial Challenge
Amanda Blons, Danielle Giaccio, Julio González
Andrew Dao Brett Dressler National Semi-Finalists
Spencer Edwards David Gantz Outstanding Advocate – Amanda Blons
Mark Gonzalez Kiara Gradney
Ben Hamel Hunter Klein Southern Classic Trial Advocacy
Amanda Blons, Stasja Drecun, Chelsea Klumpp, Drew Simmons
Sam Klein James Lamey
Adam Robertson Andy Rubenstein Stetson National Pretrial Tournament
John Appel, Emily Lucot, Spencer Packard, Tiffany Penner
Janan Sharaf Brett Sheneman
Avery Sheppard Joel Towner TYLA National Trial Competition
Spencer Packard, Jackie Riff
Colton Turner Hon. Christine Weems Regional Finalists
Sepi Zimmer Mycal Dédé, Alejandra Rodriguez, Stephanie Steele
Trials & Tribulations
Aditi Deal, Laura Gómez Duarte, Spencer Packard, Janie Rios
National Finalists
Best Overall Advocate – Spencer PackardUniversity of Houston Law Center
Moot Court Team
2020–21
NATIONAL CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
MOOT COURT COMPETITION NATIONAL APPELLATE ADVOCACY COMPETITION NATIONAL HEALTH LAW COMPETITION
TEAM TEAM TEAM
Danielle Giaccio, Janie Rios Bailey Bridges, Brian Pounds, Emory Powers Kade Beyer, Cody Miller
National Semi-Finalists Regional Finalists National Quarter-Finalists
COACH COACH COACHES
Seth Hopkins Professor Cassandra Jeu Julia Peebles, Pedro Segura
AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION BILLINGS, EXUM & FRYE NATIONAL MOOT
1 AMENDMENT & MEDIA LAW DIVERSITY
ST
COURT COMPETITION
MOOT COURT COMPETITION
Emma Brockway (5th Best Speaker)
TEAM Piper Replogle (4th Best Speaker)
Farhan Mohiuddin, Emory Powers
National Finalists COACHES
Scott Armstrong, Luke Gilman, Jessica Schaffner2020–21 UHLC MOOT COURT TEAM 2020–21 UHLC MOOT COURT TEAM COMPETITIONS
The Moot Court Team competes every year in a dozen or more national and ABA First Amendment and Media Law Diversity Moot Court Competition
international competitions covering a variety of legal subjects. Team members Farhan Mohiuddin, Emory Powers
National Finalist – Farhan Mohiuddin
hone their appellate advocacy skills by analyzing and arguing both sides of a legal National Semi-Finalist – Emory Powers
issue before a panel of judges. Top 4 Brief Score
Award of Achievement – Emory Powers
Moot Court Team Members ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition
Youssef Abdelhafiz Lakshmi Achari Bailey Bridges, Brian Pounds, Emory Powers
Alyssa Arnold Kade Beyer Regional Finalists
Jackie Boylhart Bailey Bridges Kade Beyer, Giovanni Perez, Rahoul Rao
Emma Brockway Riki Clement All-Star National Online Moot Court Competition
Nicholas Closuit Danielle Giaccio Bailey Bridges, Kirsten Williams
Julio Gonzalez Gabriella Gonzalez-Brown National Quarter-Finalists
Nate Green Paige Hanners Julio González, Mason Malone
Shahnoor Khuwaja Travis Malesky National Octo-Finalists
Mason Malone Cody Miller Pyke
Billings, Exum & Frye National Moot Court Competition
Farhan Mohiuddin Hina Mohiuddin Alyssa Arnold, Emma Brockway, Brian Pounds, Piper Replogle
Giovanni Perez Brian Pounds 4th Best Speaker – Piper Replogle
Emory Powers Rahul Rao 5th Best Speaker – Emma Brockway
Piper Replogle Janie Rios
Giles Sutherland Rich IP Moot Court Competition
Haytham Soliman Jessie Totten Youssef Abdelhafiz, Farhan Mohiuddin, Hina Mohiuddin, Haytham Soliman
Kirsten Williams
Jeffrey G. Miller National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition
Nicholas Closuit, Gabriella Gonzalez-Brown
Moot Court Coaches John R. Brown Admiralty Law Moot Court Competition
Scott Armstrong Sean Belding Riki Clement, Paige Hanners
Allan Bullwinkel Carter Dickson
National Criminal Procedure Moot Court Competition (San Diego)
Luke Gilman Seth Hopkins Danielle Giaccio, Janie Rios
Cassandra Jeu Elbert Ortiz National Quarter-Finalists
Misha Paltiyevich Julia Peebles
Jessica Schaffner Pedro Segura Saul Lefkowitz Trademark Law Competition
Lakshmi Achari, Nate Green, Travis Malesky, Giovanni Perez, Janie Rios
Will Sprott Sabrina Tomlinson
John F. Unger Victor Zertuche Southern Illinois University National Health Law Competition
Kade Beyer, Cody Miller Pyke
National Quarter-Finalists
Shahnoor Khuwaja, Jessie TottenTHE ADVOCATES STUDENT ORGANIZATION
The Advocates is the University of Houston Law Center’s student organization devoted to improving students’ oral advocacy presentation skills through competition. Each year
The Advocates hosts intramural moot court, mock trial, and alternative dispute resolution competitions to give UHLC students opportunities to develop and practice invaluable
skills used by practicing attorneys.
2020–21 BOARD OF ADVOCATES CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW
Chelsea Klumpp, Executive Chair 2021–22 BOARD OF ADVOCATES!
Trey Gifford, Vice Chair for Finance Juliana Ganim, Executive Chair
Joseph Holloway, Vice Chair of Public Relations Karina Sanchez, Vice Chair for Finance
Janie Rios, Vice Chair for Membership Amanda Dorman, Vice Chair of Public Relations
Lakshmi Achari, Special Events Chair Nate Green, Vice Chair for Membership
Juliana Ganim, Fundraising Chair Megan Rose, Special Events Chair
Patricia Dillon, Technology Chair Chase Keller, Fundraising Chair
Paul Pirela, Blakely Butler Competition Director Trey Gifford, Technology Chair
Emma Brockway, John Black Competition Director Stephanie Melgar, Blakely Butler Competition Director
Youssef Abdelhafiz, Hippard Novice Competition Director Mike Moore, John Black Competition Director
Amanda Blons, Hippard Open Competition Director Cameron Ziegler, Hippard Novice Competition Director
Lama Zakzok, Tom Newhouse Mediation Competition Director Stasja Drecun, Hippard Open Competition Director
Adrianna Langemeier, Lorance-Thompson Competition Director Bebe Thomas, Newhouse Mediation Competition Director
Darby Gibbins, Lorance-Thompson Competition Director
2020–21 ADVOCATES ASSOCIATE BOARD 2021–22 ADVOCATES ASSOCIATE BOARD
Kasey Borthwick Haley Carter Thomas Dawson Ambrish Amaranathan Taylor Daugherty Brett Hargis
Joe De Leon Darby Gibbins Trey Gifford Alexandra Harris Andrew Jacobs Chelsea Kirk
Emily Hall John Hermann Allan Jeanjaquet Paige Lawrence Caitlin McGregor Meredith Murray
Andrew McCants Maria Medellin John Ngunjiri Chelsea Ogan Shelby Velasquez Steven Wynn
Spencer Packard Jay Patel Sarah Yancy Sarah Yancy Mitchell Zwang
Faculty Advisor – Amy Hawk
For more information about The Advocates, please visit:
http://www.law.uh.edu/organizations/advocates2020-21 ADVOCATES AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
TOM NEWHOUSE MEDIATION COMPETITION JAMES HIPPARD, SR. MOCK TRIAL COMPETITIONS Each year, members of the Advocates choose two members of the
Tom Newhouse Mediation Competition teams consist of two students The Advocates hosts two Hippard Mock Trial Competitions during the Board of Advocates to receive awards based on their service and
acting as the lawyer and the client. The teams are presented with fact academic year: the Hippard Open and the Hippard Novice. All UHLC dedication to and achievements in the Advocates program at the
patterns summarizing their side’s position and interests in a dispute. students are eligible to compete in the Open, but only students with less University of Houston for the previous year. The Outstanding Advocate
Teams then receive a limited time to present their position and work than one year of experience on the Mock Trial Team can compete in the Award recognizes a third-year student, while the Distinguished
through the dispute with mediators who are themselves competitors Novice. Competitors prepare and argue the case for both sides and are Advocate Award recognizes a second- or third-year student.
in the Jeffry S. Abrams National Mediator Competition. Competitors scored by volunteers from the Houston legal community on their motions
are scored on their case analysis, creativity, presentation, expression of in limine, opening statements, direct and cross examinations, closing 2020–21 OUTSTANDING ADVOCATE AWARD
the client’s goals, ability to work out an acceptable compromise, and arguments, objections, courtroom presence, and demeanor. Chelsea Klumpp
professional courtesy.
HIPPARD OPEN MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION 2020–21 DISTINGUISHED ADVOCATE AWARD
2020 First Place Team – Bebe Thomas & Megan Rose Joseph Holloway
2020 First Place Team – Brooke Bentley & Spencer Packard
2020 Second Place Team – Marvin Dike & Meredith Murray
2020 Second Place Team – Kasey Borthwick & Brett Hargis
The Board of Advocates annually grants two Advocates with the Byron
BLAKELY-BUTLER MOOT COURT COMPETITION McCoy Excellence in Advocacy Scholarship and the Achievement
The Blakely-Butler Moot Court Competition is open to all 2L and 3L HIPPARD NOVICE MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION in Advocacy Scholarship. The scholarships are awarded based
students at the Law Center. Teams prepare and present oral arguments 2021 First Place Team – Megan Rose & Karina Sanchez on achievements in intramural and/or interscholastic advocacy
for both sides of the case and are scored by members of Houston’s 2021 Second Place Team – Sean O’Leary & Enrrique Santa Cruz competitions throughout the recipient’s law school career. Recipients
legal community on the substantive content of their arguments, their of these scholarships are chosen by their Advocates’ faculty advisor
knowledge of the record, extemporaneous abilities, and courtroom in consultation with representatives from the three interscholastic
demeanor.
JOHN BLACK MOOT COURT COMPETITION
competition teams and the sitting Advocates’ Executive Chair or his/
The John Black Moot Court Competition is open only to 1L students at
her representative.
the Law Center. Teams must argue both sides during the competition
2020 First Place Team – Narmada Sapkota & Sharon Thoppil and are scored by volunteers from the Houston legal community on the
2020 Second Place Team – Stefan Guerrero & Mario Sanchez, Jr. substantive content of their arguments, their knowledge of the record, 2020–21 BYRON MCCOY
extemporaneous abilities, and courtroom demeanor. EXCELLENCE IN ADVOCACY SCHOLARSHIP
LORANCE THOMPSON NEGOTIATION & Spencer Packard
2021 First Place Team – Alexandria Harris & Molly Hatch
CONTRACT DRAFTING COMPETITION
In several rounds, teams in the Lorance-Thompson Negotiation and 2021 Second Place Team – Chelsea Ogan & Shelby Velasquez 2020–21 ACHIEVEMENT IN ADVOCACY SCHOLARSHIP
Contract Drafting Competition negotiate and strike deals with one Janie Rios
another. Teams then draft and submit a contract for one of those deals.
Scores for each round are based on how well each team protects and
secures their client’s interests in the deal made in each round.
2021 First Place Team – Julie Rogers & Jessica Perry
2021 Second Place Team – Steven Lien & Andrew McCantsHunton Andrews Kurth Moot Court National Championship
The Championship is one of the nation’s most prestigious moot court competitions. The top 16 moot
court programs from an academic year are invited to Houston the following January to compete for
the National Championship. The Moot Court Rankings are maintained by the BAI and have brought
significant national focus to the program and to the Law Center.FINAL ROUND JUDGES
Judge Jeff Brown Hon. Scott Brister Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod William Peterson Judge James Graves, Jr.
Southern District of Texas Texas Supreme Court (ret.) Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Partner, Morgan Lewis Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
Problem Author
HUNTON ANDREWS KURTH MOOT COURT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
CHAMPIONS – UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
Morgan Vastag Tanner HerrmannNational Mediator Competition &
Tom Newhouse Representing Clients in Mediation Competition
The National Mediator Competition is the only ADR competition in the U.S. where students compete only as
mediators. It is also unique in two other respects. First, it reflects actual mediation practice in the U.S. because it is a
caucus-model focused competition. Second, it runs concurrently with the Newhouse Competition, which is the Law
Center’s in-house mediation competition. Students from the Law Center compete in the Newhouse Competition, and
the student mediators come from law schools around the country.FINAL ROUND JUDGES
Jeff Abrams Kimberly Schreiber Peggy Lansbach O’More Mary McLain
Texas Georgia District of Columbia California
NATIONAL MEDIATOR COMPETITION
CHAMPION – BROOKLYN LAW SCHOOL
Jordan JohnsonBilingual Dispute Resolution Competition
The Bilingual Dispute Resolution Competition is a first-of-its-kind negotiation competition where student
negotiators compete in English in the first preliminary round and in Spanish in the second preliminary round. In the
final round, one team member competes in English, and the other team member competes in Spanish; that is also a
requirement for the opposing team. This competition is currently in its pilot phase, and the first competition fielded
teams from the Law Center, Universidad La Salle (Mexico City) and Universidad Anáhuac México (Mexico City).FINAL ROUND JUDGES
Al Amado Alfonso Lopez de la Osa Escribano Alicia Kerber
International Law Consultant Director, Center for U.S. and Mexican Law Consul General from Mexico
2021 BILINGUAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION COMPETITION
CHAMPIONS – UNIVERSIDAD ANÁHUAC MÉXICO
Carla Ruy Diego Z. De FuentesThe University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One research university and an EEO/AA institution.
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