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Students at SMU Dedman School of Law are excelling in both national and international moot court competitions. In 2011-2012, SMU law students have placed as best speakers, runners-up, and regional and national champions in areas ranging from labor and employment, international technology, and civil rights and liberties. Participating students traveled to off-campus mock-trial competitions in Georgia, California, Chicago, Puerto Rico, and other locations.

As of January 2012 for the 2011-2012 academic semester, SMU Dedman School of Law ranked second in the running for the Andrews Kurth National Moot Court Championship, a moot court program known to determine the "best of the best." The SMU Dedman School of Law moot court teams hope to get an invitation to compete in the January 2013 Championships.

Above: Student leaders/officers on the SMU Dedman School of Law Board of Advocates

Above (Left to Right): ABA Labor & Employment Mock Trial National Champions (Miami, FL), Laura Cox, Joshua Luke Sandoval, Tennille Johnson, Judge Bernice Donald (Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit), Amber Beatty, Edward Berbarie (Coach), and Stewart Manela (Chair-Elect ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law)

 

Federal Bar Association Thurgood A. Marshall Memorial Moot Court Competition (Washington, DC)

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March 29-30, 2012

Semi-Finalists: Christopher James, Lauren Olson

Second Best Brief: Jane Cherry, Neil Stockbridge
 

On-Campus Howie & Sweeney Moot Court Competition (Dallas, Texas)

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March 27, 2012

Hon. Conrad B. Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition (New York, New York)

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March 9-11, 2012

Octo-finalists (Team 1): Tim Springer, Blair Green, Max Antony (Brief Writer)

Participants (Team 2): John Sokatch, Amber Chambers, Scott Lawrence (Brief Writer)

Coach: Liz Boydston, Omar Alaniz

ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition (Boston, Massachusetts)

One of the most prestigious and difficult moot court competitions in the country, the ABA hosts this competition each year with a number of regionals around the country.

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March 8-10, 2012

2012 Elliot Cup/Fifth Circuit Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition (New Orleans, Louisiana)

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February 24-25, 2012

Semi-Finalists (Team 1): John Sokatch, Amber Chambers, Scott Lawrence

Semi-Finalists (Team 2): Blair Green, Tim Springer, Max Antony

Third Place Oral Advocate: John Sokatch

Coach: Omar Alaniz, Liz Boydston

ABA Labor & Employment Mock Trial Competition National Champions (Miami, Florida)

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January 28-29, 2012

National Champions: Joshua Sandoval, Tennille Johnson, Laura Cox, Amber Beatty

Coach: Eddie Berbarie

 

Spring SMU On-Campus 1L Closing Argument Competition (Dallas, Texas)

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January 28-29, 2012

Champion: Patrick Kennedy

Second: Steven Belt

Third: Jeff Andress

Fourth: Austin Teng

Thomas Tang Moot Court Nationals (Atlanta, Georgia)

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November 18-19, 2011

Best Speaker: Natasha Smiley Federov

ABA Labor/Employment Law Student Trial Advocacy Competition (Dallas, Texas)

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November 12-13, 2011

Regional Champions: Joshua Sandoval, Brennan Meier, Laura Cox, and Amber Beatty

Coach: Eddie Berbarie

This team will be heading to Miami, FL on January 28-29, 2012 to compete in the National Competition.

Pepperdine School of Law National Entertainment Moot Court Competition (Malibu, California)

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November 11-13, 2011

Fall SMU On-Campus Mock Trial Competition (Dallas, Texas)

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October 29-30, 2011

Champions: Brian Mason, Willie Funk, Brent Hockaday & Steven Strobl

Runners-Up: Joshua Sandoval, Tyler Levy, Laurel Brewer & Mike Sturgill

Best Speaker(s): Brian Mason and Brent Hockaday (tie)

Third Best Speaker: Mike Sturgill

 

ABA Labor & Employment Mock Trial Competition (San Francisco, California)

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October 29-30, 2011

Champions: Mike Moore, Tenille Johnson, Nichole Plagens, Ashley Mason & Haley Hendrix

Coaches: Clarke Wilcox and Nathan Rogers

 

Puerto Rico Mock Trial Competition (San Juan, PR)

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October 29-30, 2011

Competitors: Sara Coopwood, Brittany Litaker, Chris Klement, Joe Wyly & Max Rabinovich

Coaches: Eddie Berbarie and John Langdoc

John Marshall Law School International Technology Moot Court Competition (Chicago, Illinois)

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October 27-29, 2011

Octo-Finalists: Yon Sohn, Brandi Doyle, Jane Wilson

Thomas Tang Moot Court Championship (Houston, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia (Nationals))

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October 20-23, 2011

Semi-Finalists: Natasha "Nel" Smiley Federov & Derric Smith (advanced to Nationals in Atlanta, GA where Natasha received the Best Speaker Award)

Semi-Finalists: Stacy Cole and Natasha Combs
    
2nd Best Brief: Stacy Cole and Natasha Combs

3rd Best Overall Speaker: Nel Smiley

4th Best Overall Speaker: Derric Smith
 

Thanks to coaches Michael Ma and Mey Ly for their hard work helping the team perform so successfully!

Jackson Walker 2L Moot Court Championship

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Champions: Tim Smith and Michael Goldenbaum
    
Runners Up: John Hasselberger and Bryan Badeaux
 

Also, thank you to all of those 2L's who competed in the competition.  Many compliments were given to the caliber of competitors this year, and we encourage all of you to continue participating in these programs both on- and off-campus

2011 Emory Civil Rights and Liberties Moot Court Championship, Emory Law School (Atlanta, Georgia)

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October 14-16, 2011

Competition Runners Up (2nd out of 32 teams): Bennett Rawicki, Alison Ayrea, John Sokatch
    
Competition Quarter-finalists (top 8): Ben Weible, Robert McGangus, Jason Naumann

3rd Best Overall Brief: Bennett Rawicki, Alison Ayrea, John Sokatch

Best Overall Speaker: Ben Weible
    
5th Best Overall Speaker: Bennett Rawicki

Special congratulations and thanks to coaches Lance Caughfield and Liz Mazzarella for such a great showing in SMU's first appearance in this competition!

2011 San Diego Defense Lawyers Mock Trial Competition

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October 13-15, 2011

Competition Semi-Finalists (top 4): Brian Mason, Justin Wheeler, Seth Muse, Scott Courtney, Lance Kennedy

Also, congratulations to the team of Mike Sturgill, Paul Nguyen, Courtney Boothe, Chelsey Boyles, and Brent Hockaday for all of their hard work!

National Trial Advocacy Competition (East Lansing, Michigan)

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September 29-October 2, 2011

Octo-finalists: Kim Winnubst, Steven Strobl, Willie Funk, Kimberly Heath