W&L Law Team Advances to Finals of ABA Appellate Advocacy Competition
A team from Washington and Lee University School of law has advanced to the finals of the National Appellate Advocacy Competition after going 5-0 in their regional competition this past weekend.
W&L students Matthias Kaseorg 13L, Alex Sugzda 13L, and Tiffany Eisenbise 14L will represent W&L at the competition finals in Chicago at the beginning of April. At the regional competition in Washington, DC, the team faced tough competition from 39 teams from other law schools in the region. In all, five teams advanced to the finals.
W&L also fielded a second team that included Rockwell Bower 13L, Kristin Slawter 14L, and Claire Hagan 13L. Eisenbise and Hagan served as brief writers for their teams.
The National Appellate Advocacy Competition is sponsored by the American Bar Association and emphasizes the development of oral advocacy skills through a realistic appellate advocacy experience. The competition involves writing a brief as either respondent or petitioner and then arguing the case in front of a mock U.S. Supreme Court. This year’s problem addressed false arrest, malicious prosecution, and the 4th amendment.
In addition to sending a team to nationals, Alex Sugzda and Rockwell Bower were selected as two of the top ten oral advocates in the competition. In all, nearly 100 advocates took part in the regional competition.
3Ls Amy Conant and David Miller served as coaches for the W&L teams.
