Texas A&M University School of Law advocacy teams celebrate several recent successes, including two teams at the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) national finals competition in Houston in March, and one team at the ABA regional mediation competition.
The Texas A&M Law moot court team of 2Ls Lorraine Birabil and Élan Moore placed second at the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition, narrowly missing winning the national championship outright. They were coached by Judge Matthew Wright (Texas Wesleyan Law ’08).
3L Greg Franklin received the Best Advocate Award at the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition national finals. The Aggie Law mock trial team of 3Ls Ashu Balimba, Zo Onyeise and Amy Eades, along with Franklin, placed fourth at the competition. The team was coached by Doug Greene and assisted by Matthew Jackson (Texas A&M Law ’13).
In alternative dispute resolution (ADR), our team of 3L Gabrielle Morales Mathis and 2L Travis Alley placed second at the 18th Annual ABA Representation in Mediation Regional Competition held in Norman, Oklahoma, on February 26, narrowly missing a berth to the national finals. The team was coached by Adjunct Professor Kay Elliott.
Director of Advocacy Programs, Jennifer Ellis (Texas Wesleyan Law ’05), congratulates these hard-working and talented students and coaches on their achievements.
“Such high success, especially at the national finals where everyone is the best of the best, is extremely impressive,” said Ellis. “It takes hard work, dedication and strong coaching to succeed and they have brought honor to our school.”
Learn more about the Texas A&M School of Law Advocacy Program:
The Advocacy Program at Texas A&M School of Law is a key component of making Aggie law students practice-ready. Directed by Jennifer Ellis, the Advocacy Program consists of three disciplines: appellate advocacy (moot court), trial advocacy (mock trial) and dispute resolution (mediation, negotiation and client counseling).
Our Moot Court, Mock Trial and Alternative Dispute Resolution teams are nationally recognized. Since the law school’s inception, the program has received:
- 3 international championships
- 12 national championships
- 22 regional championships
- 1 state championship
- 15 best advocate awards
- 13 best brief awards