3L Gina Morgan was named Best Advocate at the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition – Brooklyn regional held March 6-8, 2014. She and teammates 2L Jeremy Black and 2L Todd Smith finished the competition as Regional Finalists. The team was coached by Melinda Westmoreland Nag ’06.

The ABA Law Student Division National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC) emphasizes the development of oral advocacy skills through a realistic appellate advocacy experience. Competitors participate in a hypothetical appeal to the United States Supreme Court. The competition involves writing a brief as either respondent or petitioner and then arguing the case in front of the mock court.

Also, at the 2014 International Academy of Dispute Resolution’s 13th Annual International Law School Mediation Tournament at Loyola University Chicago School of Law in Chicago, Ill., March 5-8, 2014, the team of 2L Wesley Meyer, 3L Lindsey Laird, and 3L Katie Copeland (pictured at left, L-R) finished 4th out of 52 teams from 11 countries, and they also won the award for Outstanding New Mediation Program. The team was coached by Kay Elliott, adjunct professor, Texas A&M University School of Law.

2013-2014 Advocacy Successes

• National Champions:  Southwestern National Entertainment Law Negotiation Competition
• Best Advocate:  ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition – Brooklyn Regional
• Best Petitioner’s Brief:  John Marshall International Intellectual Property Moot Court Competition
• Best Respondent’s Brief:  Pepperdine National Entertainment Law Moot Court Competition
• Best Petitioner’s Brief:  BLSA Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition – Rocky Mountain Regional
• International Finalists:  John Marshall International Intellectual Property Moot Court Competition
• International Finalists:  International Academy of Dispute-Resolution Mediation Tournament
• National Quarter-finalists:  Pepperdine National Entertainment Law Moot Court Competition
• National Quarter-Finalists and Regional 2nd place:  BLSA Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition – Rocky Mountain Regional
• Regional Champion and advanced to national finals:  ABA Client Counseling Competition – Houston Regional
• 3rd Place Regional and advanced to national finals:  BLSA Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition – Rocky Mountain Regional
• Regional Finalists - ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition – Brooklyn Regional
• National Octo-finalists:  Chicago Bar Association National Moot Court Competition
• 2nd Place Best Advocate:  Mack Kidd Administrative Law Moot Court Competition
• 3rd Place Best Advocate:  Pepperdine National Entertainment Law Moot Court Competition
• Regional 3rd place:  ABA Negotiation Competition – Fort Worth Regional 
• Regional Semi-Finalists:  National Trial Competition – Fort Worth Regional
• Regional Semi-Finalists:  ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition – Brooklyn Regional
• Regional Semi-Finalists:  ABA National Labor and Employment Trial Advocacy Competition – Dallas Regional
• Outstanding New Mediation Program Award:  International Academy of Dispute-Resolution Mediation Tournament
• 8th Place Best Individual Mediator:  International Academy of Dispute-Resolution Mediation Tournament

About the Advocacy Program at Texas A&M School of Law:
Texas A&M School of Law offers various clinical opportunities and advocacy courses to prepare our students to successfully practice law. The Advocacy Program is a key component of Texas A&M School of Law’s focus on experiential learning. 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, 11 national, 17 regional and one state championship, 14 best advocate and 13 best brief awards.