William and Mary School of Law students win first place at National Pretrial Competition at Stetson Law

William and Mary School of Law winners (L-R): Emily Riggs, Janani Iyengar, Caitlyn Cotter and Janet Lee.

A team of students from William and Mary School of Law won first place at the National Pretrial Competition at Stetson University College of Law on Oct. 16 in Gulfport. Student Emily Riggs, of William and Mary School of Law, was named Best Advocate in the Final Round.

A team from Charleston School of Law received the Best Brief Award.

The National Pretrial Competition, now in its fourth year, attracts students from around the country. This year, 16 teams—the largest number ever—competed on Stetson Law’s Gulfport campus.

“Because the competition captures what lawyers do each and every day, it helps prepare students for the rigors of the legal practice,” said Professor Brooke Bowman, Moot Court Advisor and competition committee member.  “This is a unique competition in that students write two briefs, present motion arguments, present evidence, and make closing arguments.”

Best Brief team from Charleston School of Law, (L-R): Suzanne Hogg, Chuck Dukes, Angel Daniels and Kevin Pratt.

Stetson Law is home to the top-ranked trial advocacy program in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report. To learn more about advocacy at Stetson Law, visit the Center for Excellence in Advocacy.