East coast champions: Stetson law school advocacy teams win weekend competitions

Stetson University College of Law advocacy teams representing the Dispute Resolution, Moot Court and Trial Team won several competitions over the Nov. 5-6 weekend across the east coast of the U.S.

Stetson's Dispute Resolution team (L-R): Professor James Sheehan, students Christina Huckfeldt, Kira Ramirez, Mary Wold, Brigette Perl, Allison Belanger, Samantha Grizzle, and coach Bill Greiner.

Stetson’s Dispute Resolution team at the William & Mary Law School Negotiation Tournament (L-R): Professor James Sheehan, students Christina Huckfeldt, Kira Ramirez, Mary Wold, Brigette Perl, Allison Belanger, Samantha Grizzle, and coach Bill Greiner.

The Stetson Dispute Resolution team of Allison Belanger and Christina Huckfeldt won the William & Mary Law School Negotiation Tournament in Virginia on Nov. 5-6. Stetson student Mary Wold won the Best Advocate Award. Two other Stetson teams also competed, placing fourth and sixth in the competition. The teams were coached by Stetson Law alumnus Bill Greiner J.D. ’07 and professor James Sheehan J.D. ’77.

Stetson's team at the Liberty University School of Law competition (L-R): Ivan Lys-Dobradin, Caroline Garrity, Felicia Kitzmiller, Anne Boyle, Julia Boivin, Brien Squires, Martin Musichi and Julius Matusewicz.

Stetson’s team at the ABA Law Student Division Arbitration Regional Competition (L-R): students Ivan Lys-Dobradin, Caroline Garrity, Felicia Kitzmiller, Anne Boyle, Julia Boivin, Brien Squires, Martin Musichi and Julius Matusewicz.

The Stetson Moot Court team of Brittnie Burns, Marissa Cioffi and Adriana Foreman won the regional round of the 67th Annual National Moot Court Competition, Region V, hosted by the University of Georgia, and will advance to the national rounds of the competition in New York City in early February. The team also won the Best Brief Award. A second team of Stetson students Anna Kirkpatrick, Ali Preston and Natalie Yello was named quarterfinalist and wrote the Third Best Brief. The teams were coached by Stetson professors Michael Allen and Louis Virelli.

The Stetson Moot Court team of Hoyt Prindle and Taylor Ryan won the Best Respondent’s Award at the National Veterans Law Moot Court Competition, in Washington, D.C., and was named semifinalist. The team was coached by Allen and Jason Stearns J.D. ’08.

Stetson students Julia Boivin, Anne Boyle, Julius Matusewicz and Brien Squires were named finalists in the regional rounds of the ABA Law Student Division Arbitration Regional Competition hosted by Liberty University School of Law in Virginia, and head to the national competition in Chicago in January. Matusewicz is a member of the Trial Team, Boyle is a member of the Moot Court, and Boivin and Squires are members of the Dispute Resolution board at Stetson. Professor Kristen Adams, St. Petersburg College Dean of Public Policy and Legal Studies Susan Demers and professor Roberta Flowers coached the team. Assistant Director for the Center for Excellence in Advocacy Erika McArdle J.D. ’12 also advised the students.

(L-R): Front Row: Anna Kirkpatrick and Marissa Cioffi. Back Row: Brittnie Burns, Adriana Foreman, and Natalie Yello.

(L-R): Front row: students Anna Kirkpatrick and Marissa Cioffi; back row: students Brittnie Burns, Adriana Foreman, and Natalie Yello competed at the regionals of the Annual National Moot Court Competition.

(L-R): Taylor Ryan and Hoyt Prindle.

(L-R): students Taylor Ryan and Hoyt Prindl competed at the National Veterans Law Moot Court Competition.

“Stetson University College of Law understands the importance of teaching excellence in advocacy from the moment the client walks into the door until the final appellate argument is made,” said Professor of Trial Advocacy and Director of the Center for Excellence in Advocacy Charles Rose. “Our teams work together across disciplines to create synergies in the conference room, the courtroom, and beyond. Our students this last weekend embody the complete Stetson advocate, and we celebrate their accomplishments even as we prepare for the next case.”

Visit www.stetson.edu/advocacy to learn more about advocacy at Stetson.