Stetson University College of Law has been named the first American Bar Association Competitions Champion.

For the first time in its 17-year history, Stetson’s Dispute Resolution Board achieved a perfect four-for-four record of advancing to nationals in all four dispute resolution competitions sponsored by the ABA.

Stetson University College of Law is the first school to achieve this distinction. This year, more than 1,300 students from 156 law schools participated in one or more of the competitions sponsored by the ABA Law Student Division.

The competitions represent all the areas in which the Dispute Resolution Board competes: arbitration, client counseling, and negotiation, in addition to the Moot Court Board competing in the national appellate advocacy competition. Stetson students advanced to nationals from regional ABA championships in arbitration and negotiation in November of 2017, client counseling and mediation in February 2018.

Stetson Law students Jahanna Azarian and Vanessa Denk finished as national semifinalists at the national client counseling competition and placed first at the regional competition. Students Allison Belanger and Christina Huckfeldt finished as national semifinalists in the national negotiation competition after being finalists at the regional competition. Students Max Brown, Carolina Garrity, Olivia Mejido and Meghan Sullivan placed first at the regional arbitration competition. Students Julia Alley and Mark Joseph finished first at the regional mediation competition.

The Competitions Champion award is presented to the law school that accrues the most points through team achievements and participation in the ABA Law Student Division’s four practical skills competitions. Judges for the competitions include volunteer attorneys and sitting judges.

“We are delighted to be recognized by the preeminent organization of our nation’s lawyers. Importantly, these skills are the foundation on which our students will build their professional careers to effectively represent clients and advocate for our communities,” Stetson Law Dean and Professor of Law Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz told the ABA.

-Brandi Palmer