Faulkner University’s Thomas Goode Jones School of Law Wins Third Place in the National Trial Competition
March 31, 2008
On Saturday, March 29, 2008, a team of law students representing Faulkner University's Thomas Goode Jones School of Law won third place in the prestigious National Trial Competition in Austin, Texas. Third-year law students Matthew Griffith and J. Parker Miller defeated Temple Law School in the quarter-final round before losing to the national finalists in the semi-final round.
The National Trial Competition is an annual trial competition hosted by the American College of Trial Lawyers and the Texas Young Lawyers Association involving more that 1,000 law students from more than 150 U.S. law schools. The competition begins each year with fourteen regional competitions. Two regional winners then advance to the national tournament resulting in a final field of twenty-eight teams.
Faulkner’s trial teams swept region six of the competition earlier this spring. Along with Miller and Griffith, third-year law students Brad Griffin and Michele Gooslin captured the regional championships to earn their way to the national finals. Both teams were coached by Professor Joe Lester.
This year’s national competition problem simulated a civil trial involved an airplane crash allegedly resulting from a defective part. The team members were scored by members of American College of Trial Lawyers and other members of the bench and bar on their ability to argue pre-trial motions, present opening statements, closing arguments, direct and cross examinations as well as their courtroom demeanor and professionalism.
“Our students once again proved to be the best of the best,” said Professor Joe Lester who teaches trial advocacy at the law school and coached both NTC teams. “With over 25 competition trials under their belts these students are well seasoned and will be top-notch trial advocates after their graduation.”
“This victory caps off a very successful year for our advocacy program,” according to Professor Robert McFarland, Director of Advocacy Programs at Jones Law School. “In addition to this outstanding result, our students won the national championship in the Thurgood Marshall National trial competition, three regional championships in trial advocacy, earned awards for best brief and best oral advocate in regional moot court competitions and earned a number of other individual advocacy awards.”
“We are very proud of our students and congratulate them on their success,” said Charles Nelson, Dean of Jones School of Law.