IIT Chicago-Kent to compete in the 2012 National Pretrial Advocacy Competition
IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law has been invited to compete in the fifth annual National Pretrial Advocacy Competition October 11 through 14 at Stetson University College of Law's Gulfport campus in Florida. The competition, which is designed to capture the essence of pretrial motion practice, is co-sponsored by Stetson's Center for Excellence in Advocacy and the Young Lawyers Division of the Florida Bar.
Twenty competing law school teams will receive a legal problem containing two issues that require pretrial solutions. The teams will write two briefs—one for the respondent and one for the petitioner. After submitting their briefs, teams will receive supplemental information that may alter or negate the arguments they submitted. During the competition, teams will present oral arguments, examine witnesses, and ultimately attempt to synthesize the law and new facts in a final argument.
Three preliminary rounds will be held October 11, and the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds will take place October 13. The final round will be conducted October 14. Awards for the top four teams, the top four oralists and the best team brief will be presented at a banquet at the end of the tournament.
Second-year students Amanda Bell, Lauren Elliott, Michael Glink and Koplan Nwabuoku will represent IIT Chicago-Kent in the tournament.
Team member Amanda Bell graduated cum laude from Case Western Reserve University with a major in psychology and minors in classics, English and world literature. Teammate Lauren Elliott completed her undergraduate education in business economics and public policy at Indiana University's Kelly School of Business. Teammate Michael Glink received a degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Teammate Koplan Nwabuoku earned an undergraduate degree in international relations and international development from Tulane University.
The IIT Chicago-Kent team will be coached by Joseph Carlasare '12, Lindsay Gephardt '12, Elizabeth Laughlin '08, and Rachael Sinnen '11.
IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law is the law school of Illinois Institute of Technology, a private, Ph.D.-granting institution with programs in engineering, psychology, architecture, business, design and law. IIT Chicago-Kent's trial advocacy teams have won numerous individual student honors and regional and national competitions. U.S. News & World Report this year ranked Chicago-Kent's trial advocacy program among the top five in the country. IIT Chicago-Kent won National Trial Competition championships in 1988, 2007 and 2008.
