51ֿ

Trial Team

Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law

Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law Trial Team

Only about one in 10 lawyers is a trial lawyer. The trial lawyer is the person other lawyers need to retain when they have been unable to litigate a case to conclusion. The small minority of lawyers who willingly take that step through the swinging doors of a courtroom and experience a lawyer’s ultimate challenge – presenting a case before a jury – are a special breed. The 51ֿ School of Law Trial Team prepares students for this role, providing real-world training and experience that can make you more marketable to potential employers upon graduation.

Our student advocates compete throughout the United States and Puerto Rico against the best that other law schools can offer. Most of these competitions are “invitationals,” where even being asked to compete is a noteworthy accomplishment.

Membership on Barry Law’s Trial Team is a privilege. If selected after trying out, you will learn invaluable skills that will serve you far into the future. Additionally, you will be able to mention your Trial Team experience to potential employers during interviews and networking opportunities.

You will learn the art of trial presentation, including opening statements, direct and cross examinations, and closing arguments. You will also learn to master evidence, objections, procedure, and the many advocacy factors that go into making a great “on-your-feet” trial lawyer. In practice and then in competition, you will first learn and then hone your advocacy skills.

For additional information about trying out for the Barry Law trial team, please contact Faculty Advisor Judge Michael S. Kraynick, ctjumk1@ocnjcc.org.

One of the Nation’s Elite Teams:

National Championships

  • Golden Gate University School of Law Professor Bernie L. Segal Criminal Mock Trial Competition, October 2013, San Francisco, CA. This was the first time Barry Law participated in this competition. The team went 3-0 in the preliminary rounds and placed No. 1 overall. The team went on to defeat Hastings in the semifinals and Denver in the finals. Barry Law’s team had perfect scores on 15 of 18 ballots. Individually, Victor Zamora was honored for a perfect score, and Michael CahillԻLuis Herrera were recognized for their outstanding performances. Eleven other teams competed: American University Washington College of Law, Catholic University Columbus School of Law, University of Denver School of Law, Florida State University College of Law, Fordham University School of Law, Hastings College of Law, John Marshall Law School, Pace Law School, St. John's University School of Law, Stetson University College of Law, and University of Texas School of Law.
  • ABA National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition, March 2012, Chicago, IL. Barry Law Trial Team defeated Harvard University in the final round to win the ABA National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago. Aboubakr Maaroufi was named Best Advocate at the competition, which included 19 teams. Both Ciara HarrisԻVictor Zamora received perfect witness scores in two separate preliminary rounds. Barry went undefeated in the preliminary rounds, beating the University of Alabama, Widener, and the University of Puerto Rico School of Law. Only four teams advanced, with Barry facing and defeating Creighton in the semifinals to reach the finals against Harvard.
  • National Trial Competition (TYLA) Regional, February 2012, Orlando, FL. A team from Barry Law was crowned co-champion of the National Trial Competition Southeast Regional held on the Barry Law campus. The Barry Law team, featuring advocates Jordan OstroffԻAndrew Doyle and witnesses Michael TricoliԻTamar Gelin, defeated a team from Stetson University College of Law to earn the championship. In the other finals of the competition, a team from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University defeated a team from the University of Florida College of Law.
  • ABA Quinnipiac National Trial Advocacy Competition, October 2011, Hamden, CT
  • ABA Quinnipiac National Trial Advocacy Competition, October 2010, Hamden, CT
  • Michigan State National Trial Advocacy Competition, October 2010, East Lansing, MI. The Barry Law team – Michael Deen, Reem Elkhaldi, Cheryl GregoryԻElizabeth Rosado – defeated the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in the championship round. En route to the championship, Barry’s student advocates defeated teams from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, the University of Alabama School of Law, Emory University, California Western, and William & Mary.
  • ABA National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition (Invitational), March 2008, Chicago, IL

Other Championships

  • American Association of Justice Regional Champions, March 2010, Seattle, WA
  • Georgetown University Law Center White Collar Crime Tournament (Invitational), November 2009, Washington, DC
  • ABA University of Puerto Rico Trial Advocacy Competition (Invitational), October 2008, San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • American Association of Justice Regional Champions, March 2007, Las Vegas, NV

Finalists

  • American Association for Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition (AAJ), March 2014, Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • Chester E. Bedell (Florida Bar) Trial Team Competition, January 2011, Coral Gables, FL
  • ABA National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition (Invitational), March 2010, Chicago, IL
  • ABA University of Puerto Rico Trial Advocacy Competition (Invitational), October 2009, San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • American Association of Justice Regional, March 2009, Las Vegas, NV
  • National Trial Competition (TYLA) Regional, February 2009, Tallahassee, FL.
  • ABA Puerto Rico (Invitational) Competition, October 2008
  • ABA National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition (Invitational), April 2008, Chicago, IL
  • American Association of Justice Regional, March 2008, Las Vegas, NV
  • Chester E. Bedell (Florida Bar) Trial Team Competition, January 2008, Miami, FL

Final Fours

  • Chester E. Bedell (Florida Bar) Trial Team Competition, January 2014, Orlando, FL
  • American Association of Justice Regional, March 2013, Miami, FL. (Both Barry Law teams advanced)
  • ABA Quinnipiac National Trial Advocacy Competition, October 2012, Hamden, CT
  • Georgetown University Law Center White Collar Crime Tournament (Invitational), November 2010, Washington, DC
  • American Association of Justice Regional, March 2009, Las Vegas, NV (second team)
  • American Association of Justice Regional, March 2008, Las Vegas, NV (second team)
  • Chester E. Bedell (Florida Bar) Trial Team Competition, January 2008, Miami, FL (second team)
  • Michigan State National Trial Advocacy Competition (Invitational), October 2007, East Lansing, MI.
  • ATLA National Trial Team Competition, April 2005

Elite Eights

  • National Criminal Justice Trial Competition, co-sponsored by the American Bar Association and The John Marshall Law School, March 2014, Chicago, IL
  • Buffalo-Niagara Trial Team Competition (Invitational), November, 2009, Buffalo, NY
  • Buffalo-Niagara Trial Team Competition (Invitational), November 2008, Buffalo, NY
  • ATLA National Trial Team Competition, April 2007.

Top Tens, Sweet Sixteens

  • Buffalo-Niagara Trial Team Competition (Invitational), November 2012, Buffalo, NY
  • ABA National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition (Invitational), March 2009, Chicago, IL (Top Ten)
  • Michigan State National Trial Advocacy Competition (Invitational), October 2008, East Lansing, MI (Sweet Sixteen)

Individual Awards

  • ABA/Quinnipiac Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy competition, November 2013, Hamden, CT – Best Opening Statement: Rachel Jones
  • Golden Gate University School of Law Professor Bernie L. Segal Criminal Mock Trial Competition, October 2013, San Francisco, CA – Perfect Score: Victor Zamora; Outstanding Performances: Michael Cahill and Luis Herrera.
  • Georgetown University Law Center White Collar Crime Tournament (Invitational), November 2012, Washington, DC – Best Advocate Award: Diedre Luster.
  • ABA National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition (Invitational), March 2010, Chicago, IL – Best Advocate Award: Margaret Garner
  • ABA Quinnipiac National Trial Advocacy Competition, October 2010, Hamden, CT – Best Advocate: Kristina Sexton; Best Cross-Examination: Angela Agostino
  • Georgetown University Law Center White Collar Crime Tournament (Invitational), November 2009, Washington, DC – Best Advocate Award: Angela Agostino
  • ABA University of Puerto Rico Trial Advocacy Competition (Invitational), October 2009, San Juan, Puerto Rico –Best Advocate Award: Margaret Garner
  • ABA University of Puerto Rico Trial Advocacy Competition (Invitational), October 2008, San Juan, Puerto Rico – Best Advocate Award: Leonard Addison
  • ABA National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition (Invitational), March 2008, Chicago, IL – Best Advocate Award: Denise Kim
  • National Civil Rights Trial Competition, October 2005 – Best Advocate Award: Heather Fleming achieved the first perfect judge's scorecard in the history of the competition.

Competition Specifics

April 2005

TRIAL TEAM: In April 2005, the Mock Trial Team finished in the Final Four out of 223 teams nationwide in the ATLA National Trial Team Competition. Barry lost in the semi final round to eventual national champion, Baylor, by one point on one judge's scorecard. Barry had previously defeated St. John's, the other finalist, in preliminary round competition. At the National Civil Rights Trial Competition in October 2005, Heather Fleming was named Best Advocate and achieved the first perfect judge's scorecard in the history of the competition.

2008 – 2009 School Year

TRIAL TEAM: This success has proved sustaining. The Trial Team won its first national championship ever at the prestigious ABA National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition, an invitational, in Chicago in April 2008. The second national championship followed shortly thereafter, at the ABA Puerto Rico invitational competition in October 2008. In addition to these two championships, during the 2008-09 school year, the Trial Team made the following strides: 1) advanced to the Elite Eight out of 36 teams in the Buffalo-Niagara competition; 2) advanced to the final round of the Chester E. Bedell/Florida Bar Mock Trial competition; 3) advanced to the Final Four in the Tallahassee regional of the National Trial Competition; 4) advanced both teams to the Final Four in the American Association of Justice regional in Las Vegas, facing two teams from Stanford; and 5) advanced one of these teams to the final round.

October 2013

TRIAL TEAM: Barry Law won its first competition of the year – the Golden Gate University School of Law Professor Bernie L. Segal Criminal Mock Trial Competition, which was held in San Francisco. This was the first time Barry Law participated in this competition. The Barry team of Michael Cahill, Victor Zamora, Caryna Zamora, and Luis Herrera was coached by Trial Team and Barry alumni Denise Kim (’09) and Jordan Ostroff (’12). The team went 3-0 in the preliminary rounds and placed No. 1 overall. The team went on to defeat Hastings in the semifinals and Denver in the finals. Barry’s team had perfect scores on 15 of 18 ballots. Individually, Victor Zamora was honored for a perfect score, and Michael Cahill and Luis Herrera were recognized for their outstanding performances. Eleven other teams competed in the Golden Gate University event: American University Washington College of Law, Catholic University Columbus School of Law, University of Denver School of Law, Florida State University College of Law, Fordham University School of Law, Hastings College of Law, John Marshall Law School, Pace Law School, St. John's University School of Law, Stetson University College of Law, and University of Texas School of Law.

January 2014

TRIAL TEAM: The Barry Law team of advocates – Jamie Smeriglio, Devan McGowan, Chris Fauntleroy,ԻAmanda Buschbom – advanced to the Final Four at the Chester E. Bedell (Florida Bar) Trial Team Competition in Orlando. It was Barry’s best showing at this competition since 2011. Even more impressive: It was the first-ever competition for all four team members. They showed advocates from across the state that Barry Law’s Trial Team is a force to be reckoned with!

February 2014

MOOT COURT TEAM: Barry Law’s Jordan Mejeur and Scott (Joseph) Miller advanced to the Elite Eight at the Charleston School of Law National Moot Court Competition. The team was coached by Brian Kozlowski, a Barry Law alumnus and former Chief Justice of Moot Court. Twenty-six teams competed. In the Elite Eight round, Barry lost to George Washington, which ultimately won the overall competition. This was the first time Barry participated in this competition.

March 2014

MOOT COURT TEAM: The ABA Moot Court team of Brooke Gaffney, Angela Goodrum, and Darrin Chambers advanced to the Sweet Sixteen at the ABA Regional Competition in Washington, D.C. After three preliminary rounds, the Barry Law team was seeded No. 11 out of 36 teams.

TRIAL TEAM: The Barry Law Trial Team advanced to the semi-final round of the American Association for Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition (AAJ) in Fort Lauderdale. Sixteen teams from 11 law schools competed at the March 20-23 regionals, with the winner advancing to the national finals in Santa Monica, California. This extremely competitive region included Barry, Stetson University, Tulane University, Loyola University, Louisiana State University, Florida Coastal School of Law, Florida State University, University of Florida, St. Thomas University, Florida A&M University, and Mississippi College.Barry Law brought two teams, each consisting of 4 Trial Team members. The team advancing to the semi-final round included advocates Tiffany Walters and Christina Figueroa, who were swing advocates along with their witnesses, Matthew Wolfe and Rihana Quashie. The second team included Rachel Jones, Erika Powers, Jeffrey James, and Jim Kelly. The AAJ team was coached by former Trial Team members and Barry alums Denise Kim Beamer (’09) and Jordan Ostroff (’12).

TRIAL TEAM: At the National Criminal Justice Trial Competition, co-sponsored by the American Bar Association and The John Marshall Law School, the team of Michael Cahill, Luis Herrera, Jocelyn Paiz, and James Smeriglio advanced to the Elite Eight before losing to Harvard. The Barry Law team finished fifth overall.

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