Samford University Cumberland School of Law’s national trial teams swept the Southeast Two Region of the American Association of Justice’s Student Trial Advocacy Competition (AAJ STAC), March 8-10. The competition is the second oldest and second largest law school national trial competition in the country. Both Cumberland School of Law teams won their final rounds and will advance to the national tournament in Chicago, April 4-7.
The competition, which was conducted virtually, forced the student-advocates to master their advocacy skills with the challenges of a virtual platform. The national finals will take place in-person.
The team of second-year students Omega Adams, Alexa Guiterrez and Keneshia Mahan and third-year student Robbie Garcia defeated Washburn University School of Law, Belmont University College of Law and Mississippi College School of Law in the preliminary rounds. They went on to defeat a team from Tulane University School of Law in the semifinal round and The University of Alabama School of Law in the final round, winning the ballot of every judge but one on their way to the championship.
The team of second-year students Conner Sorrells and Christi Smith and third-year students Lauren Briscoe and Marilee Butler defeated the University of Kansas School of Law, Tulane University School of Law and Birmingham School of Law in the preliminary rounds. They went on to defeat another team from Tulane University School of Law Team in the semifinal round and the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in the final round, winning the ballot of all but two judges on their way to the championship.
Judge Jim Roberts, JD ’94, director of national trial teams, said, “Our students and coaches did a phenomenal job preparing for AAJ STAC Regionals. We competed against many excellent teams and our success would not have been possible without the talent and hard work of our students and the dedication of our coaches. I’m very proud of the manner in which they all represented our program and our school.”
The teams were coached by Julie McMakin, JD ’09, Michael Eldridge, JD ’12, Spenser Templeton, JD ’15, Curtis Seal, JD ’17, and Isabella Colombo, JD ’20.
Collectively the coaches stated, “It is always great watching a group of students come together and show the right amount of persistence, hard work and tenacity to be successful as a group. That is what we watched this group do and will watch them continue to do over the next month.”
This marks the fourth straight year that Cumberland School of Law has won the Southeast Two region. In total, six Cumberland School of Law teams have advanced to the national round of this prestigious tournament in the past four years. In 2023, two Cumberland School of Law teams finished second and fifth in the country.
Sara Williams, JD ’06, visiting director of advocacy programs, said, “Our coaches and students continue to prove that Cumberland School of Law is one of the greatest programs in the country for practical legal education. I am immensely proud of this group not only for their performance, but for their display of integrity and grace throughout the competition. The entire Cumberland community should be proud to have these coaches and students representing us on the national stage next month.”
Cumberland School of Law, which was founded on the basis of preparing practice-ready lawyers, holds a longstanding tradition of excellence in advocacy training. Currently, the school is ranked 4th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for trial advocacy, 3rd in the nation in the Gavel Rankings, and 5th in the nation in the Trial Competition Performance Rankings.
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