FSU Law Hosts Regional National Trial Competition

This past weekend, FSU College of Law was honored to host the National Trial Competition for Region Six, administered by the Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA). A total of 25 teams from across Florida, Georgia, and Puerto Rico competed, including two teams from FSU Law. In total, over 300 people attended, including advocates, judges, timekeepers, coaches, and spectators. The competition had two brackets with simultaneous semifinal rounds, leading to two final rounds and two winning teams. The winning teams, from Stetson University College of Law and one from University of Georgia School of Law, will advance to the national competition in Dallas, Texas in April.

FSU Law’s teams consisted of 3Ls Lauren Locke and Adriana Pizarro, with 3Ls Caroline Banks and Andrew Barrineau acting as witnesses, and 2L Caitlin McMohan and 3L Haley Hauk-Landon, with 3L Ashvi Luthra and 2L Gabriel Smith acting as witnesses.

The event also included a banquet on Saturday evening where Celeste Siblesz Higgins, a fellow with the American College of Trial Lawyers and member of the National Trial Competition Committee, spoke on the importance of trial lawyers to the legal profession and the process of joining the American College of Trial Law.

The banquet was made possible by the generosity of Friedman & Abrahamsen Law and Cole, Scott, & Kissane, P.A.

"Hosting this competition was a huge undertaking, and seeing it all come together so successfully was absolutely worth it. The FSU Law Trial Team is so honored to have been chosen to host and grateful for everyone who made it such a great event. Congratulations to all who competed, and best of luck to the winners as they continue forward to the national competition in Texas!" -3L Lauren Locke, Trial Team President