Regent Law News

Regent Hosts Annual Regional Moot Court Tournament

2016-11-16T13:19:00.000-05:00

On Nov. 4-5, Regent Law's Moot Court Board had the pleasure of hosting the Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament of the American Moot Court Association's annual undergraduate competition.

Students in the Regent University Debate Association (RUDA) from the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) registered five teams, two of which earned third and fourth place in the regional competition. Three students, Alexandria Cross, Ronald Pantalena, and Christopher Mateer, received top-10 speaker awards.

Competitors came to the annual tournament at Regent from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, the University of Virginia, George Washington University, James Madison University, Bridgewater College, Patrick Henry College, and Liberty University. Judges determined speaker awards based on knowledge of case facts, legal reasoning, and the manner in which contestants presented themselves while facing pressure from judges. Points were awarded in these categories and then aggregated.

Daniel Rouleau, this year's competition director, ensured everything ran smoothly for
the 36 teams who participated from across the United States.

Exceptional talent from Liberty University and Patrick Henry College graced the final round with Patrick Henry ultimately taking home first place.

Regent Hosts Annual Regional Moot Court Tournament

2016-11-15T13:06:00.000-05:00

Regent University hosted the Mid Atlantic American Moot Court Association (AMCA) tournament the weekend of November 4, 2016. Students in the Regent University Debate Association (RUDA) from the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) registered five teams, two of which earned third and fourth place in the regional competition. Three students, Alexandria Cross, Ronald Pantalena, and Christopher Mateer, received top-10 speaker awards.

"I think the students did very well," said Dr. Nick Higgins, CAS assistant professor and RUDA sponsor. "We will have two teams that will be invited to go to the national tournament in Florida in January. Now we are just working with them to refine their arguments, looking at where the judges poked holes in them, and create a better way to go about and ensure we, Lord willing, have victory in Florida."

Eleven RUDA students competed in teams of two. They presented arguments about voter ID laws, and whether they violate the equal protection clause in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Gender played a role in this year's AMCA scenario by presenting a fictitious case where a woman was denied her right to vote after marrying, changing her name, and attempting to vote before she could obtain a new ID. New for this year, competitors had to prove they had standing to bring about a lawsuit before a judge would hear the scenario case.

Competitors came to the annual tournament at Regent from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, the University of Virginia, George Washington University, James Madison University, Bridgewater College, Patrick Henry College, and Liberty University. Judges determined speaker awards based on knowledge of case facts, legal reasoning, and the manner in which contestants presented themselves while facing pressure from judges. Points were awarded in these categories, and then aggregated.

"These students have been working anywhere from three to six hours per week just on presenting their arguments to myself and Lindsey Gilman, a third year law school student who helps coach them," said Higgins. "She and I are there two to three days per week, and we have students come and give arguments to us, and we badger them back and forth like they would at a tournament. The students do their own legal research and prepare their own arguments, and they've been doing this since the first week of school."

RUDA students who succeeded at the regional tournament took a few days off, but are preparing for a national tournament at Stetson University in Florida in January. RUDA typically focuses on Moot Court in the fall, but may expand to do policy debates in the spring. Higgins says students enjoyed the regional competition and are looking forward to competing again next year.

By Brennan Smith

Moot Court Board: Hassell Competition Recap

2016-10-19T15:48:00.000-04:00

Named after the late former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia, Leroy R. Hassell, Sr., the Moot Court Board hosted its 16th annual constitutional law competition on October 14-15, 2016. Directed by Samuel Walsh, the competition hosted 24 teams from across the nation—only one team short from becoming a tier two competition for the very first time. Not only is this an unprecedented amount, but it's also the furthest reaching with new and returning schools coming from as far as Florida, Texas, and California. Moreover, the final panel of judges was graced by the presence of 4 State Supreme Court Justices from Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Lucille Wall, this year's Chairwoman, said, "Regent Law's Moot Court Board was honored to host such a talented group of oral advocates at this year's Hassell National Moot Court Competition. Not only was the group of students participating diverse and well prepared, they were also excellent advocates who argued with passion and poise. Special thanks to everyone on the Moot Court Board who helped make this event a record-breaking success; to all the faculty who volunteered their time to serve as judges; to the Moot Court Board faculty advisor, Dean Hernandez, for helping craft the problem and providing the Board with consistent support; and for all the teams who raised the bar and made this year's competition as competitive as ever. Lastly, a huge and hearty congratulations to the finalists—Liberty University and the University of South Dakota—on a hard fought final round, and to Liberty for taking home first place. As always, we give all the glory to God for helping us create such a fantastic and memorable competition."

Regent Law Moot Court 2015-2016 Competition Season

2016-06-03T08:49:00.000-04:00

Regent University School of Law’s Moot Court Program Ranked 5th in the Nation

2016-05-24T08:23:00.000-04:00

At the close of the 2015-2016 Moot Court competition season, Regent University School of Law ranked fifth in the nation for Best Moot Court Program by the annual report of the University of Houston Law.

Law schools that rank within the top 16 are invited to Houston in January 2017 to participate in the national championship. Regent ranked above schools such as the University of Virginia, Baylor University Law School, Colombia University Law School, and Duke University Law School to qualify for the competition.

This year’s ranking follows the eighth-place Regent teams earned during the 2014-2015 competition season. The data is pulled from more than 200 law schools in the United States accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).

The rankings are listed annually, and according to Regent Law Dean Michael Hernandez this ranking ties the university’s highest-ever – having achieved the same ranking in 2008.

“This ranking, yet again, confirms what our track-record of over 20 years reflects,” said Hernandez. “Our top-notch skills program is consistently one of the best in the nation and around the world.”

Professor Tessa Dysart, who served as the Moot Court faculty advisor for the 2015-2016 academic year, attributes the success of the program to several factors:

“First, it’s the hard work of the students. They put countless hours into preparing for these competitions, and it really showed this year!” said Dysart. “Second, the contribution of the faculty. We won several brief awards this year, which speaks well of our excellent legal writing program.”

Additionally, Dysart said the success of the teams was guided by the work of several faculty members who volunteered to coach teams, as well as support from the central university. This is especially important, as Regent students interact with members of teams and faculty from competing schools as well as local attorneys and judges.

“By being so well-prepared and demonstrating excellence at the competition, we show what a great legal education program Regent offers,” said Dysart.

Learn more about Regent University’s School of Law.

by Brett Wilson Tubbs

1L Competition 2016

2016-04-18T13:16:00.000-04:00

Every year the law school's Moot Court Board hosts an intramural competition for the first-year students. The competition is integral to the success of the Legal Research & Writing department as well as the Board. In requiring students to compete, talents both known and unknown are honed and even discovered. The Board is convinced that God has chosen to work through it as a medium so that His name is ultimately glorified. The Board greatly looks forward to cultivating the talents He has blessed Regent students with through the competition.

This year's final four competitors were Christopher de Blank, Blaine Hutchison, Leah Oswald, and Alexxa Pritchett. There is no doubt that each advocate was meant to be in the final round based on the caliber of the arguments they made. In the end, Ms. Pritchett (pictured right) received the highest score from the judges and became the second woman to win the competition in the past 14 years.

Photos taken and edited by Michael Aiello

School of Law Continues to Progress in Moot Court Competitions

2016-04-12T10:29:00.001-04:00

There are many marks of a great lawyer. Apart from oral arguments, legal writing is key. Regent University School of Law students proved their merit at the Price Media Moot Court Competition in Oxford, England, Wednesday March 30-April, 2.

Price Media Moot Court Team.
Photo courtesy of the Regent School of Law
Facebook page.

The team – Christy Hurst, Palmer Hurst and Sandra Alcaide, coached by LAW professor Jeffrey Brauch – took home the Second-Best Memorial in the World at the international competition.

Additionally, two Regent teams traveled to the Billings, Exum & Frye Competition at Elon School of Law in Greensboro, North Carolina. The first team, including law students Brittany Jones, Daniel Rouleau, and Joshua Gamboa, earned Best Respondent Brief award and overall Best Brief in the competition of 40 teams.

The second team consisting of law students, William Thetford, Lindsey Gilman, and Sam Walsh earned the Best Petitioner Brief award.

“This performance validates that our legal writing and skills training is second to none, in the U.S. and around the world,” said Michael Hernandez, LAW dean. “We prepare our students not just to be moot court champions, but to be highly skilled, principled, and ethical advocates who will serve clients with excellence and better the world around them. I am very proud of our students and their accomplishments!”

According to the University of Houston Law Center annual Moot Court Program rankings, Regent’s Moot Court Program currently stands as seventh-best out of all American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law schools. This places Regent's Moot Court ranking above other universities such as Georgetown University Law School, Texas A & M School of Law, William and Mary University Law School and Yale Law School.

Regent’s competition season will continued Thursday, April 7 as law students entered the Touro Competition at the Touro Law Center in Central Islip, New York.

Learn more about Regent University’s School of Law.

By Brett Wilson Tubbs | April 8, 2016

Regent Law Success in Billings, Exum & Frye National Moot Court Competition

2016-04-04T09:48:00.000-04:00

Competition:

Billings, Exum & Frye National Moot Court Competition
Elon University School of Law
March 31-April 2, 2016

Teams:

Regent Team 20: Daniel Rouleau, Brittany Jones, and Joshua Gamboa
Regent Team 26: William Thetford, Lindsey Gilman, and Samuel Walsh.
Coaches: Joshua Jenkins and James Wheeler

Results:

Daniel, Brittany, and Joshua won the award for best respondent brief, and overall best brief in the competition!
Will, Lindsey, and Sam won the award for best Petitioner brief in the competition.
There were 38 other briefs submitted at Elon.
Both teams were eliminated after a hard fought quarterfinal round.

Price Media Moot Court Team Wins Second Best Brief

2016-04-02T22:00:00.000-04:00

Competition:

The Monroe E. Price Media Law Moot Court Competition
9th Annual International Rounds in Oxford
March 30-April 2, 2016

Team:

Team (pictured L to R): Palmer Hurst, Christy Hurst, Sandra Alcaide
Coach: Professor Jeffery Brauch

Results:

Congrats to our Price Media Moot Court team for winning 2nd best brief in the world!

School of Law Teams Continue to Perform in Moot Court and ADR Competitions

2016-03-28T11:33:00.001-04:00

As law schools across the nation enter further into the moot court competition season, Regent University School of Law (LAW) students continue to perform well. The weekend of March 18-19 was no exception.

J. Gibbons Moot Court Team.
Photo courtesy of Regent's School of Law
Official Facebook Page.

“The excellent performances of our moot court and negotiations teams this past weekend continue our track record over the past two decades of outstanding skills training and student performances,” said Michael Hernandez, dean of the School of Law. “I am proud of our teams and their faculty coaches, who are outstanding representatives of Regent Law and our Center for Advocacy.”

Regent’s team achieved the title of “quarterfinalists” at the J. Gibbons Moot Court Competition at Seton Hall Law in Newark, New Jersey. Kathleen Knudsen ’16, Renee Knudsen ’16, and Andrew Butler ’16 were coached by LAW professor James Duane.

R. Knudsen earned the title of “best oralist”; Butler took home the “second-best oralist” honor.

Team members Glenn Reynolds ’16, Courtney Marasigan ’17, and Alexandra McPhee ’17 – coached by LAW assistant professor Tessa Dysart – won the Charleston Moot Court Competition. Reynolds earned the title “best oralist” for the final round of the competition.

Additionally, Jessica Rigsbee ’17 and Chelsea Harkins ’17 finished second-place overall at the Robert R. Merhige, Jr. National Environmental Negotiation Competition at the University of Richmond. The team was coached by LAW professor Eric DeGroff.

Learn more about Regent University’s School of Law.

By Brett Wilson Tubbs | March 28, 2016

Charleston School of Law National Moot Court Competition

2016-03-21T12:52:00.000-04:00

Featured here with the Associate Justice of the Charleston Moot Court Board

Competition:

March 18-19, 2016
South Carolina

Team:

Team: Glenn Reynolds ’16, Courtney Marasigan ’17, and Alexandra McPhee ’17
Coach: Assistant Professor Tessa Dysart

Results:

Placed first at the Charleston School of Law National Moot Court Competition.
Reynolds earned the title “best oralist” for the final round of the competition.
Scored fourth Best Brief overall
Won Best Oralist award of the final round

Gibbons Criminal Procedure Moot Court competition

2016-03-20T12:43:00.000-04:00

Renee Knudsen, Andrew Butler, Kathleen Knudsen

March 18-19, 2016
Seton Hall University School of Law
New Jersey

Congratulations to the Gibbons team for finishing as quarterfinalists!

With their two oralist awards and quarterfinalist finish, the Gibbons team brought home 11 points towards Regent's overall moot court ranking for this year.

“The excellent performances of our moot court and negotiations teams this past weekend continue our track record over the past two decades of outstanding skills training and student performances,” said Michael Hernandez, dean of the School of Law. “I am proud of our teams and their faculty coaches, who are outstanding representatives of Regent Law and our Center for Advocacy.”

Regent’s team achieved the title of “quarterfinalists” at the J. Gibbons Moot Court Competition at Seton Hall Law in Newark, New Jersey. Kathleen Knudsen ’16, Renee Knudsen ’16, and Andrew Butler ’16 were coached by Professor James Duane.

R. Knudsen earned the title of “best oralist”; Butler took home the “second-best oralist” honor.

Regent's School of Law Teams Make Waves in Start of Moot Court Competitions

2016-02-05T12:56:00.000-05:00

by Brett Wilson Tubbs

The game is strong for Regent University’s School of Law (LAW) 2016 Moot Court competition teams.

Each January, the top 16 Moot Court programs in the United States are invited to participate in the annual Andrews Kurth Moot Court National Championship at the University of Houston. Regent was selected to participate after being ranked 8th in the nation by the University of Houston Law Center at the conclusion of the 2015 competition season.

Left to Right: Renee Knudsen, Marie Dienhart, Palmer Horst,
and Coach Michael Hernandez
Photo Credit: RUSL

Left to Right: Christy Hurst, Palmer Hurst, Sandra Alcaide,

and Coach Jeffrey Brauch

Photo Credit: Ann LeBlanc - 2016

“Advancing to the international rounds is a tremendous honor. We know we’ll be up against the best in the world, which is an exciting opportunity, but still a daunting challenge,” said C. Hurst. “Looking back at all of our hard work, it is satisfying to know that it was well worth all of the time spent! It is also a testament to God’s blessing of our preparation that we are able to continue to Oxford. I saw His hand at every step of the way as he walked us through the rounds this week! From giving our team the side we wanted to argue in each round to removing potential obstacles, we were tremendously blessed.”

They will advance to the international championship rounds of the competition at Oxford University March 30-April 2nd, the same competition where Regent’s team placed second in the world in 2013.

Additionally, the team did a home-turf victory lap on Monday, February 1, making an appearance on the Christian Broadcasting Network’s 700 Club. Watch the interview here.

“I was very proud watching the Regent team compete this weekend. Palmer Hurst and Sandra Alcaide competed at a very high level and grew stronger by the round. Their diligent preparation combined with their natural giftedness made them a powerful team. I was also proud of the work the entire team – Sandra, Palmer, and Christy Hurst – did on the memorials (written arguments),” said Brauch. “To win the Best Memorial for the entire Western Hemisphere is a tremendous accomplishment. We praise God for his grace! And we are excited to compete for the world championship in Oxford next month.”

Learn more about Regent University’s School of Law.

Regent's School of Law Teams Make Waves in Start of Moot Court Competitions

2016-02-02T11:19:00.000-05:00

The game is strong for Regent University’s School of Law (LAW) 2016 Moot Court competition teams.

Each January, the top 16 Moot Court programs in the United States are invited to participate in the annual Andrews Kurth Moot Court National Championship at the University of Houston. Regent was selected to participate after being ranked 8th in the nation by the University of Houston Law Center at the conclusion of the 2015 competition season.

Price Media Law Moot Court Team.
Photo courtesy of Christy Hurst.

During the competition January 28-29, students Renee Knudsen, Palmer Horst, and Marie Dienhart defended their way to second-place in the nation, just behind Georgetown as they competed with teams from schools such as Southern Methodist University, New York University and Texas Tech University. The Regent team also took home the award for best brief.

The team was coached by LAW dean, Michael Hernandez.

“The success of our teams is a testimony to the purpose and quality of a Regent Law education. Moot court competitions test the primary essential skills of lawyering—analytical ability, legal research, persuasive writing and speaking, teamwork, and advocating for a client under pressure,” said Hernandez. “These achievements reflect that the quality of the skills training and legal education provided by Regent Law stands out in the U.S. and around the world.”

Continuing the streak, Christy Hurst, Palmer Hurst and Sandra Alcaide won first place at Regional Rounds in the Americas of the Price Media Law Moot Court Competition in New York City this past weekend.

The team, coached by LAW professor Jeffrey Brauch, won the best brief, and Alcaide earned the marks for best oral advocate. This is the second year in a row that a team from Regent has swept the competition.

“Advancing to the international rounds is a tremendous honor. We know we’ll be up against the best in the world, which is an exciting opportunity, but still a daunting challenge,” said C. Hurst. “Looking back at all of our hard work, it is satisfying to know that it was well worth all of the time spent! It is also a testament to God’s blessing of our preparation that we are able to continue to Oxford. I saw His hand at every step of the way as he walked us through the rounds this week! From giving our team the side we wanted to argue in each round to removing potential obstacles, we were tremendously blessed.”

They will advance to the international championship rounds of the competition at Oxford University March 30-April 2nd, the same competition where Regent’s team placed second in the world in 2013.

Additionally, the team did a home-turf victory lap on Monday, February 1, making an appearance on the Christian Broadcasting Network’s 700 Club. Watch the interview here.

“I was very proud watching the Regent team compete this weekend. Palmer Hurst and Sandra Alcaide competed at a very high level and grew stronger by the round. Their diligent preparation combined with their natural giftedness made them a powerful team. I was also proud of the work the entire team – Sandra, Palmer, and Christy Hurst – did on the memorials (written arguments),” said Brauch. “To win the Best Memorial for the entire Western Hemisphere is a tremendous accomplishment. We praise God for his grace! And we are excited to compete for the world championship in Oxford next month.”

Learn more about Regent University’s School of Law.

By Brett Wilson Tubbs | February 1, 2016

CAS Moot Court Team Takes Top Three - Prepares for National Tournament

2015-11-10T14:28:00.000-05:00

Battling 44 teams and 88 competitors, Regent University undergraduate students took the top three places in the Moot Court Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament November 6 and 7 at Regent University. These top teams will go on to compete in a national tournament at California State University at Long Beach.

Eight teams from Regent competed in the tournament. Five of these teams placed within the top 16. Two Regent students received top-five speaker awards. Michael Maunder received second and Abigail Lisa received fourth. Marie Dienhart, a third-year law student in Regent’s School of Law, coached the team to success.

"Regent Law's Moot Court Board enjoyed hosting the ACMA Competition to foster the appellate advocacy skills of aspiring law students," said 3L Matthew Dunckley,Vice Chairman and Legal Research Director of Regent Law's Moot Court Board.

Learn more about the American Collegiate Moot Court Competition >

By Brennan Smith

Regent School of Law Ranked in the Top 10 For Best Moot Court Program

2015-06-18T00:31:00.003-04:00

After a year of national and international Moot Court competitions, Regent University's School of Law was ranked in the top 10 for Best Moot Court Program in the Andrews Kurth Moot Court National Championship rankings by the University of Houston Law Center.

Regent was ranked 8th among 202 American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law schools in the United States, placing above schools such as Harvard School of Law, Yale School of Law and New York University School of Law.
“Our ranking of 8th out of over 200 ABA accredited U.S. law schools validates the excellence of our curriculum, skills training, faculty, students and Moot Court program,” said Michael Hernandez, dean of the School of Law. “It was a true team effort, and I am very proud to have the privilege of leading the Regent Law School team.”

Prior to his stepping into the role as dean, Hernandez has had a long-standing history with Regent’s Moot Court program. He’s been an important leader in the program since its modest start in 1994. Teams from Regent have performed well against national and international competitors alike; including finishing second place at the University of Oxford Price Media Law Moot Court Programme. Moot Court programs serve as a vital component of the hands-on legal training students receive at the School of Law. This comprehensive learning experience is an aspect of this program to which Hernandez is most dedicated.

“We’re dedicated to academic and professional excellence, not just in word, but in fact. Our Legal Analysis, Research and Writing, Appellate Advocacy, and Advanced Appellate Advocacy courses are the foundation of our successes in Moot Court,” said Hernandez. “Skills training alone is not enough to produce outstanding advocates and attorneys — our students must be, and are, trained rigorously in analytical skills and substantive knowledge. Our Moot Court program would not be so successful without such a comprehensive and holistic approach to training our students.”

With the honor of the ranking also comes an invitation to the 2016 Andrews Kurth Moot Court National Championship. Regent's team will be one of 16 from the nation who qualify for the invitational.

Learn more about Regent University's School of Law.

By Brett Wilson

Regent University's School of Law Triumphs In Moot Court Competitions

2015-04-01T08:03:00.000-04:00

Regent's team won first place at the

Touro Law Center's National Moot
Court Competition.
Photo courtesy of Tessa Dysart.

This weekend proved to be another successful turn for Regent University School of Law's moot court competition teams both in the United States and abroad.

"In an already great year for Regent's moot court program, this was a great weekend. At each of the competitions our students attended, they achieved top awards in brief writing, as oralists and as a team," said Jeffrey Brauch, dean of the School of Law. "I'm excited for the students, as God has honored their hard work and dedication. I couldn't be more excited for them; it's amazing what they've done."

Regent's team won first place at the Touro Law Center's National Moot Court Competition in Law & Religion in New York. Wesley Pilon, Tiffany Bennett and Michael Pierce were coached by assistant law professor Tessa Dysart.

"It's always great to see the students' hard work pay off with a competition victory," said Dysart. "They did a great job."

Across the pond at the Price International Moot Court Competition in Oxford, England, Regent argued against other teams from Singapore, Georgia, China, Pakistan and India. The team – Jessica Krentz, Lindsey Brower and Carly Havens, coached by law professor Michael Hernandez – continued into the international round after their success at the regional competition in New York City in February 2015.

Not only did Regent's team place within the top eight of the final round, the competitors also took home the "Best Memorials" (written brief) award. Krentz was awarded second-best oralist in the competition, while Brower was named 10th-best oralist.

"It was incredible to meet teams from across the world; it was such a high-caliber competition," said Krentz. "I'm humbled and grateful for Regent's support of our team throughout this whole competition. Competing in New York at regionals and Oxford at internationals have been undoubtedly the best experiences I've had in law school.

Regent's moot court team also placed exceptionally well at the Elon Law's moot court competition in Greensboro, North Carolina, losing by just .16 out of 100 points in the semi-final round to the team that won the competition.

Palmer Hurst, James Wheeler and Bruce Wilson earned their way into the semi-finals of the competition. Wilson won best oralist for the entire competition, and the team received the best petitioner brief award.

The team was coached by Josh Jenkins '13 (Law), a criminal defense attorney at his own practice: OneSight Legal Solutions. Jenkins worked with the team preparing for the competition – he said that he would not be the same attorney he is today were it not for the invaluable lessons he learned as a competitor and the former chairman of the moot court board for Regent.

"It's a program that's just outstanding in teaching people practical legal skills; I learned a lot that I use in practice every day," said Jenkins. "It's nostalgic and exciting, and I like to see their passion about what they're doing. The quality of advocacy that comes out of Regent is exceptional."

Learn more about Regent University's School of Law.

By Brett Wilson

Regent University School of Law Ranked No. 6 for Best Moot Court Program

2015-03-17T22:53:00.002-04:00

Regent's Moot Court Team.

Photo courtesy of Michael Hernandez.

Regent University's School of Law has been ranked as the nation's sixth best Moot Court program out of all American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law schools in the United States by the University of Houston Law Center's annual report.

Regent is ranked among schools such as George Washington School of Law, Columbia Law School, and Cornell University Law School.

On Saturday, March 8, law students Renee Knudsen '16, Palmer Horst '16 and Marie Dienhart '16 did their part, becoming one of four groups from of 191 competing teams to advance from the regional round of the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition in St. Louis, Missouri. The team also took home the third-best brief award.

Veteran moot court and School of Law professor Michael Hernandez coached the team.

"It's gratifying to see talented students reach their potential and represent Regent with excellence," said Hernandez. "Students who compete at moot court work very hard and it's a blessing to see that hard work rewarded."

Hernandez explained the vitality of these competitions for training future litigators to prepare for communicating well under pressure.

"Many employers look at moot court accomplishments as an important marker of success and ability," said Hernandez. "The experience students gain researching, writing and arguing complex legal issues are unsurpassed in law school. The skills they develop prepare them well for the practice of law, particularly in all forms of litigation."

The team will continue their arguments at the national round of the competition in Chicago during the month of April.

Learn more about Regent University School of Law.

By Brett Wilson | March 12, 2015

Regent Celebrates Moot Court Success

2014-02-19T09:07:00.002-05:00

While exhibiting excellence in the classroom throughout their three years of law school is important to the legal profession, another vital component of training to become a lawyer is writing, researching and defending an argument.

Last week, a number of Regent University School of Law students were given the opportunity to exhibit their speaking and reasoning skills at three different Moot Court competitions in Virginia and New York.

"I continue to be amazed at the skill, preparation and success of our moot court teams. They excel in every aspect of their competitions," said Jeffrey Brauch, dean of Regent Law. "I am deeply proud of our students and their faculty coaches—and I praise God for their success."

Saturday, Feb. 8, Regent Law assistant professor Tessa Dysart led her team of 3L students, Andrew Stevener, Chelsea Schlittenhart and Drew Cziok (pictured above) through the 2014 National Religious Freedom Moot Court Competition. The team finished in second place overall in the competition hosted by George Washington University, in Washington, D.C.

"It's always exciting to see students succeed because you know how many hours they put into preparing for the competition—and I think that's really one thing that that makes our team stand out," said Dysart. "It also continues to show what an excellent program of legal education that we offer at Regent, and it gives us a great name as we go out and interact with other students and the judges."

Along with placing in the ranks ahead of big-name schools such as Georgetown University, New York Law School and Howard University, Schlittenhart was also awarded the title of "Best Oralist" for the entire competition.

"I am so thankful to have received the award, and excited that I had another opportunity to show off the quality of Regent's training," said Schlittenhart. "The truth is that any oralist is only as good as the rest of her team—Drew and Andrew played just as much of a role in the win as I did."

From Monday, Feb. 10 to Wednesday, Feb. 12, Regent students also competed in the National Moot Court Competition in New York City. Third year law students Sharon Kerk and Joshua Smith advanced to the top 16 in the competition, from 194 teams that entered the competition at the regional level. Kerk and Smith were led by Michael Hernandez, professor in the School of Law.

Hernandez explained that the importance of the competition lies within the ability to make good contacts and enhance the reputation of the caliber of legal education Regent has to offer.

"The team did an outstanding job, they performed with excellence—even in the round we lost, the judges commented on how persuasive and impenetrable our arguments were," said Hernandez. "It was a close round against our competition, and they did really well."

The national competition put Regent up against law schools such as Wake Forrest University, Texas Tech University and the University of Memphis.

Regent's team also participated in the College of William & Mary's 43rd Spong Tournament from Friday, Feb. 14 to Saturday, Feb. 15. Associate professor Kathleen McKee led second-year law students Danielle Bianculli, Stephen Cady, and Jeffrey Pommerenck. The team advanced to the top eight in the competition.

"I was just so impressed by the way the team collaborated to produce such a positive outcome; I think they really walked out what our university's mission is," said McKee. "What is important is that not only were our students skilled in their performance, but they also conducted themselves in a way that everyone commented on how positive their presence was at the competition."

Learn more about Regent University School of Law.

By Brett Wilson
Photo courtesy of Chelsea Schlittenhart

Regent Law Students Participate in Two Supreme Court Cases

2013-11-20T13:13:00.000-05:00

Through the Right to Work Practicum at Regent University School of Law, Regent’s law students have recently had the incredible opportunity to participate in not one, but two cases being heard by the United States Supreme Court. The United States Supreme Court will rule on Mulhall v. UNITE HERE in 2014.

Students participated in both Mulhall v. UNITE HERE, a major labor law case heard by the United States Supreme Court on November 13, and Harris v. Quinn, another important labor law case which the court will review in 2014.

Under the guidance of Professor Bruce Cameron, a National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation litigator and Reed Larson Professor of Labor Law at Regent University (pictured), law students provided research for the lead attorney in Mulhall v. UNITE HERE. Students also conducted research for Harris v. Quinn.

“Most attorneys never file a case that the U.S. Supreme Court will consider,” says Professor Cameron. “Few attorneys are involved in cases that the Supreme Court accepts for argument. Even fewer argue a case before the High Court. But Regent students are involved in two cases accepted for argument by the Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court.”

The law school also held a moot court for Mulhall v. UNITE HERE.

Third-year law student Jennifer Brown performed research for Mulhall this semester and also sat as a judge during the moot court.

“It’s a rare experience to have researched cases that were used in the brief and to sit as a judge in the Moot Courtroom,” Brown said. “I enjoyed digging for the one article or case that could be the changing factor in the argument.”

Other moot court judges included third-year law student Chelsea Schlittenhart, Dean Douglass Cook, Professor James Duane, Professor Bruce Cameron, Professor Kathleen McKee, and Professor Michael Hernandez.

Learn more about the opportunities Regent Law students enjoy through the Center for Advocacy.

Law Team Advances to National Competition

2013-11-19T15:13:00.000-05:00

For the third consecutive year, Regent University's School of Law Moot Court team has advanced to the finals of the National Moot Court Competition.

On Saturday, Nov. 16, Regent's team finished second place overall in the regional round held in Richmond, Va.

Regent's team also took home the best brief award, marking the second year in a row Regent has received this distinction.

The finals will be held February 2014 in New York City.

"I was gratified to hear the outcome of the New York Bar Association Regional Tournament. Our team prepared and competed with excellence, and they showed once again that Regent students can compete with anyone in the country in their advocacy skills," said Jeffrey Brauch, dean of the School of Law. "I look forward to seeing them compete for the National Championship in the spring, and I praise God for their success!"

Third year Regent Law students Sharon Kerk, Erik McCauley, and Joshua Smith comprise this year's moot court team. These students were led by law professor Michael Hernandez, who serves as faculty advisor to the Moot Court Board as well as the coach for Regent's team.

"I am very proud of Sharon, Erik, and Joshua. They did an excellent job both in writing the brief and in the oral arguments," said Hernandez. "Most importantly, they were excellent representatives of Regent and our Lord. We are looking forward to the nationals!"

During the regional competition, Regent participated with 21 teams, coming out ahead of teams from Charlotte School of Law, Campbell Law School, Richmond University School of Law and University of Louisville.

Also participating in the competition were teams from Duke University, George Mason University and William & Mary. Regent came in second place to a close final round up against Wake Forest University School of Law.

Learn more about Regent University School of Law.

By Brett Wilson

Law Team Wins Second Place in International Moot Court Competition

2013-04-13T10:54:00.001-04:00

On Friday, April 12, Regent University School of Law's moot court competition team finished in second place in the University of Oxford's Price Media Law Moot Court Programme. This was Regent Law's first time to participate in an international competition.

Third-year law students Monica Bailey, Alexis Fenell, Kevin Hoffman and Caleb Wan, coached by Professor Michael Hernandez, traveled to Oxford, England, to argue cases regarding the rule of law and international norms for freedom of expression. Regent's moot court team was one of 38 to present arguments in the final international round, competing against globally-recognized law schools such as the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge.

"In recent years, our Regent Law students have earned much success at the regional and national levels, but it's especially gratifying and exciting to see them place so highly in our first international competition," said Regent Law dean Jeffrey Brauch. "I'm very proud of our moot court team and Coach Mike Hernandez. They all worked extremely hard to reach this prestigious competition, and they represented Regent very well. "

In the final round of arguments, Regent Law's team came out ahead over teams from Addis Ababa University, Ilia State University, Vilnius University, China University of Political Science and Law, Hugh Wooding Law School and Southwestern Law School.

The Price competition, which features regional rounds held in South Asia, South East Europe, the Americas and the Middle East, is known for its wide range of student competitors and notable guest judges from around the world. Regent Law was one of four schools from the United States in the international competition.

Previously, Regent finished second place overall in the Americas Regional Round held in New York City in January 2013. There, the team's legal brief was recognized as the competition's third best brief.

Learn more about Regent University School of Law.

By Brett Wilson
Photo Courtesy of Price Moot Court Competition.

Law Team Advances to International Competition Finals

2013-01-29T09:25:00.000-05:00

Competing against law schools from the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean, Regent Law’s competition team recently advanced to the international round of the University of Oxford’s Price Media Law Moot Court Programme to be held on the campus of the University of Oxford, England, this coming April. Regent’s team also won the award for the competition’s third best brief.

Participants in the Price competition argue cases regarding the rule of law and international norms for freedom of expression. The competition, which features regional rounds held in South Asia, South East Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East, is known for its wide range of student competitors and notable guest judges from around the world.

At the Americas Regional Round held January 24-27 in New York City, Regent’s team of Monica Bailey, Kevin Hoffman, Caleb Wan, and Alexis Fenell defeated teams from Brazil and Argentina in the preliminary rounds, and St. Mary’s School of Law and the Cardozo School of Law in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, to advance to the international and final round of the competition. In addition to the oral argument component of the competition, each competition team was required to submit two briefs, or "memorials" as they are known in international law, arguing both sides of the competition problem. Regent’s team ultimately finished second in the final round of the Americas Regional Round.

"We are extremely proud of this team,” said team coach and law professor Michael Hernandez. “We are also excited about the Price Media competition, which intersects with our strong programs in Moot Court, Global Justice, and International Human Rights. We look forward to competing for the international title in Oxford, England in April."

Regent Law’s success in the Price competition adds to the list of over 60 national and regional championships, best brief, and best oralist awards in the school’s 26 year history.

This Week On Campus

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To discuss positions in the legal field across Hampton Roads, Career Services hosted Joyce Diaz, Placement Director at Special Counsel, to speak with students on Tuesday, January 15.

The Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) team held an informational meeting for the upcoming Intramural Competition on Tuesday, January 15.

Phi Alpha Delta (PAD) hosted a mini golf social event on Wednesday, January 16.

Reverend Luis Cortes, Jr., founder of Esperanza, a Hispanic community network, and one of Time Magazine's 25 most influential evangelicals delivered this week’s Law Chapel message on Thursday, January 17. Previous Law Chapel messages may be viewed here.

Regent Law hosted the National Moot Court Competition for the American Collegiate Moot Court Association on Friday and Saturday, January 18-19.

Moot Court Team Advances to National Competition

2012-11-20T09:39:00.003-05:00

Continuing a tradition of excellence among Regent University School of Law competition teams, the Moot Court Team recently won the Region IV competition of the National Moot Court Competition (NMCC) sponsored by the New York Bar Association. Held Nov. 16-17, at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Va., the competition included 22 teams.

Regent's team of third-year law students Paul Bailey, Andrew Kartchner, and Jessica Pak (shown, l to r) also won the award for the best brief.

The NMCC is one of two moot court national championships. This year, 183 teams entered the competition, which encompasses 15 regions around the country. Other schools competing in Region IV included the University of West Virginia, University of Louisville, University of Richmond, the College of William & Mary, and Duke University.

Only 30 teams across the country—Regent among them—will advance to the national competition Jan. 28-31 in New York City.

"This is a very prominent victory that demonstrates that our students can compete with the best students at the top law schools in our region," said Professor Michael Hernandez, the faculty advisor for the Moot Court Team, which is part of Regent Law's Center for Advocacy. "Moot court is an invaluable aspect of legal education at Regent because it involves all of the skills necessary to succeed in the practice of law: analytical ability, legal research, writing and oral advocacy."

Learn more about past wins for Regent Law teams.

By Rachel Bender