STUDENT SPOTLIGHT AUWCL Competition Teams Shine on
National and International Stages Alumni and Professors Serve as Coaches to Victory
BY BRICE HELMS
From the courtroom to the negotiation table, advocacy teams at AUWCL are making their mark — winning titles, earning top honors, and demonstrating legal excellence on some of the most prestigious platforms in the country and around the world.
Among the standout achievements was the WCL Moot Court Honor Society’s victory at the Jerome Prince Evidence Moot Court Competition, hosted by Brooklyn Law School. Third-year evening students Jackie Blank and Stephanie Papatsos emerged as champions from a field of 33 law schools, arguing before a panel of distinguished judges. Their victory, guided by longtime coach and AUWCL alumnus Jeffrey Jacobovitz ’80, represents a major milestone for the program.
The Mock Trial Honor Society also delivered an exceptional performance, capturing first place at the 2025 American Association for Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition– D.C. Region. The team — Jayla Mack, Hannah Hofmann, London Henderson, and Amanda Bailey — won five consecutive trials to secure the top spot. Coached by Professors David Knight and Mike Kitzman, and alumnus Kevin Botros ’24, the team advanced to the national finals in Atlanta, where they finished as quarterfinalists.
Additional impressive showings included:
• Jessup International Moot Court: AUWCL’s team finished second out of 48 teams at regionals in Charlotte, North Carolina, and advanced to the international rounds in Washington, D.C. Sophie Grey and
20 THE ADVOCATE SUMMER/FALL 2025
Leſt to right: Jeffrey Jacobovitz ’80, Stephanie Papatos 3L and Jackie Blank 3L at the Jerome Prince Evidence Moot Court Competition.
Wil Nesbit argued in the finals, with Grey recognized as the Fourth Best Oralist and Jackson Newman as Ninth Best Oralist.
• Frank Schreck Gaming Moot Court: Adele Cohen and Cassandra Gaertner reached the finals at UNLV Law, where Cohen won Best Oralist.
• Estrella National Mock Trial Competition: Victoria Maamari, Elliott Schwinn, Claudia Padron and Alma Bevard earned national finalist honors, dominating early rounds as the top-seeded team before a hard-fought final against Brooklyn.
• International Trade Law Moot Court: Lauren Ross and Colin McGinness were semifinalists in Quito, Ecuador, with Ross earning Best Written Submission and McGinness receiving Best Respondent Submission.
Leſt to right: Colin McGinness 3L and Lauren Ross 2L at the John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition.
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