Trial Team

Chicago-Kent has earned a national reputation for having one of the top Trial Advocacy Programs in the country. A large part of this recognition is due to its trial advocacy teams, which have a long tradition of excellence at national and regional competitions. The law school has won the National Trial Competition, the premier trial advocacy competition in the United States, in 1988, 2007, 2008 and 2015, and they are currently ranked seventh in the country by U.S. News and World Report.

Chicago-Kent's record is admirable. But while the school has learned that winning is better than losing, it has successfully resisted a "win at any cost" approach. Chicago-Kent students always take the high road. When they falter, coaches lead them. Compromise with principle is not tolerated. As a result, our team members, virtually without exception, have left the law school well prepared—in knowledge, talent and character—to enter the profession.

Past Competition Wins and Accolades:

2021-2022

• Syracuse Law's National Trial League
  Finalists - Catherine Arnpriester, Claire Bullington, Jeniffer Dickey, Jenny Jung, Sandra Khouri
• National Trial Competition
  National Quarterfinalists: 5th Place - Zoe Appler, Cole Gunter
  Regional Champions - Zoe Appler, Emily Salomone
  Regional Semifinalists - Cole Gunter, Razaul Haque

• Queens District Attorney's National Trial Competition
  Quarterfinalists - Annora Alfonso, Lindsay Cardosi, Gaby Padilla-Abarca, Jon Walz
• American Association for Justice Student Trial Competition
  Regional Finalists - Siri Arends-Graham, Rana Salem, Madison Wheeler, Nicholas Zito
• South Texas Mock Trial Challenge
  Outstanding Advocate - Spencer Davidson
• University of South Carolina Law's Trials and Tribulations National Trial Competition
  Quarterfinalists - Jumana Abdelrahman, Maeghann Hoal, Kristin Mariani, Sean Nevin
  Best Advocate - Jumana Abdelrahman

• Drexel Battle of the Experts
  Best Advocate - Cole Gunter
• Buffalo-Niagara National Trial Competition
  Quarterfinalists - Alexander Bennett, Samantha McHugh, Gabriela Padilla-Abarca, Spencer Davidson
• National Civil Trial Competition
  Finalists - Zoe Appler, Cole Gunter, Annora Alfonso, Razaul Haque
  Best Closing Argument - Zoe Appler

2020-2021

• Top Gun National Mock Trial Competition XII
  National Champion – Zoe Appler
• National Trial Competition
  Regional Champions, Region 9 – Team 1: Zoe Appler, Valerie Letko; Team 2: Kimberly Napoleon, Emily Salomone
• National Ethics Trial Competition
  Semifinalists – Lorianna Anderson, Megan Escobosa, Alex O’Connor, Sam McHugh
• South Texas Mock Trial Challenge
  Quarterfinalists – Eddie Hettel, Matthew Lee, Raza Haque, Alex Bennett
  Outstanding Advocate Award – Eddie Hettel
• All-Star Bracket Challenge
  Semifinalists – Zoe Appler, Valerie Letko, Kimberly Napoleon, Emily Salomone
  Best Advocate – Midwest Region – Valerie Letko
• Stetson National Pre-Trial Competition
  Quarterfinalists – Claire Axelrood, Adrian Delgado, Andrew Hale, Eddie Hettel

2019-2020

• Capitol City Challenge
  Semifinalists - Derek Bolka, Katrina O’ Regan, Alex Stark and Lilly Mashayek
• NBLSA Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition
  Semifinalists - Bryant Roby and Alexandra Rogers
• Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial Competition
  National Semifinalists and Midwest Regional Champions - Annisha Arnold, Shawn-Anthony Meyer, Michael McGee and Cristina Alma McNeiley
  Best Regional Advocate, Midwest Region - Annisha Arnold
  First Runner Up, National Best Advocate - Annisha Arnold
• Hofstra Medical Legal Mock Trial Competition
  Semifinalists - Breana Brill, Myles Carroll and Emin Drnovsek
  Best Use of an Expert - Emin Drnovsek
  Best Overall Advocate in Preliminary Round - Myles Carroll