Massachusetts School of Law’s Trial Advocacy Team Captures the Silver Medal at the Finals for the Northeast Region of the Constance Baker Motley Trial Advocacy Competition

January 28th, 2019
For the second year in a row, Massachusetts School of Law’s Trial Advocacy Team captured second place for the Northeast Region of the Constance Baker Motley Trial Advocacy Competition sponsored by the National Black Law Students Association. MSL fell to Pace University Law School in the finals as it was foiled in its bid to capture the Northeast Championship for the fifth time since 2008. Seton Hall Law School took third by defeating another MSL team to take the bronze medal in the regional Trial Advocacy Competition. MSL finished 2nd and 4th in the Northeast Region. The top three schools now advance to the National Finals with the 12 other winners from the remaining four regions from across the United States. MSL’s team also won the top award for Best Direct Examinations.

MSL advances to the National Finals for the 7th time since 2008 and has sent 10 teams to the National Finals during that time. MSL finished 4th in the country at last year’s National Finals in New York. MSL won the Northeast Championship in 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2015. The Northeast Region is comprised of the 34 law schools in New England, New York and northern New Jersey.

This year’s trial dealt with sexual harassment, retaliation, and breach of contract that took place at a sport’s network. Students started working on this case in November by conducting research and investigating the factual and legal issues involved in the case before turning their attention to trial strategy and advocacy in this jury trial. MSL defeated all other law schools it faced to become the top ranked team after the conclusion of the preliminary rounds of the trials. MSL’s teams were then matched against each other in the quarterfinals and the semifinals. Columbia Law School swept all but 3rd place in the Appellate Moot Court competition held at the convention.

Massachusetts School of Law at Andover is nationally recognized for its effectiveness at developing its students’ professional skills and advocacy training. MSL has won numerous regional and national awards for its advocacy training. Since 2008, MSL teams have been national finalists in various advocacy competitions and won numerous awards including New England Trial Advocacy Champions, Northeast Region Trial Advocacy Champions, National Criminal Defense Trial Advocacy semi-finalist, and Northeast Region Trial Advocacy 1st Runner Up. MSL won the Thurgood Marshall Trial Advocacy Northeast Championship in 2008, 2012, 2013, and 2015 and the American Association for Justice New England Championship in 2010 and 2015. On multiple occasions, MSL student advocates have won the Best Advocate Award of the competition they competed in, including Nicole Dion in 2008, Allen Woodward in 2009, Paul Stewart in 2010, Allison Britton in 2014, Everald Henry and Charles Lucia in 2015, and Karen Areyzaga in 2017.

MSL Trial Advocacy Team members are Alberto Acosta, Alexander Estrella, Kathryn Iwanicki, Jeeves Nair, Amanda Silveira, Alejandro Grullon, Timothy Guinee, Solonge El-Hachem, Michael Campbell, Chaz Chandler, Amanda Wood, Alanna Hodgson, Emmanuel Marsh, Ali Mian, Justin Jordan, and Jennifer Warry.

MSL Dean Michael L. Coyne and Professors Amy Dimitriadis, Daniel Harayda, and Jim Hetu are the professors instructing MSL’s Trial Advocacy Team.