Campbell Law advocates compete at Buffalo Niagara Mock Trial Competition

A team of Campbell Law student advocates is competing in the Buffalo Niagara Mock Trial Competition at the SUNY Buffalo School of Law – National Invitational scheduled to take place from Nov. 8-11, 2019, in Buffalo, New York.

The team is made up of second-year law students Jordan Arroyo, John Evans, Brandon Irabor and Madison Sides. The team is coached by Brittany Stiltner ’16, who served as the Wallace Advocacy Fellow after graduation and was a member of the Mock Trial Team as a student. While at Campbell Law, she was the recipient of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award and was inducted into the Order of Barristers for her distinguished achievement in the advocacy program.

With the support of SUNY Buffalo Law School, the New York State 8th Judicial District and the Bar Association of Erie County, the Buffalo Niagara Mock Trial Competition is one of the largest national invitational mock trial competitions in the country.  Since 2004, teams from more than 30 law schools compete annually with students trying both sides of a homicide case before a panel of experienced judges and trial attorneys.

The competition guarantees competitors four preliminary trials.  Student participants are required to perform opening statements, direct- and cross-examinations of witnesses, closing arguments, and field objections based on the Federal Rules of Evidence.

After the preliminary rounds, the top 16 teams advance to the final rounds. Awards are presented at a banquet and include honors for Best Opening, Best Direct, Best Cross, Best Summation and Best Advocate, according to the website.

In recent years, Campbell Law has finished in the final four and won “best direct” examination in this competition.