Each year, students from Alabama Law compete in moot court competitions covering a variety of topics from environmental to bankruptcy law. Historically, these teams have performed well, and the 2021 team results were no different—including a first-place finish at the National Health Law Transactional Moot Court Competition, an “Elite Eight Finish” at the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition and several “Best Oralist” awards.
National Health Law Transactional Moot Court Competition On March 26, the Alabama Law students Alicia Gilbert, Halle Diaz and Steffie Rosene, with faculty co-coaches Ben McMichael and Bill Brewbaker, earned a first-place win in the National Health Law Transactional Moot Court Competition. This event included both written and oral components, and the judges praised the team’s presentation style in the final oral round.
ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition
Alabama Law fielded two successful teams at the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition who together made up the Carol Andrews ABA National Moot Court Team. The first team—including John Gillespie, Mollie Gillis and Robert Humphrey—was named regional co-champions and finished in the “Elite Eight” at nationals—placing in the top eight out of 192 teams from across the country. The second team—including Ian Ross, Tyler Smoot and Hilary Williamson—had a strong showing at the Oklahoma City Regional competition, and Hilary was awarded the eighth-best oralist among a field of 93 advocates. Additionally, Mollie Gillis won an individual award as the sixth-best oralist at the regional competition. Both teams were greatly supported by coach Anita Kay Head and team manager Caitlin Cobb.
Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition
Near the end of March, students Tatum Jackson, Catherine Milling and Ethan Calhoun— with support from manager Kristin Martin and coaches Gary Sullivan and Mark Williams—competed in the 29th Annual Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition hosted virtually by St. John’s Law School and the Cristol Kahn Paskay Cup hosted virtually by the University of Miami. The team did an outstanding job representing the Law School through the preliminary rounds in each competition.
Environmental Law National Moot Court Competition
Students Anna Grace Freeman, Michael Mertle, Tyler Thull and student coach Charles Miller progressed through to the quarter-finals in the Environmental Law National Moot Court Competition hosted virtually by the Elizabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University in New York. Grace brought home an award for best oralist during preliminaries and coaches Heather Elliot and Bill Andreen say they couldn’t be prouder of the team.
Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition
Students Ian Burt, Anna Marcroft, Gillian Purser, Jennifer Sandlin and Gabby Spiro—coached by Cameron Fogle—competed in April, 2021 in the International Rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition after going 3-1 in the preliminary rounds with their only loss against Harvard Law School.
Saul Lefkowitz Trademark Law Moot Court Competition The talent for moot court oralists spans far and wide across the Alabama Law teams, and this was made clear by the Bruce Siegal Intellectual Property Moot Court Team who finished second at the regional competition and came home with a national win for best oralist at the first all-virtual Saul Lefkowitz Trademark Law Moot Court Competition. The team coached by Alan Durham consisted of students Erin Hall, Nancy Grace Klein and Reave Shewmake who received high praise from a panel of judges largely consisting of members of the Trademark Trial and Appeals Board.
Uvaldo Herrera National Moot Court Competition
Though most competitions were virtual due to COVID-19, students Stephanie Marrero and Carter-William Palek were not competing from the comfort of their homes but instead from different countries in the Uvaldo Herrera National Moot Court Competition. Despite a power outage forcing him to participate in the competition from a Pizza Hut restaurant, Palek secured a win for best oralist, and the team—coached by Cameron Fogle—finished in third place overall. The team was coached by Cameron Fogle.