Thursday, November 14, 2019

A Liberty Law negotiation competition team was crowned Regional Co-Champion at the ABA Law Student Division Negotiation Competition held in Washington, D.C. on the weekend of November 8-9, 2019.

Third-year students, Sara Green and Nicholas Andrews, earned a ranking of second-place during the preliminary rounds out of 25 teams from a six-state area and advanced to the final four.

For this particular competition, the two teams that win their match earn the title of co-champions and an invitation to ABA Nationals. Andrews and Green won their match and they, along with the team from American University, will compete in the national tournament in February.

Only 20 teams from the nation are invited to Nationals. Therefore, Andrews and Green are now ranked in the top 20 in the country. This is the second consecutive year that Andrews and Green earned an invitation to ABA Nationals. Last year they advanced to the semi-final round at Nationals and finished in the top 8 teams in the nation.

Two additional Liberty teams were also impressive and represented the school well. The 2L team of Abigail Wasil and Matthew Hughes finished ninth and the 2L team of Stefan Di Nunzio and Luca Di Nunzio had strong matches.

Team coach and law school professor, Joel Hesch, expressed that each student prepared and performed exceptionally well. “It just shows how competitive our school is and what a great skills programs exists here at Liberty Law.”

Hesch also thanked Liberty Law Professors Barbara Mouly and Rena Lindevaldsen for their valuable help in providing the students with assistance in the substantive law and thoroughly preparing the students. Special thanks to all the law students that sparred with the teams to get them ready to compete.

Hesch also acknowledge Mia Yugo, a former LU law student and practicing attorney at Gentry Locke Attorneys of Roanoke, for her great assistance in coaching the teams.

“Ms. Yugo had competed in the ABA Negotiation Competition and earned an invitation to represent the United States at the World Negotiation Competition where she finished fifth,” said Hesch. “It is awesome that our students become mentors after they graduate. Go Liberty!” For more information about Liberty Law and the competition teams, please visit our website.