Thursday, November 29, 2012

Thu, 29 Nov 2012

The newly established Liberty University School of Law Trial Team is headed to Chicago to compete in nationals after placing second in their first ever arbitration competition held on November 16 and 17, 2012, in the ABA Regional Arbitration Competition held in Jackson, Mississippi.

The two teams that competed in the regional tournament consisted of Stephanie Goodbar and Aaron Pike (both Class of 2013), and Andrew Ferrell and John Kinney (Class of 2014) as one team; and Aaron McCurdy (Class of 2013) with Kacey Martin, Colin Campbell, and Robert Hargraves (all Class of 2014) representing the second team.

The team of McCurdy, Martin, Campbell, and Hargraves faced Mississippi College of Law in the semifinal round winning all three judges' votes, which advanced them to the final round against Chapman University School of Law.

According to Pamela Bell, Liberty’s director of the Center for Trial Advocacy, both teams showcased their skills and professionalism in every situation on that day. “I've been coaching trial teams for 15 years, and I cannot say that I have ever been more proud of my competing teams.”

Professor Bell joined the law school in the fall semester of 2011. Her intensity and passion for trial advocacy has already placed Liberty on the map for trial competition within a year.  “Professor Bell is a true trial advocacy coach. Her plan to develop the Liberty Trial Team into one that is second to none in all respects is evident already with this recent success,” said Mathew Staver, Dean and Professor of Law at Liberty University School of Law. “I offer my absolute congratulations to her and the successful teams. When the students and faculty succeeds, the law school succeeds.”

Reflecting upon the founder of Liberty University, the late Dr. Jerry Falwell, Professor Bell also added, “As our founder is often quoted saying, ‘If it's Christian, it ought to be better,’ and these law students certainly reflected that aspiration.  They excelled in their skills, ethics, attitude, and manner.  I'm proud of them!”