Sunday, January 27, 2013

Sun, 27 Jan 2013
Liberty Law Staff

Chicago, IL – The newly formed trial team of Liberty University School of Law won the National Championship this past Saturday, January 26, at the National ABA Arbitration Competition held in Chicago. The winning team consisted of Aaron McCurdy (Class of 2013), Kacey Martin, Ethan Hargraves, and Colin Campbell (all Class of 2014). In 2012, the trial team entered the Arbitration Competition for the first time and placed second in the Regional title, which qualified them to compete for the National title.

According to Professor Pamela Bell, Liberty’s Director of the Center for Trial Advocacy and the coach of the Trial Team, “The final rounds were epic.” The Trial Team competed against Michigan State University College of
Law in the first preliminary round and won 3-0.

Liberty was then narrowly beaten by South Texas College of Law in the second preliminary round with a 2 to 1 split decision. Liberty advanced to the semifinals as the 4th seeded team facing South Texas (seeded #1), but this time with a decisive 3-0 victory. Liberty faced Fordham University School of Law in the final round, where ultimately Liberty was victorious once again with a 3-0 decision.

“I could not be more proud of the students and Professor Pam Bell. Their dedication to the law school and determination have brought great honor to the school and to our Lord,” said Mathew Staver, Dean of Liberty University School of Law. “Their victory is a tremendous achievement and a great honor as first-time National Champions.”

Professor Bell is no stranger to trial competition due to her success in coaching advocacy teams at Stetson University College of Law, prior to coming to Liberty in the fall of 2011. According to Staver, he knew she had what it took to get Liberty on the arbitration map. “I challenged her to take Liberty’s new trial team to a National Championship, a challenge she eagerly accepted,” said Staver. Amazingly enough, this national victory marked a new competition classification for Liberty. “Professor Bell entered our Trial Team in this competition to give them additional experience in trial advocacy. Now, in its first competing year, Liberty captured the National Title. I am very proud,” concluded Staver.