Liberty Law graduate receives All-American Advocate Award

Liberty University School of Law graduate Stephen Nast (’25) was awarded an All-American Advocate Award for appellate advocacy from the National Association of Legal Advocacy Educators, an organization that provides training, resources, and support for law school advocacy skills education.

The All-American Advocate awards are presented in three categories: trial advocacy, dispute resolution, and appellate advocacy. Recipients are selected based on grade point average, courtroom achievement, and leadership and fellowship in their law school and community.

The award came as a surprise to Nast, who said he did not know that Professor of Law Scott Thompson had nominated him for the honor.

“The All-American Advocate Award is given to students who demonstrate excellence in advocacy, which Stephen exemplified through numerous moot court awards, but it also focused on community contributions,” Thompson said. “Stephen has made such an impact at Liberty Law that his name immediately came to my mind. He has contributed to the community at the law school in every way imaginable.”

Nast competed in six tournaments throughout his time in law school — four external and two internal — and was crowned co-champion with graduate Carter Leverette (’25) in a national moot court competition in October at Elon University School of Law. Nast was in Liberty Law’s honors program and served as managing editor of the “Liberty University Law Review” (the School of Law’s academic journal) and Chief Justice of the Student Bar Association Supreme Court, and he volunteered with 1Ls and 2Ls to help them prepare for competitions and mentored other students through the honors program. According to Thompson, he also aimed to “never miss a Liberty Law Convocation.”

“Growing up, I always wanted to be considered an All-American,” Nast said, noting that the award wasn’t something he was chasing after during law school. “It’s pretty special to be considered an All-American Appellate Advocate — one of the best at what you do.”

He said Leverette, his moot court partner and co-champion of the Yugo Collins Award for Competitive Excellence, was a huge part of his success, and he could not have done it without him.

“I rode a lot of (Leverette’s) coattails to get to where I’m at. He pushed me,” Nast said. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another, and he and I did that.”

Nast also received Liberty Law’s annual Spirit of Liberty Award from Liberty Law in April.

“To be considered someone who exemplifies the school and the mission, which I love, and someone who tried to give the honor and glory to God every single day and live life with joy, compassion, and humility (is amazing),” Nast said. “The award could have gone to so many people, but to be considered that for this class was a really high honor.”

In addition, he received an Advocates Award, alongside Ethan Payne (’25), from the Liberty Law moot court team, and the Law Review Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to the Law Review. Nast plans to take the bar exam this summer and work with Liberty Counsel in Lynchburg, Va.

“Ultimately, very little of this could be done without the incredible family, incredible friends, classmates, professors, and administration around me,” Nast said. “Very little of this was done because of me. I’m certainly the one sitting here, but I couldn’t have done any of it without their support.”