By Michelle Kellogg, Moot Court Honors Board President

Moot Court Honors Board (MCHB) is extremely proud to announce the Distinguished Advocate Award recipients from this year’s 1L Gafford Trial Skills Competition.

On February 2, 36 1L students competed in the Gafford competition. All competitors were asked to present an opening or closing argument for a fictional criminal trial. Thirteen students advanced to the final round, in which they presented their same opening or closing argument in front of a jury of their peers.

The top three competitors were Kelsey Hamlett (first place), Varun Sabharwal (second place), and Alec Rogers (third place).

Continue reading “Gafford competition shows 1L talents”

By Michelle Kellogg, Moot Court Honors Board President

California Western’s Moot Court Honors Board and the Competitive Advocacy Program sent nine competition teams to five competitions this trimester. Students proudly represented CWSL in trial, appellate, and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) competitions.

CWSL’s five trial teams collectively included 20 team members (five former competitors joined by fifteen enthusiastic rookies this season!). Four teams competed locally: two teams competed in the San Diego Defense Lawyers (SDDL) trial competition, and two teams competed in the Association of Business Trial Lawyers trial competition. Our fifth team had the privilege of representing CWSL at the Tournament of Champions trial competition, held in Philadelphia this year. The Tournament of Champions is invitation only, and CWSL’s team faced schools from around the country. Continue reading “Moot Court teams conquer the competition”

By James A. Gilmore

The Career and Professional Development Office (CPDO) hosted a civil law panel Oct. 30 and a criminal law panel Nov. 6.

Civil law panel

The Business Law Society co-sponsored this panel, which featured several civil-law attorneys from a diverse array of practice areas. Continue reading “Two sides of the same coin — CPDO civil and criminal law panels”

By Sara Gold, Editor-in-Chief

On weekdays, Miriam Hernandez greets students and visitors with her bright smile as she sits at her receptionist’s desk just inside the admin building, near the Business Office/Financial Aid/Registrar’s Office. She works as an administrative receptionist and also aids with facilities management, including helping students reserve classrooms for meetings and events.

But her hard work extends past the walls of the admin building. Every other Monday evening, Hernandez volunteers at the Community Law Project’s downtown clinic, where she’s been volunteering regularly for almost two years. This month, the organization named Hernandez its Volunteer of the Year. Continue reading ““Immigration law for me is hope” ~ CWSL receptionist wins volunteer award”