Year after year, Cumberland School of Law travels to regional and national legal skills competitions and continues to perform at the highest level. Cumberland School of Law is among the most decorated law schools in the nation at these competitions. Many competitions have a regional component where schools from one region compete and then the regional winner or winners advance to the national rounds. Over the years, there have been several instances where the top two teams in the region were both Cumberland School of Law teams; the law school’s two teams have gone head-to-head to determine the regional champion.
Below are some recent competition highlights since 2009, as well as a running list of top wins.
2023
Spring 2023
National Trial Competition, Regional Semifinalists
Hall of Fame Sports and Entertainment Law Negotiation Competition, Semifinalist
American Association of Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition, Regional Sweep
American Association of Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition, 2nd and 5th Place
Trials and Tribulations Competition, Quarterfinals and two Outstanding Advocate Awards
31st Annual Duberstein National Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition, Sweet 16 and Best Advocate Award
South Texas Mock Trial Challenge, Final Four and Outstanding Advocate Award
2022
Fall 2022
Flash Trial Competition, 5th Place and Professionalism Award
Battle of the Experts, 3rd Place
Syracuse National Trial Competition, Semifinalist and Best Advocate Award
E-Sports National Negotiation Competition, Quarterfinalist and Semifinalist
American Bar Association Arbitration Regional, Two Semifinalist Teams
Spring 2022
National Trial Competition Regional Co-Champions (3rd consecutive regional sweep)
American Association of Justice Regional Champion & Regional Finalist
American Association of Justice National Quarterfinalist
The Verdict Trial Competition 3rd Place
South Texas Mock Trial Challenge Sweet 16 & Outstanding Advocate Award winner
ABA Moot Court Appellate Advocacy Regional Competition Champion
ABA Moot Court Appellate Advocacy National Competition Quarterfinalist
Transatlantic Negotiation Competition U.S. Runner-Up
Other News (Summer 2022)
Teaching Advocacy Conference Co-Host
2021
Fall 2021
Syracuse National Trial Competition Semifinalist & Best Opening Statement winner
Battle of the Experts Trial Competition 5th Place & Outstanding Advocate Award winner
2020
Spring 2020
National Trial Competition Regional, Co-champions
ABA National Arbitration Competition, 2nd Place
32nd Annual Domenick L. Gabrielli National Family Law Moot Court Competition, Quarterfinalist
2019
Spring 2019
National Trial Competition Regional, Finalist
CKP Cup Moot Court Competition, Finalist
Capital City Challenge, Finalist and Best Advocate
National Trial Advocacy Tournament, Semi-finalist and Best Cross Examination
AAJ Regional Competition, Semi-finalist
ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition, Semi-finalist and Best Oralist
Domenick L. Gabrielli National Family Law Moot Court Competition, Top 16
Summer 2019
Top Gun National Trial Competition, Finalist
Fall 2019
ABA Regional Arbitration Competition, Champion
Syracuse National Trial Competition, 2nd Place
Lone Star Classic, Semi-finalist
Battle of the Experts Trial Competition, Semi-finalist
2018
Spring 2018
National Trial Advocacy Competition, Champion
Florida National Trial Advocacy Competition, Champion
American Bar Association Regional Mediation Competition, Champion
Swept Regionals of the National Trial Competition
American Bar Association National Mediation Competition, Third Place
CKP Cup Moot Court Competition, Finalist
Regional ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition, Best Oralist
Summer 2018
Baylor Top Gun Competition, Sixth Place and Winner of Best Technology Award
Fall 2018
Battle of the Experts Trial Competition, Winner and Best Advocate
National Civil Trial Competition, Fifth Place, Best Cross-Examination, Winner of Professionalism Award
Lone Star National Trial Competition, Top Eight
National Appellate Advocacy Competition, Top Eight Ranked Second Nationally in the Trial Competition Performance Rankings
2017
Fall 2017
National Civil Trial Competition, Champion
2016
April 2016
Houston, TX, April 13-17
Final Eight, Quarter-Final Round, South Texas College of Law's Fifth Annual Mock Trial Challenge
March/April 2016
Dallas, TX, March 30-April 3
Elite Eight, National Finals, National Trial Competition, co-sponsored by the American College of Trial Lawyers and the Texas Young Lawyers Association
Feb. 2016
Memphis, TN, Feb. 26
Third place and fifth place, 2016 Regional Mediation Competition hosted by Memphis School of Law
Orlando, FL, Feb. 5-7
First place, Southeast Regional, National Trial Competition, hosted by Stetson University College of Law
San Diego, CA, Feb. 5-6
Sixth place (semifinal round), ABA Law Student Division Negotiation Competition final round
2015
Nov. 2015
Birmingham, Alabama, Nov. 14-15
Second and third place, ABA Regional Negotiation Competition, hosted by Cumberland School of Law
Oct. 2015
St. Louis, Missouri, Oct. 29-31
Fourth place (semifinals), Tournament of Champions, hosted by Washington University Law
Mar. 2015
Houston, Texas, Mar. 11-15
Final four, National Trial Competition national finals, Houston, Texas
Feb. 2015
Miami, Florida, Feb. 21
Final four, Cristol Kahn Paskay Cup for moot court, University of Miami School of Law
Orlando, Florida, Feb. 7-8
1st Place, National Trial Competition, Southeast Regional
2014
October 2014
Detroit, Michigan, Oct. 8-11
First place at the 15th Annual National Trial Advocacy Competition hosted by Michigan State University
Gainesville, Florida, Oct. 2-5
Semifinal round placement at the Florida National Trial Advocacy Tournament.
April 2014
Santa Monica, California, April 10–13
Top eight of 220 teams in the nation competing in the 2014 American Association for Justice Competition.
March 2014
Houston, Texas, March 27–30
Second place at the South Texas College of Law Mock Trial Challenge; and Top Advocate in the Preliminary Rounds Award and Best Advocate in the Final Round Award.
Atlanta, Georgia, March 20–23
Two team sweep (first place and second place) in the regional component of the American Association for Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition.
February 2014
Chicago, Illinois
The weekend of Feb. 8, Cumberland School of Law’s negotiation team advanced to the semifinal rounds of the American Bar Association’s National Negotiation Competition.
2013
November 2013
Los Angeles, California
The weekend of Nov. 8-10, a team from Cumberland School of Law won the National Civil Trial Competition.
Louisville, Kentucky
On the weekend of Nov. 9, Cumberland School of Law’s negotiation team placed second at the ABA regional negotiation competition.
April 2013
San Antonio, Texas
From April 4–6, two Cumberland School of Law trial teams placed in the top eight of 320 teams that competed at the national trial competition.
March 2013
Houston, Texas
On March 20–24, Cumberland School of Law’s trial team placed in the top eight at the South Texas Mock Trial Challenge.
Waco, Texas
During the week of March 17, Cumberland School of Law’s national client counseling team placed third at the American Bar Association’s National Client Counseling Competition held at Baylor Law School.
February 2013
White Plains, New York
During the weekend of Feb. 23, a team from Cumberland School of Law competed in the National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition at Pace Law School. A Cumberland School of Law student was awarded an overall honorable mention as best oralist in the competition.
Las Vegas, Nevada
On the weekend of Feb. 16, Cumberland School of Law took top honors at the Las Vegas regional round of the American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition in a clean sweep of all five rounds.
Gainesville, Florida
On the weekend of Feb. 16, two trial teams from Cumberland School of Law swept Region Six of the National Trial Competition.
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
On Feb. 9, Cumberland School of Law took top honors at the American Bar Association’s Region Five Client Counseling Competition. The ABA’s Region Five includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico and Tennessee. The competition was held at Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad Law Center.
Nashville, Tennessee.
Cumberland School of Law places fourth at the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition in Nashville.
2012
November 2012
Los Angeles, California
On the weekend of Nov. 17, the eleventh annual national civil trial competition was held and Cumberland School of Law’s team finished third overall, winning the Professionalism and Ethical Lawyering Award.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Cumberland School of Law’s national moot court team traveled to Baton Rouge the week of Nov. 3 to compete in the New York City Bar Association’s regional competition. This year the competition was hosted by Louisiana State University. The team defeated Vanderbilt University to advance to the quarterfinal where the team was eliminated by last year’s returning champion.
October 2012
Virginia Beach, Virginia
On Oct. 26, Cumberland School of Law’s moot court team competed at the Leroy R. Hassell, Sr. National Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition hosted by Regent University. The team was aided in the early rounds by its high brief score. On Friday, the team argued in three rounds and won all of them. On Saturday, the team, which was ranked in the top eight of all teams competing, advanced to the quarter-final round .
Chicago, Illinois
A mock trial team from Cumberland School of Law came in fifth place at the annual Tournament of Champions, which was hosted by Chicago-Kent College of Law Oct. 24–28.
East Lansing, Michigan
Cumberland School of Law sent a trial team to the Michigan State 13th Annual National Trial Advocacy Competition. The team was voted by its peers to receive the Professional Ethics Award for its professionalism.
San Antonio, Texas
The 2012 Lone Star Classic was held the weekend of Oct. 13 at Mary’s School of Law and was open to all American Bar Associated–accredited law schools. The competition committee selected 16 teams. The problem was a criminal case and utilized the Federal Rules of Evidence and Procedure. Cumberland’s team advanced to the semi-final round. Keith Knowlton won the award for best cross examination.
April 2012
Houston, Texas
A Cumberland trial team claimed third place at the inaugural South Texas Mock Trial Challenge. Team members Todd Buchanan (3L), Setara Foster (3L), Keith Knowlton (2L) and George Shifflett (3L) battled 40 teams from across the nation over the four-day competition.
March 2012
Las Vegas, Nevada
A trial team from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law took top national honors at the 2012 American Association for Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition. The four-member Cumberland team defeated a team from the University of Maryland law school to win the title March 25. For an American Association for Justice press link, click the link.
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Trial teams from Cumberland placed first and second out of 16 teams from the southeast at the regional American Association of Justice Trial Advocacy Competition on March 4, 2012. The first-place team advanced to the national championship March 22–25, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nev.
February 2012
Atlanta, Georgia
Out of the 32 teams that competed at the American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition on Feb. 23–26, one of two Cumberland teams went undefeated and was the number one seed heading into the final round. After arguing five rounds, the team won the award for the best brief. Read More
Orlando, Florida
Two second-year law students place first at the national trial competition regional championship.
2011
October 2011
New York City
Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law took top honors at the prestigious Tournament of Champions competition held at St. John's University School of Law in New York City on Oct. 27-30.
Cumberland students Maurine Evans, Setara Foster, Cory Ricci and George Shifflett defeated a team from Northwestern University law school in the final round to win what is considered the nation’s premier law school trial competition.
September 2011
East Lansing, Michigan
Drew Haskins, Patrick Hinchey, Sam Nicolle, and Brittany Stancombe won the 2011 National Trial Advocacy Competition at Michigan State University College of Law. They beat teams from Maryland, Houston and Florida. Brittany Stancombe won the award for best cross examination.
June 2011
Waco, Texas
Shannon Cornman O’Guin, a 2011 Cumberland School of Law graduate, placed second behind a competitor from Yale Law School at the Top Gun National Mock Trial contest.
April 2011
Houston, Texas
Congratulations to Carrie Hodge, Ross Massey and alternate team member Samantha Nicolle for placing sixth in the nation out of 300 teams competing at the national trial competition. The team was coached by Judge James H. Roberts, Jr., ’94 and Sara Williams, ’06.
March 2011
Montgomery, Alabama
On the weekend of March 5, 2011, Cumberland’s mock trial teams placed first and second at the American Association for Justice Regional Student Trial Advocacy Competition. The first place team will compete at the national tournament in Las Vegas on March 31, 2011.
February 2011
Birmingham, Alabama
Cumberland School of Law teams placed first and second at the regional round of the national trial competition against 26 other law school teams.
Boca Raton, Florida
Cumberland School of Law took first place at the annual American Bar Association (ABA) student tax challenge. The team consisted of second-year students Wes Hill and Sims Rhyne. At the competition, 95 teams represented law schools from across the country. This national competition is sponsored by the ABA section of taxation. The final rounds were held at the ABA’s 2011 midyear meeting in Boca Raton. “We are known for winning advocacy competitions and winning a tax competition shows the quality of our students and the depth of our program,” said Cumberland Dean John L. Carroll.
2010
November 2010
Tampa Bay, Florida
Negotiation team competed at the ABA Regional Negotiation Competition held at Stetson University School of Law. The team of Katie Fogo and Elizabeth Mathis won their preliminary rounds to make the finals, and they finished in third place overall in the competition. The competition included 24 teams from 13 law schools.
Memphis, Tennessee
Cumberland School of Law finished third at New York City Bar Regional Moot Court Tournament. Cumberland’s national moot court team competed in Memphis, Tenn., Nov. 12–13. The team competed in two preliminary rounds on Friday and advanced to the quarterfinals. The team reached the semi-finals of the tournament, and were ½ a point away from the final round.
Los Angeles, California
National Civil Trial Competition
Charles Buchanan, Alyson Hood, Ross Massey and Megan Murren represented Cumberland School of Law at the National Civil Trial Competition (NCTC) the weekend of Nov. 13. The team finished tied for fourth place, but lost the tie breaker on points. The cut was from 16 to four after three preliminary rounds. The team won the NCTC Ethical Lawyering and Professionalism Award and got a standing ovation when it was announced. The tournament coaches voted on the winner of the ethics and professionalism award winner.
October 2010
Queens, New York
National Civil Rights Trial Competition
Cumberland School of Law’s trial teams competed in the eighth annual Peter James Johnson National Civil Rights Trial Competition hosted by St. John’s University School of Law. The team members were Charles Elliott, Maurine Evans, Amanda Kistler, Samantha Nicolle, Brandon Prince and Reanna Todd. Cumberland’s team left the competition ranked in the top four of 16 teams from across the country. Other schools competing were DePaul, Northwestern, Brooklyn School of Law, St. John’s, LSU, Pace, University Texas, American University, Fordham, Golden Gate, Miami, Ole Miss, Pacific McGeorge, Temple, South Texas and Mississippi College.
Lansing, Michigan
National Trial Advocacy Competition
Cumberland School of Law’s trial team competed in the 11th annual national trial advocacy competition at Michigan State Law School. The team finished eighth out of 26 teams, winning the professional ethics award, which was voted on by all of the other teams. The team members are SeTara Foster, Bethany Harrison, Drew Haskins and Brittany Stancombe. The team was coached by Sara Williams, J.D. ’06, and an attorney with Carr Allison.
Birmingham, Alabama
National Arbitration Team
Ruby Brown and Sherri Peace-Gordon and runners-up Aaron Gallardo and Patrick Evans won the national arbitration team competition. New members of the national arbitration team are: Elizabeth Lyerly, Aaron Gallardo, Whitney Haley, Graham Jackson and Ruby Brown. Returning members are Christine Baylet, Jon Mann and Kris Gray.
March 2010
Dallas, Texas
Cumberland School of Law’s national trial team won the American Association for Justice regional trial competition.
February 2010
Jackson, Mississippi
Cumberland School of Law won first place in the national trial competition, region six.
2009
April 2009
West Palm Beach, Florida
The law school’s trial team placed second in the American Association for Justice national student trial advocacy competition out of 224 teams.
Chicago, Illinois
The national appellate advocacy team represented the law school at the American Bar Association’s national round placing only two wins away from the championship with a quarterfinal finish.
March 2009
New York, New York
Cumberland School of Law’s bankruptcy moot court team placed as finalist at the 17th annual Judge Conrad B. Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition at St. John’s University.
February 2009
Decatur, Georgia
The trial teams won regional round at the American Association for Justice.
Tallahassee, Florida
Cumberland School of Law team won national trial competition regional round.
National Advocacy Team Results
National Trial Competition
Regional First Place: 2015, 2013 (and second place), 2012, 2011 (and second place), 2010, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2002, 1999, 1998 (two Cumberland School of Law teams), 1996, 1994, 1992, 1991, 1989, 1987, 1985, 1984, 1982
National Quarterfinalist: 1992
National Finalist: 1991, 1989, 1985
National Champions: 2011, 1984, 1981
Tournament of Champions Competition
First Place: 2011
Quinnipiac Criminal Justice Competition
Winner: 2007
National Top Gun Mock Trial Competition
Second Place: 2011
MSU National Trial Advocacy Competition
Winner: 2011
Lone Star Classic Competition
Winner: 2007
ABA Arbitration Competition
Regional Finalist: 2007, 2006, 2005
Regional Second Place: 2006
ABA Client Counseling Competition
Regional First Place: 2008, 2002
National Fourth Place: 1998
ABA Negotiation Competition
Regional Second Place: 2004, 1996
National Third Place: 1998
Regional First Place: 1993
ABA Student Tax Challenge
National First Place: 2011
AAJ/ATLA National Trial Competition
Regional Winners: 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2005, 2004, 2000, 1999, 1997, 1995, 1993, 1987, 1984, 1983, 1982
National Quarterfinalist: 2005, 2004, 1997
National Finalist: 1983
National Champions: 2012, 2008, 2000, 1987, 1984
Representation in Mediation Competition
National Champions: 2005
National Finalist: 2001
Regional First Place: 2005, 2002, 2001
National Appellate Advocacy Team Results
National Appellate Advocacy Competition
Regional Winner: 1993
Best Advocate: 1993
ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition
Regional Best Advocate: 2000
Best Brief: 2012, 1996, 1994
Regional Winner: 2008
Duke University Rabbi Seymour Siegel Competition
First Place: 1991
Best Oralist: 1993
Second Place: 1997, 1994
Starr Insurance Appellate Advocacy Competition
Quarterfinalist: 1995, 1994
Sutherland Cup Competition
Best Brief, Best Advocate, Second Place: 1998
