St. Mary’s University School of Law students came out victorious at the American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition on April 6-8 in Chicago, university officials announced.
The win marks the second consecutive championship for the moot court team at the competition, which many consider the most prestigious moot court contest in the country.
“St Mary’s has prided itself on its strong advocacy programs and outstanding moot court teams,” David A. Schlueter, Hardy Professor of Law and director of advocacy programs at St. Mary’s University School of Law, said in a press release. “This win adds an exclamation point to that reputation.”
More than 100 teams from across the U.S. competed to qualify for the national competition in Chicago, with the St. Mary’s students ultimately besting others from schools including Georgetown University Law Center, Vanderbilt University Law School, William & Mary Law School, University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law, Stetson University College of Law, and University of Oklahoma College of Law.
The St. Mary’s team included third-year law student Devin deBruyn of San Antonio, second-year law student Sophia George of Sugar Land, and third-year law student William “Billy” Calve of Dickinson, who was also on the 2016 winning team.
“Defending the national championship my teammates and I won last year in Chicago will go down as one of the most unforgettable experiences of my legal education,” Calve said in the press release. “St. Mary’s is an exceptional place for anyone who wants to learn advocacy, and I am honored to have been part of that tradition.”
Read more on the St. Mary’s University School of Law website.
Photograph courtesy of St. Mary’s University School of Law. From left: St. Mary’s moot court team of Sophia George, William “Billy” Calve, and Devin deBruyn.