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S T E T S O N L AWY E R
STETSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW
IS THE FIRST AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION
COMPETITIONS CHAMPION
B Y B R A N D I PALMER
Stetson University
College of Law in
Gulfport, Florida, has
been named the first
American Bar Association
Competitions Champion.
For the first time in its 17-year
history, Stetson’s Dispute Resolution
Board achieved a perfect
four-for-four record of advancing
to nationals in all four
dispute resolution competitions
sponsored by the ABA. Stetson
University College of Law is
the first school to achieve this
distinction. This year, more
than 1,300 students from 156
law schools participated in one
or more of the competitions
sponsored by the ABA Law
Student Division. The competitions
represent all the areas in
which the Dispute Resolution Board competes: arbitration, client
counseling, and negotiation, in addition to the Moot Court Board
competing in the national appellate advocacy competition. Stetson
students advanced to nationals from regional ABA championships
in arbitration and negotiation in November of 2017, client
counseling and mediation in February of 2018.
Stetson Law students Jahanna Azarian J.D. ’18 and Vanessa
Denk J.D. ’18 finished as semifinalists at the national client
counseling competition and placed first at the regional competition.
Students Allison Belanger J.D. ’18 and Christina Huckfeldt
J.D. ’18 finished as semifinalists in the national negotiation
competition after being finalists at the regional competition.
Students Max Brown, Caroline Garrity J.D. ’18, Olivia
Mejido J.D. ’18 and Meghan Sullivan J.D ’18 placed first at
the regional arbitration competition. Students Julia Alley J.D.
’18 and Mark Joseph finished first at the regional mediation
competition.
The Competitions Champion award is presented to the law
school that accrues the most points through team achievements
and participation in the ABA Law Student Division’s
four practical skills competitions. Judges for the competitions
include volunteer attorneys and sitting judges.
BRIEFS
First row (L-R): Allison Belanger, Julia Alley, Olivia Mejido, Vanessa Denk. Back row (L-R): Interim Dean Kristen
Adams, Sy-Woei Hao, Mark Joseph, Jenna Jordan, Meghan Sullivan, Caroline Garrity, Jahanna Azarian, and
Professor Erika McArdle J.D. ‘12.