Law Links - November 2016

Students distinguish themselves in competitions

Adela Smehlik '17, Courtney Morphet '17, Victoria Karninksy ’17, Kaylan Porter '18.

Queens County District Attorney's Mock Trial Competition winners: Adela Smehlik '17, Courtney Morphet '17, Victoria Karninksy ’17, Kaylan Porter '18

Fall semester is a busy time for any law student, even more so for those students representing UB in a number of competitions taking place across the country. Teams from the School of Law's Advocacy Institute repeatedly distinguished themselves. Congratulation to all our students for their outstanding efforts and to all our coaches for their time and energy.

Below is a summary of their successes and achievements:

Oct. 29 & 30 – The Advocacy Institute’s trial team of Adela Smehlik ’17, Courtney Morphet ’17, Victoria Karninksy ’17, and Kaylan Porter ’18, were victorious taking first place at the Queens County District Attorney's Mock Trial Competition, beating St. John’s University for first place. Thank you to coaches Matthew Powers and Cathleen Roemer for helping our team maneuver their way through a very tough field of competitors. [Read more]

Oct. 21 & 22 - At the Peter James Johnson '49 Memorial National Civil Rights Trial Competition, our team of Erin Rocewscz ’17, Andrew Plewinski ’18, Senovia Cuevas ‘18, Matt Peine ’17 advanced to the semi-finals in their trial, but lost in a close decision to Houston.  

Nov. 4-6 – At the National Trial Advocacy Competition held in Lansing, Michigan, law students Ashley Czechowiski ’17, Farina Mendelson ’17, Maria Apruzzese ’17, and Peter Sahasrabudhe ‘18 did not advance amongst a tough field of competitors.

Nov. 11-13 - In the Judge Paul Joseph Kelly, Jr. Invitational Trial Competition held at Fordham University, students Elena Smith’18, Matt Simeone ’18, Charolotte Werner-Kohler ’18, and Marlo Sloan ’18 had a strong showing, but did not advance.

Nov. 11-14 - In the Buffalo Niagara National Mock Trial Competition, organized by Hon. Thomas P. Franczyk, co-director of the Advocacy Institute’s Trial Advocacy Program, thirty-six law schools travelled to Buffalo to compete in the annual event. Teams competing this year include law students from Maryland, Georgia, Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida and other states. Law students Safa Robinson-Ferrer ’17, Natasha Yunas ‘17, Megan Lyle ’17, and Kayla Drickel ’17, though did not advance. [Read more]

Read more about our 2016-17 Student Teams and the competitions we support.