CHICAGO, May 1, 2020 — The American Bar Association has named Texas Tech University School of Law the 2019-20 ABA Competitions Champion for the second year in a row.
The Competitions Champion is won by the school that earns the most points from competing in all four ABA Law Student Division competitions combined. This means that teams had to do well in the Arbitration Competition, Negotiation Competition, Client Counseling Competition and National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC Moot Court). Ranking criteria and the point totals for the top teams can be found here.
“Our four competitions offer students an amazing opportunity to hone essential lawyering skills before they enter practice,” said Connie S. Smothermon, Competitions Committee co-chair and director of Competitions & Externships, University of Oklahoma College of Law. “Through consistent participation and success in ABA competitions, these law schools display especially well-rounded practical skills training programs. We are thrilled to recognize these schools through the Competitions Championship.”
Tech fielded 10 teams across four competitions and advanced to the National finals in the Client Counseling and Arbitration Competitions. The Arbitration National Finals were held at the ABA headquarters in Chicago in January. Patricia Cabrera-Sopo, Emily Fouts, Michael Samaniego, Drake Pamilton took the National Championship title at the Arbitration National Finals. This year’s topic was wage and employment law. Texas Tech’s Client Counseling team, Jodee Rankin and Alesha Walker, also won the Client Counseling Regional Competition, where the topic was estate planning.
“Texas Tech Law is a school passionately devoted to students and to skills training. Our advocacy program, under the amazing leadership of Professor Robert Sherwin, succeeds because of the hard work, the talent and the dedication of our faculty, staff and students,” said Jack Wade Nowlin, dean of Texas Tech University School of Law. “I am so proud of our community and so pleased to see our program recognized in this way.”
ABA competitions teach law students real-world legal skills in a simulated practice environment. Judges for the competitions included volunteer attorneys and sitting members of the bench. This year, more than 1,300 students from 180 law schools participated in one or more of the competitions sponsored by the Law Student Division.
Top Ten ABA Competition Law Schools by Points
1. Texas Tech University School of Law
2. Stetson University College of Law
3. University of Oklahoma College of Law
4. St. Mary’s University School of Law
5. (tie) Northwestern University School of Law
5. (tie) Ohio State University - Moritz College of Law
7. (tie) Drake University Law School
7. (tie) McGeorge School of Law
9. (tie) Liberty University School of Law
9. (tie) Southern Methodist University - Dedman School of Law
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