CHICAGO, Jan.13, 2021 — Eleven law schools will serve as a regional host for the 2020-21 American Bar Association’s Client Counseling Competition season: Syracuse University College of Law, Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, University of North Carolina School of Law, Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, University of Houston Law Center, Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, University of Nebraska College of Law, University of Missouri School of Law, St. Mary's University School of Law/Michigan State University College of Law, University of Oregon School of Law and Liberty University School of Law.
The competition addresses fundamental skills necessary for all successful attorneys, namely the ability to interview, counsel and support a client through a legal issue. Competitors conduct an initial interview with a person playing the role of the client and then address both the client’s legal and non-legal needs.
The ABA Law Student Division relies on schools to carry out these distinguished opportunities for students. Each host works diligently to provide a high level of professionalism and excellence to aid in the students’ future success. This year’s regional Client Counseling Competition will bring together schools from around the U.S. for an opportunity to compete in the national finals at the University of Oklahoma College of Law in March 2021.
ABA competitions teach law students real-world legal skills in a simulated practice environment. Judges for the competitions include volunteer attorneys and sitting members of the bench. This year, more than 1,300 students from 156 law schools participated in one or more of the competitions sponsored by the Law Student Division.
The Law Student Division coordinates four practical skills competitions per year: Arbitration Competition, Negotiation Competition, Client Counseling Competition and National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC Moot Court).
For more information on the ABA Law Student Division and the competitions, visit abaforlawstudents.com/.
The ABA is the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law. View our privacy statement online. Follow the latest ABA news at www.americanbar.org/news and on Twitter @ABANews.