This academic year, the College of Law’s Travis H.D. Lewin Advocacy Honor Society (AHS) advocacy teams frequently advanced to the semi-final round, or better, in more than a dozen regional and national competitions held in-person and virtually. Several students were also recognized for their advocacy skills.
“This academic year was one of the most successful in terms of team and individual accomplishments,’ says Professor Todd Berger, Director of Advocacy Programs at the College of Law. “I am proud of our students who tirelessly prepare for the competitions and continually deliver at the biggest advocacy events against the best students from other law schools.”
AHS hosts five intercollegiate competitions and six intracollegiate competitions throughout the year. In addition, the College of Law offers the only joint J.D./LL.M. in Advocacy and Litigation along with numerous academic offerings and skills-based courses that prepare graduates to be ready for the courtroom. The program is supported by a select group of Advocacy Fellows, experts with many years of experience in advocacy and litigation, who coach many of the competition teams.
“I also want to acknowledge the coaches who prepare and encourage our students, spending countless hours helping the teams be amazing advocates. We couldn’t achieve these results without them,” says Berger.
The College of Law is ranked #8 in Trial Advocacy in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Fall Competitions
The College of Law team of 2L Haethyr Johnson, 3L Ethan Leonard, 3L Megan Qualters, 2L Skylar Swart, and 3L Lu Weierbach reached the semifinals of the Quinnipiac Criminal Justice Competition. The team was coached by Peter Hakes and Carly Zakaria L’24.
At the Buffalo-Niagara Trial Competition, 3L George Saad won best cross-examination. George’s cross-examination was deemed the best of the 96 cross-examinations during the competition’s preliminary rounds. The team of JDinteractive students finished fifth overall in the 24-team competition. In addition to Saad, the team members were 2L Dannah Henderson, 2L Lisa Musto, 3L Tania Rivera Bullard, 3L Kaylee Searcy, and 3L Taylor Shawver. The team was coached by Tyler Jefferies L’21.
Syracuse Law reached the semifinals of the National Civil Trial Competition. The team of 3L Gary Loope, 3L Charlotte McKeon, 2LJonathan Newsome, and 2L Tatiana Whitehorn was coached by Andrew Umanzor L’24 and Joanne Van Dyke L’87.
At the Judge Paul Joseph Kelly, Jr. Invitational Trial Competition, the College of Law reached the semifinals and 2L Jade Argueta won the award for Best Closing Argument. The team of Argueta, 2L Grace Hoffman, and 3L John Rutecki was coached by Gabrielle Groman L’23, Jimmy Lawler L’23, and Joanne Van Dyke L’87
2L Allison Carlos was selected as the National Trial League MVP (Best Advocate). The National Trial League is a College of Law-hosted bi-weekly virtual competition with fast-paced head-to-head trials in a sports league format. The National Trial League features some of the most competitive trial advocacy programs in the country.
Spring Competitions
The College of Law’s Black Law Student Association team finished in third place at the Northeast Regional of the Constance Baker Motely Mock Trial Competition, held by the National Black Law Student Association. The team of 3L Dachie Belony, 3L James Cameron III, 3L Suzan Elzawahry, and 3L Tatiana Vaz was coached by John F. Boyd II L’16 and William M.X. Wolfe L’20. Under the guidance of Boyd, the team has advanced to the national round of the competition in eight out of the last nine years.
AHS hosted a regional round of the National Trial Competition with 21 teams competing. This involved securing 122 evaluators and filling 156 witness positions. Hosting the competition was a success, owing in large part to the herculean efforts of Joanne Van Dyke L’ 87, 3L Katie Raumann, 3L Jacob Samoray, Vicki Donella, and many AHS students who played the role of witnesses and bailiffs. In addition, the teams of 3L John Rutecki and 2L Jade Argueta and 3L Gary Loope and 3L Charlotte McKeon reached the semifinals, with Loope and McKeon advancing to nationals. The teams were coached by Gabriella Groman L’23, Peter Hakes, and Joanne Van Dyke L’87.
The AHStrial team advanced to the national round of the American Association of Justice (AAJ) Trial Competition. AAJ is one of the largest trial competitions in the country and the College of Law’s region is one of the most competitive. The team consisted of 3L Brandon Bryant, 2L Allison Carlos, 2L Jonathan Newsome, and 2L Matt Reimann. The team was coached by Andrew Umanzor L’24 and Joanne Van Dyke L’87.
The AHS trial team also reached the finals of the Trials and Tribulations Trial Competition, one of the most competitive invite-only competitions in the country. It is also one of the most unique competitions because it features a third-party defendant. 3L Katie Raumann won the competition’s Best Advocate Award. The team members were 3L Garrison Funk, 2L Haethyr Johnson, 3L Terrence Kane, 2L Greg Patrick, 3L Megan Qualters, and Raumann. The team was coached by Peter Hakes, Jeff Leibo L’03, and Carly Zakaria L’24.