Three students who competed together this month in the regionals of the American Bar Association's 2017 National Appellate Advocacy Competition advanced further than any Elon Law team from previous years.
Danielle Prongay ’14, Todd Kendrick and Sean McLeod – all members of Elon Law’s Class of May 2017 – reached the final round of the regional competition held March 2-5 in the nation’s capital. Prongay was also recognized as the third-best oral advocate in the region.
Their collective results were the highest team and individual finishes for Elon Law at the ABA Competition, one of the largest and most prestigious moot court events in the country. Over 30 teams from across the nation, comprised of more than 60 law students, competed in the D.C. regional.
In reaching the finals, the Elon Law team defeated teams from Gonzaga, William & Mary and Cleveland State. Another Elon Law team comprised of Jennifer LaBeau (Class of May 2017) and Amy Wert (Class of December 2017) defeated a team from Denver Law in the preliminary rounds. Elon Law faculty member Tim McFarlin and Michael Costolo L’15 served as coaches.
This success in the ABA Competition followed a strong showing by another Elon Law team at the J. Braxton Craven, Jr. Memorial Moot Court Competition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“Elon Law students have proven themselves to be some of the best advocates in the nation, and we are tremendously proud of their achievements,” said Woodlief, director of the Elon Law Moot Court Program. “Through moot court and other experiential learning opportunities at Elon, our students gain the knowledge and skills that will propel them to success in their careers.”
Elon Law students have competed in several recent moot court competitions, including:
Price Media Law Moot Court Competition (New York City)
Team: Caitlin Mitchell (Class of December 2017) and Jason Pruett (Class of May 2017)
Coach: Associate Dean Enrique Armijo
William B. Spong Moot Court Tournament at William & Mary Law School
Team: Christopher Anderson, Brittany Hart, and Melissa Watkins (all Class of December 2017)
Team: Paige McElravy, Russell Michaelic and Stephanie Stradling (all Class of May 2017)
Coaches: Genna Petre L’15 and Michael Costolo L’15
Leroy R. Hassell, Sr. National Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition at Regent University School of Law
Team: Allie Hall, Spencer Warren, Landon Hodges and Whitten Stone (all Class of May 2017)
Coaches: Professor Scott Gaylord, Senior Associate Dean Alan Woodlief Jr., and Melanie Crenshaw L’09
National Moot Court Competition (Richmond, Virginia)
Team: Jackson Barnes, Ashley Hartman, Leah Britt, James Capps and Mollie Schrull (all Class of May 2017)
Coaches: Professor Jim Exum, Professor Tom Noble, Melanie Crenshaw L’09, and Senior Associate Dean Alan Woodlief
Woodlief said that each of these teams represented the law school very well, and he foresees many second-year students building on their experience when they compete again in 2017-2018.
The Elon Law Moot Court Board ends its competition season at the Charleston Moot Court Competition, where students Sam Price, Ryan Glaser and Suzanne Patinella will be coached by Professor Jim Exum. In April, the Board caps the year by hosting the Seventh Annual Billings, Exum & Frye National Moot Court Competition from April 6-8, 2017.
Elon Law will host more than 30 teams from 21 law schools across the country, as well as over 100 distinguished attorneys and jurists who will judge the oral argument rounds of the competition.