During the weekend of March 19-22, FIU Law’s Trial Team competed in the 2015 American Association for Justice (AAJ) Student Trial Advocacy Regional Competition in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. AAJ sponsors the annual mock trial competition to help law students develop and practice their trial advocacy skills before distinguished members of the bar and bench.
Sixteen teams in 14 regions throughout the country participated in regionals where they tried a complicated products liability case. Competing alongside Stetson, Mercer, Tulane, Loyola, Florida State, Florida, Miami, Barry, St. Thomas, Florida Coastal and Nova, FIU Law made it to the final four – advancing through three preliminary rounds to take on the tournament’s ultimate champion – Stetson. Taking FIU Law to the semi-finals were: Yanelis Zamora, Ryan Maguire, Rodrigo Flores-Salinas and Gilbert LaCayo, who fought toe-to-toe and were bested by the narrowest of margins.
Also representing FIU Law, were Andrew Sholtes, Marco Specoli, Jonathon Hoffman and Chris Fleites, who barely missed out on making it to the final four themselves.
The students trained for 10 weeks and gave everything they had and proudly represented themselves, their teammates and FIU Law.
“Our students never cease to amaze the legal community with their passionate legal storytelling, their powerful courtroom advocacy and their persuasive command of the facts, the law and the jury,” commented Professor and Founding Director of FIU Law’s Trial Advocacy Program H.T. Smith. “Our Trial Team students’ success continues to increase the value of an FIU Law degree.”
The team was coached by Trial Team alumni David Baroff ’08 – an AAJ regional champion himself – and Igor Hernandez ’13, with additional support from the Honorable Kevin Emas of the Third District Court of Appeal – an FIU Law Trial Advocacy Adjunct Professor – Anthony Hevia ’07 and Professor Smith.
PHOTO CAPTION FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Standing: Coach Igor Hernandez, Team Members: Rodrigo Flores-Salinas, Andrew Sholtes, Marco Specoli and Ryan Maguire and Coach David Baroff; seated Team Members: Chris Fleites, Yanelis Zamora, and Gilbert Lacayo.