Competitive Strides<br/>

Moot court, arbitration and negotiation competitions provide students with valuable opportunities for students to hone the skills they learn in the classroom. Touro Law students routinely compete and host competitions, and this year was no exception having competed in new competitions with impressive results.

 

The Moot Court Honor Society participated in six competitions this past Fall and sent six additional teams to competitions throughout the Spring. The members also hosted twenty-two teams for the Third Annual National Competition  in April, where teams from across the country come to Touro Law and participate in this competition. And, they do even more for their fellow students. The Moot Court has assisted student organizations that have been approved to compete in national competitions, assisted with try-outs, coaching, and mooting. The Black Law Students Association, the Labor and Employment Law Association, and the Sports & Entertainment Law Society are just a few of the student organizations that the Moot Court has worked with to enhance the learning experiences for all of Touro Law’s students who participate in advocacy competitions.

 

One such group was LALSA. A team of three students competed in the Puerto Rican Bar Association’s Moot Court Competition. After winning at the regional level and earning best brief, the team traveled to Orlando, Florida in October. The bench included New York's own Judge Jenny Rivera as well as several other highly respected jurists. The team - Denisse Mira, Bridgette Nunez, and Jose Rojas - was well prepared and confident. They took second place -- an extraordinary showing for our first time competing in this National competition.

 

Denisse Mira stated, “I gained so much from this experience, including improved writing and public speaking skills. On a very personal level it gave me a lot of self-confidence. Arguing in front of actual judges and holding my ground, re-affirmed for me that I am truly meant to be in this field.”

 

Touro Law also participated in the inaugural New York State Bar Association Arbitration competition, held in November. Competitors were required to write a brief and conduct an arbitration before a panel of 3 arbitrators. The team, consisting of Ashley Moruzzi, Diana Romanello, Jolevette Mitchell and Jonathan Cohen, exemplified superior skills in their direct, cross and redirect which led to an award for Best Examination.

 

Evening division students, Jennifer Tocci and John Sepulveda, competed in the ABA Law Student Division Negotiation Competition held at Cardozo in November. The judges praised their preparation, flexibility and professional demeanor, and went to say that the team showed admirable skill and professionalism and gained valuable experience.

 

These are just a few of the many competitions Touro Law students participated in this year, and the opportunities continue to grow as more students show interest. Associate Dean for Experiential Learning Myra Berman explained, “These co-curricular activities are an excellent way for students to develop oral and written advocacy skills. It’s exciting to watch students develop these skills and put them to the test.” She continued, “Every Touro Law student has an opportunity to participate in a competition during law school. We are continually adding new courses and opportunities to our already robust advocacy program.”