Roger Williams Advocates Win Accolades on Regional and National Stages

Roger Williams University School of Law student advocates turned in a number of strong performances in national moot court and mock trial competitions this year.  Most recently, a team from RWU (3Ls Greg Klipp and Ashley Mederios, plus 2L Jackson Parmenter) advanced to the Quarterfinals of the National Environmental Law Competition, placing ahead of 47 teams from around the country. Ashley and Jackson received Best Oralist recognition, Ashley twice and Jackson once.  The team was coached by Megan Higgins, Research Counsel for the Marine Affairs Institute.

(L-R) Greg Klipp ‘09, Ashley Medeiros ‘09, and Jackson Parmenter ‘10

RWU made its mark at the at the Northeast Super Regional of the prestigious Jessup International Law Competition in New York City.  Out of 24 teams, RWU advanced to the quarter-finals.  Rishmil Patel (2L) was named fourth Best Oralist from over 100 student advocates, while Sarah Mazzochi (2L) tied for 17th.  The team’s brief also scored well coming in ahead of Cardozo and Syracuse, and just behind Harvard and NYU.  The team was coached by RWU alum Lieutenant Commander Cassie Kitchen, United States Coast Guard.

(L-R) Anne LaFex ‘10 , Rishmil Patel 10, Sarah Mazzochi ‘10(front), Denee Page ‘10(back), Grace Neisingh ‘09, and Cassie Kitchen ‘00, Lieutenant Commander, United States Coast Guard.

Another RWU team turned in a strong performance at the Regent Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition.  Tyler Smith (3L), Catherine Lemery (3L), and Sara Burke (3L) ended up being co-champions with William & Mary.  Other schools at the competition included Brigham Young and Villanova.  In addition to a strong team performance, three of our students placed in the top five oralists: Tyler Smith was named Best Oralist, while Hala Furst (2L) and Catherine Lemery were second and fourth overall.  The team was coached by Professor Jon Shelburne.

(L-R) Hala Furst ‘10, Professor Jon Shelburne, Alexandra O’Connor ‘10, U.S. District Judge Glen Conrad , Sara Burke ‘09, Catherine Lemery ‘09, Charles Ryan ‘10 and Tyler Smith ‘09.

Finally, a team from Roger Williams University School of Law won the Northeast Regional Tournament of the American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section’s Law Fifth Annual Law Student Trial Advocacy Competition, topping the team from Suffolk.  The Roger Williams team consisted of 3Ls Seth Aitken, Kristina Hultman, Meg McDonough, and Ian Nuno.  By winning the Northeast Regional, the team advanced to the National competition held in Chicago.  The team was coached by RWU alum John Calcagni, from the Providence firm Vincent Morgera, LTD.

None of this success would have been possible without the hard work of our Director of Competitions, Professor Jon Shelburne, Administrative Assistant for Competitions Heather Bernier, and the faculty, adjunct faculty, and lawyers who judged the advocates in their many practice rounds.

(L-R) Professor Jon Shelburne, Seth-Thomas Aitken ‘09, Meghan McDonough ‘09, U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Massachusetts , Kristina Hultman ‘09, Ian Nuno’09, John Calcagni, III ‘03, attorney.