Stetson University College of Law students won the ABA regional mediation competition in Connecticut this past weekend.

Students Julia Alley and Mark Joseph won the American Bar Association Representation in Mediation competition at Quinnipiac University School of Law in Hamden, Connecticut, on Feb. 25. The team will advance to the national ABA competition in Washington, D.C., in April. Amy Catledge J.D. ’02 coached the team.

For the first time in its 17-year history, Stetson University College of Law’s Dispute Resolution Board has had a perfect four-for-four record of advancing to nationals in all four dispute resolution competitions sponsored by the American Bar Association. These competitions represent all four areas in which the Dispute Resolution Board competes – arbitration, client counseling, negotiation, and mediation. Stetson Law students advanced to nationals from regional ABA championships in arbitration and negotiation in November 2017, client counseling and mediation in February.

“This is an exciting time for Stetson, and more importantly, our students. Because these competitions are so closely related to the work that lawyers do everyday, we take enormous pride in their success and the opportunities that they will have in the very near future,” said Stetson Law Dean and Professor of Law Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz. 

Also this past weekend, Stetson students Valeria Villaverde, Dale Tan and Brooks Robinson were recognized as having the best draft agreement for their client at the Transactional LawMeets regional competition at Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad School of Law on Feb. 25. Stetson Law professors James Sheehan J.D. ’77 and Kirsten Davis co-coached the team. This was Stetson’s first LawMeets competition.

“I am very proud of these students, not only for their achievements but, even more so, for the professionalism with which they have represented Stetson,” said Professor of Law and Dispute Resolution Director Kristen David Adams. “Hearing from attorneys who have judged our students and been impressed with their poise and preparation means a great deal to me, because it tells me that these excellent competitors will also be outstanding lawyers.” 

To learn more about advocacy at Stetson Law, visit https://www2.stetson.edu/advocacy.

-Brandi Palmer