For law students Lindsey Powdrell and Elizabeth Fabick, representing Regent University in the invitation-only 2009 Moot Court National Championship meant both honor and hard work. Their intense preparation for the competition paid off—Regent placed second in the tournament, with Powdrell receiving the award for best oralist.
"Regent's placement was a great result," said Jeffrey Brauch, dean of the School of Law. "It shows wonderful coaching, outstanding talent and preparation."
The tournament, sponsored by the University of Houston Law Center (UHLC), was held in the Federal Courthouse in downtown Houston. Many of the rounds were judged by members of the judiciary and prominent attorneys. "The tournament was held where I'm from," Powdrell said. "My family was able to come and our team had a little cheering section. Regent ranked number one in the semi-finals, and we were thrilled."
Powdrell and Fabick were coached by Regent Law professor Steven Fitschen. Powdrell said that he worked tirelessly to prepare her and Fabick for the competition. After the brief was written and submitted in early December, the girls practiced for two or three hours daily with Fitschen and other professors, except for a one-week Christmas break.
"Lindsey and Liz did a fabulous job," Fitschen said. "Liz was originally not supposed to participate in oral arguments. She was only going to work on the brief, but when we lost a team member, she stepped up to the plate and became a fantastic oralist. And Lindsey won the prize as best oralist for the tournament. So we had a great team...we took it one round at a time."
This win comes on the heels of several other recent Regent Moot Court team victories, including a first place win at the prestigious ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC) in 2006.
The teams who competed in the 2009 National Moot Court competition are Campbell University, Chicago-Kent College of Law, DePaul University, George Mason University, Harvard Law School, Loyola University —Chicago, Mercer University, Regent University, Seton Hall University, South Texas College of Law, University of California —Davis, University of California —Hastings, University of Colorado, University of Detroit Mercy, University of Memphis and University of Miami.
"Regent's placement was a great result," said Jeffrey Brauch, dean of the School of Law. "It shows wonderful coaching, outstanding talent and preparation."
The tournament, sponsored by the University of Houston Law Center (UHLC), was held in the Federal Courthouse in downtown Houston. Many of the rounds were judged by members of the judiciary and prominent attorneys. "The tournament was held where I'm from," Powdrell said. "My family was able to come and our team had a little cheering section. Regent ranked number one in the semi-finals, and we were thrilled."
Powdrell and Fabick were coached by Regent Law professor Steven Fitschen. Powdrell said that he worked tirelessly to prepare her and Fabick for the competition. After the brief was written and submitted in early December, the girls practiced for two or three hours daily with Fitschen and other professors, except for a one-week Christmas break.
"Lindsey and Liz did a fabulous job," Fitschen said. "Liz was originally not supposed to participate in oral arguments. She was only going to work on the brief, but when we lost a team member, she stepped up to the plate and became a fantastic oralist. And Lindsey won the prize as best oralist for the tournament. So we had a great team...we took it one round at a time."
This win comes on the heels of several other recent Regent Moot Court team victories, including a first place win at the prestigious ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC) in 2006.
The teams who competed in the 2009 National Moot Court competition are Campbell University, Chicago-Kent College of Law, DePaul University, George Mason University, Harvard Law School, Loyola University —Chicago, Mercer University, Regent University, Seton Hall University, South Texas College of Law, University of California —Davis, University of California —Hastings, University of Colorado, University of Detroit Mercy, University of Memphis and University of Miami.