UC Law SF Trial Team Ranked Best in the Nation

For the second consecutive year, UC Law SF College of the Law has been named the top trial team program in the U.S., according to the latest rankings of interscholastic law school trial competitions.

AAJ National Champions Pablo Wudka-Robles, Maryam Ahmad, Jon Davidi, and Ellie Barczak

“We are extraordinarily proud of the achievements our talented students have attained,” said UC Law SF Chancellor and Dean David Faigman. “We look forward to celebrating our trial competition team for years to come.”

In April, the trial team was named the 2018 American Association for Justice (AAJ) National Competition Champions. Prior to that victory, the team won the triple crown of regional competitions—comprised of The American Bar Association (ABA) Trial Advocacy Competition, the Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) National Trial Competition, and the AAJ Student Trial Advocacy Competition. And in 2016, the trial team earned first place in the ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law’s 12th-Annual Law Student Trial Advocacy Competition.

“There is no way to express my admiration and respect for the students and alums who are now, and have been, part of the trial team program at UC Law SF,” said professor and trial team head coach Geoffrey Hansen, who has led the team for nearly 20 years.

“Countless hours over the last 20 years have been spent by a remarkable group of dedicated, committed and incredibly talented folks to get where we are, and all share in this proud moment,” Hansen said.

In addition to dedication and commitment, participants point to trust and respect as key components to their success. Following the team’s AAJ championship victory earlier this year, Pablo Wudka-Robles, then a 3L, said, “…there wasn’t a single time during any of those trials where I didn’t trust my teammates completely to be the smartest, most eloquent, most prepared, and most thoughtful people in the courtroom.”

The Trial Competition Performance Ranking methodology allocates points based on competition result data compiled by Faulkner Law School. Three points are awarded for winning the competition, two points for making it to the final round, and one point for making it to the semi-final round. For exclusively regional tournaments like the AAJ, each winning team is allocated three points. Points are not allocated to regional or semi-finalists. For AAJ Nationals and TYLA Nationals, the winner is awarded four points, finalists are awarded three points and two points are awarded to semi-finalists.

For the 2017-18 year, UC Law SF earned 18 points.

UC Law SF looks to build upon that success in the 2018-19 academic year. A $1 million gift from Shanin Specter, a renowned trial attorney and professor of practice, to construct a trial courtroom in the new 198 McAllister Building will be instrumental in staying atop of the rankings for years to come.

And while the College looks toward the future with Specter’s gift, Academic Dean Morris Ratner says that it’s important to celebrate the current team’s successes.

“UC Law SF celebrates professor and coach Hansen, as well as the overall excellence and skill of our students,” Ratner said.

For more on Hastings’ ranking, visit: trialteamcentral.org.