Posted by William Nunnelley on 2011-10-04

A team from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law won the 12th annual National Trial Advocacy Competition hosted by the Michigan State University College of Law over 26 other teams last weekend (Sept. 29-Oct. 2).

            Cumberland defeated the University of Florida in the finals after wins over the University of Houston in the semifinals and University of Maryland in the quarter-finals.

            Team members were Drew Haskins of Chattanooga, Tenn.; Brittany Stancombe of Clarksville, Tenn.; Sam Nicolle of Hazel Green, Ala.; and Patrick Hinchey of Savannah, Ga.  Attorney Sara Williams of the firm Carr Allison, a member of Cumberland’s 2006 award-winning national trial team, was the coach.

            “The performance of the student advocates who competed in this competition was especially impressive considering the team had only two weeks to prepare,” said Williams.  “This achievement is one in which our entire community can take pride.”

            The annual competition at Michigan State provides participants an opportunity to perfect their courtroom advocacy skills before judges and practitioners.

 

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.