RALEIGH – Both of Campbell Law School’s two competing teams advanced into the finals at the National Trial Competition (NTC) for Region 5 on Jan. 31-Feb. 2, held at the University of South Carolina, with one team advancing as Regional Champions.
Zannah Tyndall ‘25 and Austin Graham ‘25, who were proudly coached by Jacob Morse ‘17, finished as Regional Champions after defeating William and Mary law school in the championship round, and are now headed to the 50th anniversary of the National Finals on April 2-6 at the Harris County Courthouse in Houston, Texas, where they will compete along with other regional winners from across the United States.
Samantha Border ‘25 and Megan Pope ‘25, who were proudly coached by Maria Hawkins ‘12, finished as finalists. Border also brought home an Outstanding Advocate Award.
“Our students demonstrated considerable talent in the courtrooms in Columbia and put themselves in a position to win after weeks of hard work and practice with their peers and volunteer jurors,” Morse said. “For the third year in a row, the NTC Finals will have a Campbell team competing, and that is no coincidence.”
In addition to Campbell Law, 20 other teams from the following law schools competed:
- Charleston School of Law
- Duke University
- Elon University
- North Carolina Central University
- Regent University
- The College of William & Mary
- The University of North Carolina
- The University of Richmond
- The University of South Carolina
- The University of Texas
- Wake Forest University
The National Trial Competition is the largest and one of the most prestigious law school mock trial competitions in the country with the vast majority of law schools competing in the tournament’s regional competitions.
According to its website, the NTC employs a unique format. It requires trial advocates to be nimble – developing sound cases, employing the rules of evidence, and being persuasive advocates. NTC adds another unique element. Lawyers only meet their witness just prior to the start of trial.
The NTC was established in 1975 to encourage and strengthen students’ advocacy skills through quality competition and valuable interaction with members of the bench and bar. It is the oldest trial competition at any level – high school, college or law school.
The program is co-sponsored by the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) and is designed to expose law students to the nature of trial practice and to serve as a supplement to their education. It is the Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) intent to provide a meaningful contribution to the development of future trial lawyers.
The goal of the NTC is to provide student advocates with trials and witnesses that resemble what they may experience as new lawyers in trials where depositions for every witness just aren’t feasible.
TYLA administers the competition, which attracts teams from more than 150 law schools and involves more than 1,000 law students each year. This year marked the first time NTC invited coaches to write the regional and national problems.
The Hon. Lewis F. Powell Medallion is presented annually to each regional finalist in the National Trial Competition, as a tribute to the accomplishments of those individuals.
ABOUT CAMPBELL LAW SCHOOL
Since its founding in 1976, Campbell Law has developed lawyers who possess moral conviction, social compassion, and professional competence, and who view the law as a calling to serve others. Among its accolades, the school has been recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) as having the nation’s top Professionalism Program and by the American Academy of Trial Lawyers for having the nation’s best Trial Advocacy Program. Campbell Law boasts nearly 5,000 alumni, who make their home in nearly all 50 states and beyond. In 2024, Campbell Law celebrated 45 years of graduating legal leaders and 15 years of being located in a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of North Carolina’s Capital City.