RALEIGH — Campbell Law School is once again among the Top 10 in the 2020-2021 American Bar Association (ABA) Competitions Championship, the ABA announced today.
Stetson University College of Law is the 2021 ABA Competitions Champion, edging out Texas Tech University School of Law for the title of top law school in the ABA’s four practical skills contests, which include Arbitration, Negotiation, Client Counseling, and the National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC).
The Top 10 this year, according to the ABA, are:
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- Stetson University College of Law
- Texas Tech University School of Law
- Fordham University School of Law
- Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law
- University of Oklahoma College of Law
- South Texas College of Law Houston
- William and Mary Law School
- Michigan State University College of Law
- Campbell University – Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law
- Brooklyn Law School
This was the first year that the entirety of the ABA Law Student Division’s practical skills competitions were held virtually.
“This is an extraordinary accomplishment for our teams and for our coaches,” Dean J. Rich Leonard said.
Campbell Law was also ranked among the Top 10 ABA Competitions champions in 2019.
About the rankings
The title of Competitions Champion is awarded to the law school that chalked up the most points through team achievements and participation in the ABA Law Student Division’s four practical skills competitions. Ranking criteria and the point totals for the top teams can be found here.
Why did the ABA create this award? It’s not just because the ABA wants ESPN’s College GameDay to start covering its tournaments, according to the release.
“We wanted to recognize law schools that go above and beyond to help prepare their students for practice. Success in these competitions illustrate each school’s commitment to providing a well-rounded curriculum and preparing students to become highly skilled lawyers. We are proud that the ABA competitions are an important part of the hands-on learning experiences available to students at these exceptional law schools.
“Our four competitions offer students an amazing opportunity to hone essential lawyering skills before they enter practice. Through consistent participation and success in ABA competitions, these law schools display especially well-rounded practical skills training programs. We are thrilled to recognize these schools through the Competitions Championship,” said Connie S. Smothermon, Competitions Committee co-chair and director of competitions & externships at University of Oklahoma College of Law.
Judges for the competitions included volunteer attorneys and sitting members of the bench.
ABOUT CAMPBELL LAW
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 more than 4,200 alumni, who make their home in nearly all 50 states and beyond. In 2021, Campbell Law is celebrating 45 years of graduating legal leaders and 12 years of being located in a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of North Carolina’s Capital City.