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    You are at:Home»Centers and Institutes»Brendan Moore Trial Advocacy Center Marks 30 Years with Major Competition Wins
    Fordham Law students Jack Biddle, Jasmine Boyer, Eric Wan, and Rachel Rubin

    Brendan Moore Trial Advocacy Center Marks 30 Years with Major Competition Wins

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    By Sejla Rizvic on June 11, 2025 Centers and Institutes, Law School News, Students

    [pullquote] Left to right: Jack Biddle ’25, Jasmine Boyer ’25, Eric Wan ’25, and Rachel Rubin ’25 at the National Court-Martial Challenge competition. [/pullquote]

    The Brendan Moore Trial Advocacy Center celebrated its 30th anniversary at Fordham Law with a banner year of victories at national competitions, further cementing its standing as one of the most competitive trial advocacy programs in the country. 

    This year the Center experienced several significant successes, finishing as finalists at the Texas Young Lawyers Association National Trial Competition, co-hosting the regional American Association for Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition, and winning the championship title at the ​​National Court-Martial Challenge.

    The Center was established in 1995 “to foster the teaching and study of lawyers as advocates at the trial level,” and has since has gone on to train countless students to develop their courtroom skills.

     Every year, around 60 students face off against other law schools in tournament-style mock trial competitions across the country. The hands-on training in trial advocacy teaches students the art of lawyering and prepares them with the practical skills needed to succeed as litigators.The program earned Fordham Law School a fifth place spot this year in the U.S. News and World Report specialty rankings for trial advocacy programs at law schools.

    “It’s great to be recognized by our peers in the trial advocacy community,” said Adam Shlahet Director of the Moore Advocacy Center. “We look at every competition as a chance to show that Fordham Law students are smart, prepared, professional, and above all else, ethical. Our high national ranking reflects that commitment.”

    Fordham Law students Kevin Jones, Halit Sezgin, Philip Chun, and Susan Marone
    Left to right: AAJ semifinalists Kevin Jones ’25, Halit Sezgin ’25, Philip Chun ’25, and Susan Marone ’25.

    “What makes the Brendan Moore Trial Advocacy Center’s community truly exceptional is the bond between current students and our alumni—advocates who have gone on to thrive in their own careers and continue to give back to the program,” said Phil O’Connell ’25, outgoing editor-in-chief of the Brendan Moore Advocacy Center, who was also the recipient of this year’s National Association of Legal Advocacy Educators award for Academic All-American Trial Advocate. 

    “Serving as editor-in-chief during the Center’s 30th anniversary year was a tremendous honor,” said O’Connell. “Through this role, I’ve come to appreciate the power of mentorship, the strength of collaboration, and the impact of a network united by shared purpose. Brendan Moore Advocates are driven, resilient, and never alone—because once you join this team, you join a legacy.”

    O’Connell was a finalist at the Texas Young Lawyers Association National Trial Competition in Houston, Texas, alongside Brendan Moore Managing Editor Jordan Zaia ’25. The competition is among the most competitive in the country, attracting more than 150 law schools and 1,000 law students every year. 

    This year, Fordham Law also co-hosted the New York regional competition of the American Association for Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition . Two Fordham Law teams competed at the competition with a 2L team making it to the finals (Brandon Hoolihan ’26, Rose Meinrath ’26, Emily Sadutto ’26, and Patrick Scariano ’26, coached by alumnae Sofia La Bella ’23  and Allessandra Rose Johnson ’17) and another 3L team finishing as semi-finalists in the competition (Philip Chun ’25, Kevin Jones ’25, Susan Maroney ’25, Halit Sezgin ’25, alongside coaches Catherine Perrone and Julia Tedesco ’23 ).

    One Brendan Moore team also traveled to Charleston, South Carolina, this year to compete in the first-ever National Court-Martial Challenge hosted by the Charleston School of Law, where they ultimately secured the top spot as champions. This competition was held in collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard and took place in military courts where competitors were evaluated by uniformed officers. The winning team was composed of Jack Biddle ’25, Jasmine Boyer ’25, Rachel Rubin ’25 and Eric Wan ’25, helped by coaches Aditya Ramanathan ’16 and Yashwanth Manjunath ’16. Biddle also received the award for Best Advocate in the final round of the competition, and Wan took home the title of Outstanding Advocate.

    “The past two years on the Moores has taken my advocacy to the next level and instilled in me a confidence that I plan to carry with me the rest of my life,” said Rubin, who is also the outgoing inter-school competition editor. “For that, I am extremely thankful to my past coaches and teammates for all of the lessons they have shared with me.”

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