Advocacy Program

American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL) is pleased to announce the selection of criminal defense attorney, law professor, and advocacy consultant Cynthia Goode Works ’92 as the Director of the Stephen S. Weinstein Advocacy Program.

The Advocacy Program would like to celebrate our teams' achievements for 2020-2021!

The Advocacy Program would like to congratulate our teams for a successful weekend as WCL's nationally acclaimed advocacy program asserts itself once again!

American University Washington College of Law received a top spot on the trial advocacy honor roll this year with an A+ grade. “AUWCL consistently produces top notch litigators and advocates,” said Professor Cynthia Jones, director of the Stephen S. Weinstein Advocacy Program. “We offer over 20 different trial advocacy courses, and we have created the first and only national conference for law school advocacy team coaches.”

Please join the Stephen S. Weinstein Advocacy Program in congratulating AUWCL third-year students Mackenzie Battle, Alexis Bauman, and Ruslan Klafehn for their Runner-up finish in the Stetson International Environmental Law Moot Court Competition last week and weekend. The team deserves special accolades for devoting much of their December break preparing for the oral arguments. On their way to the finals, where AUWCL narrowly lost to Notre Dame, our team ousted Hawaii (last year’s champion) and University of Illinois. Kudos also to Coach David Hunter!

American University Washington College of Law is proud to announce that the Stephen S. Weinstein Advocacy Program’s Mock Trial Honor Society (MTHS) and Moot Court Honor Society (MCHS) have been invited to compete in a two prestigious national competitions for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Three teams from American University Washington College of Law's nationally ranked Stephen S. Weinstein Trial Advocacy Program excelled this weekend at regional and national competitions.

After winning the Mid-Atlantic Regional Competition of the Jessup International Moot Court Competition, American University Washington College of Law competed in the international round, advancing to the round of 16 in the global competition.

"The Trial Advocacy Program is proud to consistently rank among the top ten of the nation’s best trial advocacy programs. We dedicate our time and energy to make sure that AUWCL graduates excel in the practical skills necessary to win cases, whether it be in a courtroom, an arbitration, mediation, or other arenas that require excellence in advocacy.” - Liz Lippy, Assistant Director, Stephen S. Weinstein Trial Advocacy Program

American University Washington College of Law wins second place at the American Bar Association Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition hosted by John Marshall Law School. The team consisted of 3Ls Kristopher Vicencio, Natalie Selzer, Nicole Huffman and Larissa Zavarelli (pictured below from left to right). They were coached by Zac Ista (WCL ‘12, Associate Chief Counsel at ICE) and LisaMarie Freitas (Office of the D.C. Inspector General).

American University Washington College of Law, represented by 3Ls HJ Brehmer and Cynthia Park, and 2Ls Katherine Youssouf and Hannah Stambaugh, won the Mid-Atlantic Regional Competition of the Jessup International Moot Court Competition held Feb. 9-11 at George Washington University. The team defeated West Virginia University in the quarter-finals, Harvard in the semi-finals, and the University of Virginia in the final round.

For three hours on Thursday, Jan. 25, American University Washington College of Law’s Grossman Hall became home base for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, as oral arguments in two cases were presented before a three judge panel.

The American University Washington College of Law Trial Advocacy Program, ranked 4th in the nation, is gearing up for a busy spring semester of events and competitions, for both AUWCL students and teams from schools around the country. The Program, which offers 22 specialized trial advocacy courses to more than 450 students each year, is hosting a competition sponsored by the American College of Trial Lawyers here Feb. 9-11, and their 10th Annual Capital City Challenge Mock Trial Competition March 2-4.