Tournament of Champions

In 1989, Professor Charles E. "Chuck" Kirkwood of the University of Akron School of Law hosted the first Tournament of Champions Trial Competition. He invited the best trial advocacy law schools in the nation. Invitations were based on performance over the years in two "open" student trial competitions: the National Trial Competition and the ATLA National Student Trial Advocacy Competition. The tournament was informal and fun, with a focus on outstanding trial advocacy skills. In 1995, NITA recognized the outstanding quality of this tournament and chose to sponsor the Tournament of Champions. In 2005, LexisNexis® became a co-sponsor.

Today, the tournament is one of the premier law school trial competitions in the nation and is known for having the highest quality of congeniality and good sportsmanship. Each year, sixteen schools are invited. The invitations are based on a three-year performance record at the National Trial Competition and the ATLA National Student Trial Advocacy Competition, and performances at prior Tournament of Champions competition.

2012 Tournament of Champions Results
Champion: Baylor Law School
2nd Place: University of Maryland School of Law
Semifinalist: St. John's University School of Law
Semifinalist: UC Berkeley School of Law

Best Advocate, Preliminary Rounds:
Cory Ricci of Samford University, Cumberland School of Law

Best Advocate, Final Rounds:
Stephen Netherton of Baylor Law School

2012 Tournament of Champions Participating Law Schools:
Baylor Law School
Duquesne University School of Law
IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law
Northwestern University School of Law
Pepperdine University School of Law
Samford University, Cumberland School of Law
St. John's University School of Law
Stanford Law School
Stetson University College of Law
University of Akron School of Law
University of California-Berkeley School of Law
University of Denver, Sturm College of Law
University of Kentucky College of Law
University of Maryland School of Law
University of Wisconsin Law School
Washington University School of Law (St. Louis)

Awards

Champions received the traveling James Seckinger Trophy, a team plaque, individual plaques, and a copy of NITA's book, Trial Technique & Evidence by Michael R. Fontham. Runner-Up and Semifinalists each received a team plaque. The best advocates received scholarships to a NITA Deposition Program. All advocates received a collection of NITA books and certificates.

Previous Winners of the James H. Seckinger Trophy

2011 Samford University, Cumberland School of Law
2010 Chicago-Kent College of Law
2009 St. John's University School of Law
2008 Duquesne University School of Law
2007 St. John's University School of Law
2006 University of Maryland School of Law
2005 Temple University School of Law
2004 Stetson University College of Law
2003 University of Akron School of Law
2002 Pepperdine University School of Law
2001 Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
2000 University of Texas School of Law
1999 Howard University School of Law
1998 Temple University School of Law
1997 Temple University School of Law
1996 Temple University School of Law
1995 Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
1994 Stetson University College of Law
1993 Stetson University College of Law
1992 University of San Diego Law School
1991 Stetson University College of Law
1990 South Texas College of Law
1989 Stetson University College of Law

Inquiry

To place an order or discuss materials that best fit your needs, contact NITA at 1.574.246.0774 or educational@nita.org.