U of L Law Stud(ent)s Set High Bar

This week I'm turning the blog over to a few U of L law students whose accomplishments show a ridiculous level of talent and dedication. They also illustrate how, in a competitive job market, standing out means more than just notching solid grades every semester. Any law student, in order to be successful, must pick his or her battles. They folks have chosen wisely. I'm taking the following information straight from school announcements made earlier this week.

This past weekend the Law School's American College of Trial Lawyers mock trial teams competed in Grand Rapids, Michigan in Region 7 of the ACTL National Trial Competition.  Two teams represented the Law School - Samantha Constantine and Thomas Stevens, and Paul Chumbley and Josh Porter. After competing in three preliminary rounds, Samantha and Thomas were one of four teams (out of 24) that advanced to the final rounds.  UL was paired against UK.  Both teams were undefeated.   Samantha and Thomas, who represented the plaintiff during the final trial, defeated UK, and were declared co-champions of the Region 7 ACTL National Trial Competition.  Samantha and Thomas will now represent the Law School and Region 7 in the 37th Annual National Trial Competition to be held in Austin, Texas, March 21-24, 2012.  Only two teams advance from each of the 14 regions across the country. The teams and coaches want to thank all UofL law students who served as witnesses during practices.  Both trial teams put in countless hours to prepare for the competition.  Samantha and Thomas will now receive a new civil problem and will have one month to prepare both sides. The ACTL National Trial Team coaches, Kimberly Ballard and Rob Riley, congratulate Samantha and Thomas for advancing from one of the most competitive NTC regions in the country. 

The Student Bar Association is proud to announce that the recipient of the Student of the Month Award for January 2012 is Amanda Warford. Amanda is a published member and the Senior Articles Editor of the University of Louisville Law Review, Volume 50. Throughout her time in law school, she has been a participant in the Street Law Partnership with Central High School, a research assistant for Professor Judith Fischer, and a member of many student organizations. Amanda is a recipient of the Bench & Bar Fund Scholarship, as well as of the Marian Kincaid Warns & Carl Warns, Jr. Scholarship. Last summer, she participated in a panel for the 28th Annual Carl A. Warns, Jr. Labor & Employment Law Institute entitled "Objection! Evidentiary Issues in Employment Litigation." Her legal experience includes working as a legal intern for Thomas M. Jones, an attorney in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, and as a law clerk for Bishop & Associates, P.S.C. She has also worked as a summer associate for Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP. After graduation, Amanda will be clerking for Judge Joseph H. McKinley, Jr. in Owensboro, Kentucky. She will then return to Louisville, where she has accepted a position with Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP.