Practice Management

In legal education you had better look for an environment that provides you some positive and practice teaching practices.  In this regard, South Texas College of Law (STCL) continues to excel in a big way.

In the effort of complete disclosure, my wife and I attended STCL.

At STCL it is much about trial advocacy.  That is a learned skill.  Well, now STCL has just earned the unprecedented distinction as students celebrate the law school's 100th national advocacy competition title.  STCL is the first American law school to reach this milestone. The mock trial and moot court program at STCL captured its first national title in 1980. "We don't intend to stop at 100 wins," says Advocacy Director and Associate Dean T. Gerald Treece. "We started this series of wins 27 years ago and we're still in stride." The team of Stephanie Howell, Jessica Sykora, and Kristen Welsh won the 21st Annual August A. Rendigs, Jr. National Products Liability Moot Court Competition in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Advocacy competition simulates real courtroom experience with a panel of judges hearing appellate arguments or a trial. "The educational value of competition is that it teaches students to express themselves orally and in writing (with written briefs)," says Treece. "The successful South Texas style is to help the student find within themselves their unique ability to persuade others on matters of importance. It's conversational, and replaces formality with sincerity and oratory with logic."

"We are very proud of all of our students who have contributed to this highly successful advocacy program over the past three decades," says South Texas President and Dean James J. Alfini. The U.S. News and World Report's national ranking of law schools has included South Texas College of Law in the top 10 every year in the specialty of teaching trial advocacy skills. "By participating in advocacy competitions, our students have demonstrated excellence in both oral and written communication skills, which are always identified as being of paramount importance in preparing for the practice of law," says Alfini.

The Advocacy teams are coached by Treece, faculty members, and hundreds of graduates who competed for the college while students. "We continue to instill the same successful principles in every new group that comes through," says Treece. "We are very good, and we do it consistently?it's the spirit of South Texas College of Law."