March 10, 2010

Cooley Law School Team Goes Undefeated in Regional Rounds of the National Appellate Advocacy Competition, Advances to National Finals

Lowell Johnson and Derek Levinsky, students at the Auburn Hills campus of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, went undefeated in the Las Vegas regional rounds of the 2010 American Bar Association Law Student Division's National Appellate Advocacy Competition. The Cooley team will travel to Chicago on April 8, 2010 to compete in the national finals as one of only 24 teams participating from across the country.

In appellate advocacy competitions, competitors participate in a hypothetical appeal to the United States Supreme Court in order to develop oral advocacy skills through a realistic appellate advocacy experience. The competition involves writing a brief as either respondent or petitioner and then arguing the case in front of the mock court.

Johnson and Levinsky defeated teams from Stetson University College of Law, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Thomas Jefferson College of Law and two teams from the University of California Los Angeles School of Law to achieve a perfect 5-0 record. They also received an award for the second best brief among the 32 teams participating. Levinsky was recognized as the highest scoring advocate by the judges in four of his five rounds and Johnson was recognized as the highest scoring advocate by the judges in his fifth round.

"I'm very proud of Lowell and Derek, and of Matthew Cohn, who served as our team bailiff during both our practices and the competition," said Coach Kelly McDoniel, adjunct professor at Cooley Law School." Their performances showcase Cooley’s excellence in providing a practical legal education."

Matthew Cohn is a third-year student at the Auburn Hills campus. Lowell Johnson, of Rochester Hills, and Derek Levinsky, from Windsor, also are both in their third year at Cooley. Joshua Herschberger and Michael Marcum of the Lansing campus also competed in the regional competition.

Derek Levinsky (left) and Lowell Johnson, students at the Auburn Hills campus of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, went undefeated in the Las Vegas regional rounds of the 2010 American Bar Association Law Student Division's National Appellate Advocacy Competition. The Cooley team will travel to Chicago on April 8, 2010 to compete in the national finals.

High-Res 300dpi Image © Thomas M. Cooley Law School 2010

Cooley Law School is the largest law school in the nation.  Founded in 1972, the private, non-profit law school operates J.D. programs across Michigan in Lansing, Auburn Hills, Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor.  Today, Cooley Law School has nearly 14,000 graduates across the nation and worldwide and also offers joint degree and master of laws programs.  Cooley offers enrollment three times a year; in January, May and September.   Additional information about Cooley can be found at cooley.edu.