Students

Haub Law Trial Advocacy Team Invited to Compete at Exclusive Tournament of Champions

Posted
March 11, 2022
Image
The Haub Law team consisted of Kathryn Facelle (3L), Michael McNally (3L), Kimberly Abrahall (2L), and Liam Rattigan (2L) and was coached by alumni AJ Muller ’15 and Mike Luterzo ’20. Also pictured to the right is Professor Lou Fasulo.

Students from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University’s Trial Advocacy Team were honored with an invitation to compete in the Tournament of Champions Competition hosted by UCLA School of Law on October 29-31. The Haub Law team consisted of Kathryn Facelle (3L), Michael McNally (3L), Kimberly Abrahall (2L), and Liam Rattigan (2L) and was coached by alumni AJ Muller ’15 and Mike Luterzo ’20.

The annual exclusive competition only extends invitations to the top 16 trial advocacy institutions in the country. At the competition, the nation’s finest law students showcase their multifaceted talents by competing in teams of four with each team trying both sides of a civil case—twice as plaintiffs and twice as defendants. Participants also receive intensive, one-on-one coaching from top-tier professionals in law school trial advocacy programs.

"It was a true honor and privilege to be invited to the Tournament of Champions mock trial competition-- the most elite competition in the nation. Invitations are based solely on objective performance rankings in the preeminent national competitions,” said Professor Louis V. Fasulo, Director of Moot Court and Advocacy Programs. “Our students' success in the American Association of Justice competition over the last two years resulted in Haub Law’s first ever invitation to this exclusive tournament.”

Haub Law Adjunct Professor and alum AJ Muller has generously devoted his time as a trial coach for Haub Law since 2016. “This invitation marks yet another stride in our Advocacy Program's ascent into the national stage,” said Muller. “Our students' performance at the Tournament demonstrated our program's ability to produce the caliber of advocates needed to be a force on the national stage. I look forward to Advocacy Programs continued success to gain continuing entry into this elite Tournament.” Muller is also a Senior Associate at Trivella & Forte LLP. The Advocacy Team’s second coach, alum Mike Luterzo is an Assistant District Attorney with the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office. Luterzo started volunteering alongside Muller last year and together-- under the leadership of Professor Fasulo--they have fostered numerous successful advocacy teams, serving as mentors and coaches for many Haub Law students.

More from Pace

In the Media

Pace University Haub Law Professor Leslie Tenzer spoke with PIX 11 about TikTok’s emergency appeal to the Supreme Court to delay the new law passed by Congress which will force the Chinese owner to sell or face a ban. According to Professor Tenzer, the likelihood of anything happening at the highest court is slim. “If you look at how the Supreme Court has dealt with social media issues generally speaking, they have basically thrown up their hands, that social media is so big that they don’t know what to do,” she said.

In the Media

Pace University Haub Law Professor Bridget J. Crawford was featured in Financial Planning for her insightful analysis of the gender implications of the SALT tax deduction cap. The current limits for a deduction tied to state and local duties, combined with the ongoing debate around the extension of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), provide a critical lens to examine gender-based disparities in tax policy.

In the Media

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Professor John Bandler pens an op-ed in Reuters discussing how cyberlaw is everywhere and no lawyer can afford to ignore its impact.