Northwestern Law Team Wins Regional Trial Competition

CHICAGO --- A Northwestern University School of Law team won first place in the Midwest Regional Finals of the National Trial Competition.

The Northwestern University Bartlit Center for Trial Strategy team reached the final round by defeating teams from the University of Illinois, Indiana University and Loyola University Chicago before facing the Chicago-Kent College of Law. The Midwest Regional competition was held this past weekend in Chicago.

“Our students were outstanding this year, as were all of the teams we faced,” said Steven Lubet, Williams Memorial Professor of Law and director of the Bartlit Center for Trial Strategy at Northwestern. “Winning this tournament was a true accomplishment, and it would not have been possible without the extraordinary dedication of our coach, the incomparable Rick Levin.”

The winning mock trial team included Northwestern Law students Frank Doorley (3L) and Alexandra Caritis (2L) who defeated teams from the University of Illinois, Indiana University, Loyola of Chicago and Chicago-Kent. They will now advance to the National Trial Competition in Austin, Texas, March 26 to 30. Northwestern’s other team -- Kevin Jakopchek (3L) and Liam O’Rourke (2L) -- was undefeated in the preliminary rounds, before losing a split decision in the semi-finals.

This was the second tournament Northwestern Law won this academic year. They won the California Association of Criminal Justice Invitational last fall. Northwestern’s Bartlit Center teams have won the National Trial Championship four times, most recently in 2011, the second most of any law school. 

This year’s team was coached by Richard Levin of the Levin Riback Law Group.

“I have never coached students with more skill, energy and legal knowledge than Frank and Alexandra,” Levin said. “It was wonderful to see their efforts rewarded.”