Northwestern Law team wins Midwest regional trial championship

A team from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law’s Bartlit Center on Trial Advocacy won the Midwest Regional Championship of the National Trial Competition, held last weekend in St. Louis. They will now go on to compete for the National Championship, which will be held in Fort Worth, Texas, April 1-5.

The team of Cynthia Bi (JD ’20), Ryan Neu (JD ’21) and Madeline Yzurdiaga (JD ’21) defeated teams from St. Louis University, DePaul University (twice) and St. Mary’s University, to bring home the Bartlit Center’s third tournament championship this academic year. 

The other team of Michael Trucco (JD ’20) and Kristen Stoicescu (JD ’20) also competed last weekend, defeating teams from John Marshall Law School, St. Louis University and Chicago Kent, before losing on a split decision in the semi-finals.

Steven Lubet, the team’s advisor and director of the Bartlit Center for Trial Advocacy, praised his students as “three of the best advocates we have ever had at Northwestern. They are diligent in their preparation, which makes them brilliant in the courtroom.”

Said head coach Richard Levin, of Levin Riback Adelman & Flangel: “I could not be more proud of Cindy, Ryan and Maddy. They put their hearts into everything they do, which is the essential quality of great lawyers.”

A team from Loyola-Chicago won the regional’s other bracket and will also compete in Texas.