Samford University Cumberland School of Law was one of eight schools selected to participate in the inaugural National Flash Trial Competition  coordinated and hosted by UC Berkeley School of Law. The competition is unique in that competing students receive a different case file before each round and have no more than one hour to prepare for a full trial. 

Cumberland School of Law was represented by Elise Driskill and Alexandra Sexton.  Driskill and Sexton competed in two rounds as co-counsel and defeated the University of South Carolina School of Law and Chicago-Kent College of Law.  The advocates further competed in two rounds without co-counsel, after receiving only 45 minutes to prepare their entire case.  At the end of the competition, Cumberland was awarded the Professionalism Award. 

The team was coached by Judge Jim Roberts '94, head of Cumberland's National Trial Team. 

Judge Roberts said, “It was an honor to be one of the few national trial team programs chosen to participate in the inaugural National Flash Trial Competition hosted by UC Berkeley School of Law; a testament to the national respect our program has earned. This competition was unique in that each round involved a completely different case file with a limited time in which to prepare for trial. Our students did an excellent job in this difficult format but most importantly, our students were recognized with the Professionalism Award for exhibiting the ethical and professional conduct demanded in our program. I'm very proud of both Alexandra and Elise for their contributions to the continued excellence of our program.”