Published on March 5, 2026  
ONC Team 2026

Members of Samford University Cumberland School of Law’s national trial team—second-year students Grant Miller and Makayela Bouldes—competed in the Online National Trial Competition (ONC), finishing as the national finalists in their division.  

This competition included 132 law students from 66 different teams across the country, divided into four divisions, with each division naming a champion. The competition’s one versus one format allows student advocates to represent one party in the case and handles all aspects of the trial from pretrial motions through closing argument. The preliminary rounds are judged by coaches from other top ranked programs around the country. The semifinals and finals are judged by outside attorneys.  

After six preliminary rounds, Miller and Bouldes earned the number one seed and finished as the national finalists in their division. Miller was also named a best advocate in the preliminary rounds, the fourth best advocate award for Cumberland’s team this year.  

Coached by alumni Jake Norwood, JD ’22, Niki Franks, JD ’22, and John West, JD ’25, the team showcased incredible talent and professionalism, a true reflection of Cumberland’s nationally recognized trial advocacy program. 

“I am incredibly proud of the work these students put in,” West said. “This was their first competition as advocates, and to see them grow and develop their personal styles of advocacy was incredibly rewarding.”  

“I’m so proud of Grant and Makayela,” Franks said. “They put in the work, and it paid off. Watching the students grow as advocates is the best part of coaching. I would try a case with either of these two any day of the week.” 

Judge Jim Roberts, JD ’94, director of national trial teams and co-director of Advocacy Programs said, “Our results at ONC further showcases Cumberland’s commitment to creating practice-ready professionals who are prepared to represent their future clients at the highest level. I’m very proud of Makayela and Grant for their success and the way they represented our school. Their success would not be possible without the dedication of their coaches—Jake, Niki and John—who did a fantastic job teaching and coaching these students.” 

Cumberland School of Law’s trial advocacy program continues to garner national recognition, ranking 4th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report (2025), 2nd in the Gavel Rankings for 2024–25, and 3rd overall in the Trial Competition Performance Rankings since 2016. 

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Located in the Homewood suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford enrolls 6,324 students from 44 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford is widely recognized as having one of the most beautiful campuses in America, featuring rolling hills, meticulously maintained grounds and Georgian-Colonial architecture. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and boasts one of the highest scores in the nation for its 97% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.