Members of Samford University Cumberland School of Law’s National Trial Team finished as national semifinalists while competing in the First Chair Trial Competition in Philadelphia from Sept. 11-13. The team of second-year law students, Caleb New and Claire Roberts, also tied for the Professionalism Award.

 

First Chair is a unique competition in which the country’s top teams send two of their “first chairs,” or top advocates. Each student is assigned to be the only advocate on one side of the case.

 

For New and Roberts, the event was their first national trial competition, and they faced some of the most experienced law school advocates in the country. As the least experienced team, they still managed to make the final four, and Roberts came within one point of winning an Outstanding Advocate award.

 

"Competing for Cumberland in my first trial competition was  an incredible experience," Roberts said. "Knowing that we have coaches who trust, prepare and push us to succeed allowed me to step into the courtroom feeling confident in myself as an advocate. Trying a case on my own pushed me outside of my comfort zone and taught me to trust my preparation, think on my feet and stay composed in the courtroom. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to represent Cumberland and grow as an advocate." 

 

"First Chair gave me the opportunity to compete against incredible advocates from law schools across the country," New said. "The experience of trying a case from start to finish taught me to advocate effectively by being able to adjust arguments and examinations on the fly. I am very grateful for all the coaching and support I have received from the National Trial Team and my fellow students at Cumberland." 

 

Phil Pasquarello, who leads the trial advocacy program at Drexel University Klein School of Law and served as the tournament director, said New and Roberts were an “amazing team with a bright future.”

 

This year’s case was based on the HBO crime series, The Sopranos. A long-time associate of the fictional Errico Crime Family disappeared in 2000. His skeletal remains were found in the bay off the coast of New Jersey 25 years later, at which point the government brought murder charges against Dave Errico, the head of the crime family. Roberts represented the government and New represented the defendant.

 

New and Roberts were coached by alumni Judge Jim Roberts, JD ’94, Omega Adams, JD ’25, and John West, JD ’25.

 

“To compete at this level against the best third-year law students in the county is a testament to this team’s hard work, commitment and dedication,” West said.

 

“These students exhibited exceptional advocacy skills at a notoriously tough competition,” Adams said. “They should be proud of themselves for showing they are already competing at the same level as some of the best advocates in the country.”

 

Cumberland School of Law’s trial advocacy program continues to garner national recognition, ranking No. 9 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report (2026), No. 2 overall in the Gavel Rankings since 2019 and No. 3 overall in the Trial Competition Performance Rankings since 2016.