Posted by Mary Wimberley on 2008-04-09

A trial team from Samford University's Cumberland School of Law has claimed the national title in the 2008 American Association for Justice's student trial advocacy competition.

Team members Dillon Barker of Rogersville, Tenn., Lisha Li of Auburn, Julie McMakin of Huntsville and Anna Smith of Mobile defeated a South Texas College of Law team in the final round of competition held in West Palm Beach, Fla., April 6.

The Cumberland team defeated number-one ranked Temple University law school in the quarter-finals to advance to beat University of Richmond School of Law in the semi-final round.

The national competition culminates a series of regional eliminations that began with 224 teams vying nationwide.

Cumberland adjunct faculty member Mike Rasmussen is team coach.

 
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 is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 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 fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.