La Verne Law Teams Win at Thurgood Marshall Moot Court Competition

Two teams from the University of La Verne College of Law brought home awards after competing in the Western Regional Black Law Student Association’s Thurgood Marshall Moot Court Competition in Los Angeles in January.

Briana Benson won best oralist, and the team of Briana Benson and Sara Martinez won best respondent brief. Marcus King and Latosha Payne won best petitioner brief, as well as best overall brief.

The teams were coached by Dean McVay, adjunct professor and moot court competition coach.

“I could not be more proud of both of our University of La Verne teams and all four students,” McVay said. “They researched and wrote excellent appellate briefs, they practiced in excess of 16 practice rounds to prepare for the regional competition, and they spent much of their winter break preparing for the January competition. They are proof that hard work, determination and preparation pays off.”

The four students and McVay will travel to Ohio to compete with the highest placing teams from across the country this spring at the National Black Law Student Association National Conference.