Campbell Law student wins best advocate award at NTC Regional

RALEIGH - Campbell Law School advocate Thomas Lotito '26 won the Best Advocate Award and both Campbell Law teams advanced to the semi-finals at the TYLA National Trial Competition (NTC) for Region 5on Feb. 6-8 at the Forsyth County Courthouse in Winston-Salem. The competition was hosted by Wake Forest Law School.

Hailey LaRock '26 and Lotito made up Team 1 and were proudly coached by Jacob Morse '17 and Austin Graham '25.

"This is the fourth year in a row that both Campbell teams competing in the NTC regionals have 'made the break' and advanced to the elimination rounds of the tournament," Morse explained.

Paige Klink '27 and Wesley Altman '26 made up Team 2 and were proudly coached by Professors Charles Warren and Chris Cox, director of trial advocacy for the law school.

Serving as witnesses for both teams were Brittany Swanger '27, Hunter Walker '27, Connie Kuang '27and Jackson Haskell '27.

"Both Campbell teams put in a valiant effort but ended the tournament as semi-finalists," said Rene Shekmer, director of Competitive Advocacy for the law school. "A good showing by our Campbell teams who worked hard on their presentations. Congratulations to both teams and to Tommy Lotito for winning the Best Advocate Award."

In addition to Campbell Law, competitors from the following law schools included:

• Duke University
• North Carolina Central University
• The College of William & Mary
• Wake Forest University

The National Trial Competition is the largest and one of the most prestigious law school mock trial competitions in the country with the vast majority of law schools competing in the tournament's regional competitions.

According to its website, the NTC employs a unique format. It requires trial advocates to be nimble - developing sound cases, employing the rules of evidence, and being persuasive advocates. NTC adds another unique element. Lawyers only meet their witness just prior to the start of trial.

The NTC was established in 1975 to encourage and strengthen students' advocacy skills through quality competition and valuable interaction with members of the bench and bar. It is the oldest trial competition at any level - high school, college or law school.

The program is co-sponsored by the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) and is designed to expose law students to the nature of trial practice and to serve as a supplement to their education. It is the Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) intent to provide a meaningful contribution to the development of future trial lawyers.

The goal of the NTC is to provide student advocates with trials and witnesses that resemble what they may experience as new lawyers in trials where depositions for every witness just aren't feasible.

TYLA administers the competition, which attracts teams from more than 150 law schools and involves more than 1,000 law students each year. This year marked the first time NTC invited coaches to write the regional and national problems.

The Hon. Lewis F. Powell Medallion is presented annually to each regional finalist in the National Trial Competition, as a tribute to the accomplishments of those individuals.

ABOUT CAMPBELL LAW SCHOOL

Since its founding in 1976, Campbell Law has developed lawyers who possess moral conviction, social compassion, and professional competence, and who view the law as a calling to serve others. Among its accolades, the school has been recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) as having the nation's top Professionalism Program and by the American Academy of Trial Lawyers for having the nation's best Trial Advocacy Program. Campbell Law boasts nearly 5,000 alumni, who make their home in nearly all 50 states and beyond. In 2026, Campbell Law is celebrating 50 years of graduating legal leaders and 17 years of being located in a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of North Carolina's Capital City.

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