Campbell University

03/30/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/30/2026 15:35

Campbell Law advocates defeat UCLA to win AAJ national championship

Campbell Law advocates defeat UCLA to win AAJ national championship

March 30, 2026

RALEIGH - A team of Campbell Law School advocates won the national American Association for Justice (AAJ) Student Trial Advocacy Competition (STAC) on Sunday, March 29, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The team consisting of Haydn Bauer '26, Beau Marlette '26, Mikenna Morrison '27 and Caroline Shabet '27 and their coach Rene Shekmer, director of competitive advocacy for the law school, won the Columbia (S.C) Regional Competition earlier this month and went on to defeat a team from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law in the national finals held March 26-29.

Marlette was also awarded the Best Advocate Award in the National Final Round, according to the STAC.

"Thank you to all the students, coaches, judges and volunteers who made 2026 STAC a success," organizers wrote on the AAJ STAC website.

Semifinalists were teams from Florida International University College of Law and the University of Nevada at Las Vegas (UNLV) William S. Boyd School of Law, while quarterfinalists were teams from Howard University School of Law, Mercer University School of Law, UCLA School of Law (Team 2) and the University of Colorado Law School.

Shekmer said her team was professional, knowledgeable and quick on their feet, responding to objections and adjusting to court rulings with skill and ease.

"Beau, Caroline, Haydn, and Mikenna really worked as a team, improving their presentation with every round," she said after the team's Regional performance. "Their final round trial presentation was like watching seasoned attorneys control the courtroom, the presentation of witness testimony and the admission of evidence with confidence."

Each year, AAJ hosts the Student Trial Advocacy Competition (STAC), showcasing top future trial lawyers. This tournament is one of the premier trial advocacy competitions in the country. Regional Tournaments are held across the country, and the two winning teams from each region then compete in the National Finals. The winning team members are invited to join AAJ at its annual convention in July, with travel and registration costs provided by AAJ.

2026 STAC Regional Winners

  • Annapolis Region: Florida International University College of Law & Stetson University College of Law
  • Chicago Region: Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law & University of Notre Dame Law School
  • Columbia Region: Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law & Mercer University School of Law
  • Houston Region: UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law & University of Texas School of Law
  • New York City Region: Fordham University School of Law, Team 1 & 2
  • Philadelphia Region: Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law & Temple University Beasley School of Law
  • Pittsburgh Region: Duquesne University Thomas R. Kline School of Law & Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
  • Portland Region: University of Colorado Law School & University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law
  • Virtual ET Region: Howard University School of Law & University of Georgia School of Law
  • Virtual MT Region: UCLA School of Law, Team 1 & 2

The AAJ is proud to partner with the National Association of Legal Advocacy Educators (NALAE) to host the STAC. Competition details can be found at this link.

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 more than 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.

Contributors

Lisa Snedeker Writer

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