Gianna Fina, Jennifer Gonzalez, Brittany Herbert, Devyn Nixon, and Alec Waid have been named the 2019-2020 Litigation Skills Fellows by Professor Laurence Rose, director of the program.
Each of the fellows completed Litigation Skills I during the 2018-2019 academic year and distinguished themselves in the program. Each fellow is selected based on his/her advocacy skills, dedication to the Litigation Skills Program, commitment to ethics and professionalism, and willingness to assist the program in furtherance of its goals.
“I am pleased to announce the selection of these excellent people from the group of applicants. They personify the ethics and professionalism upon which the program is based, and their commitment to promote the goals of the program is well noted,” said Rose.
Some fellowships are also based upon additional criteria, such as financial need, commitment to, or history of service, and leadership, Rose said. Additionally, fellows who have scholarship needs may receive a scholarship in recognition of their accomplishments and commitment.
During 2019-2020, the fellows will meet regularly to assist with the administration, demonstrations, and mentorship in the Litigation Skills I course, arrange for the presentation of speakers, assist in writing problem and case materials, and generally support the program. The fellows will also be invited to meet in a more formal setting with distinguished members of the bench and trial bar.
The Litigation Skills I course is comprised of weekly lectures and demonstrations supplemented by pretrial and trial workshops that each meet once a week. Grades are awarded on an honors/pass/fail basis. Final grades are determined based on student participation and performance in classroom simulations, as well as performance in a mid-semester bench trial and final jury trial.
The first year of the fellows program was 2013-14, funded through the generosity of donors, and includes the naming of the Lapidus Fellow, as well as donors Devang Desai J.D. ‘03, his law firm Gaebe Mullins, Guy Lewis, and our litigation skills faculty who forego their honoraria.
“The Litigation Skills Program continues to provide me with a unique platform to learn and strengthen my trial advocacy skills,” Nixon said. “The program allows students to practice and gain feedback from experienced attorneys and judges. I am excited to serve as a fellow this year so I can help the program and my fellow classmates become better advocates.”
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