Third year law student TerryAnn Howell wins National Trial Team Award

Third year law student TerryAnn Howell took home the Exceptional Advocate honor during the Seventeenth Annual National White Collar Crime Mock Trial Invitational sponsored by the Georgetown University Law Center Barrister’s Council. The White Collar Crime Invitational is a three-day trial advocacy competition which features a federal criminal trial focused on white collar issues and for Howell it was an experience of a lifetime.

“Being in Washington, D.C. to represent FIU Law was an amazing experience and a huge honor. One of our coaches Professor H.T. Smith told us, ‘pressure is privilege’ which served as was our motto throughout the entire competition. It was my privilege, while under pressure, to represent my school with passion, pride and principle.”

This year’s tournament was held at the H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse at Judiciary Square in Washington, D.C. and featured 80 student competitors from 20 law schools, including Georgetown, George Washington, John Marshall, South Texas, Stanford, and the University of Virginia.

The competition consists of three guaranteed preliminary rounds, followed by a semi-final and final round. During each mock trial each student advocate is expected to conduct the direct examination of a witness, the cross examination of a witness, and to present either the opening statement or the closing argument of the case. The advocates are evaluated on their professionalism in making routine objections and handling exhibits. A judge and a “jury” of experienced trial attorneys scores the performances.

TerryAnn Howell, Yanelis Zamora (2L), Sally Pendleton (3L), and Dylan Gonzalez (3L) made up the FIU Law team and took on the toughest squads during the opening rounds; narrowly missing the chance to reach the Final Four. Professor H.T. Smith, who directs the Trial Advocacy Program, has nothing but pride for his students, “Our students continue to compete with passionate, principled advocacy and excel against the most prestigious law schools in the country.”