–Barry Law School takes first place in New York University’s (NYU) annual National Immigration Law Competition, second place for best brief and second place for best advocate –
Orlando, Fla. (Feb. 5, 2019) – Barry University School of Law’s moot court team won first place at the National Immigration Law Competition (ILC) — New York University’s (NYU) annual external moot court competition. In addition, the moot court team also won second place for best brief, and student Andraya Jackson received the second-best advocate award for the preliminary rounds.
The national competition focuses on cutting-edge issues in the field of immigration law. Barry Law’s team, comprised of Jackson and teammate Eric Sorice, competed against 34 ABA-accredited law school teams from across the country, including top schools such as: Columbia, Georgetown, and the flagship state law schools of Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Led by Moot Court Faculty Director and Professor Terri Day, the team advanced to the finals after participating in six grueling rounds over a two-day period.
“The Barry Law family could not be more proud of our moot court team and Professor Day,” said Leticia M. Diaz, Ph.D., J.D., Dean and Professor of Law, Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law. "Their hard work, dedication, and excellence help raise Barry Law’s national reputation.”
The competitors argued on and off-brief. The case involved a permanent non-citizen’s collateral attack of a removal order based on: (1) whether a conviction under state law for child endangerment is a crime of moral turpitude for purposes of removal; and (2) whether the immigration judge’s failure to inform a non-citizen of discretionary relief violates procedural due process. Immigration attorneys judged the six preliminary rounds. The Honorable Judge Costa from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Honorable Judge Katzmann from the U.S. Court of International Trade judged the final round.
“It was a privilege to coach this team,” said Professor Day. “Both Ms. Jackson and Mr. Sorice are superior advocates. Consistently, the immigration practitioners who judged the preliminary rounds commented that our Barry team argued better than many attorneys they encounter in their practice. I know these two (Jackson and Sorice) have bright futures as appellate lawyers.”
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ABOUT BARRY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW:
Established in 1999, the Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law in Orlando offers a quality legal education in a caring, diverse environment. A Catholic-oriented institution, Barry Law School challenges students to accept intellectual, personal, ethical, spiritual, and social responsibilities, and commits itself to assuring an atmosphere of religious freedom. Barry University School of Law is fully accredited by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association, 321 North Clark Street Chicago, IL 60654, (312) 988-6738.
ABOUT BARRY LAW’S MOOT COURT:
Barry Law’s Moot Court Board is an invitational organization composed of upper-class students selected on the basis of academic achievement and oral advocacy skills. Membership is designed to strengthen the skills needed for trial and appellate brief writing and oral advocacy. Members of moot court also work with first-year Legal Writing students in preparation for their oral arguments and prepare an intra-school competition for new applicants to the Board. Members receive credit for participation in Moot Court Board activities and competitions.