News Center: News Releases

USD Law Students Win "Best Brief" at Duberstein Moot Court Competition

San Diego (March 8, 2011) – University of San Diego School of Law (USD) won "Best Brief" at this year’s Duberstein Moot Court Competition at St. John’s University School of Law in Queens, N.Y.

With more than 50 law school teams competing, Jamie Altman and Andrew Minear won "Best Brief." This is the highest brief-writing finish for any team from USD to date.

The Duberstein team members who participated in the New York phase of the competition were: Jamie Altman, Andrew Minear, Max Carpinelli, and Phil Stemler. Lauren Hargrove also participated in the San Diego phase and travelled with the team to New York.

The team was coached by Associate Dean and Professor of Law Mary Jo Wiggins; by attorneys from Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch, LLP, including Jeff Isaacs and Philip Giacinti; and by attorney Edward Silverman of Sandler Lasry Laube Byer & Valdez and attorney Marty McCauliffe.

Special thanks to John Ryan, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge (Retired); John Hargrove, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge (Retired); Chief Judge Peter W. Bowie of the Southern District of California, Bankruptcy Judge Laura Taylor, and Bankruptcy Judge Margaret Mann who opened up their courtrooms and presided at oral argument practice sessions before the New York competition.

See the competition's full results online.

About Duberstein Moot Court

The annual Duberstein Moot Court Competition is the premier, nationwide competition that attracts law school teams from around the United States each March at St John’s University in Queens, N.Y. The competition involves appellate brief writing and two days of oral arguments about a pressing issue facing the Bankruptcy Bar as selected for argument by prominent bankruptcy practitioners.

About the University of San Diego School of Law

The University of San Diego School of Law is a center of academic excellence focused on preparing its students for legal practice in the new century. One of the most selective law schools in the country, the School of Law’s nationally recognized faculty create a demanding, yet welcoming environment that emphasizes individualized education. USD law school graduates consistently score higher than the state average on the California Bar Exam and go on to practice law throughout the country and abroad, forming an influential network of alumni. USD School of Law is one of only 81 law schools in the country to have a chapter of the Order of the Coif, the most distinguished rank of American law schools. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Founded in 1954, the law school is part of the University of San Diego, a private, nonprofit, independent, Roman Catholic university chartered in 1949.