Athens, Ga. – Third-year students Erik S. Johnson and Brian P. Watt in the University of Georgia’s School of Law won all three categories in the regional round of the National Moot Court Competition held Nov. 12-13 in Atlanta.
The team, sponsored by the Atlanta law firm Hawkins & Parnell, won best team and best brief. Johnson also was named best oralist. In the preliminary round, Johnson and Watt defeated teams from Barry University, Emory University and the University of South Carolina. The team outargued Mercer University in the semifinals and Florida International University in the final round. Johnson and Watt will compete in the national tier of the tournament in January.
“This is a great start for our advocacy season,” said Kellie Casey Monk, the law school’s director of advocacy. “Once again, Georgia Law students have excelled in the regional round. This speaks volumes about the caliber of our students.”
This is the fifth consecutive year Georgia Law has captured the regional title in the National Moot Court Competition. Last year’s team also won best brief in the regional round and made it to the quarterfinals in the national tier.
The National Moot Court Competition is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious moot court tournament. Teams from more than 160 law schools enter the competition, which is sponsored by the American College of Trial Lawyers and the New York City Bar’s Young Lawyers Committee.
