TALLAHASSEE — The Florida State University College of Law Mock Trial Team has won first place in the 2016 Buffalo-Niagara Mock Trial Competition sponsored by the University at Buffalo School of Law, the New York State 8th Judicial District and the Bar Association of Erie County. The competition, which is one of the biggest national invitationals in the country, was held November 11-14 in Buffalo, New York. FSU was undefeated throughout the entire competition.

A total of 36 law schools participated in the competition, including teams from Fordham University, Northwestern University, University of California – Davis, University of Georgia, University of Houston, University of Illinois, University of Maryland and University of Texas.

Winning team members are third-year students Joseph Davis, from Marianna, Florida; Megan Gottschall, from Land O’ Lakes, Florida; Joseph Leavitt, from Lake Worth, Florida; and second-year student Rachel Lopez, from Littleton, Colorado. FSU alumni and former mock trial team members Ross Marshman (’12), who is assistant general counsel at the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity in Tallahassee, and Stacy Sharp (’09), who is an attorney at the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel in Tallahassee, coached the team to victory. Lopez also won the title of best advocate for the final round of competition.

“Congratulations to our wonderful student advocates and to their coaches,” said Dean Erin O’Connor. “To win first place in one of the nation’s largest mock trial competitions is an impressive feat.”