Nataley Davis | staff writer

Olivia Brophy described her team of three students that participated in a law competition the weekend of March 6 in Atlanta as “underdogs.”

“We felt like we had something to prove,” Brophy said. “We worked really hard since January perfecting not only our knowledge, but our skills.”

Despite any challenges, second-year Duquesne law student Brophy was named King & Spaulding United States National Round Best Advocate out of 360 participants at the Philip C. Jessup National Moot Court Competition the weekend of March 6 in Atlanta.

The team — which included Brophy, Darren McKenzie and Collin Ishimaru — received fifth Best Memorial in the nation out of 91 teams and advanced to the international round of the Jessup Competition in Washington, D.C., making them the first students from Duquesne to do so.

McKenzie finished as the 25th Best Advocate in the nation.

The Jessup Competition is the world’s largest international law moot court competition, with participants from 700 law schools in 100 countries to argue issues on international law, according to the International Law Students Association.

Brophy attributes the students’ successes to their passion for the craft and the fact they are a part of a student-run program.

“It’s not like we learn this information from our coaches and they tell us what to know. We are personally accountable for our research and our knowledge, so I think that added a layer of accountability for the team and for myself,” she said.

“I’ve always loved public speaking —
I’ve always loved forming a good argument.”

Erin Karsman, director of Duquesne’s Appellate Moot Court Program, said that she guides the team alongside coaches Amy Kerlin and Brian Davis, but the students take on a large responsibility in preparing for the competition.

McKenzie hopes that this year’s success can pave the way for future Duquesne competitors.

“It comes from generational knowledge that now we have competitors who have done this, they can continue on to next year or return to help coach or to help practice with the teams,” McKenzie said. “The goal is to make a reputation for Duquesne at this competition, so that way, when we show up, they know that we are international-round capable, and that we will continue to be so.”

The team is now preparing for the international round, where they will be one of 15 teams representing the United States during the week of March 28.
 

Ishimaru said that the team’s process is mostly unchanged, and they practice three to four times a week with mock arguments.

“There’s a lot of stuff that we learned while we were in Atlanta and it’s just very minor points that we’re refining, but for the most part, the approach is staying the same,” he said.

Karsman explained this is the second team Duquesne has ever sent to the Jessup. She asked McKenzie, who went last year, to return and chose Brophy and Ishimaru, who were already on the Appellate Moot Court Board, to join.

“It’s a full-year commitment, so we select students that are extremely hard working, diligent and dedicated, and able to do that sustained level of work over many, many months,” she said.

Karsman added that beyond just networking and debate experience, the competition gives students a certain firmness to bring into their careers.

“We’re going up against schools like Harvard and the top Ivy League schools … I think that gives the students a lot of confidence as they enter into their professional roles to know that, ‘Hey, I could do this. I can compete with anybody,’” she said.

Nataley Davis can be reached at davisn5@duq.edu