Wilmington University Law Students Shine in National Trial Competition

WilmU law student Xavier Hurt wins ‘Best Opening Statement’ in national trial competition
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Chapman University

The Wilmington University School of Law received national recognition after earning a top award at the inaugural Chapman Challenge Trial Competition held in California. Hosted by the Chapman University Fowler School of Law, the contest brought together 11 teams in a trial advocacy format focused on real-time performance and strategy. Teams litigated a fictional intellectual property case in which a deceased singer’s estate claimed a record label used AI to replicate her voice and likeness on a posthumous album.

Wilmington University law students Xavier Hurt and Genesis Joma represented the School of Law, coached by Associate Professor of Law Veronica J. Finkelstein. They joined forces with two peers from St. Mary’s University School of Law in Texas to form a hybrid team — the only one of its kind and the only group competing from outside California.

Facing off against established programs such as UCLA and Pepperdine, the hybrid team held its own throughout the competition. In a standout moment, Wilmington’s Hurt was awarded Best Opening Statement of the entire competition, surpassing 47 other students for the honor.

This year marked Wilmington University’s first entry into trial competitions, and its success signals strong momentum for the School of Law as it continues to grow, Finkelstein says.

“Advocacy competitions are an important part of the law school experience. They provide an opportunity for law students to take the skills they’ve learned in the classroom and practice them in a realistic setting that mimics what they’ll experience in practice. Competitions are also a lot of fun, and we had a wonderful time at Chapman, thanks to our excellent teammates from St. Mary’s.”

She speaks from experience. Finkelstein was a nationally competitive advocate in law school, representing Emory University School of Law in the National Moot Court and Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court competitions. A seasoned litigator and educator, she spent most of her career as an assistant U.S. attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice in Philadelphia before joining Wilmington University full-time. Known for her passion for teaching, Finkelstein brings real-world courtroom experience into the classroom, helping to guide and inspire a new generation of attorneys.

— Maria Hess