Penn State Law

Penn State Law BLSA wins Mid-Atlantic Region Mock Trial Competition

The 2022 Penn State Law BLSA Mock Trial Team Credit: Taylor Washington. All Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — This past weekend, the Penn State Law in University Park Black Law Students Association Mock Trial Team won the Mid-Atlantic Region Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial Competition. 

The team is one of 18 teams in the country that have advanced to the national competition held in Memphis on March 16-20. The team won both of its preliminary rounds and then beat the University of Maryland in the semi-finals, and Washington & Lee in the finals.

"We’re so proud of our BLSA Mock Trial team continuing an amazing tradition of excellent advocacy," said Penn State Law professor and associate dean for research and partnerships Dara E. Purvis.

The team is comprised of Daijah Blackburn, Leilani Brown, Michelle Miles, and Taylor Washington and is coached by Penn State Law alumnas Kelsi Robinson (class of 2021), Tyla Swinton (class of 2021), and Amber Bynum (class of 2020). Christopher French, Penn State Law professor and director of the trial advocacy program said, "I could not be more proud of the team or its coaches. This is an outstanding achievement."

Additional awards from the weekend include:

  • Penn State Law won MABLSA Chapter of the Year (Medium Chapter)
  • Jordan Brown won 1L of the year for MABLSA (Mid-Atlantic Black Law Students Association)
  • Tiffany Onyeze, 1L, was elected Vice-Chair of MABLSA
  • Taylor Washington, 2L, was elected Chair of MABLSA
Last Updated February 24, 2022