CHICAGO, March 7, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Anthony Sam, a third-year student at The John Marshall Law School, won first place at the Animal Law Advocacy Closing Argument Competition at Harvard Law School on Feb. 26. This is his second first-place win at this competition, and the fifth first-place win for students from the Chicago law school.
The law school first won the national title in 2008. In 2009, two John Marshall students competed in the final round and each was awarded first place after three tie-breaker rounds. In 2010, Sam won the first place award and this year he repeated his success.
Sam and third-year student Steve Tschiggfrie represented John Marshall at this year's two-day competition. They were among the 16 competitors in the preliminary round. Sam advanced to the second round as one of four finalists. Sam argued a case of animal cruelty against a man who was charged with killing a woman's pets in retribution for making his sexual advances public.
In the final round, Sam represented the defendant. He said the final round is a very fast- paced bench trial, with the judges interrupting with questions. Sam, who hopes to become a trial attorney, said the competition win was a wonderful culmination of weeks of practice.
Sam and Tschiggfrie were coached by Professor Susann MacLachlan, director of the Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution, and alumnus David Lipschutz, a 2009 co-winner. "They put a lot of work and heart and soul into this competition, and I know my win was possible because of them," Sam said.
Alumnus Mark Pedowitz sponsors the team.
"The law school, the teams and I are all very grateful to Mark Pedowitz for both his financial support and his dedication to the advancement of animal welfare through the law," said MacLachlan.
Marilyn Thomas
Director, Public Relations
312-360-2661
6thomas@jmls.edu
The John Marshall Law School
315 S. Plymouth Ct.
Chicago, IL 60604
www.jmls.edu
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