Third-year law student Solena Laigle won top honors as Best Advocate at the William W. Daniel National Mock Trial Competition after being unanimously ranked as top advocate in every round she tried. Laigle was competing as part of the National Trial Team squad that also included 2L Matt Capacete, 3L Katherine Cordy, and 2L Farai Shawa. While the team did not advance, Professor Marian Braccia, who served as coach alongside A. Victoria Shilton LAW ’93, said the outcome did not reflect their performance. “It was an honor to coach this squad. The discipline and work ethic they embody are second to none,” said Professor Braccia. “The bond we formed was built on respect, passion, wit, and a commitment to making the team, not any individual, a success. This is a superb group of young litigators, and our profession will be lucky to welcome them in a few short months.”

The William W. Daniel Mock Trial Competition is an Atlanta-based competition sponsored by the Georgia Young Lawyers Division and hosted at the Georgia State University College of Law.  The team competed against teams from around the country including Georgia State University College of Law, the University of Georgia School of Law, and the University of Mississippi School of Law.