South Texas College of Law Houston Gala

The South Texas College of Law Houston is having a gala honoring the South Texas Advocacy Program on Saturday, April 4, 2009. My mock trial partner, Rick Laminack, and I are honored to be the Co-Chairs of the historic event entitled “Celebration of the Century.” The black tie affair will be at the Hilton Americas-Houston Hotel and over 500 guests are expected to attend. Proceeds from the event will support the growth of the Advocacy Program for years to come.

South Texas College of Law Houston is the only law school in the country that can tout 100 national championships, and have won three times as many national championships as their nearest competitor. The Celebration of the Century would not have been possible without the leadership of Associate Dean T. Gerald Treece. In 1977, Coach Treece started with a handful of advocates and built the fledgling program into a national powerhouse offering the best moot court and mock trial training in the United States. A recent blog described the program as “The Evil Empire” by the way the program systematically rolls out winning briefs and arguments time-after-time, competition-after-competition. The celebration is also about the advocates who have been involved in the program along the way — and not just those who won national championships. It is about all of those advocates, brief writers, witnesses and participants who have played a vital role in making South Texas College of Law Houston the best advocacy law school in the country.

One more big piece of news coming out of the school is the recent hiring of its new dean, Donald J. Guter. Dean Guter will be replacing Dean James J. Alfini, president and current dean, on August 1, 2009. Dean Guter will have some big shoes to fill as Dean Alfini has raised the profile and academics at STCL. Dean Alfini has served admirably since 2003 and I am proud to call him a friend. But speaking of admirably, Dean Guter comes to the school with an excellent background, including serving as a rear admirable in the U.S. Navy and as dean of Duquesne University School of Law. I am proud to be a graduate of South Texas College of Law Houston.