Mississippi College School of Law Dominates the Duberstein National Memorial Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition.

Jackson, MS - Two teams from Mississippi College School of Law (MCSOL) dominated the 15th Annual Chief Judge Conrad B. Duberstein National Memorial Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition March 16-19, 2007 in Queens, New York. MCSOL students Whitney Adams and Katie Childs placed second overall at the competition, the second consecutive year a MCSOL team has placed second overall at the Duberstein competition. MCSOL students Amos Maley and Katrina Robinson advanced to the competition's quarterfinal arguments, giving MCSOL two of the final eight teams at this year's Duberstein competition.

"I was extremely honored to represent Mississippi College School of Law in this prestigious competition and do as well as we did," said Childs, who also competed on the MCSOL team that placed second overall at the 2006 Duberstein competition.

"It was very exciting to have two teams in the top eight out of the entire country, and then to finish second was simply thrilling," Adams said. "The support our teams received from the bankruptcy bar, professors, and other students gave us an invaluable edge and contributed greatly to our success."

William H. "Bill" Leech, a member of the Ridgeland, Mississippi, law firm of Copeland, Cook, Taylor & Bush and the coach of MCSOL's Duberstein teams for the past ten years, said there are many who deserve credit for this year's accomplishments.

"The success of our teams is attributable to a number of factors: an administration, especially the Dean and the Director of  Appellate Advocacy,  deeply committed to a strong oral advocacy program in general and to the Duberstein Competition teams in particular; the Mississippi Bankruptcy Conference, which provides substantial financial resources for this competition; the Bankruptcy judiciary and bar, which provide enormous professional assistance in helping our teams prepare for oral argument; and, most of all, two teams of very outstanding, intelligent, and committed law students who worked tirelessly to achieve the tremendous success which they richly deserved."

During the past decade, MCSOL has enjoyed great success at the Duberstein competition. MCSOL was the 1997 Duberstein competition champion, and MCSOL teams have placed second overall at the competition three other times since 1996. MCSOL teams have been honored with the Duberstein competition's Best Brief Award four times since 1998, and a MCSOL competitor was recognized with the competition's Best Oralist Award in 2001. Childs says this history of success helps MCSOL's competitors prepare for the Duberstein competition.

"When you know of our tradition at Duberstein, you definitely work a little harder to make sure you do well," Childs said. "That (tradition) inspires you to work hard to continue that success."

St. John's University School of Law and the American Bankruptcy Institute sponsor the Duberstein National Memorial Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition. MCSOL's teams are sponsored by the Mississippi Bankruptcy Conference.

Danny Ruhl of Copeland, Cook, Taylor & Bush assists Bill Leech with the coaching of MCSOL's Duberstein teams. Victoria Lowery, MCSOL's Director of Appellate Advocacy and Moot Court Board Faculty Advisor, advises the teams.