By: Emma Kapp

The Ohio State Moritz College of Law's trial team program was recently ranked sixth in the nation by the 2022-23 GAVEL Rankings. These rankings are based on national mock trial competition results and are a recognized measure of success of a trial advocacy program. Additionally, the GAVEL Rankings are one of two recognized rankings specifically for trial advocacy competition programs. The team's efforts and strong performance in two challenging national competitions helped secure their sixth-place ranking, tying with Chicago-Kent College of Law. This is the first time Ohio State’s team has been ranked in the top 25.

The team of students who won their region, advanced to nationals, and finished as quarterfinalists in the All-Star Bracket Challenge in fall 2022 included Kendall Beard, Pat Finn, Julie Howard, Gabby Dachtler, Clay Owens and Sarah Paul. This spring, Julie Howard and Sarah Paul won Region 7 and were quarterfinalists at the National Trial Competition. The team is coached by Professor Elizabeth I. Cooke and alumni assistant coaches Jess Ackerman and Nate Ecker.

The GAVEL Rankings are tabulated and created by Professor Jared Rosenblatt, special professor of law at Hofstra Law School and faculty advisor to Hofstra's Trial Advocacy Association.

Pictured, from left: Michaela Davis, Julie Howard, Sarah Paul and Pat Finn. Howard and Paul won Region 7 and were quarterfinalists at nationals, and Davis and Finn served as witnesses.

Support for Trial Advocacy at Moritz 

Nationally known trial lawyer Frank C. Woodside III '69 donated $1 million for an Endowed Clinical Professorship in Trial Advocacy. It is the first endowed clinical professorship at the college and helps law students to further develop the skills necessary to be successful trial lawyers, which is vital to the transition from the study of law to the courtroom.  

“Trial advocacy is a passion of mine,” said Woodside. “Introducing law students to the skills necessary to be successful trial lawyers is vital to their successful transition from the study of law to the courtroom. I am proud and honored to establish this endowed professorship.” 

Elizabeth Cooke '94 was selected as the recipient of the Frank C. Woodside III Clinical Professor in Trial Advocacy. Cooke spent the better part of the 1990s as a litigator in Columbus before joining the law faculty at Ohio State, where she teaches in the Civil Law Clinic. 

Cooke said she was honored to receive the professorship and is excited to further Woodside’s vision of educating and encouraging the next generation of trial lawyers. 

“It was so important to me because I really care about building students’ trial skills. Litigation skills are essential and transferable to everything that lawyers do professionally,” Cooke said.  

While his passion for trial advocacy certainly played a role in creating this professorship, ultimately Woodside said he wanted to give back to the college that gave so much to him. 

“I tell people all the time; the law school was good to me. It put me on a career path that I wouldn’t have otherwise had. So, because the law school was good to me, I do my best to be good to the law school and the students at Moritz.” 

Learn more about Frank Woodside and the Endowed Clinical Professorship in Trial Advocacy.