by Jaime Welch-Donahue

Joshua D. Heslinga ’06 received the National Best Advocate award earlier this month in Chicago at the National Appellate Advocacy Competition sponsored by the American Bar Association’s Law Student Division.

The William & Mary team of Heslinga, Catherine Molloy ’06 and Eric Pohlner ’06 were one of four teams to advance to the nationals from the regionals in Charleston. At Charleston the team won Best Brief and Heslinga won Best Advocate.

“My teammates were fantastic partners in developing our arguments and in the competitions,” said Heslinga. He noted that the team benefited a great deal by comments from alumni and faculty who donated time for practice sessions. “Our team was fortunate to have had significant help from Moot Court Advisor Douglas E. Miller ’95, U.S. Magistrate Judge Tommy E. Miller ’73, Moot court alumna Emily Cromwell Meyer ’05 and Professors William Van Alstyne and Dave Douglas.”

Heslinga earned his undergraduate degree at Washington and Lee University and worked in information technology before entering law school. He will join Troutman Sanders in Richmond after graduation. His wife Christine Garnavish Heslinga ’01 also practices law in Richmond with Hancock Daniel Johnson & Nagle.

The William & Mary team was one of 20 teams competing at nationals. National first place honors were awarded to a team from Regent University Law School.

2005-06 Moot Court and Trial Team Top Finishes

Moot Court

George Mason University Law & Economics Competition
1st Place Overall Winners: Shari Diener ’06, Evelyn Protano ’06, Paul Sumilas ’06

ABA Regionals (Charleston)
One of Four Regional Winners and Best Brief (team):

Joshua Heslinga ’06, Catherine Molloy ’06, Eric Pohlner ’06

Best Advocate: Joshua Heslinga ’06

ABA Nationals
National Best Advocate Award: Joshua Heslinga ’06

Regent University Moot Court Tournament
2nd Place: Matthew Barndt ’06, David M. Morisson ’06, Michael Sweikar ’06

Trial Team

Michigan State Trial Tournament
Semi-Finalists:

Aimee Byrne ’06, Nicholas DePalma ’06, Emily Jones ’06, Lee Kaufman ’06

Best Opening Statement: Aimee Byrne’06
Best Overall Advocate: Nicholas DePalma ’06

ABA Employment Law Tournament
Semi-Finalists: Sandhya Ganapathy ’06, Shawan Gillians ’07 , Elizabeth Martin ’07, Ashleigh Schuller ’06

St. John’s Trial Tournament
Finalists: Bereket Bisrat ’07, Melanie Friend ’06, Elizabeth McElroy ’07, Jamie Mickelson ’07

National Trial Competition
Semi-Finalists: Nicholas DePalma’06, Elizabeth McElroy’07, Tanner Nielson ’07

ATLA Trial Competition
Semi-Finalists: Bereket Bisrat ’07, Aimee Byrne ’06, Emily Jones ’06, Matthew Mall ’07