March 12, 2018

VICTORY! Southwestern wins First Place at the 42nd Annual Robert F. Wagner National Labor and Employment Law Moot Court Competition!

Southwestern made history Sunday as Moot Court Team Wagner, Michael Alfera, Xhesi Hysi, and Reneh Sepanosian, placed first at the 42^nd Annual Robert F. Wagner National Labor and Employment Law Moot Court Competition, held at New York Law School. This momentous occasion marks Southwestern's first championship in 20 years of competing at Wagner!

Southwestern bested 39 other teams from law schools around the country and clinched the win in a close match against UC Hastings in the final round. Final oralists, Michael Alfera and Xhesi Hysi, both Biederman Scholars, were the images of calm, cool, and collected, impressing the judges and drawing special praise for their performances. (Watch their winning arguments in the livestream below!)

On returning home as a champion, Michael Alfera says, "I owe many thanks to some really special people. First to our coach, Dean Chris Cameron, as well as our Moot Court faculty advisors, Catherine Carpenter and Alexandra D'Italia. I have been thoroughly schooled by each of these wonderful professors over the past few months on how to be a successful oral advocate; their unmatchable instruction and care gave us a strong foundation from which to grow and to prepare for this competition."

Likewise, his teammates, Xhesi Hysi and Reneh Sepanosian, wanted to express their thanks to their team coaches and to their supporters. Xhesi says, “Thank you to Dean Cameron, Professor Carpenter, and Professor D’Italia, and to everyone who judged us for practice rounds. We wouldn’t be here without them! As Leslie Knope says, ‘No one achieves anything alone.’” 

Reneh added, “Thank you to Professor D’Italia, Professor Carpenter, Dean Cameron, and our judges.”

Let's hear it for Team Wagner! #GOBISONS #VICTORY