Campbell Law advocates headed to national AAJ Student Trial Advocacy Competition

RALEIGH - A team of Campbell Law School advocates won the Regional AAJ Student Trial Advocacy Competition (STAC) on Sunday, March 8, in Columbia, South Carolina.

The team consisting of Haydn Bauer '26, Mikenna Morrison '27, Beau Marlette '26 and Caroline Shabet '27 and their coach Rene Shekmer, director of competitive advocacy for the law school, are now headed to the national AAJ competition March 26-29 in New Orleans.

"Bauer and Morrison, our Defendant's advocates, started us off on Friday with a win over Elon Law School in the first round," Shekmer explained. "Marlette and Shabet, our Plaintiff's advocates, then did two rounds in a row on Saturday and got us into the semi-finals. Marlette and Shabet again did two rounds on Sunday, first advancing into the finals and then winning the final round against the University of South Carolina."

Shekmer said her team was professional, knowledgeable and quick on their feet, responding to objections and adjusting to court rulings with skill and ease.

"Beau, Caroline, Haydn, and Mikenna really worked as a team, improving their presentation with every round," she said. "Their final round trial presentation was like watching seasoned attorneys control the courtroom, the presentation of witness testimony and the admission of evidence with confidence."

The other Campbell Law team was made up of Jones Mullinax '26, Annaliese Spielman '26, David Olshinski '26 and Eva Cole '27, who were proudly coached by Maria Hawkins '12 and Megan Pope '25.

Each year, AAJ hosts the Student Trial Advocacy Competition (STAC), showcasing top future trial lawyers. This tournament is one of the premier trial advocacy competitions in the country. Regional Tournaments are held across the country, and the two winning teams from each region then compete in the National Finals. The winning team members are invited to join AAJ at its annual convention in July, with travel and registration costs provided by AAJ.

The Regional Tournaments were held March 5-8 with both in-person and virtual regions.

2026 STAC Regional Winners

Annapolis Region: Florida International University College of Law & Stetson University College of Law

Chicago Region: Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law & University of Notre Dame Law School

Columbia Region: Campbell University Norman A. Wiggins School of Law & Mercer University School of Law

Houston Region: UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law & University of Texas School of Law

New York City Region: Fordham University School of Law, Team 1 & 2

Philadelphia Region: Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law & Temple University Beasley School of Law

Pittsburgh Region: Duquesne University Thomas R. Kline School of Law & Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

Portland Region: University of Colorado Law School & University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law

Virtual ET Region: Howard University School of Law & University of Georgia School of Law

Virtual MT Region: UCLA School of Law, Team 1 & 2

ABOUT CAMPBELL LAW SCHOOL

Since its founding in 1976, Campbell Law School has developed lawyers who possess moral conviction, social compassion, and professional competence, and who view the law as a calling to serve others. Among its accolades, the school has been recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) as having the nation's top Professionalism Program and by the American Academy of Trial Lawyers for having the nation's best Trial Advocacy Program. Campbell Law boasts nearly 5,000 alumni, who make their home in nearly all 50 states and beyond. In 2026, Campbell Law is celebrating 50 years of graduating legal leaders and 17 years of being located in a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of North Carolina's Capital City.

Lisa Snedeker Writer