KU Law wins fifth-straight NNALSA moot court championship

LAWRENCE — For the fifth consecutive year, a University of Kansas School of Law team won first place at the National Native American Law Student Association (NNALSA) Moot Court Competition, which took place Feb. 14-15 in Las Vegas. Sixty teams from law schools across the country competed in the event hosted by the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in conjunction with the Indian Nations Gaming and Governance (INGG) Program and UNLV Native American Law Student Association. The competition consists of a simulated appellate-level proceeding, where teams make arguments to a panel of judges and answer questions. Judges assess the quality of legal reasoning, oral advocacy and knowledge of case law.

KU Law was represented by four teams in the competition: third-year student Kas Caton and first-year student Zach Wallentine; third-year student Thomas Ward and second-year student Cody White; second-year students Lane Barrette and Lucas Dorrell; and first-year student Ashley MacDonald and second-year student Alex Nelson. 

MacDonald and Nelson clinched the win, earning KU’s fifth-straight NNALSA championship. The pair also took home the second-place brief award, and Nelson took home the best speaker award.

The teams were coached by KU Law alumni Nancy Musick, L’19, and Sarah Otto, L’18, both of whom competed in this event when they were law students.

“The NNALSA Moot Court tournament was the best experience that I have had as a law student so far,” MacDonald said. “My partner Alex and I could not have done it without Nancy Musick and Sarah Otto giving so much of their time and energy to make sure that we were prepared. In addition, our teammates were there for us every step of the way, and our arguments and performance would have been impossible without them. It was amazing to be part of such a successful team, and I cannot wait to do it again next year.”

KU Law’s Moot Court Program consistently ranks among the top 30 most successful programs in the country. This tradition of excellence stems from the support students receive from alumni judges and coaches who help them prepare for competitions.

“First place, five years in a row — what the NNALSA teams and coaches have achieved is simply outstanding. Nancy and Sarah have been coaching our NNALSA teams while maintaining full-time law practices,” said Pam Keller, director of KU Law’s Moot Court Program. “Their leadership and commitment to the students and KU Law have been extraordinary.”

The support of dedicated alumni who give their time to judge practice rounds also contributes to KU’s remarkable record at this competition. This year, the team received support from Chris Birzer, L’24; Emily Depew, L’23; Aidan Graybill, L’21; Kyle Klucas, L’19; Dan Kopp, L’19; and Mat Petersen, L’18.

“KU has a long and storied history of success at NNALSA, and this year's result was built by so many people working together,” said Nelson. “Our coaches, Nancy Musick and Sarah Otto, are phenomenal, and I've learned so much from the students who competed in this competition before. I feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of this fantastic program, which is successful because of the team and community that we have.”

More highlights from the 2024-2025 competition season:

• Third-year students Easton Hunt and Ellie Moser placed in the top 10 out of 40 teams at the Wagner National Labor and Employment Law Moot Court Competition at New York Law School in March.
• Third-year students Samantha Crawford and Andrew Murphy reached the final four of the Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition in New York in March. The pair were also finalists in the Seventh Circuit’s regional competition.
• Third-year students Joshua Lollar, Emily Moyes and Gabby Phillips advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Jeffrey G. Miller National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition in New York in February.
• Third-year students Quan Nguyen and Leah Stein advanced to the quarterfinal round of the National Criminal Procedure Moot Court Competition in San Diego in November.