My father and I, and everyone at Sweetser Law Office, are excited to announce the founding of the Sweetser Law Closing Argument Competition, in coordination with Gonzaga Law School.
Sweetser Law’s endowed gift will establish an annual skills-based oral advocacy competition for Gonzaga Law students that focuses on monetary damages in the civil justice system.
Each year three participants are awarded scholarships based on their skills-based oral advocacy during a closing argument presentation that focuses on monetary damages in the civil justice system.
The purpose of the Sweetser Law Closing Argument Competition is to inspire future trial attorneys. Each year, a panel of trial attorneys and judges are appointed to evaluate students closing arguments, provide feedback, and select award recipients. The scholarship competition is available to all Gonzaga Law students (whether a first, second, or third-year student). Students interested in showcasing their oral advocacy or becoming future trial attorneys are encouraged to apply.
The Sweetser Law Closing Argument Competition requires students to prepare a closing argument under the pressure of time limitations. Students are provided a prompt with a tort law issue and required to prepare a closing argument asking the jury for an award of monetary damages. Students are given a time limit of approximately one hour to prepare. All participating students receive written feedback from judges and a videotaped recording of their closing argument and are encouraged to continue their growth as effective trial advocates.
Participating students, and the Gonzaga Law school community at large, are invited to the annual awards ceremony. During the awards banquet, the appointed panel of attorneys and judges, in conjunction with Sweetser Law Office and the Dean of Gonzaga Law School, announce selected recipients of the Sweetser Law Office Closing Argument Competition. During the ceremony, short clips of students’ exemplary arguments are highlighted by the panel. A plaque that hangs in the law school is engraved with the name of the 1st place recipient.
We would like to thank the Gonzaga Law School Foundation, Gonzaga Law School’s Alumni Association, Dean of Gonzaga Law School Jane B. Korn, Assistant Dean of External Affairs Jeff Geldien, and the Gonzaga Law School students who participated in focus groups that were instrumental in the development of the Annual Sweetser Law Closing Argument Competition.
Go Zags!
For more details visit the official page for the Sweetser Law Closing Argument Competition.
