Hatcher and Hagen Capture Top Honors in Durham, Pittard & Spalding, L.L.P. Fall Moot Court Competition
The Durham, Pittard & Spalding, L.L.P. Fall Moot Court Competition recently concluded with an impressive final round highlighting Baylor Law School students’ preparation, skill, and resilience. After multiple rounds of arguments over three weeks, the team of Jake Hatcher and Sam Hagen emerged as this year’s champions, representing the Respondent. The team of Katie Stepek and Savanna Walker earned runner-up honors after a strong performance in the final round.
The semifinal teams were Graciela Schulz and William Tucker, and Justin Paley and Thomas Martin.
Oral advocacy awards were also presented:
- Top Speaker: Daniela Castillo
- Second Place: Jake Hatcher
- Third Place: Esha Lohray
Other Top Ten Speakers, listed alphabetically, were Leo Lee, Alli Mills, Evan Patel, Izabella Russell, Michael Russo, William Tucker, and Savanna Walker.
Learning Through Competition
For Hatcher and Hagen, the path to the final round was paved with long hours of preparation and teamwork. “Although we had separate issues during the competition, we did our best to operate as one unit,” Hatcher explained. “We spent many hours in study rooms and on the phone practicing, debriefing, and reviewing feedback. The biggest thing was making sure we were on the same page about what our stance was and what we needed to communicate for our side to be persuasive.”
Hagen noted that their persistence was key: “The competition required me to take everything I have learned so far in law school and then apply it in front of my classmates and professors. The feedback I received will also allow me to better prepare for new challenges.”
Facing the Judges
Arguing before the final panel, which included practicing attorneys, Baylor Law faculty, and past winners, was a defining moment. “In my opinion, it was only intimidating for the few seconds right before you start speaking,” Hatcher said. “Once you actually start, it feels like riding a bike. You know the arguments, you know the case law, and we had just competed in two weeks’ worth of rounds prior to the final. We walked into the room confident that we could answer the questions they were going to throw at us.”
Hagen described the experience as both challenging and motivating: “Arguing in front of the final judges was a great opportunity to see how our legal arguments would hold up under strict scrutiny. Especially heading into tryouts for legal advocacy teams, this was a great chance to learn what will be expected of us later in our law school career.”
Building Skills and Confidence
The competition problem presented two significant questions under Texas premises-liability law: whether Texas should abolish the common-law tripartite classification system for premises-liability cases, and whether the district court correctly determined that the Petitioner was a licensee when she was injured on the Respondent’s property.
Working through these issues sharpened the students’ advocacy skills. “The most important thing I learned was the importance of preparation,” Hatcher reflected. “Your confidence comes from knowing the case law and the material just as well, if not better, than anybody else. Advocacy skills won’t serve you well if you don’t talk about the relevant issues to the case.”
For Hagen, the competition built confidence in his ability to meet new challenges. “After this experience, I feel a lot more comfortable when it comes to my ability to learn and articulate the law,” he said. “It gave me a better sense of how to tackle complex issues under pressure.”
Tradition and Honor
Both winners expressed gratitude for the honor of joining the Barrister Society as champions, highlighting the skills they gained through the experience. “Dean Counseller put it best when he said, ‘The moot court competition is where everything you’ve been learning during your first year starts coming together,’” Hatcher said. “It is extremely valuable for practical learning to put your class topics into practice in a competition. Joining the Barrister Society represents both a milestone in our legal education and a reminder of the kind of lawyers we strive to become.”
Hagen added, “Joining the Barrister Society as a champion is an indescribable feeling. I remember seeing the plaque with all the previous winners on my first tour of the law school. I never thought I would be able to join that list, and I am proud of the hard work Jake and I put in to achieve that honor.”
A Collective Effort
Professor Jessica Kincaid, who is the faculty advisor for the annual event, praised the collaboration that makes the competition possible:
“The Fall Moot Court Competition brings together many parts of our Baylor Law community. From the Moot Court officers who organize the schedule, to the barristers and faculty who serve as judges, to the staff who manage the countless logistics of rounds over three weeks—this competition would not be possible without their dedication. Most importantly, I want to thank our students for their dedication and professionalism. Finally, we are deeply grateful to Durham, Pittard & Spalding, L.L.P., for sponsoring this year’s competition. Their commitment to advocacy and legal education helps us continue providing students with the rigorous training that sets Baylor Lawyers apart.”
Preparing Practice-Ready Advocates
The Durham, Pittard & Spalding, L.L.P. Fall Moot Court Competition is a key component of LARC 3: Persuasive Communications, bridging classroom learning with real-world application. Supported by faculty, alumni, and the generous sponsorship of Durham, Pittard & Spalding, Baylor Law School provides its students with the opportunity to learn not only the theory of advocacy but to practice it under pressure.
