Congratulations to the Iowa Law students who showcased their skills in the final competitions of the Appellate Advocacy Program! 

The Appellate Advocacy Program (AAII) offers second-year students a platform to hone their advocacy skills by preparing and presenting arguments on legal issues in a simulated adversarial environment. During oral arguments, students present their cases before a panel of judges, typically consisting of two students, one faculty member, and one practicing attorney or judge. 

The culminating events for this year’s Appellate Advocacy Program occurred on March 1, featuring two distinct competitions: the Jessup and Van Oosterhout-Baskerville (VOB). Siduri Beckman secured the top advocate award in the VOB competition, while Michael Acherkan claimed the title of best advocate in the Jessup competition. 

Michael Acherkan reflects on his rewarding experience in AAII, emphasizing the invaluable teamwork and support from his partners throughout the competition. 

“I had a great experience in AAII, and the teamwork aspect was awesome. I'm grateful for all the hard work my partner Isaac put in during the first round. I would have struggled a lot when it came time to switch issues if not for him. And Patty, my partner for the final round, was the best teammate anyone could have asked for. To me, that's the best part of Appellate Advocacy, teamwork that involves supporting your partner and trusting them to support you in the same way. It's extremely rewarding, and I recommend AAII to anyone looking to become a better advocate while in law school.” 

3L and executive director of AAII, Michael Hegarty, expresses immense pride in this year's award winners and incoming national competition teams. 

“The Board and I are so proud of this year’s award winners and the incoming national competition teams. Their achievements are the direct result of two semesters of hard work, not a second of which is lost on us. We cannot wait to follow their triumphs during Supreme Court Day, each of their national competitions, and the rest of their careers.” 

Isabelle Breitfelder, a 3L serving as the academic director of AAII, echoes Hegarty’s enthusiasm for seeing her peers excel. 

“I am incredibly excited for the final round advocates and those who will compete on the moot court teams next year,” says Isabelle. “As I was helping the final round advocates prepare and watching the final rounds, I realized how grateful I am for my time with the moot court programs and how fortunate those advocates are to have another year of moot court. I’m sure going to miss it!”