CSU|Law Moot Court Team Finishes Second at National Competition

Cleveland State University College of Law's Moot Court team of Riley Papa and Derek Bryan earned a second-place overall finish at the prestigious William B. Spong, Jr. Moot Court Tournament, hosted this weekend by the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Competing against 42 teams from law schools across the country, Papa and Bryan advanced through multiple rounds of rigorous appellate advocacy to secure their second-place finish; a significant national achievement.

Both Papa and Bryan are second-year CSU|Law students and members of the College's Moot Court program, which prepares students for high-level appellate advocacy through intensive legal research, brief writing, and oral argument training.

They were coached by Kevin Curran '23 and Molly Schmidt '23. Curran served as Moot Court Chair during his time as a student, and he and Schmidt were teammates before returning to support the program as alumni coaches. Their mentorship and leadership helped guide the team through a demanding national field.

The William B. Spong, Jr. Moot Court Tournament is a respected national advocacy competition that draws top law schools from across the country. The team's strong performance reflects the depth of talent within CSU|Law's advocacy programs and the College's continued commitment to excellence in practical legal training.