Rick Tast and Katie Joseph, second year law students at the University of Nebraska College of Law, won the 41st American Bar Association’s National Client Counseling Competition at the University of Oklahoma College of Law on March 21-22.
Their victory is the College of Law’s third national championship in the last six years and the college’s fourth national championship since it began competing in the competition in 1974. Tast and Joseph were coached by professors Alan Frank and Craig Lawson.
The competition simulates a law office consultation in which law students, acting as attorneys, are presented with a client matter. They conduct an interview with a person playing the role of the client and then explain how they would proceed further in the hypothetical situation.
“We are so proud of Rick and Katie,” Dean Susan Poser said. “They dedicated a tremendous amount of time and energy in preparing for the competition. I am thrilled that all of their work was rewarded with a victory. It is a testament to their tenacity and to the dedication that Professor Frank and Professor Lawson have to the students and to the incredible learning opportunity that this competition provides.”
Tast and Joseph competed against 11 other teams at the national competition. All of the teams were selected from a pool of 118 teams representing 76 law schools that took part in 12 regional competitions in early February.
The duo will represent the United States on April 9-12 in the Brown Mosten International Client Consultation Competition, which will take place April 9-12 in Puerto Rico.
