The law school’s acclaimed Advocacy Institute—the constellation of classroom and courtroom experiences that build students’ skills in the vital art of advocacy—welcomed new leadership with deep roots in the craft.

Entering its 12th year, the Institute is now co-led by Professor Christine Pedigo Bartholomew, vice dean for student achievement, and prior vice dean for academic affairs, who has served on the Institute’s board of directors for several years; and Jennifer Scharf ’05, vice dean for career services, known for her longtime work as an instructor and director of the trial advocacy program. They succeed faculty member Anthony O’Rourke, the law school’s Joseph W. Belluck and Laura L. Aswad Professor of Civil Justice.

In six years as the Institute’s director, O’Rourke solidified the program’s foundation, enhancing the law school’s advocacy curriculum, securing physical space for the program in downtown Buffalo, and putting the Institute on firm financial footing with the launch of an endowment campaign now totaling over $2 million. He also spearheaded the creation of a concentration in advocacy, available to students who complete a robust set of advocacy-related courses.

As the new co-directors of the Institute, Bartholomew and Scharf’s priorities are focused on continuing O’Rourke’s work to enhance the Institute’s nationwide reputation, expand community outreach, elevate the advocacy curriculum, and amplify the Institute’s impact.

“Every program at the law school is interrelated with some other component,” Bartholomew says. “Nobody comes to law school being a perfect advocate. You have to know the law, but you also have to understand the rules of evidence, know the procedure that limits how you frame your arguments, put those pieces together, and find your own voice as a lawyer.”

Launched in 2014, The Advocacy Institute is comprised of the law school’s programs in trial advocacy, appellate advocacy and alternative dispute resolution, and houses the law school’s Innocence and Justice Project, directed by Associate Professor Alexandra Harrington.

The Institute operates with guidance and support from its National Advisory Board, led by Chair Terrence M. Connors ’71. This year the board welcomed six new members: Hon. Suzanne Maxwell Barnes ’87, Erie County Court judge; John P. Comerford ’95, senior partner, Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford LLP in Buffalo; Elizabeth Fox-Solomon ’06, interim director, D.C. Office of Human Rights; Hon. Thomas P. Franczyk, Erie County Court judge (ret.); Brian M. Melber ’96, partner, Personius Melber LLP in Buffalo, and president of the Bar Association of Erie County; and Leslie A. Travis ’05, legal counsel, Office of the Governor of Guam.

Scharf will continue to direct trial advocacy, now with logistical and strategic support from Lisa Bauer, director of competitions, and Dawn Skopinski, associate director of the Institute. Lucinda Finley, Frank G. Raichle Professor of Trial and Appellate Advocacy, directs the appellate advocacy program, and clinical instructor and renowned practitioner Steve Sugarman ’85 directs the mediation component.

School of Law faculty as well as a cadre of volunteers, including preeminent lawyers and judges, teach students advocacy skills. “This past summer, we brought in a nationally recognized trainer,” Scharf says, “to help elevate our students’ competition experience and to enhance our results in competitions, but also to make our students better trial lawyers, which makes them better lawyers overall.”

Nearly every law student takes an advocacy-related course, such as Trial Technique, Evidence, Appellate Advocacy or Alternative Dispute Resolution. The School of Law’s trial teams offer students more advanced advocacy instruction. About two dozen students compete on a law school trial team each semester, representing UB Law and traveling to competitions nationwide and even globally. Dozens more compete with their classmates in the law school’s moot court competitions.

“For many, these experiences provide a critical advancement opportunity and exposure to potential employers,” Scharf says. “In fact, year over year, our trial team students have enjoyed a 100 percent bar passage rate and 100 percent employment. Coaches frequently hire the students they’ve coached after graduation or recommend them to professional colleagues.”

Bartholomew sees the Institute’s role as critical in creating a structured environment for advocacy training and preparing students to succeed. “We need to ensure students develop fundamental skills in advocacy,” she says. “These skills require practice, deliberate attention, and a degree of repetition—students need a recursive feedback loop. The Institute gives us a framework to make sure all the integrated components of advocacy are addressed, refined and evaluated.”

UB Law students earned top honors in mock trial, moot court and mediation competitions, showcasing the strength of their advocacy training and the dedication of faculty and alumni coaches. Their victories highlight both student talent and the Institute’s growing national reputation.

Steven Borodzik ’26
Named Best Oral Advocate at the 2025 Herbert Wechsler National Criminal Moot Court Competition.

Carlo Cancellieri ’27, Brooklynn Flowers ’27, Katherine “Kate” Huppé ’26 and PK White ’27
Placed fifth in the 2025 Buffalo- Niagara Trial Competition.

Brooklynn Flowers ’27 and Nicholas Liberty ’27
Winners of the 2025 Charles S. Desmond Moot Court Competition.

Jacob McGee ’26 and Linda Roman Marquez ’26
Winners of the 2025 Representation in Mediation Competition.

Andrew Cegielski ’25, Katharine England ’25 and Ciara Harrington ’25
Advanced to the quarterfinals of the 20th Mediation Competition of the International Chamber of Commerce held in Paris, securing a sixth-place finish overall.

Cassidy Jensen ’26, Stephen Kaelin ’27, Lachlan Macintosh ’26 and Francesca Manzella ’26
Quarterfinalists at the 2025 National Pretrial Competition hosted by Stetson Law.

Blaise Doyle ’27, Samantha Gaglio ’27, Emily Gay ’27 and Henry Nowak ’27
Placed fourth at the 2025 Premiere Trial Competition, hosted by Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad College of Law.
- Gay and Nowak were named Outstanding Advocates.

Caitlyn Kelley ’26, Rich Neri ’26, Gianna Palumbo ’26 and James Wiesmore ’27
Placed second at the 2025 Puerto Rico Trial Advocacy Competition hosted by the Inter American University of Puerto Rico.