Campbell Law Advocates Triumph Over UCLA to Secure AAJ National Championship
By Editorial Team | March 30, 2026
A team of Campbell Law School advocates emerged victorious in the national American Association for Justice (AAJ) Student Trial Advocacy Competition (STAC) held in New Orleans, Louisiana. The team, comprised of Haydn Bauer ’26, Beau Marlette ’26, Mikenna Morrison ’27, and Caroline Shabet ’27, coached by Rene Shekmer, clinched the championship by defeating a team from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law in the final round.
Marlette was honored with the Best Advocate Award in the National Final Round, as per the STAC. The Campbell Law team showcased professionalism, legal acumen, and agility in responding to objections and court rulings throughout the competition.
STAC Competition Highlights
The semifinalists included teams from Florida International University College of Law and the University of Nevada at Las Vegas (UNLV) William S. Boyd School of Law. The quarterfinalists featured teams from Howard University School of Law, Mercer University School of Law, UCLA School of Law (Team 2), and the University of Colorado Law School.
Shekmer commended her team for their cohesive teamwork, continuous improvement in presentation, and adeptness in managing the courtroom dynamics. The STAC is one of the prominent trial advocacy competitions in the nation, showcasing top talents in trial law.
AAJ STAC Regional Winners
The regional winners of the 2026 STAC included teams from various regions such as Annapolis, Chicago, Columbia, Houston, New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Virtual ET, and Virtual MT regions. The competition aims to nurture future trial lawyers and provide a platform for legal advocacy education.
The AAJ collaborates with the National Association of Legal Advocacy Educators (NALAE) to host the STAC, offering a prestigious platform for law students to hone their advocacy skills.
About Campbell Law School
Established in 1976, Campbell Law School is renowned for producing lawyers with strong ethical values, social empathy, and legal expertise. The institution has received accolades from the American Bar Association (ABA) for its exceptional Professionalism Program and from the American Academy of Trial Lawyers for its outstanding Trial Advocacy Program.
With over 5,000 alumni across the U.S. and beyond, Campbell Law continues to nurture legal leaders and celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026. Situated in a state-of-the-art facility in Raleigh, North Carolina, the law school remains committed to serving the community and upholding the highest standards of legal education.
For more information about Campbell Law School, visit their website.
