University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law students Michele Ruffner '26, Benjamin Lindsey '27, Alyssa Evans '27 and Brandon Charlson '27 won first place at the regional round of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) Student Trial Advocacy Competition (STAC), which was held March 5-8 in Portland, Oregon.

“We were really nervous for this competition, but our coaches reminded us that the most important thing was to have fun, so that's what we did. We walked into every round singing and smiling, and we took that energy with us when it came time to put our game faces on and compete,” Evans said.

The students advanced to compete in the national championship, which was held March 26-29 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The team was coached by alumni Mandi Weberg '24 and Dena Stone '07.

“I could not have asked for a better team or coaches. It was an honor and a privilege to watch them perform and to be a small part of an amazing group of people. Having had the opportunity to achieve something we never expected and to do it alongside my friends made me happy beyond words,” Charlson said.

Each year, AAJ hosts the competition to bring together some of the nation’s top trial advocacy students. Recognized as one of the country’s leading advocacy competitions, it begins with regional tournaments held nationwide. The top two teams from each region advance to the national finals.

“Regional champion feels amazing. I’m grateful to have earned the title. But more is going to be needed in that nationals courtroom. I will be bringing more, for me and for my team, because the goal is simply the same: win,” Lindsey said.

In 2026, McGeorge’s Trial Advocacy program was ranked No. 16 in the nation for the second consecutive year and the Dispute Resolution program was ranked No. 24.

Other mock trial competition results from the 2025-26 school year include: 

• Kathryn Kane ‘27, Mahtab Moghaddam-Jafary ‘27, Drake Zerba ‘27 and Ja'Laysha Brown ‘27 finished in second place at the Ray Ferrero Jr. Litigation Competition. Brown was recognized with the Outstanding Attorney Award.
• Lexi Rose '27, Greyson Garcia ‘27, Zerba and Kane earned second place at the Premiere Trial Competition. Zerba was named Best Advocate, and Associate Professor Dominique Hinson was recognized as Best Judge.
• Kane and Garcia were finalists at the Online National Competition. Zerba and Brown finished as semifinalists. Kane received the Outstanding Advocate Award.
• Ruffner earned Best Advocate at the National Medical-Legal Mock Trial Tournament.
• Jasmine Crawford ’26 received an award for Best Opening at the National Civil Trial Competition.
• Two McGeorge teams – Crawford, Siena LiCausi ‘26, Brooke Shelly ‘26, and Caroline Rojas ‘26 - advanced to the semifinal round of the regional National Trial Competition.