Brand new alum Jeff Goodman, class of 2010, took some time out of his preparations for the bar exam to represent Temple Law in one last mock trial competition. The inaugural Top Gun Invitational Mock Trial Competition, hosted by Baylor Law School and sponsored by the Texas law firm Naman Howell Smith and Lee, PLLC, offered a unique opportunity to cap off Jeff's own stellar law school career and to drive home the message that when it comes to trial advocacy, Temple Law teaches it like no one else. Of course, the $10,000 prize was pretty attractive, too.
In designing the competition, the faculty at Baylor made some unusual choices: they would only invite students from the top sixteen trial advocacy programs in the nation, and only one student would represent each school, instead of the usual two-person team. To top it off, competitors would only have 24 hours to review the case file to ensure that the competition "provided a forum for the very best mock trial competitors," according to Baylor professor Gerald Powell.
Temple Law's Jeff Goodman was more than up to the challenge. With the assistance of "virtual coach" Professor Sara Jacobson, Jeff out-pointed fifteen of the country's best student advocates through six rounds spanning two and a half days. When the dust settled, he was the only one left standing before the panel of judges, who themselves were experienced trial lawyers, federal district court judges, and members of the US Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. Jeff was "jaw-dropping impressive," in the words of Temple Law professor Eddie Ohlbaum. "Jeff was driven, focused, and effective. I have seen few young advocates who can match his coolness under fire or his firm grasp of the trial process."
Jeff's win brings distinction to himself and the program, additional hardware for the Temple Law trophy case, and $10,000 to the law school. And, of course, the right to claim the title "Top Gun."
