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This is Northwestern's third national championship in the last 10 years.

Sponsored by the American Bar Association and the American College of Trial Lawyers, the annual competition is one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious national trial competitions.

The two Northwestern teams defeated 24 teams and met in an all-Northwestern final round. The winning students include (from left) Megan Cunniff, Scott Chadda, Brandon Spurlock, William Dennison, Terra Brown, and Christopher LaVigne. (The 26 teams that made it to the national competition were among roughly 250 teams that competed nationwide in regional competitions.)

"To emerge a winner among a great group of winners is indeed an honor," said Steven Lubet, professor and director of the School of Law 's Fred Bartlit Center for Trial Strategy.

The students spent three days arguing a case involving a civil claim of malicious prosecution.

"These students exemplify all that distinguishes our trial advocacy program -- and will undoubtedly go on to be formidable, ethical and creative trial lawyers," said David E. Vandt, dean of the Law School.

The Law School's Program on Advocacy and Professionalism is consistently ranked as one of the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

The teams were coached by Philip A. Guentert and Dean Polales, U.S. Attorney's Office, and Maria McCarthy, Cook County State's Attorney's Office. The trial teams were supported by a generous gift from Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw.

"We teach students to win trials, not trial competitions, and hope the rest follows," said Guentert. "Their success this year comes from their extraordinary dedication as well as their superior skills."

Northwestern's first-place team faced Saint Louis University School of Law; University of Florida Levin College of Law; Suffolk University Law School; University at Buffalo Law School. The second-place team competed against the University of Tulsa College of Law, University of Texas School of Law, Pepperdine University School of Law, Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law and University of Florida Levin College of Law.