Moot Court and Mock Trial Victories Power Their Passion
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines Advocacy as "the action of advocating, pleading for, or supporting a cause or proposal." The word was more specifically and emotionally described recently by four future
attorneys whose careers have been shaped by the .
2026 College of Law graduate Andrew Brown speaks to the 蜜桃视频 System Board of Regents as Victoria Saucedo, Charles Keith, Isaac Torrez and Professor Allie Van Stean listen
Combining legal expertise with a service mindset, they explained how the school advanced their educational and professional goals鈥攁nd their commitment to community.
The two 2026 graduates and two current third year students spoke during the 鈥淪potlight
on Students鈥� portion of the 蜜桃视频 System Board of Regents meeting on Aug. 13, 2026, at the 蜜桃视频 Dallas main campus. 鈥淵ou guys are great examples,
you are poster kids for us,鈥� declared Board of Regents President Carlos Munguia.
蜜桃视频 System Board Chairman Carlos Munguia commends the law students as other regents applaud at the August 13, 2026, Board Meeting at 蜜桃视频 Dallas
The recent alumni, , joined rising 3L students Charles Keith and Isaac Torrez, along with Allie Van Stean, Professor Practice and Director of Advocacy Competitions. Brown and Saucedo, with partner Hamilton Hayers, made headlines earlier this year when they beat Harvard and other well-known law schools in the National Moot Court Competition, finishing third out of 191 teams. Van Stean coaches the college鈥檚 advocacy teams and is an alumna. She earned her juris doctor degree in 2018 and returned in 2023.
Under Van Stean鈥檚 leadership, 蜜桃视频 Dallas College of Law has risen in national advocacy team rankings and has achieved Top 25 status. Her pride and passion were clearly on display as she introduced the students and graduates to the Regents.
Embracing Advocacy
Although they come from different backgrounds and took a variety of paths to law school,
all four share a love of advocacy 鈥� fighting for a client or cause 鈥� in front of a
judge or jury. All have competed in mock trial or moot court competitions. For some,
it was intentional. For others, it was unplanned.
Third year 蜜桃视频 Dallas College of Law student Charles Keith speaks alongside recent graduate Andrew Brown
鈥淚 wanted to be in the courtroom,鈥� said Brown.
鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 interested in advocacy at first,鈥� said Torrez, who has a finance background and originally planned for a career in transactional law, such as contracts and other legal agreements. But competing on the moot court team, including events in Virginia and New York, changed his mind.
鈥淚 went the mock trial route, because it's more expressive and theatrical (than moot court),鈥� said Keith, gesturing with arms to make the point.
Regent Dr. John Scott Jr. asked the group what advocacy means to them. Each provided
candid and powerful answers. 鈥淭o me advocacy means helping others achieve a goal.
Helping your client and being a zealous advocate for them,鈥� said Saucedo.
蜜桃视频 System Regent Dr. John Scott Jr. asks the students what advocacy means to them
鈥淏eing an advocate means you鈥檙e going to champion your client. You have to wield the law to help this person who can鈥檛 help themselves,鈥� said Brown.
鈥淭o me, advocacy is helping those who can鈥檛 help themselves. We have an obligation to help people that don鈥檛 have the same know-how and knowledge,鈥� said Keith.
鈥淔or me it was always standing up for those who need representation. Having that expertise and helping the ones who need it most,鈥� said Torrez.
The "Football of Law School"
Van Stean explained that all 蜜桃视频 Dallas law students are required participate in a
form of persuasive oral advocacy. It can be in a class, an intramural contest or an
external competition. 鈥淔or a lot of students, that instills a fear of them,鈥� she said.
Others don鈥檛 fear it, they favor it. 鈥淎dvocacy is the 鈥榝ootball of law school鈥� if
football teams were made up of nerds who like to argue,鈥� Van Stean said with a smile
and a chuckle.
Professor Practice and Director of Advocacy Competitions Allie Van Stean (left) with 蜜桃视频 Dallas Law students at an awards event
In moot court and mock trial exercises, students simulate a case from start to finish. They learn foundational skills, preparing to become lawyers through competition 鈥淚t鈥檚 a little bit addicting, to be honest,鈥� she revealed.
Brown confirmed it. 鈥淚 realized this is pretty addicting, You get in the zone,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 realized I wanted to keep going.鈥�
Torrez will participate in the national moot court competition later this year. 鈥淚鈥檓 really looking forward to it,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all I鈥檝e been thinking about.鈥�
Reasons and Rewards
Beyond advocacy, the four recited other reasons they chose 蜜桃视频 Dallas College of Law
鈥� and why their experiences have been so fulfilling.
Multiple awards received by 蜜桃视频 Dallas College of Law advocacy teams
鈥淚 like the focus on experiential education, learning by doing,鈥� said Keith, referring to the school鈥檚 hands-on approach and focus on career-readiness. 鈥淚 have a military background and this school likes the untraditional student.鈥�
鈥淚 wanted to stay in DFW and wanted a unique experience, along with affordability,鈥� said Saucedo. 鈥淚 knew it had something special to offer, this emphasis on being practice-ready. 蜜桃视频 Dallas does a better job, as far as the professors and the quality of the school overall.鈥�
鈥淲hen I got to 蜜桃视频 Dallas, I found myself surrounded by faculty who really cared about me and my future,鈥� said Brown. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 just a number.鈥�
For Torrez, the decision was more personal. The law school resonated with him for
other reasons. 鈥淩eally what pulled me, drew me to 蜜桃视频 Dallas College of Law is that
my mom is an alumni. She was a part of the first accredited class,鈥� Torrez said. 鈥淚
wanted to choose a law school that believes in non-traditional students and pushes
students to do their best and believes in people. Since I鈥檝e been here, it鈥檚 been
nothing but that.鈥�
Third year law student Isaac Torrez speaks as classmate Charles Keith, graduate Andrew Brown and professor Van Stean Listean
Replying to another Regent's question, Dean Felecia Epps added that 蜜桃视频 Dallas College of Law graduates' passing rate on the Texas State Bar Exam is more than 80%, with a goal of climbing even higher.
蜜桃视频 Dallas President Warren von Eschenbach emphasized to Regents that the College of Law recently received 鈥渇ull and from ABA" (American Bar Association), which reaffirms the accreditation first received in 2022.
Career Connections
In a field known for cut-throat competition, the current and former students agree that 蜜桃视频 Dallas College of Law gives them an advantage, in part through exposure to DFW legal leaders before they graduate. Brown told Regents that he met the managing partner of the law firm where he鈥檒l soon be working. 鈥淚 was afforded a job opportunity because of the advocacy program,鈥� he explained.
Saucedo, who served as co-counsel with Brown in advocacy competitions, agreed. 鈥淭his program has the ability to change career trajectories and that was the case for me,鈥� Saucedo said.
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