SWLAW Blog | Awards & Honors

Southwestern Moot Court Team Wagner

March 12, 2018

VICTORY! Southwestern wins First Place at the 42nd Annual Robert F. Wagner National Labor and Employment Law Moot Court Competition!

Southwestern made history Sunday as Moot Court Team Wagner, Michael Alfera, Xhesi Hysi, and Reneh Sepanosian, placed first at the 42nd Annual Robert F. Wagner National Labor and Employment Law Moot Court Competition, held at New York Law School. This momentous occasion marks Southwestern's first championship in 20 years of competing at Wagner!

Southwestern bested 39 other teams from law schools around the country and clinched the win in a close match against UC Hastings in the final round. Final oralists, Michael Alfera and Xhesi Hysi, both Biederman Scholars, were the images of calm, cool, and collected, impressing the judges and drawing special praise for their performances. (Watch their winning arguments in the livestream below!)

Wagner Moot Court Finals Livestream

Image - Michael Alfera, Reneh Sepanosian, and Xhesi Hysi

On returning home as a champion, Michael Alfera says, "I owe many thanks to some really special people. First to our coach, Dean Chris Cameron, as well as our Moot Court faculty advisors, Catherine Carpenter and Alexandra D'Italia. I have been thoroughly schooled by each of these wonderful professors over the past few months on how to be a successful oral advocate; their unmatchable instruction and care gave us a strong foundation from which to grow and to prepare for this competition."

Likewise, his teammates, Xhesi Hysi and Reneh Sepanosian, wanted to express their thanks to their team coaches and to their supporters. Xhesi says, 鈥淭hank you to Dean Cameron, Professor Carpenter, and Professor D鈥橧talia, and to everyone who judged us for practice rounds. We wouldn鈥檛 be here without them! As Leslie Knope says, 鈥楴o one achieves anything alone.鈥欌 

Reneh added, 鈥淭hank you to Professor D鈥橧talia, Professor Carpenter, Dean Cameron, and our judges.鈥

Image - Xhesi Hysi, Michael Alfera, and Reneh Sepanosian

Let's hear it for Team Wagner! #GOBISONS #VICTORY