Law students honored by Trial Advocacy Program

Eight law students were honored at spring graduation by the Trial Advocacy Program at the College of Law at Arizona State University.

Sean McGarvey and Gayathiri Shanmuganatha were named as co-recipients of the Paul W. Holloway Trial Advocacy Award. In addition, McGarvey and Shanmugantha, as well as six other students, were designated Advocacy Fellows in recognition of their successful completion of all Trial Advocacy Program requirements.

The Holloway award is named for the late Paul W. Holloway, a noted trial attorney, and is funded in part by his former firm, Holloway Odegard Forrest & Kelly, P.C.

McGarvey and Shanmuganatha were selected because their academic achievements and advocacy skills are highly reflective of the Trial Advocacy Program’s objective of preparing law students to be trial lawyers.

The program combines traditional law courses with a broad array of litigation-oriented electives and skills courses taught by more than 50 experienced trial lawyers and judges who serve as adjunct faculty in the program.

Upon graduation, McGarvey, a member of the U.S. Air Force, will work as a Judge Advocate Officer serving at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. Shanmuganatha plans to return as an associate to the Mesa office of Emord & Associates, P.C., where she previously served as a law clerk.

The six additional students named as Advocacy Fellows were Tyler Cornia, Ruth Faulkner, Nathan Kassebaum, Elisabeth Martini, Karoline Torgerson and Trent Woods.

Faulkner said she was attracted to the program because of its focus on experiential learning and that the courses increased her confidence in the courtroom setting.

For further information regarding the Trial Advocacy Program, contact program director Deana S. Peck at deana.peck@asu.edu.