Ontario Trial Lawyers Association

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MEDIA RELEASE
March 5, 2012

University of Western Ontario student big winner at OTLA Cup

Annual mock trial competition awards law students cash prizes

OTTAWA, ON – Western law student Julie Menten was the big winner at this year’s OTLA Cup Competition, garnering three awards for Best Cross-Examination, Best Overall Advocate and Best Team.

Law students from five schools participated in this year’s event, which was held at the Ottawa Courthouse in Ottawa on March 3, including Queen’s University, University of Ottawa, University of Windsor, University of Western Ontario, and Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. This year’s competition was presided over by the Honourable Madam Justice Bonnie Warkentin.

Hosted by the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, the annual OTLA Cup competition provides law students with a unique opportunity to develop and demonstrate their advocacy skills in the courtroom environment. It’s one of the very few competitions where students get to participate in a full mock trial. The trial focuses on a civil case, and students present their case before a jury made up of OTLA member lawyers and volunteers.

Ontario Trial Lawyers Association congratulates all of this year’s student award winners:

Will Davidson Award for Best Opening Argument	Matthew Gianotti, University of Windsor
Greg Monforton Award for Best Examination-in-Chief	Elscar Chung, Queen’s University
George Bonn Award for Best Cross-Examination	Julie Menten, University of Western Ontario
Tim Boland Award for Best Overall Advocate	Julie Menten, University of Western Ontario
H. Bruce T. Hillyer Award for Best Closing Argument	Andrew Menchynski, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
Bergeron Clifford Award for Best Team	Julie Menten, Odette Ansell, University of Western Ontario

The OTLA Cup is generously supported by the association and its Members, who help organize the event, act as jurors and donate financial prizes to the students. This year’s competition was chaired by Michelle Jorge of Jewell Radimisis Jorge LLP Barristers and Solicitors in Toronto.

Thank you to our team travel sponsors for 2012:	Thank you to our event sponsors for 2012:
Gordon Good of Good Law Office – University of Windsor	Laurie Tucker of Doucet McBride – OTLA Cup Dinner on Friday, March 2, 2012
Paul Harte of Paul Harte Professional Corporation – Western University	Derek Nicholson of Beament Green – Lunch sponsor on Saturday, March 3, 2012
Simona Jellinek of Jellinek Law Office – Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
Claire Wilkinson of Martin & Hillyer – Queen's University

About the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association

Founded in 1991, the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA) is an organization of more than 1,300 plaintiff lawyers, law clerks, articling students and law students. Our purpose is to promote access to justice for all Ontarians, preserve and improve the civil justice system, and advocate for the rights of those who have suffered injury and losses as the result of wrongdoing by others, while at the same time advocating strongly for safety initiatives.

For further information: Linda Langston, Executive Director/CEO, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, (905) 639-6852.