Ten years ago, a group of HGD attorneys set out to address a gap in legal education. Law school prepares students to think like lawyers, but it does not always prepare them to stand before a room and persuade. We wanted to give law students the opportunity to do exactly that, and so "In Summation" was created. A decade later, it remains one of the highlights of our year.
This year is no exception. We are proud to announce our top 8 finalists, who will compete for the title next Thursday, September 24, at our Birmingham office.
Why We Started This Competition, and Why We Have Continued It
Law school can teach the rules of evidence and the elements of negligence, but it cannot teach what it feels like to look twelve strangers in the eye and ask them to see a case as you see it. That skill is built through practice, and it is best developed in an environment where the stakes are meaningful but a misstep remains part of learning.
"In Summation" was created to close that gap. Each competitor receives a trial problem, is assigned to represent either the plaintiff or the defense, and delivers a closing argument to a mock jury. There are no evidentiary objections and no cross-examination, only the argument itself: the storytelling, the persuasion, and the composure under pressure. It is advocacy distilled to its essential form, and it is the skill on which this profession depends.
Ten years later, our conviction has not changed. The future of this profession depends on advocates who are skilled, ethical, and genuinely invested in the people they represent. Each year, "In Summation" gives us a firsthand look at that future, and each year, it reaffirms why we do this work.
How the Competition Works
Students from Birmingham School of Law, Cumberland School of Law, and the University of Alabama School of Law participate each year. This is not a competition we simply sponsor from a distance. It is carried out by our own attorneys, paralegals, case managers, and staff, who serve as mock jurors, judges, timekeepers, and evaluators throughout the event.
Meet Our Top 8 Finalists
Eight competitors have advanced from a strong and talented field. Listed here in alphabetical order by last name:
Jeff Calloway
Matt Carter
Ariel Dixon
Justin McMullins
Bailey Robinson
Layton Spates
Nicholas Thoma
Daniel Washington
Congratulations to each of you. This achievement reflects real skill and real preparation.
To Every Competitor Who Took the Podium
The top 8 do not tell the whole story. Every student who delivered a closing argument this year, whether they advanced or not, demonstrated something worth recognizing. Preparing for this competition, and standing before a panel of legal professionals for real-time evaluation, requires genuine courage, and we do not take that lightly. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your development as an advocate.
What Comes Next
Our top 8 finalists will compete this Thursday, September 24, followed by an awards reception honoring everyone who contributed to this year’s competition. We look forward to seeing what these finalists bring to the podium, and to celebrating their achievement.
Ten years of "In Summation" later, our commitment to this competition remains as strong as it was on day one. Our firm values giving back to the communities in which we live and work, and there is no better expression of that commitment than helping shape the next generation of advocates.
Congratulations to our finalists. We look forward to seeing you Thursday.
Sources
HGD Closing Argument Competition
HGD's 7th Annual Closing Argument Competition, "In Summation" (2023)
HGD "In Summation" Closing Argument Competition Announces Top 6 Finalists
