National top advocate award is a first for Mercer Law
In April, Isiah Chavis, ’23 earned the honor of Top Advocate at the National Trial Competition (NTC) in San Antonio, Texas. The award recognizes the individual who performs best throughout the NTC championship tournament, as determined by members of the American College of Trial Lawyers – one of the most prestigious organizations in the practice of law. The NTC Championship hosts only the top performing schools in the nation, presumably with the top advocates. Mercer Law School’s Advocacy Council (MAC) joined approximately 300 other teams for the competition in April. Mercer’s team advanced to the semifinals, and was named one of the top four teams in the country.
Chavis said, “Each team had at least two advocates competing. Mercer Law paired me with the amazing John Flowers, ’23. I would be remiss if I did not mention that Alexandra Bradley, Kate Daly, and Rebekah Hardin were just as important as John and me to our success at the NTC championship tournament.”
After joining MAC in his second year at Mercer Law, Chavis competed in five competitions. His other awards include Outstanding Advocate and All-Star Bracket National Champion. “Mercer Law will always have a special place in my heart – specifically, MAC. Being a member of MAC is being part of an elite group of people trained to be precise and relentless. Studying for the bar taught me that anyone can learn the law, but it takes a special kind of person to be a lawyer.”
Hailing from Louisiana, Chavis earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Louisiana at Monroe in 2020. After graduating from Mercer Law, he accepted a position with The Champion Firm in Marietta, Georgia (Darl Champion, ’07), which practices plaintiff’s personal injury cases ranging from simple car accidents to 1983 Claims to medical malpractice. Chavis says he cannot imagine a better way to start his career. “I don’t have as much of a preference for what I practice as I do with how I practice. I want to be a great trial lawyer, and it doesn’t matter if I’m trying personal injury cases or criminal cases.”
Not only is Chavis the first in his family to become a lawyer, he is also the first to complete a bachelor’s degree in four years, and the only one to earn a graduate degree.
Chavis credits Assistant Dean of Advocacy Katie Powers for teaching the rules of evidence in detail, the practical application of abstract civil and criminal procedure concepts, and the art of cross examination. “Dean Powers trains lawyers. Not actors, but actual lawyers. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to have learned under her and to be part of the most elite advocacy organization in the country.”
