Top Law Schools to Compete in 11th Annual Estrella Trial Advocacy Competition (ETAC)

San Juan, Puerto Rico – Estrella, LLC and The George Washington University Law School are honored to welcome the 14 law schools who will compete in the 11th Annual Estrella Trial Advocacy Competition (ETAC). The event will be held this weekend on April 5 & 6, 2025, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  

“As we celebrate the 11th Annual Competition, we reflect on how far this event has come over the past decade. What started as a bold vision has evolved into one of the nation’s most distinguished trial advocacy competitions. This year, we are excited to welcome 14 teams from leading law schools across the U.S., representing every tier of the U.S. News Rankings, along with schools featured in Fordham’s Top 20 Trial Competition Rankings. We look forward to an exceptional showcase of advocacy and talent,” said Alberto G. Estrella, Managing Partner of Estrella, LLC. 

“We are honored to partner with Estrella LLC, whose dedication to excellence is unmatched. Their commitment to recruiting top-tier litigators and sitting judges to preside over rounds, along with their access to the finest courtrooms in San Juan, sets this competition apart. Bringing teams from across the country to Puerto Rico for a competition that is both educational and enjoyable makes this a truly remarkable event” said David Johnson, Assistant Dean for Advocacy Programs at The George Washington University Law School. 

The 14 prestigious law schools participating in ETAC this year are: 

• American University Washington College of Law 
• Benjamin Cardozo Law School
• Brooklyn Law School 
• George Washington University Law School 
• Harvard Law School 
• Interamerican University of Puerto Rico School of Law 
• Northwestern Pritzker School of Law 
• Pepperdine Caruso School of Law 
• University of Colorado Law School 
• University of Illinois College of Law 
• University of Mississippi School of Law 
• University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School 
• University of Puerto Rico School of Law 
• William & Mary Law School

This competition gives students the opportunity to apply their law school training by preparing and presenting a civil case before a panel of experienced trial attorneys and judges. Each team will present their case through opening and closing arguments, pretrial motions, evidence presentation, and direct and cross-examinations. After each round, the panel provides feedback to help students refine their advocacy skills and advance their professional development. 

We are privileged to have the Hon. Silvia Carreño-Coll, Chief Judge of US District Court, District of Puerto Rico, preside over the Final Round. Additionally, we are thrilled to welcome the Boy Scouts of Puerto Rico for the first time to serve as the Jury for the Final Round. 

We are honored to once again have the Trial Lawyers of Puerto Rico (TLPR) as an event sponsor for this year’s competition. The TLPR is a dynamic collective of legal professionals driven by a shared dedication to uniting the preeminent minds in Mass Tort and Personal Injury law. TLPR’s mission is to forge robust partnerships among its members and craft educational avenues that yield exponential value for its members and their clientele, as well as the Puerto Rico community. 

ETAC will begin on April 5th with the preliminary rounds, and the final rounds will take place on April 6th. The Winning Team and the Kenneth Suria Best Oral Advocate Award will be announced following the Final Round on Sunday.  

Press is invited to the Competition. For security protocols of the federal court rooms, we will need to have the press’ credentials and information beforehand to add to the security registration list.  

About Estrella, LLC
Estrella, LLC is one of the oldest and most respected full-service law firms in Puerto Rico. Our first-rate attorneys represent a diverse group of entrepreneurs, middle-market and blue-chip clients and deliver comprehensive legal strategies in a breadth of practice areas anchored by our corporate, employment, and litigation practices. As a trusted advisor, we value ongoing relationships with our clients, including many of Puerto Rico’s highest-profile companies, some of whom have relied on the firm’s legal assistance for more than 50 years. The firm is also a member of Meritas, a global alliance of leading independent law firms across the U.S. and worldwide, allowing us to assist our clients wherever they do business. 

About GW Law
Since enrolling its first class in 1865, The George Washington University Law School has produced some of the finest minds across the spectrum of legal scholarship.  That tradition continues today, as GW Law graduates use the knowledge and skills they gain here to influence the critical legal conversations of our times. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a charter member of the Association of American Law Schools. The law school is located on the GW campus in the downtown neighborhood familiarly known as Foggy Bottom.  The main GW Law complex is located at 2000 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20052. 

For press inquiries or more information, contact: dawn@estrellallc.com