News

The University of Florida chapter of Phi Alpha Delta (PAD) once again brought home a first-place finish at the fraternity’s national mock trial competition. The results mark 13 consecutive years of top honors for the UF chapter, a testament to the dedication and excellence of UF PAD members.

The annual Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Conference, Mock Trial Competition, and Law Expo took place in Alexandria, VA, from Oct. 25-28, uniting pre-law members and law school representatives from across the nation.

First-place team:

• Team Captain: Kieran Patel (History)
• Jillian Malinsky (Philosophy and Political Science)
• Ahmad Alarachi (Political Science and Criminology; Minor in Chinese)
• Elizabeth De Solo (English)

Second-place team:

• Team Captain: Christian Rodriguez (Political Science and Economics)
• Cayman Forbes (Political Science and International Studies; Minors in French and Dance)
• Chloe Johnson (Political Science and Criminology; Minor in Philosophy)
• Mia Gutierrez (Sociology and Economics)

Political science and economics double-major Kevin Bjorkman served as the winning teams’ director. “Everyone on the team put their best foot forward, with the finalist judge saying that it was the best performance he had ever seen in the 25 years that he had judged the tournament,” he said.

Beyond taking home first and second place for the Don Hutson Outstanding Pre-Law Chapter Award, UF’s PAD teams also dominated many of the other award categories, continuing a legacy of excellence. They earned second place for the Outstanding Pre-Law Community Service Program Award in recognition of their efforts volunteering with Ronald McDonald House.

The group also took home several other awards in honor of individual achievements. UF PAD’s former president, Amanda Lee, earned the second-place honor for the Frank McCown Outstanding Pre-Law Chapter President Award. The Best Attorney Award went to philosophy and political science double-major Jillian Malinsky.

The group’s faculty advisor, Brian Cahill, PhD, also earned first place for the Dr. Charles J. Fleener Outstanding Pre-Law Chapter Advisor Award. His commitment to supporting and guiding the students is evident in the consistent recognition he has received. He rose from second place in 2020 to earn the top spot each year since.

Cahill, an associate instructional professor in the psychology department, teaches Legal Psychology each year, giving him even more opportunities to see the impact PAD has on students’ development. He notes that many members take his course and bring thoughtful and diverse perspectives to classroom discussion, reflecting positively on UF pre-law students as a whole.

“The biggest impact the students in PAD have on me each year, is showing me with their passion, professionalism, intelligence, and dedication that UF pre-law students are the best in the nation and will improve our legal system,” said Cahill.

Cahill takes pride in the consistent success of UF PAD at the national competition. “It must be quite a feat for other chapters to attend the nationals every year and watch UF win nearly every major award,” he said.

As president of UF’s chapter, Victoria Wendell echoes the pride of leading the group of talented young professionals to success. “Witnessing their growth and dedication to continuing our legacy every year makes me extremely proud,” she said.

Reflecting on her own journey, Wendell emphasized the crucial role of PAD in her professional development. “Being involved in PAD has truly changed my life for the better and has made me the confident leader I am today,” she said. “I couldn’t imagine pursuing a career in the legal field without the invaluable experiences and supportive community that this organization has provided.”

Congratulations to the officers and members of the UF Phi Alpha Delta chapter!

• President: Victoria Wendell (Accounting)
• Vice President: Casey Glymph (Public Health)
• Secretary: Sonia D’sa (Political Science; Criminology)
• Treasurer: Samson Fratello (Political Science; Economics)