The Selection Committee of the National Association of Legal Advocacy Educators (NALAE) has selected Charleston School of Law student Sydney Harris as an “Academic All-American Trial Advocate.”
Harris, a 3L at Charleston Law, was recognized for:
1) Tournament success in the Trial Advocacy discipline.
2) Excellence in the classroom (minimum GPA of 3.2 required).
3) Leadership and fellowship contributions to the Law School and the legal community.
In a letter from Liz Boals, NALAE President-Elect, she noted that Harris “excelled across all three.”
Harris is a member of the Charleston Law Trial Advocacy Board, an advocacy program that prepares students to become ethical, experienced, and zealous lawyer-advocates. Participation is grounded in a student’s commitment to excellence in advocacy and to ethically representing Charleston School of Law through dedication and compliance with each team’s rigorous, demanding practice.
During her time on the Charleston Law Trial Advocacy Board, Harris competed in four (4) National Trial Advocacy competitions and received two (2) Best Advocate Awards. She also served as the Vice President of External Competitions for the Trial Advocacy Board. During her time at Charleston Law, Harris has served as a Legal Writing Fellow, as an Articles Editor on the Charleston Law Review, and been named a Presidential Honors Scholar.
“Sydney is a leader in every sense of the word and is deeply deserving of this Award,” said Professor Suzanne Chapman, Director of the Charleston Law Center for Trial Advocacy. “She has been an integral part of the success of Charleston Law’s trial advocacy program over the past two years, and I know she will continue to make our trial program proud as she enters the courtroom in practice.”
The list of winners will be formally recognized at the 2026 NALAE Academic All-American Advocate Awards ceremony in Florida later this month.
NALAE is a national organization of law professors, adjunct professors, advocacy departmental directors, coaches, and educators dedicated to helping law students receive the education needed for successful entry into the legal profession.
Charleston School of Law is a private, ABA-accredited 501(c)(3) law school nationally recognized for its student-centric culture. Our faculty and staff are committed to preparing you for success in both the classroom and the legal profession.
