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Keenan's Kids Foundation Announces Winners of the 10th Annual Law Student Closing Argument Competition

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jessica Holthaus, Community Relations Coordinator; Keenan's Kids Foundation, 148 Nassau St. NW, Atlanta GA 30303; Phone: 404-223-5437, Email: jholthaus@keenanskidsfoundation.com

Atlanta, GA – Nov. 11, 2010: The Keenan’s Kids Foundation is proud to announce the 2010 winners of the 10th annual Law Student Closing Argument Competition. The competition, which was held Saturday, Nov. 6 in the Keenan Law Firm mock courtroom, was established in 1997 to show students the importance of children’s rights and to encourage them into this most needed area of the law. The event also stands as an opportunity for students to gain experience in a courtroom in front of a jury.

This year’s winners included:

  • First Place: Louise Smith (from Mercer, 3L)
  • Second Place: Danielle Long (from John Marshall, 3L)
  • Third Place: Elizabeth Bentley (from Georgia State, 2L)
  • Fourth Place Honorable Mention (Tie): Trevor Maitland (from University of Georgia, 2L) and Dylan Bess (from Georgia State, 2L)

Additional UGA law students who participated in the event are: Dexter Bond, Jr.

“Each and every one of the students who competed in this event did an outstanding job,” said Foundation founder Don C. Keenan. “Every year I am even more impressed with how much the students are able to do with these closing arguments,” Keenan says. “This year especially, the students seemed less nervous and more prepared than ever before. I am in awe over the dedication and preparation the students took before giving their presentations. We saw some excellent feedback from the judges and I am confident this has made a lasting impression with all the participants.”

Students applied to compete from all five state law schools including Emory School of Law, Georgia State University School of Law, John Marshall School of Law, Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law, and the University of Georgia Law School. This year, the Foundation received numerous applications, with 16 students giving closing arguments. Monetary prizes were awarded to the top three competitors.

Since the competition’s inception over a decade ago, the foundation has sponsored ten Closing Argument competitions for 2nd and 3rd year law students in Georgia. Each student is given 15 minutes to give their argument while being judged by a panel composed of members of the local media, experienced plaintiff and defense lawyers and parents of an injured child who has gone through the civil litigation process. This jury helps provide students with an excellent cross-section of life experiences and perspectives.

The Keenan Law Firm specializes in catastrophic child injury and death cases. The Keenan’s Kids Foundation, started by the firm in 1993 to raise awareness on child safety, sponsors the competition to heighten the awareness of damage consideration to injured and maimed children.

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