Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law finished the 2025 trial advocacy season ranked #2 nationally in the GAVEL Rankings and moved to #5 all-time in GAVEL history. Professor Phil Pasquarello, director of trial advocacy, was also named Director of the Year.
The GAVEL Rankings evaluate law school trial advocacy programs based on competition performance and the strength of the tournaments in which teams compete. This season, more than 170 law schools participated in the national trial advocacy competition circuit.
Over the course of the season, Drexel Kline won national championships at the First Chair Trial Competition, the National Medical-Legal Trial Competition and the Online National Championship. The team also won the Philadelphia regional title at the Student Trial Advocacy Competition (STAC), hosted by the American Association for Justice (AAJ). Strong performances throughout the year also qualified Drexel Kline for Top Gun, one of the nation’s most selective invitational mock trial tournaments.
For Pasquarello, the season’s results reflected the depth of the program and the contributions of students and coaches.
“I think the biggest thing that a ranking like this signals when you’re #2 out of over 170 law schools that participate in the trial advocacy competition circuit, it signals that you don’t just have a few talented students or a few talented coaches, but that you’ve got a really robust program,” Pasquarello said. “Every single coach and every single student in the program this year contributed to that total number of points that ultimately culminated in this historically good ranking.”
Pasquarello pointed to the students’ work ethic as the defining characteristic of this year’s team, describing a group that consistently put in extra time in both competition preparation and the classroom.
He also emphasized the law school’s commitment to trial advocacy, including advocacy instruction, alumni coaches and support for national competition opportunities.
Pasquarello said his Director of the Year recognition was especially meaningful because it came from peers across the national advocacy community, many of whom helped shape Drexel Kline’s development in trial advocacy. He also noted that the recognition reflects the work of students, coaches and faculty throughout the program.
Looking ahead, Pasquarello said this year’s team has established a model for future advocates entering the program and expressed confidence that many graduating students will remain connected as engaged alumni coaches and mentors.