Polestino Trial Advocacy Institute

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Polestino Trial Advocacy Institute

PTAI is a student organization committed to teaching and training St. John's Law School's most talen The Frank S. Polestino in Spring 2001.

Polestino Trial Advocacy Institute (PTAI) is a student organization committed to showcasing St. John's law students' extraordinary talent and interest in trial work. PTAI was dedicated in memory of Professor Frank S. With a focus on excellence in trial advocacy, PTAI offers the law school community trial training programs, internal and external trial competitions and trial-related legal writing fo

rums and events. In all our initiatives, PTAI promotes and supports the Law School’s reputation as a leader in trial advocacy. During the 2004-2005 academic year, the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) ranked PTAI the top trial team in the nation. Every year in the fall , PTAI runs the Charles M. Sparacio Criminal Internal Trial Competition and the Peter James Johnson National Civil Rights Trial Competition. In the spring, we host the Edward Hart Civil Internal Trial Competition, the McKenna Forum, the Advocate in the Spotlight Forum and the Brian Peterson Memorial First Year Trial Competition. Throughout the academic year, PTAI organizes, trains and prepares numerous external teams to participate in national trial competitions around the country, including the NITA Tournament of Champions and competitions hosted by the Texas Young Lawyers Association and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. PTAI's Executive Board manages our daily operations and ensures that PTAI events and competitions are successful. PTAI's office is located on the second floor of the Law School. Late into the night, the office is full of team members working on openings, closings, directs and crosses. Team members agree that being involved in PTAI is among their favorite law school experiences. Credit: https://www.stjohns.edu/law/academics/journals-co-curricular-programs/frank-s-polestino-trial-advocacy-institute

05/19/2026

Join us for some summer skills fun!! Take your tryout to the next level with advice from experienced trial attorney’s🧑‍⚖️🏛️

05/10/2026

This weekend PTAI members judged the Catholic Middle School Mock Trial Program🏛️

We had such a blast learning a new perspective in mock trial rounds as the Judges with the most amazing young advocates🧑‍⚖️

Scroll to see these SUPERSTAR advocates!!⭐️

Special thanks goes to Joshua Coogle 27’ and Dean Simon’s who helped this event come to life!!

04/23/2026

Congratulations to tonights Student Leader Award Recipients!!!⭐️🌟⭐️

Alyssa Bern ‘27 received the Junior Member Rising Star Award

Joshua Coogle ‘27 received the Behind The Scenes Hero Award

Levi Grising ‘26 received the Greatest Impact on the St. Johns Law School Community Award

04/11/2026

Come join us this Wednesday as the incoming E-board hosts our Demystifying PTAI info session!✨

We will cover topics from the try out process all the way to being a competing member on PTAI⚖️✨. All are welcome and please come with questions!!

We cant wait to see you all there!!!!

04/08/2026

Stop by for Open Door Day on April 13th @1:30-3:30 in Room 2-15 !!!
🚪👀🎉

04/04/2026

The 2026-27 Polestino Trial Advocacy Institute Executive Board ✨🏛️

04/02/2026

Meet Our 2026 Brian Peterson Memorial 1L Competition Winners!! Thank you to everyone who advocated, coached, evaluated, organized, and contributed to another successful competition. We are so so so proud of each and every one of the advocates that competed, your hard work and dedication made this competition an incredible experience. LET’S GO PTAI!! 🎉✨

03/26/2026

The 2026 Advocates of the Brian Peterson Memorial 1L Competition 🏛️✨GOOD LUCK AND LET’S GO PTAI 🎉

02/25/2026

Congratulations to the 2026 Charles Sparacio Winners ✨ Thank you to everyone who showed up this past weekend and advocated. Your hard work, dedication, and thoughtfulness inspired us and we cannot wait to see how far you will go 🎉🏛️ To our coaches, self-coached advocates, evaluators, and the PTAI team that showed up for their fellow teammates, thank you. We appreciate everyone investing in our growth 💫Thank you .nichellee and .francisco for coordinating the competition and thank you to Maria Rivero and Professor Simons for all your support!

02/05/2026

PTAl is proud to support our amazing advocates: Arianne, Alicia, Suzie, and Briana, as they compete at NEBLSA’s annual Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial Competition!!! 🏛️⚖️

This competition is hosted by the Northeast Region of the National Black Law Students Association
(NEBLSA) and honors the legacy of civil rights attorney Constance Baker Motley through a comprehensive trial simulation, featuring all aspects of courtroom advocacy.

Constance Baker Motley was a civil rights icon and renowned courtroom strategist. She was a lawyer, elected official, and esteemed jurist. She served as United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of New York. Her life’s work continues to inspire advocates today.

This competition is a cornerstone of NBLSA’s commitment to fostering professional competence amoung its members.
This year marks NEBLSA’s 58” convention. This competition’s fact pattern involves criminal charges of first degree murder of two decedents.

LETS GO PTAI!!

01/22/2026

PTAI invites all students to a conversation with the acclaimed trial lawyer William Reid IV ‘92 on Thursday, February 5, 2026!
Bill Reid, a former federal prosecutor and experienced commercial trial attorney will join us in the Public Dining Room for a discussion of his new book, “Fighting Bullies: The Case for a Career in Plaintiff’s Law,” and answer questions about building a meaningful and rewarding career in plaintiff’s practice!

Address

Jamaica, NY
11439

Website

https://www.stjohns.edu/law/academics/journals-co-curricular-programs/frank-s-polestino-trial-advocacy-institute

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