The Harris Keenan & Goldfarb (HKG) Advocacy Program is NYLS’s hub for co-curricular programs and specialized certificate programs, where students sharpen their lawyering skills in trial advocacy, dispute resolution, and appellate advocacy through interscholastic competitions and hands-on training with expert faculty and practitioners.
The HKG Advocacy Program was established with generous support from Harris, Keenan & Goldfarb Attorneys at Law—led by founding partner Seth A. Harris and named partners and NYLS alumni Alison R. Keenan ’06 and Blake G. Goldfarb ’10—and is directed byProfessor Lynn Boepple Su, Dean for Advocacy and Co-Curricular Programs at NYLS. View photos from the 2024 Program launch celebration.
This year, the program launched a new Student Ambassador initiative designed to bring together NYLS’s three competitive advocacy teams—the Trial Competition Team (TCT), Moot Court Association (MCA), and the Dispute Resolution Team (DRT). Recently, the teams have achieved great success in national competitions, highlighting the HKG Advocacy Program’s remarkable impact.
The Student Ambassador initiative will provide a shared platform to spotlight team activities, expand skills-based training and networking opportunities, promote lawyer wellbeing and diversity in the profession, and deepen the sense of community and collaboration within NYLS.
“This initiative brings together the energy, talent, and dedication of our advocacy teams in a new and collaborative way,” said Professor Su, who also serves as Faculty Advisor to TCT. “By creating a shared platform for student leadership, this initiative helps deepen the impact of our co-curricular programs and builds a stronger, more connected advocacy community at NYLS. I’m incredibly proud of our inaugural ambassadors and excited to see how they help shape the future of the HKG Advocacy Program.”
Each academic year, student ambassadors will be selected by their competition team’s faculty advisor and executive board and will work with Professor Su to plan and develop activities that support the goals of the HKG Advocacy Program. The inaugural student ambassadors are: Kierin Geed ’26 and Sara Hosseini ’25, representing TCT; Hallie Bader ’25 and John West ’26, representing MCA; and Jessica L. Kumar ’26 and Mark Kvinta ’26, representing DRT.
We asked a few of the student ambassadors to share their thoughts on the initiative and reflect on how the HKG Advocacy Program has shaped their law school experience:
Why did you want to be an HKG Advocacy Program Student Ambassador, and what do you hope to gain from the experience?
Sara Hosseini ’25 (TCT): “I wanted to be an ambassador for the HKG Advocacy Program because my experience in TCT has been incredibly valuable in developing skills essential to becoming a trial attorney. I hope to help others gain similar opportunities to grow and learn through advocacy-focused events and discussions. Through this role, I also hope to continue strengthening my own advocacy skills and connect with others in the field.”
How has being part of an NYLS competition team helped you grow as a future lawyer?
Mark Kvinta ’26 (DRT):“Being a part of DRT has helped me develop critical thinking, negotiation, and communication skills essential for a future legal career. It has provided hands-on experience in resolving conflicts, honing my ability to approach complex issues with strategic solutions. The team environment also taught me the importance of professionalism and collaboration, which are vital in any legal setting. Overall, the experience has given me a deeper understanding of conflict dynamics, and I am incredibly grateful for DRT.”
What advice would you give students who are thinking about joining TCT, MCA, or DRT?
John West ’26 (MCA):“One piece of advice I’d give to 1Ls who are trying out for any of the advocacy teams is that you must be ready to work once you are on these teams. Participating in any of these teams is a massive undertaking, but it’s genuinely one of the best things that you can do in law school and will make you a better attorney, no matter what kind of practice you get into. If you are willing to immerse yourself in the work that these teams give you and get close to the people around you, it will be an incredibly rewarding experience.”
