Aleksandra Sterina ‘12, Stephanie Sciandra ‘12, Scott Smith ‘12 and alternate Nathan Perry ‘12 comprised the team that recently competed at the Securities Dispute Resolution Triathlon held at St. John's University School of Law on Oct. 15 and 16. The two-day competition attracted competitors from law schools around the country.

"Our team did an outstanding job, winning praise from other competitors and judges," said Professor Joan Stearns Johnsen. "They also handled the various surprises common in competitions with extraordinary grace and sportsmanship. We can be very proud of how Albany Law School was represented." 

The Securities Dispute Resolution Triathlon is a joint initiative of the Hugh L. Carey Center for Dispute Resolution and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). For two days, student teams meet in New York city to test their skills in the negotiation, mediation and arbitration of a securities dispute.

During the triathlon, students play the roles of attorneys and clients, with some teams in the role of investor and others in the role of broker-dealer. Members of FINRA’s roster of experienced neutrals serve as mediators, arbitrators and judges, critiquing the student teams and offering the students an invaluable real-life experience. By challenging students to negotiate, mediate and arbitrate in a single competition, this one-of-a-kind event gives students an opportunity to hone their advocacy skills in a realistic and comprehensive securities dispute experience.

This is the law school’s second year participating in this competition. Once again, the Albany Law School team performed extremely well in all three skill areas.