The Frank S. Polestino Trial Advocacy Institute (PTAI), a
student organization dedicated to showcasing the extraordinary
talent and interest in trial work among the students at St. John’s,
was dedicated in memory of Professor Frank S. Polestino in the
Spring of 2001. PTAI focuses on excellence in trial advocacy and is
committed to providing the law school community with trial training
programs, internal and external trial competitions, and
trial-related legal writing forums and events. PTAI promotes
and supports the Law School’s reputation as a leader in trial
advocacy. During the 2004-2005 academic year, PTAI was ranked the
#1 trial team in the nation by the National Institute of Trial
Advocacy (NITA).
In the fall, PTAI runs the Charles M. Sparacio Criminal Internal
Trial Competition, the Advocate in the Spotlight Forum, and, with
the
Center for Professional Skills, the National Civil Rights Trial
Competition. In the spring, the Institute hosts the Edward Hart
Civil Internal Trial Competition, the McKenna 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.
The faculty advisors for PTAI are Professors Keri
Gould and Victoria
Brown-Douglas. An Executive Board manages the daily
operations of the Institute and ensures that PTAI events and
competitions are successful. PTAI's office is located on the third
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 the best part of
law school.
2011-2012 PTAI Board:
Executive Director: Andrea Nadine Hovnanian Nadine.Hovnanian@gmail.com
Managing Director: Kaitlin McTague
Externals Director: John Ruane
Internals Director: Marshall Kaufman
Special Events Director: Emmanuel Ulubiyo
Training Coordinator: Ashley Morris
Associate Special Events Director (McKenna Forum and Advocate):
Jennifer Figueroa
Associate Special Events Director (NITA-TOC): Timothy Bates
Associate Managing Director: Mary Vitale
Youth Coordinator: Adelina Pinkhasova
Director of Public Relations: Maria Fechter
Assistant Directors of Externals: Christopher Dooley
Assistant Directors of Internals: Javier Merino, Danielle
Drasser
Assistant Directors of Special Events: Corinne Fisk, Molly
Kalmus
Assistant Directors of Public Relations: Daniel Rocco, Rebecca
Lowry
Assistant Youth Coordinator: Jordan Shweky