Page 2 - Blakely Advocacy Institute Year End Report

Dear Colleagues:

Welcome to what would have been the 2021 Advocacy Awards Banquet – a celebratory dinner
for the Blakely Advocacy Institute’s and the Advocates’ year of advocacy. We are not able to
meet in person, but I want to take this opportunity to provide this greeting to you.

It has been a challenging and difficult year, and both our advocacy program and our students
showed tremendous resilience in maximizing the benefit of their experience.

I want to personally thank our advocacy faculty and competition team coaches. You devote
countless hours to teaching our students how to become more effective advocates, and you are
a significant reason for Blakely’s national recognition and our students’ successes.

I also want to acknowledge all the students who participated in the advocacy program this
year, and in particular, I want to congratulate those students who are receiving scholarships
and awards. Collectively, your participation and successes are another key component of the
Blakely’s national recognition.

The efforts of our advocacy faculty and the hard work of our students earned the Blakely
Advocacy Institute a #44 ranking by U.S. News, an A+ rating (for Trial Advocacy) from prelaw
Magazine, and an Honor Roll Award (for Alternative Dispute Resolution) also from prelaw
Magazine.

Advocacy skills are incredibly important to the practice of law. Our students’ opportunity to
learn these skills is such an important part of the law school experience, whether the students
become litigators or not. These skills will allow our students to zealously represent their clients
and make strong arguments in any venue.

Sincerely,

Leonard M. Baynes
Dean and Professor of Law
University of Houston Law Center