Duquesne University Law School's mock trial team finished first at the National Tournament of Champions competition, the school said yesterday.

Duquesne was among 16 law schools with top rankings in mock trial competition that were invited to the event, sponsored by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and LexisNexis.

The other teams were from Syracuse, Temple, University of Maryland, Suffolk, South Texas, Chicago-Kent, Akron, Arkansas, Loyola-Los Angeles, Pepperdine, New Mexico, Samford (Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham), Baylor, St. John's and North Carolina.

They competed Thursday through Saturday before 150-plus judges at the University of Maryland School of Law.

Duquesne, because of the win, will host the competition in 2010.

Team members were Lisa Barnett of Penn Hills, Megan Lehman of Johnstown, Brock McCandless of Washington, Pa., and Linda Obioha of Mount Vernon, N.Y., who was awarded Best Advocate at the competition.

Team coaches were Duquesne law professors Michael Streib and Amelia Michele Joiner; Michael Gianantonio, of Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman; Peter Giglione, of Wilkes & McHugh; and Michelle Mantine, of Reed Smith.