In 1989, Professor Charles E. “Chuck” Kirkwood of The University of Akron School of Law hosted the first Tournament of Champions Trial Competition. He invited the best student trial advocacy training schools in the nation to participate in the competition. The tournament was informal and fun, but also focused on displaying the outstanding trial advocacy skills which all great trial lawyers possess. This, combined with the highest quality of collegiality and good sportsmanship, quickly made the Tournament of Champions one of the premier law school trial competitions in the nation. In 1995, the National Institute for Trial Advocacy recognized the outstanding quality of this tournament and became the permanent sponsor of the Tournament of Champions.