Thomas Jefferson School of Law Adjunct Professor Mark T. Cumba Wins Edward D. Ohlbaum Professionalism Award

SAN DIEGO, CA, 6/9/17 –Thomas Jefferson School of Law Adjunct Professor Mark T. Cumba received the Edward D. Ohlbaum Professionalism Award, which recognizes an individual whose life and practice display "sterling character and unquestioned integrity, coupled with ongoing dedication to the highest standards of the legal profession and the rule of law".

The award was given to Professor Cumba at Stetson University College of Law's Educating Advocates: Teaching Advocacy Skills conference in Gulfport, Florida on May 23, 2017. The award was created to honor the late Professor Edward D. Ohlbaum from Temple University, James E. Beasley School of Law, who founded one of the nation's top trial advocacy programs, and was intended to pay forward Professor Ohlbaum's dedication and commitment to the ethical teaching of an entire generation of advocates.

Professor Cumba is a prosecutor with the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General currently assigned to the Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse. He earned his undergraduate degree from DePaul University and his J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law where he competed as a member of the national trial team reaching the semi-finals of the ATLA Regional Student Trial Advocacy Competition, the Final Four in the NITA Tournament of Champions, and winning 1st Place at the Regional Championship of the ABA/ACTL/TYLA National Trial Competition.

At Thomas Jefferson School of Law, Professor Cumba teaches Trial Practice and coaches in the Epsten, Grinnel & Howell Trial Advocacy Program's National Trial Team, which competes in local, regional and national trial advocacy competitions. Thomas Jefferson School of Law's trial advocacy teams have an outstanding track record of success against teams from the nation's top ranked trial advocacy programs.

"Mark is an amazing coach, professor, and mentor to the trial advocacy students at Thomas Jefferson School of Law," said Director of the Epsten, Grinnel & Howell Trial Advocacy Program's National Trial Team Lilys McCoy. "He has given tirelessly to the Team and his students consistently advance at tournaments and are known for excellence, clean rounds, and professionalism."

In recent years, Thomas Jefferson School of Law won the NTC/TYLA Regional Competition and advanced to the semi-finals at nationals in 2013, was a finalist in the ABTL Mock Trial Competition in 2014, was a finalist in the NTC/TYLA Regional Competition in 2015, placed 5th at the CACJ/Hastings National Criminal Trial Advocacy Competition in 2016, and was a semi-finalist at the NTC/TYLA Regional Competition in 2017.

"I am extremely proud to be the recipient of the 2017 Edward D. Ohlbaum Professionalism Award. Professor Ohlbaum was respected by so many not just in the law school trial advocacy community but in the general community overall. It is an honor to receive an award named after such a remarkable man," said Mark Cumba. "This award is not just a reflection of me personally, but on the entire coaching staff of Thomas Jefferson School of Law's National Trial team led by Lilys McCoy, because of our commitment and dedication to teaching our students to always conduct themselves with the highest level of professionalism and civility, to respect the rule of law, and to always take the high road."


The mission of Thomas Jefferson School of Law is to provide an outstanding legal education for a nationally-based, diverse student body in a collegial and supportive environment with attention to newly emerging areas of law, particularly those related to technological development, globalization and the quest for social justice. Located in Downtown San Diego, Thomas Jefferson School of Law has evolved into an innovative, cutting-edge law school, devoted to the individual needs and success of its students. More information is available at www.tjsl.edu.
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CONTACT: Thomas Jefferson School of Law Director of Marketing and Communications Edgar Hopida, 619-961-4314 or 619-913-0719, ehopida@tjsl.edu