New Opportunities

When Dylan Pryor, BA ’16, JD ’24, and Kiley Deain, ’24, first joined Washburn Law’s Moot Court Council, they had no idea their lives were about to change. The two students met when they were paired up against each other at moot court tryouts more than two years ago, and they both quickly realized they had a knack for crafting creative and effective arguments – as well an immediate connection with each other. They became fast friends and eventually started dating.

“Love at first sight is a very real thing,” Deain said. “We were pretty enamored with each other.”

As they got to know each other better, they also gained valuable professional skills from moot court, which helps students sharpen their legal writing and advocacy by participating in simulated court proceedings. Students compete against peers nationwide and internationally and receive feedback from experienced judges. According to Professor Joseph Mastrosimone, this helps them learn how to apply their legal education in a real-world setting.

“Moot court allows students to network, meet people, and practice essential skills,” he said. “They have the chance to write briefs for one or both sides of an argument, and they also get to test out their oral advocacy skills in competitions.”

Moot court can also open unexpected doors. In March, Pryor and Deain had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in the International Institute of Space Law Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition along with their classmate, Dillon Schreckler, ’24. Held in Washington, D.C., the prestigious contest would determine the North American winner, who would then advance to the international finals. For Pryor and Deain – who grew up in Topeka and Kansas City, Missouri, respectively – the experience was nothing short of transformative.

“This contest really boosted my confidence and helped me believe in myself,” said Deain, who is now a civil litigator. “I learned that I may have a bit of a talent for this, and the sky is the limit – or in this case, space is the limit. I get out of this what I put into it, and seeing months if not years of hard work pay off was really rewarding.”

“What I did in moot court I’m now doing in practice,” added Pryor, who is an assistant appellate defender at the Kansas State Board of Indigent Defense Services. “Being able to build a new argument out of spare parts and then argue it in front of the court – the competition was great practice for that. I wouldn’t want to learn it on the job.”

Ultimately, the Washburn team placed second in the North American regional round. This success unlocked another incredible opportunity: At the invitation of NASA, Pryor and Deain got to travel to Milan, Italy, this October to attend the finals as volunteers. Mastrosimone says these types of international experiences contribute to Washburn’s mission of helping students succeed in an increasingly global environment.

“We are trying to look abroad as places where our graduates can go and have careers and make an impact,” Mastrosimone added. “These international competitions promote skills students are developing that are transferable directly to the work of a lawyer anywhere in the world.”

Pryor and Deain were also guests at the 75th International Astronautical Congress, which convenes experts, professionals, and enthusiasts to discuss the latest advancements in space technology, research, and exploration. This exposure helped the young lawyers gain new perspective on their own legal practices.

“It makes you think about the interplay between progress and development and how to handle these sorts of things,” Pryor said. “Space law is regularly having to figure out how to deal with new types of technology. In my field, the law has already been laid out, whereas in the outer space sector everything is still new, and there’s so much more potential. It opened our eyes to how broad of a field it really is.”

“In a lot of what I do on a daily basis the law is pretty settled,” Deain added. “Domestic or municipal laws can be slow to change. Space law differentiates itself in that way. Technology develops so rapidly, and it’s difficult for the law to keep pace.”

For Deain and Pryor, getting to know people from around the world with a variety of perspectives has also been essential in developing their own worldviews, particularly as they settle into their new roles as legal professionals.

“I believe you can never network enough,” Deain said. “It was nice to engage with other people who are interested in space law. I believe international travel and being exposed to different cultures is integral in developing who you are as a person. It expands your worldview and opens up so many different possibilities. It’s a life-changing experience that I’m glad I got to have.”

Deain and Pryor have also leveled up in their personal relationship, as they got engaged this spring when Pryor proposed to Deain on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court. While in Milan, they took some time to see the sights and snap their engagement pictures. As they begin their life together, they look forward to continuing to work hard and dream big.

“It’s a perfect full-circle love story,” Deain said. “We got together because of moot court, and going to Milan together was very special for both of us. We were so grateful for the opportunity to go. It was the trip of a lifetime, and we are so proud to have represented Washburn Law.”