Levin College of Law

Deborah Cupples

In Memoriam

About

UF Law is deeply saddened to report that Professor Deb Cupples passed away October 4, 2020. You may learn more about her legacy at UF Law, including tributes from colleagues, students and friends by visiting her In Memoriam page.

 

Deborah Cupples was a Master Legal Skills Professor at the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law, where she teaches legal drafting. She has also taught courses in statutory interpretation and drafting, constitutional interpretation and revision (Florida), and art law. Her expertise lies in legal-document drafting (primarily contracts and legislation) and contract negotiation.

She has co-authored two books: one on legal drafting and one on grammar and style for lawyers. Prior to joining the UF Law faculty in 2008, Cupples worked as an attorney in private practice. She served on the board of the Eighth Judicial Circuit Bar Association from 2008 to 2012. She continues to do pro-bono work through the Southern Legal Counsel and to work as a legal consultant.

She earned her B.A., M.A., and J.D. degrees all from the University of Florida, where she served as Managing Editor of the Florida Law Review.

Teaching and Scholarship

Legal document drafting (litigation documents, contracts, and legislation); contract negotiation; Florida constitutional interpretation; legislative interpretation; and art law.

Publications

Books

  • Deborah Cupples, A Short and Happy Guide to Civics (West Academic Publishing, 2020)
  • Deborah Cupples, It Is About You: How American Government Works and How to Help Fix It (Deflinium, 2017)
  • Deborah Cupples and Margaret Temple-Smith, Grammar, Punctuation, & Style: A Quick Guide for Lawyers and Other Writers (West, 2013)
  • Margaret Temple-Smith and Deborah Cupples, Legal Drafting: Litigation Documents, Contracts, Legislation, and Wills (West, 2012)