These are more than just words. Particularly within the state of Florida, many of those responsible for shaping the world we live in learned the law in these halls. And the first place to look for tomorrow’s leaders is the prestigious leadership organization Florida Blue Key, where law students have been represented in disproportionate numbers since its formation in 1923. Of its nearly 150 presidents, fewer than 25 lack a UF law degree. Its top two positions are now held by UF law students Karen Persis (3L) and Alexis Lambert (2L).

To list just a few, FBK/College of Law alumni have served as Florida governors (Lawton Chiles and Ruben Askew), justices on the Florida Supreme Court (former Chief Justices Alto Adams, Stephen H. Grimes and Charles T. Wells), and leaders and organizers in their communities throughout the state (Dr. Stephen C. O’Connell; Buddy Dyer, Mayor of Orlando; Bill McBride and former UF President Marshall Criser).

“We are a leadership organization,” said Persis. “Service and commitment to the University of Florida is our priority, and that is what we focus on.”

FBK members are “tapped” based on demonstrated service and commitment to the university. Most are chosen as undergraduates, though some — like recent initiate Ben Diamond (Florida Law Review’s Fall 2003 editor) — are picked after entering graduate/professional school.

Future members often begin organizing events and mobilizing classmates to accomplish goals as soon as they hit campus, a pattern of productivity and achievement repeated lifelong for many.

“It’s so interesting to see patterns between the organizations students are involved in and the paths their careers take,” said UF law Historian Betty Taylor. “Florida Blue Key members often go into politics or leadership positions, while many Law Review members are now professors.”

Among FBK’s projects is Gator Growl, the world’s largest student-run pep-rally, which gives FBK members the chance to work with a variety of comedians, bands and performers, many on the cusp of stardom. (for details, visit www.gatorgrowl.org)

“The kids and parents had a great time. It was nice to be able to see the kids play together and for parents to meet one another,” said MLSA President Steve Berlin.

Among participants (above, from left to right, were Bill, Kelly (3L), Adam (2 years) and Josh (2 years) Thompson; John (3L), Carla and Nolan (1 year) Metcalf; Allison, Steve (3L), Ben (4 years) and Abby (1 year) Berlin; Heather (wife of 2L) and Delaney (2 years) Brannen; Don (2L) and Grace (4 years) Huseman; Bill (2L), Erica and Scott (1 year) Lucier; and Kevin (2L), Renee and Madeline (9 months) Murch.

Hughes also taught law at the universities of California, Southern California, Puerto Rico, Boston and Indiana. He wrote/co-wrote a number of books and treatises and codes of law for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. He was a Brandeis Fellow at Harvard Law School 1951- 54, served in WWII and was admiralty counsel for the U.S. Maritime Commission in Washington D.C.

He is survived by his wife, Mae A. Hughes. (Career Services, From Page 2)

“At the same time, the dark side of the legal profession…the fighting, the arguing, the greed and, sometimes, the dishonesty…is deeply troubling to me. Since I was in law school, the number of lawyers per capita has increased several fold, and more non-lawyers perform routine legal services once offered by members of the Bar. These factors have had a strongly negative impact on the profession. Lawyers once faced a plethora of potential clients; today, too many scrounge for work and rank dollars over service.

“We in legal academia bear significant responsibility in this. Other than sharply limiting the number of law students – which is unlikely to happen – the best faculty can do is to teach students the importance of ethics and professionalism and of using their learned skills to seek truth and justice rather than to mislead and manipulate.”

Education

B.S. (Accounting, cum laude), Louisiana State University College of Business Administration; J.D. (with honors), Louisiana State University College of Law.; LL.M. (Taxation), New York University College of Law. Order of the Coif; Phi Kappa Phi (honorary); Beta Alpha Psi (accounting honorary); Beta Gamma Sigma (business honorary). Certified Public Accountant.

Expertise/Background

Author of numerous articles on Taxation. Named to Louisiana State University Law Center Hall of Fame. Chair, Cyber-Tax Committee, Tax Section, Florida Bar, 2001-present; Board of Editors, Florida Tax Review; Faculty Editor, Florida Law Review, Tax Issue; former Managing Editor, Tax Law Review, New York University; and Associate Editor, Louisiana Law Review, Louisiana State University. Visiting Professor, Leiden University, Netherlands.