Mary Jane Angelo
Associate Professor

• Published article “Regulating Evolution for Sale:  An Evolutionary Biology Model for Regulating the Unnatural Selection of Genetically Modified Organisms,” in the Wake Forest Law Review.

Patricia E. Dilley
Professor

• Her remarks at the 2006 AALS meeting of the Employee Benefits Section have been published as “Reinventing Retirement:  Reforming Social Security, Medicare, and Private Pension Plans,” in 10 Employee Rights and Employment Policy Journal, No. 2 (2006).

Mark A. Fenster
Professor

• Published book review, “Waller:  ‘Thurman Arnold:  A Biography,’” in the Michigan Law Review (2007).

• Published “Regulating Land Use in a Constitutional Shadow: The Institutional Contexts of Exactions,” in the Hastings Law Journal (2007).
• Published “The Folklore of Legal Biography,” in the Michigan Law Review (2007) (review essay).
• Published “Takings, Version 2005: The Legal Process of Constitutional Property Rights,” in the University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law (2007).
• Published “Coolhunting the Law,” in the Harvard Negotiation Law Review (2007) (symposium essay).

Richard H. Hiers
Affiliate Professor Emeritus

• Published article, “Institutional Academic Freedom or Autonomy Grounded Upon the First Amendment: A Jurisprudential Mirage,” in Hamline Law Review (2007). The article demonstrates that even though many learned judges, commentators and Supreme Court Justices assume or assert otherwise, the Supreme Court has never held that academic institutions, themselves, are entitled to academic freedom under the First Amendment.

Robert H. Jerry, II
Dean; Levin Mabie and Levin Professor

• Published essay “Reflections on Leadership,” appearing in the Winter 2007 issue of the University of Toledo Law Review (on the Leadership in Legal Education Symposium VII).

Diane H. Mazur
Professor

• Published article, “Military Values in Law,” in a special issue of the Duke Journal of Gender Law & Policy.  The issue also includes transcribed remarks from two presentations she gave at the 2006 National Lesbian and Gay Law Foundation Conference and a 2007 symposium at Harvard Law School.

William H. Page
Marshall M. Criser Eminent Scholar in Electronic Communications and Administrative Law; Professor

• Published article, “Communications and Concerted Action,” in the Spring 2007 issue of the Loyola University Chicago Law Journal.
• Moderated panel on “Class Certification: Is there a Trend Toward More Rigorous Analysis?” at the ABA Antitrust Section’s Spring Meeting in April 2007 in Washington, DC.

Christopher L.  Peterson
Associate Professor

• Testified before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Development’s Subcommittee on Securities, Investments, and Insurance on the subject of “Subprime Mortgage Market Turmoil: Examining the Role of Securitization.” The committee is considering legislation that would enact recommendations Peterson will make in an article forthcoming in the Cardozo Law Review.
• The National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators (NACAA) recently awarded Peterson its Consumer Advocate of the Year Award for 2007 for his research on predatory lending and his advocacy for legislation adopted last year by Congress that caps the interest rate lenders may charge military personnel.

Elizabeth A. Rowe
Assistant Professor

• Published “Saving Trade Secret Disclosure on the Internet Through Sequential Preservation,” in the Wake Forest Law Review (2007).

Christopher Slobogin
Stephen C. O’Connell Chair; Affiliate Professor of Psychiatry; Adjunct Professor, University of South Florida Mental Health Institute

• Published article, “Dangerousness and Expertise Redux,” in the Emory Law Journal (Spring 2007).
• Published commentary, “The Liberal Assault on the Fourth Amendment,” in the Spring 2007 issue of the Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law.
• Presented, “Datamining by the Government,” which was delivered to the Center for Internet and Society at the Stanford Law School on April 16.

Walter O. Weyrauch
Distinguished Professor; Stephen C. O’Connell Chair

• Presented lecture on March 19 on “Romani Legal Traditions and Culture,” in a series sponsored, inter alia, by the UF Center for European Studies.

Steven J. Willis
Professor; Associate Director, Center on Children and Families

• Published the second edition (with Jones, Brennen, and Moran) of his West casebook, The Tax Law of Charities and Other Exempt Organizations:  Cases, Materials, Questions, and Activities.

Danaya C. Wright
Professor; UF Research Foundation Professor

• Presented “The Legacy of Colonialism: Religion, Law, and Women’s Rights in India,” at the Washington and Lee School of Law on March 30.

Faculty members at the University of Florida Levin College of Law are frequently called upon to give expert opinion on legal issues being covered in the national, state and local media. In recent months, UF Law professors have been featured numerous times in major newspapers, magazines, websites, television and radio. Faculty members are asked to please send notices of their media appearances to flalaw@law.ufl.edu.

Jeffrey Davis
Professor; Gerald A. Sohn Scholar

• The Gainesville Sun, June 5.Interviewed over the contract dispute of Billy Donovan and the Orlando Magic, Davis said:  “The law of contract is, if you enter a contract and you breach the contract, then the person you have contracted with can sue you for the harm you’ve caused.” Davis explains further the personal service contract and the buyout clause under which the new team (Gators) would pay the magic the monetary damages. Lastly, Davis said he didn’t feel Orlando would take such drastic action against Donovan and that everything would most likely be resolved.

Richard Hamann
Associate in Law; Assistant Director, Center for Governmental Responsibility

• The Gainesville Sun, May 14. In an article addressing over usage and removal of water for bottling in the Suwanne district. Hamann stated that the Suwannee River district is taking few preventative measures for the water crisis being faced today and feels alternatives to groundwater pumping should be mandated just as many other districts statewide have implemented.

Joseph S. Jackson
Senior Legal Skills Professor

• The Gainesville Sun, June 18. Jackson, the attorney representing Fire of God ministries, has argued that permitting the Moose Lodge to serve meals and alcohol on the property while requiring additional permits for Fire of God amounts to a “discriminatory interpretation” of city codes that was “deliberate and unprecedented.” “The city’s treatment of Fire of God was discriminatory in that it would have allowed the Moose Lodge to continue to operate as a nonreligious assembly but have precluded Fire of God from using the property because its use was religious,” he said.

Robert H. Jerry, II
Dean; Levin Mabie and Levin Professor

• The Houston Chronicle, June 1. Quoted in an article emphasizing the importance of mandating an upgrade in building codes for homes along the Gulf Coast due to the severe damage caused by hurricanes, Jerry, a specialist in insurance damages, said: “Should Gulf Coast states upgrade building codes? The answer is an absolute and unequivocal ‘yes.’”

Lyrissa Lidsky
Professor; UF Research Foundation Professor; Associate Dean for Faculty Development

• The Gainesville Sun, The Washington Post, Bradenton Herald, The News Tribune and Forbes, May 2. Quoted in various articles regarding an attorney’s request to withhold the release of a taped statement from a 10-year old boy who pleaded no contest to beating up a homeless man, Lidsky said: “Because of the boy’s participation in the crime and the media attention the case has already received, withholding the statement now is like trying to put the genie back in the bottle.”

Joseph W. Little
Professor; Alumni Research Scholar

• St. Petersburg Times, June 22. Interviewed regarding Gov. Charlie Christ’s recent signing of a bill that will force local governments to make immediate budget cuts, which has received differing opinions regarding its legality under the Florida Constitution. Little said the Constitution does not prohibit the Legislature from further restricting millage rates as long as it does not affect the overall millage cap. Some language in the proposed constitutional amendment, including that it would “require the Legislature to limit the authority of counties, municipalities and special districts to increase ad valorem taxes, is causing a stir. “It makes you wonder why they put it in there,” Little said, because it can be interpreted as an after-the-fact ratification of the Legislature’s ability to force local governments to roll back and cap taxes.
• St. Petersburg Times, July 17. Quoted in a story on a recent mandatory property tax cut in Clearwater that will cut into many of the quality-of-life programs including landscaping and decluttering of beaches, Little said: communities could experience “a real change in the aesthetic quality,” but said officials could also find new ways to pay for these programs. “If you were in Florida 30 years ago and you compare it to now, you’d see a real difference—it’s more pleasant, attractive and desirable. So maybe this could be a different direction we move in, or maybe it won’t be that severe after all.”

Diane H. Mazur
Professor

• ABA Journal E-Report, June 1. Quoted extensively on the subject of Congress’ reconsideration of the Equal Rights Amendment and its effect on military service by women, she said:  “The concerns that are left are the ones that drive us politically insane. When the bill comes up for discussion, it’s not going to be about the place of women in our society. It’s going to be about all sorts of military horror stories and gay marriage horror stories.” Mazur also was quoted saying, “Think about a woman coming out of West Point. She joins the military police to go to Iraq and will do the same work her male colleagues do, however with half the recognition and double the hassle.” She added: “Their male colleagues look at them as lesser colleagues, and I think there is a direct link between that kind of viewpoint and these issues the military is still dealing with.”

William H. Page
Marshall M. Criser Eminent Scholar in Electronic Communications and Administrative Law; Professor

• Bloomberg News Radio, June 20. Interviewed about Google’s recent complaint that Microsoft had violated the final judgments in U.S. v. Microsoft by designing the Vista operating system in a way that interfered with Google’s desktop search software.

Juan F. Perea
Cone Wagner Nugent Johnson, Hazouri and Roth Professor

• St. Petersburg Times, April 11. Quoted in a story on the city manager in Largo, Florida who was fired after announcing he planned to become a woman and now plans to sue his former employer. Perea said Susan Stanton, formerly known as Steve Stanton, “has a strong basis for a lawsuit,”  considering federal precedents and previous cases involving transgender people handled by the Florida Commission on Human Relations.
• St. Petersburg Times, May 16.In an article discussing the firing of seven cadets in the police academy for overusing the “n-word,” Perea said: “A police department is a very public institution and it needs to have very good relationships with all its constituencies. It seems to me not just an understandable rule but a very good rule to prohibit racially insensitive or racist language.”
• AM-850, May 24.Interviewed regardingPresident George W. Bush’s bipartisan immigration proposal that will give immigrants a lot of opportunities, Perea said: “Individuals who have already entered the country illegally could receive some legal status. One of the major reasons for this legislation is to stabilize the workforce, which so many immigrants are in now.” When immigrants obtain citizen status, Perea said, it helps those individuals step out from hiding and they become less fearful.
• The Gainesville Sun, June 22. Quoted in a story about a heavily tattooed man who, after being denied a job application at about 60 businesses, formed TATTOO (Tattooed Against the Thriving Tolerance of Occupational Oppression), an organization he hopes will help pass legislation to make it illegal for employers to judge based on tattoos. Perea said the man does not have a case until a bill is passed that will make it illegal for employers to judge based on tattoos. “It’s a form of discrimination, but it’s a form of discrimination that’s legal.” In Florida, employers have the right to not hire someone—or even fire—someone because of their tattoos, he said. “That might seem unfair,” he said, “but I think most people understand that jobs aren’t really places where you can freely express anything you might want to.”

Christopher L. Peterson
Associate Professor

• The Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey), July 3. Quoted in a story on New Jersey state officials and an Edison, NJ company that runs eight Web sites selling digital cameras and other electronics, which have been locked in a lawsuit alleging the business defrauded customers. Responding to the state’s accusations that it uses bait-and-switch tactics and misleads consumers in the advertising and pricing of items, the company asserts its websites and advertising aren’t subject to New Jersey law. “To my way of thinking, the retailer’s position is tantamount to saying states attorneys general will no longer have jurisdiction over consumer sales simply because it’s done over the Internet,” Peterson said. “In my view, the retailer’s argument strikes me as weak and dangerous.”
• Salon.com, July 31. His latest study on usury law is the focus of a story, “Usury: Back and better than ever.” The piece, available at http://www.salon.com/tech/htww/2007/07/31/usury/index.html, includes a link to and quotes extensively from Peterson’s paper, “Usury Law, Payday Loans, and Statutory Slight of Hand: An Empirical Analysis of American Credit Pricing Limits,” which is one of SSRN’s top 10 consumer law papers of all time. The study was also featured in a blog post written by Elizabeth Warren, a law professor at Harvard who is considered the leading academic in the field: http://www.creditslips.org/creditslips/2007/07/from-20-to-2000.html#more.

Michael L. Seigel
Professor

• Orlando Sentinel, April 17. After the exoneration of the Duke lacrosse players, Siegel reflected on the case in an op-ed on the alarming use and abuse of alcohol at this leading academic institution and how the university opts not to address underage drinking as a problem. Instead, Seigel wrote, it is hypocrisy and is temporarily fixed with a “Band-Aid solution.”
• The Tampa Tribune, April 28.In an article about an African American Dade County police officer that was murdered by a young boy who received life in prison instead of the death penalty, Seigel commented on the racial anomalies, stating that people who kill whites are more likely to get the death penalty than those who kill blacks.
• Orlando Sentinel, May 30. Commenting on the lack of applicants for the vacant job of U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida, which is one of the most powerful federal-prosecutor jobs in the country, Seigel, a Democrat, wrote that the turmoil inside the Justice Department in Washington is a key factor. “It’s got to be a reflection of the low morale and the attorney general’s awful performance in defending the actions the department took in firing eight U.S. attorneys. I think the politicization of the department—a lot of people are not interested in getting in the middle of that.”

Chris Slobogin
Stephen C. O’Connell Chair; Affiliate Professor of Psychiatry; Adjunct Professor, University of South Florida Mental Health Institute

• New York Times, The Miami Herald, and New York-originated Fox News radio program, April 21 & April 30. Quoted in both newspapers regarding gun laws in the Virginia Tech shootings and whether a federal law should have prevented Virginia Tech gunman Seung-Hui Cho from buying a gun because a Virginia court said he was a danger to himself in 2005 sent him for psychiatric treatment. He said that under federal law, the Virginia Tech gunman Seung-Hui Cho should have been prohibited from buying a gun.
• St. Petersburg Times, April 14. Interviewed regarding a trial of a 16-year-old boy who is a juvenile that has had numerous charges dismissed because he was deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial. The boy is facing more charges and is believed to have a reduced chance of dismissal because of his age. Slobogin said, “Immaturity could play a role in competency decisions. Children under 16 are more likely to be found incompetent than those 16 years and older.”
• St. Petersburg Times, June 3, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, June 17. Quoted in a story about a Tampa man whose life became a nightmare after he lost his wallet and authorities made a series of mistakes that led to him being wrongly arrested for a crime he did not commit and left him in deeply debt. Commenting on a bank teller who 12 days after the crime identified the man as someone who tried to pass a forged check, Slobogin, who specializes in police practices, said: “We start forgetting what we see within an hour. To me it would be remarkable that someone would remember a photo they saw 12 days before.”
• New York Times, June 13. Quoted in a story about privacy issues related to Google’s new Street View service.
• St. Petersburg Times, July 17. In a story on a New Port Richey mother who was deemed unfit to stand trial after a series of tests declared her incompetent, Slobogin discussed the two tests that are administered under the state law and said a series of questions are asked. “You don’t have to flunk all six. You can be very poor in two of them and that can cause the evaluator and the judge to declare an individual incompetent,” Slobogin said, noting that competency can be restored within weeks or months. “It is not required for all mental illnesses to be removed before a person is found mentally competent.”
• Sarasota Herald-Tribune, July 19. Quoted in a story on the pressure mounting for Bradenton police officials to seek an outside agency to investigate the depth of a scandal in which on-duty officers reportedly had sex with a prostitute, Slobogin said, historically, the vast majority of internal affairs investigations end with officers being cleared of the allegations.

Lee-ford Tritt
Associate Professor; Director of Center for Estate and Elder Law Planning and Estates and Trusts Practice Certificate Program; Director, Center on Children and Families

• Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, April 28. In an article regarding a sickly woman’s estate and her lawyer altering the placement of her funds three days after her death, Tritt said: “This statute was created to avoid these types of conflicts. (This) law specifically precludes an attorney-in-fact from amending, modifying or revoking documents or dispositions effective at the principal’s death.”

Michael Allan Wolf
Professor, Richard E. Nelson Chair in Local Government Law

• Palm Beach Post, March 17. In an article about a developer’s idea to preserve Mecca Farms with tax money from nearby development, he said, “Development arrangements that use public money should provide important public amenities and allow for desired development that would not otherwise occur.” He then added, “I’m not sure either of those factors is operating in this case.”

Barbara Bennett Woodhouse
David H. Levin Chair in Family Law; Director, Center on Children and Families; Co-Director, UF Institute for Child & Adolescent Research, Evaluation

• National Public Radio, April 30. Interviewed by NPR about children’s right to counsel and said that without a will or some form of documentation it is extremely difficult for a third party to prevail in a fight or a contest with a parent over the upbringing of a child.

Danaya Wright
Professor, UF Faculty Senate Chair

• The Gainesville Sun, April 11.In an article about the proposal by Rep. David Rivera to name the college of education after former Gov. Jeb Bush., she said, “I would hope that the Legislature would consult with the faculty, and the dean of the College of Education, and the president and the provost and the board of trustees to ensure that they all welcome that name change.”

Peterson, an associate professor at UF’s Levin College of Law, co-authored a study last year with Steven M. Graves, an assistant professor of geography at California State University, which helped spur the U.S. Congress to pass legislation protecting military families from predatory lenders who charge interest rates that can reach well into the triple digits. The study surveyed more than 13,000 zip codes and found that payday loan companies clustered in areas near military bases. The findings were cited in a report by the Pentagon, and Peterson testified before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.

Just 15 days after Peterson’s testimony, Congress agreed to legislation prohibiting lenders from imposing an interest rate of more than 36 percent on loans to members of the armed forces or their dependants. Peterson called it “probably the most consumer-friendly legislation Congress has passed in a generation.”

The NACAA is a not-for-profit association of U.S. and Canadian government agencies (such as state attorney general offices, city and county attorney offices, state consumer protection offices, etc.) that are responsible for enforcing consumer protection law.

NACAA Executive Director Elizabeth Owen said the award is not presented annually and is only given when the nominating committee recognizes a truly outstanding person who has distinguished himself in the field of consumer protection. More than anyone else in the country, she said, Peterson recognized the devastating impact of payday lending on the military, regular citizens, and the economy.

“We credit him for drawing national attention to this problem, which has plagued consumer protection agencies for years,” Owen said. “Members of NACAA are honored to know Chris, made better by his example, and inspired by his dedication. The emphasis on consumer protection and the importance of taking care of those people victimized by fraud and greed seems to have been brushed aside lately. At such a young age Chris has already accomplished so much—everyone in the consumer protection field can’t wait to see what he does next.”

Peterson, who began teaching in 2003, has been studying predatory lending for years and is the author of Taming the Sharks: Towards a Cure for the High Cost Credit Market, which received the American College of Consumer Financial Services Attorneys’ Best Book of the Year Award for 2004.

In a typical payday loan, a lender might give a borrower $100 cash in exchange for a post-dated check for $115. When the loan comes due, typically two weeks later, the lender cashes the check, recouping his $100 plus a $15 “lender’s fee.” If the borrower doesn’t have enough money in the bank when the loan is due, he can always refinance—by borrowing more money on the same terms. Known as a “rollover,” this practice can quickly turn a small loan into a sizable financial obligation. Charges for payday loans vary, but a typical lender will charge around $17 or $18 for a two-week loan of $100. That’s roughly equivalent to an annual interest rate of 450 percent.

Peterson and Graves mapped payday loan locations in 20 states, including 109 military bases, and found that ZIP codes near military bases consistently had higher numbers of payday lenders than nonmilitary ZIP codes of similar population and demographic makeup.

Military personnel make good targets for the payday loan industry, Peterson said. Junior enlisted personnel often have low salaries and little experience managing money. Because the military frowns on nonpayment of debt—delinquent soldiers can face demotion, loss of security clearances, and even discharge—lenders can be confident they will be repaid.

In addition to capping interest rates, the bill also prohibits mandatory binding arbitration in contracts with military service members. Critics of arbitration argue that it is a more expensive, secret system designed by big business to deflect rather than resolve consumer complaints. This ban, Peterson said, creates an exciting new exception to the Federal Arbitration Act, a law which many believe is being used by big business to deny consumers access to the civil justice system.

The legislation is the first effort Congress has made to close a loophole in federal banking regulation that allows banks to ignore usury laws. Unlike state usury laws, the new 36 percent interest rate cap for military personnel applies to all creditors equally, including banks.

Peterson’s current research offers a startling analysis of how many state legislatures use small, innocuous numbers in usury law in an attempt to minimize the public outcry over their decision to legalize triple digit interest rate consumer loans. He said the recognition of the value of his work by the NACAA, which was announced at the organization’s annual awards luncheon in Philadelphia in June, was both surprising and humbling.

“It feels like further confirmation that my research is being noticed and maybe making a small difference in the world,” Peterson said. “And to have a big group of people from around the country get together and agree that that’s happened is really very gratifying.”

Payne, who practices in the area of commercial litigation for the law firm Rogers Towers, in Jacksonville, graduated first in his class, worked on Florida Law Review, interned at the Supreme Court of Florida for retired Justice Leander J. Shaw Jr., and did pro bono work during law school. After graduation, Payne clerked for United States District Judge Wm. Terrell Hodges and then United States Circuit Judge Susan H. Black.

Being a law clerk was the best career decision Payne ever made because he entered private practice with a much better understanding of the judicial system, he said.

“Clerking is an ideal environment for someone coming out of law school to sharpen their skills before going into private practice,” Payne said. “The opportunity to write, research, analyze, watch trials and see how judges make decisions was an invaluable experience.”

It was his experience as an intern for the Supreme Court of Florida in Tallahassee that motivated Payne to become a law clerk after graduation. Working with a legendary judge like Leander Shaw left him with a tremendous appreciation for what judges do, he said.

Of Justice Shaw, Payne said, “He has a great innate sense of justice and what the law should be. He can get right to the heart of even the most difficult case with his questioning, and was just a remarkable jurist to work with.” Perhaps working with judges was in Payne’s genes, given that his father is retired Chief Judge Richard G. Payne of Florida’s Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, in his hometown of Key West.

The ability to focus, persevere, and overcome obstacles is the best attribute a law student can have, he said.

“Whether it’s studying in law school, clerking with the court, or working in private practice, the ability to challenge yourself and persevere through difficult times and learn from those experiences is a key to success,” Payne said. “I’m one of those kinds of people who like to be good at something right away, but when I’m not as good as I’d like to be right away, I’ve learned I have to always push on and try harder.”

To be prepared for the world after law school, students need to work together, write as much as possible, and be involved in organizations, he said.

“You need to get on any journal you can and look to publish your work as much as you can,” he said. “Make the most of your experience by interning for the courts and working pro bono.”

When it comes down to a career, Payne says being surrounded by lawyers who have pride in the profession is most important.

“At Rogers Towers, I’m surrounded by lawyers who have a great deal of respect for the profession and the law and who pride themselves on providing high quality legal representation for their clients,” he said. “I’m happy that I share those goals too.”

Jason Silver

• Read the CCS section of FlaLaw Online each week. Articles here will highlight upcoming deadlines and program information, and point you towards resources that will become invaluable for your job search.
• Sign up for up for the CCS Listserv for the most up-to-date information regarding career programming and workshops, job opportunities, on-campus interviews, off-campus interviews, employer receptions, and more. Consider signing up for Judicial Clerkship and Public Interest Listservs if these are also areas of interest for you.
• Watch for CCS in the courtyard during One Quick Question (1QQ) each Tuesday from 9:45-11:15 a.m. Come with any last minute or quick question you have.

The Center for Career Services team is here to help you. Be sure to make full use of the center’s resources by attending programs, having your resumes and cover letters reviewed by our professional staff, scheduling an individual counseling session, participating in job fairs and on-campus interviewing, reviewing posted job opportunities, and borrowing career planning books. Their resources will complement your UF legal education while enhancing your marketability. Please know that counselors are here for each and every law student. For individual guidance with one of our professional counselors, call, email or stop by to make an appointment.

A Special Note to 1Ls
Welcome to UF Law! As you read in the July 26, 2007 letter emailed to you, your access to Career Services is limited until November 1, in order for you to spend your entire efforts on acclimating to law school and its academic rigors. By keeping track in FlaLaw Online and the CCS Listserv, you will hear of programs which you are eligible to attend, and be notified of upcoming 1L programs and workshops. Most importantly, learn to be aware of the information CCS is putting out there for you. Many employment deadlines occur 6-12 months before the event even takes place, so learning where important information is publicized now is important. If you did not receive the CCS email that included the 1L letter and timeline, please email careers@law.ufl.edu. The CCS staff looks forward to working with you.

New Faces & Additions
Returning 2Ls and 3Ls will notice some changes to the CCS space at 244 Bruton-Geer Hall. In the Career Services and Legal Research and Writing Reception Area, you will notice two new computer workstations. These stations are for you to use for career related matters only. Because of the changes and enhancements to this area, the administration requests that you refrain from eating or drinking in the Reception Area.

Another new addition to CCS is new Resource Coordinator Kimm Tyson. Kimm will help you by answering your questions and setting you up with appointments with counselors. It is Kimm who will be your first point of contact for the office whether you are calling, emailing, or stopping by.

Kimm joins the rest of the CCS team, including: Assistant Dean Linda Calvert Hanson, Director Jessie Howell Wallace, Assistant Directors Sam Sarno and Jocelyn Ferguson, Attorney Advisor Annemarie Schuller, and Recruitment Coordinator Wanda Chapman. The CCS team’s areas of expertise run the gamut, whether your interests lie in working for the government, the public interest, law firms both small and large, or even if you are interested in exploring alternative careers.

Judicial Clerkship and Inns of Court Opportunities

Home Stretch for Federal Judicial Clerkship Applications

Attention 3Ls: The official first-day that federal judges can receive clerkship applications is Tuesday, Sept. 4. Recommendations were to have been requested and obtained over the summer for inclusion in your application packet or for upload into the Online System for Clerkship Application and Review (OSCAR). Remember, if you are using OSCAR, you will upload all of your documents, your recommenders will upload their letters of recommendation, and then the designated federal judge will be able to view your completed electronically transmitted application packet online starting at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 5. Have questions? Attend the Judicial Clerkship Application program listed below.

The American Inns of Courts Presents Fabulous Opportunities for Students

The esteemed American Inns of Court is a legal mentoring organization that teams law students (pupils) with new lawyers (associates), seasoned practitioners (barristers), and judges and senior trial lawyers (Masters of the Bench). The purpose of the Inns is to further the traditions of learning by example, through discussion and social interaction to develop a deeper sense of professionalism, a higher level of excellence and to further the practice of law with dignity and integrity among judges, senior barristers and law students.

Chester Bedell Inn of Court Pupils for 2007-2008
Congratulations to the following 6 students who will be representing the University of Florida Levin College of Law at the Chester Bedell Inn of Court in Jacksonville for 2007-2008:

• Ranaldo Allen
• William Saunders Bliss
• Bryan DeMaggio
• Roger A. Hatfield
• David Milton
• Erin Kathleen Moore

Applications for James C. Adkins, Jr. Inn of Court due Sept. 14
Applications for the James C. Adkins, Jr. Inn of Court, Gainesville are now available from Professor Diane Tomlinson in Legal Research & Writing and the application deadline is Friday, Sept. 14. Information regarding the D.R. Smith Inn of Court, Ocala will be announced shortly.

Fall Kick-Off and Judicial Clerkship Programs

Programming
Judicial Clerkship Program
Wednesday, Aug. 22, noon, Faculty Dining Room
Post-graduate clerkships are an excellent and rewarding way to begin a law career. Guest speaker and current federal law clerk, George Wright, will discuss his path towards becoming a federal law clerk and information about what clerking is really like. This program is one for 2Ls and 3Ls to make sure you have everything you need for your OSCAR Judicial Clerkship applications and to start positioning yourself now for applying for clerkships this spring.

Fall Kick-Off Program
Thursday, Aug. 23, 10 a.m., Bailey Courtroom
2Ls and 3Ls – Are you taking advantage of all of the CCS resources? Do you have any questions about your resume, accepting offers, or finding your summer clerkship? Have you wondered how to get involved in the Pro Bono Project? Join the CCS for the Fall Kick-Off Program to ensure that you are using all of the resources available to you before the semester really starts to gear up.

Upcoming Deadlines for Conferences and Career Fairs

One of the most visible aspects of the fall recruiting season for any law school is its On-Campus Interviewing Program, or OCI. Don’t forget that there are also many Off-Campus Recruiting Programs, otherwise known as job fairs or interview programs, which function the same way as On-Campus Interviews by pairing interested applicants with a broad range of employers from around the country or with specific interests. Below is a sampling of upcoming off-campus interview programs.

Lavender Law Career Fair and Conference
Hilton Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
September 6-8, 2007
The National Lesbian and Gay Law Association invites students to attend this year’s Lavender Law Career Fair and Conference in Chicago, Illinois, Sept. 6-8. Private firms and public organizations from around the country will participate in this event. The Lavender Law Career Fair is designed to achieve a sense of community and inclusion for LGBT candidates within the legal profession’s recruiting efforts. By participating in this career fair, candidates will talk directly to LGBT-friendly recruiters from law firms, government agencies, LGBT rights groups, and legal departments. There will also be a variety of useful speakers, workshops, resources, and events throughout the duration of the conference and career fair. For more information, registration information, scheduled events, and a list of recruiters planning on attending, go to www.lavenderlaw.org.

Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair
The Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C.
Oct. 6-7
The Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair is a national career fair that matches public interest employers with applicants. It is also a conference full of public interest and social justice workshops. Attend EJW not only to interview and network with potential employers, but to speak with student leaders from around the county as they share what is happening on their campuses. Student discussion groups will also supplement workshops, giving students the opportunity to get to know one another better.

Check out www.equaljusticeworks.org for more information and to view a rolling list of employers who plan on attending. Each employer will have individual instructions, so it is important that you look, research, and start applying now. More information about Equal Justice Works and Public Interest Careers, including those in the government, will follow during next week’s Public Interest Law Week, so stay tuned.

Florida Bar General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Convention & Interview Program
J.W. Marriott Grande Lakes Resort, Orlando
Oct. 19-20
The Florida Bar General Practice Solo and Small Firm Convention & Interview Program offers a new twist for law students this year. The GPSSF is sponsoring an interview program in conjunction with its annual convention. The convention will provide a great opportunity for students to meet and network with attorneys who practice in solo, small, and even mid-sized firms. Save the date for this valuable networking and recruiting event, as more information will follow shortly.

Fellowship Deadlines and More at www.pslawnet.org
Below is an example of an important upcoming fellowship deadline. Consult www.pslawnet.org regularly for other fellowship information, and stop by CCS to view the Fellowship Binder.

Equal Justice Works Post Graduate Fellowships – Applications due Sept. 18
The 2008 Equal Justice Works Fellowship Applications are now available at www.equaljustceworks.org. These applications are due Sept. 18, and are for two-year fellowships for third-year law students, recent law graduates, and experienced attorneys from 2007-2008 Equal Justice Works law schools like the University of Florida. Become familiar with and start your applications now. More EJW Fellowship information will follow during next week’s public interest focus.

Government Deadlines Hitting Now, Don’t Miss Out
The list of current and upcoming deadlines for all students and recent graduates who want to work in federal or state government agencies is too comprehensive to list here. The Government Honors and Internship Handbook is the resource for you to check regularly if you do not want to miss deadlines that are fast approaching. The Handbook can be is password protected at http://www.law.arizona.edu/career/honorshandbook.cfm. Contact CCS for the username and password that will provide you with access to a host of opportunities and information.

Join the CCS Student Advisory Committee

Seeking Members for Career Services Student Advisory Committee
The Career Services Student Advisory Committee, comprised of individual students and representatives from student organizations, will meet on a monthly basis to share ideas about ways that the Center for Career Services can best assist students in meeting their career goals.  The committee also will explore ways for Career Services to partner with individual student organizations to provide complementary programming and guest speakers, and to combine resources to supply greater benefits to all. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please email your resume along with a one-to-two paragraph expression of you interest by Aug. 31 to career2@law.ufl.edu.

There are many new faces at the college, and I hope you will soon have the opportunity to meet them.  We welcome our newest members of the faculty — Assistant Professor Shani King, and Assistant Legal Skills Professor Leslie Knight.  We also welcome Thomas Ruppert, who will assist in the Conservation Clinic in our Center for Governmental Responsibility, and Gary Lucas, who will teach in our tax program as our visiting tax interim.  We also welcome several new members of our professional staff.  Many of you will work closely with Michelle Ocepek, our new Director of Student Programs in the Office of Student Affairs, and with Kimm Tyson, our new resource coordinator in the Office of Career Services.  We also welcome Hedda Prochaska, our new Online Communications Coordinator, and Jake Henry, who joins the Office of Admissions as Assistant Director.  In the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, led by Senior Director Kelley Frohlich, we welcome Vince PremDas and Victoria Rudd to the team.  Sara Grimm will join that office on September 4th and will be in charge of our annual giving programs, which she now manages for the law school at Ohio State.  Last but not least, many of you already know our new Assistant Dean for Administrative Affairs John Plummer, who joined us this past spring.

We will share more information with you as our plans develop, but we expect to begin construction early in 2008 on the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center.  This free-standing building will be located adjacent to Bruton-Geer on the southwest corner of our facilities.  There will be some disruption from this construction, which will last about a year, but far, far less than what we endured during the major renovation of our facilities in 2003-05.  When completed, this will add a new state-of-the-art courtroom to our academic facilities.

Among our highest priorities for this year are to work with student leadership in LCC and JMBA to strengthen community, offer leadership-building opportunities, and improve the mechanisms through which students can offer suggestions, advice, and feedback on programs here at the college.

As we start this new year, I would like to stress that among the many benefits of being a part of a large and comprehensive institution is the opportunity we have to learn from the diversity of backgrounds and cultures that are represented in our faculty, staff, and student body. I urge you to take advantage of this richness through interaction with those whose life experiences differ from your own.  After all, there is much we can learn from each other.

This newsletter is for you, and I hope you will speak through it by submitting your news and suggestions to our Office of Communications.  You also will find much information online at our newly revamped website www.law.ufl.edu, which also contains policies and guidelines to which students and other members of our community are expected to adhere. You’ll also find details and updated information on support services, financial information, student organizations, centers and institutes, course descriptions, faculty and staff, maps, and other helpful information.

Again, welcome back to the Levin College of Law.  I look forward to working with all of you again this year.