FlaLaw » 2008 » March » 03

Beate Sirota Gordon, Leading Human Rights Advocate in Japan, to Speak at UF March 24

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:00:24 +0000

Beate Sirota Gordon (pictured center), a leading human rights advocate and one of 24 people who worked under Gen. Douglas MacArthur on the Constitution of Japan in 1946, will speak at UF at 6 p.m. Monday, March 24, in Turlington Hall L07. A reception will follow the event. Gordon’s father taught in the Tokyo Academy of Music before World War II, so she grew up in Japan, surrounded by musicians and artists. She became fluent in Japanese and four other languages. She returned to Japan after WWII, became a member of MacArthur’s staff and was asked by him to help write a new constitution for Japan. She and her group did just that, using only resources available to them in Japan. The document they created, which gave legal rights to Japanese women for the first time, has remained essentially unchanged since then.

Professor Katheryn Russell-Brown Discusses Black Protectionism

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:00:21 +0000

UF Law Professor Katheryn Russell-Brown (pictured left), director of the Center for the Study of Race and Race Relations, spoke to an audience of UF law students Thursday, Feb. 28, on the issue of racial protectionism. At the event, sponsored by the Black Law Students Association (BLSA), the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS), Law School Democrats, and Lexis-Nexis, Russell-Brown spoke on her book, Protecting Our Own, and explained why racial protectionism, particularly black protectionism, exists, touching on such high-profile cases as O.J Simpson, Michael Vick, Michael Jackson, and Rodney King. Why the need for protectionism, even when certain high profile African-Americans choose not to identify themselves with the African-American community? Russell-Brown says, “Protectionism is not a black thing, it exists in other racial groups and in exclusive professions.” Afterwards, Marie Triche, the student who organized the event, said, “I was excited to see the support from students who came out to hear Dr. Russell-Brown speak on her book. This event was controversial, yet insightful.”

Professor Christine Klein Discusses Recent Issues Facing St. Johns River and Who Can Use Its Water

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:00:20 +0000

UF Law Professor Christine Klein was quoted in an extensive article in the Florida Times-Union discussing the recent issues facing the St. Johns River and who is permitted to use the water. Klein said the issue of moving water from one place to another is new to Florida, but not to people in Western states, where an arid climate makes water shortages a constant threat to survival. There, water is piped hundreds of miles away, nothing like what’s being proposed here. But it’s never enough. “Although it might be an attractive short-term solution, it never seems to really satisfy long-term needs,” Klein said. “It doesn’t solve the underlying problem, which is growth and growing water consumption.” Keep up with what UF Law faculty are saying in the media and writing about in scholarly publications in FlaLaw Online’s weekly updates on Faculty Scholarship & Activities.

UF Law Students Honor Catherine Barclift by Running in LifeSouth Five Points of Life Half-Marathon

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:00:17 +0000

About 50 University of Florida law students and friends of the late Catherine Barclift ran in her honor at the LifeSouth’s Five Points of Life Half Marathon on Feb. 24. A first-year UF law student, Barclift was training for this race when she was struck by a vehicle while jogging and died one day later on Nov. 6. First-year law student Alex Perrin and other friends said the important part of the race was about honoring Barclift, not having the endurance to run the entire race. “It is a way to remember her and honor her life in turn—a very special day for many people,” Perrin said.

Barclift was not only training for the half-marathon to keep in top physical health, her determination was also driven by her passion for LifeSouth’s Five Points of Life program’s mission. LifeSouth’s mission represents five ways in which people can share life with others through donation of whole blood, apheresis, marrow and blood cells, cord blood and organ and tissue. As an advocate of planning ahead with family, Barclift was an organ donor and as a result saved one person’s life, Perrin said.

Students, faculty, staff, friends and others who were impacted by Barclift’s story honored her throughout the weekend. Many people participated in or volunteered with various events besides the half-marathon. The Five Points of Life Race Weekend included a 5K, half-marathon, marathon and kid’s marathon. About 100 people participated in the races in honor of Catherine.

Not all of the runners who participated in Barclift’s honor were avid runners before training began. But, Perrin insisted the challenge of running a half-marathon for her was possible because she had someone pushing her the whole way. “It’s always easier when you have a reason to train and run the race,” Perrin said. “It’s a really exciting time.”

Perrin will always remember the good times she and her carpool mate shared, including Barclift singing silly pop songs and making Perrin listen to country music at 7:30 a.m. on the way to school. As first-year law students, the pair bonded quickly and relied on each other to help ease the apprehension of law school. Perrin remembers Barclift as funny, bright, genuinely sweet and bubbly. “It’s natural to still talk about her and remember her,” Perrin said. “Our lives were very connected; she brightened up my day every day.”

Blocker and Cobb Take First Place in CSRRR’s Griot Race, Law and Justice Oral Competition

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:00:17 +0000

The team of Jonathan Blocker and Lorna Cobb (pictured left), both second-year UF law students, captured first place and a check for $2,500 in the Center for the Study of Race and Race Relations’ inaugural Griot Race, Law and Justice Oral Competition Feb. 23 in the Chesterfield Smith Ceremonial Classroom. The team of Gloria Bowens and Johann Smith took second place and $1,500, and Megone Gordon and DeMone Lee were awarded third place and a prize of $1,000 in the competition, which is designed to support the development of legal oratory and research skills in defense of racial equality and justice. Teams presented arguments before a panel of judges, including UF Law Professor Juan Perea, Dean Catherine Emihovich of the UF College of Education and Angelique Nixon, a Ph.D. student in English, in response to a hypothetical involving race-based hate speech at an Alachua County high school. Plans are underway for Griot II. For further announcements, check the center’s website at http://www.law.ufl.edu/centers/csrrr/.

Former National Bar Association President Simmons Speaks With UF Law Students

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:00:05 +0000

Evett Simmons (pictured right), former president of the National Bar Association and current partner at Ruden McClosky P.A., speaks with UF law students following her presentation Thursday, Feb. 28, in 345 Holland Hall. Simmons, who is also past president of the Port St. Lucie Bar Association and a former member of The Florida Bar Board of Governors, the State of Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission, and the Board of Directors of Enterprise Florida, Inc., discussed her past and current experience with The Florida Bar, challenges that she faced within the legal profession both as a woman and as a woman of color, how she balanced her partnership with Ruden McClosky P.A. and her proprietary endeavors, and diversity in the workplace. The event was sponsored by the UF Law Division of the American Bar Association.

UF Law Student Jana Wasserman Awarded Yegelwel Fellowship to Work With Anti-Defamation League

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:00:02 +0000

Second-year UF law student Jana B. Wasserman (pictured left) has been awarded the 2008 Evan J. Yegelwel Fellowship. The fellowship award provides a UF law student with a stipend and summer work experience at the Anti-Defamation League’s Florida Regional Office in Boca Raton. Wasserman is a graduate of the University of Florida, with a bachelor’s degree in Criminology and English. She is conversant in American Sign Language, and is interested in extending her advocacy skills to individuals with hearing disabilities and the deaf, to ensure that they have proper legal representation.

Career Spotlight: Kelly Davis

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:00:02 +0000

Law students work diligently their first year to make first-class grades in order to be considered for a summer associate position with a good law firm, which they hope will put them in good standing to be offered a job by the firm after law school. But most students don’t realize this summer opportunity is as much an interview for students as it is for the law firm.

Kelly Davis (JD 06) insists that during this three-month interview it’s important for students also to “interview” the firm to insure it is the right fit, because the firm could eventually be their employer.

While the summer is usually one long interview, it is important to make the most of it and work the situation to your benefit, Davis said. While a summer associate, students should research the firm to determine if their personality fits well and adds to the cohesiveness of the work environment.

While it is sometimes overlooked, proper etiquette is essential for students to maintain as summer associate. “Don’t be crazy; don’t be the person they are talking about by the water cooler on Monday morning,” Davis said. It is important to be both dignified and respectful when working as a summer associate.

After leaving her first career as a TV news producer for something more challenging, Davis realized that it was important to have a career that she would enjoy for many years to come. “Students don’t need to find jobs, they need to be in search of careers,” Davis said. It is important for students to find a career in which they can picture themselves still working at age 50 and beyond.

Davis spent both of her summers of law school working as a summer associate at Quarles & Brady in Naples, Fla. The opportunity to spend both summers at the same firm turned out to be advantageous for Davis. Large firms usually don’t hire first-year law students for summer clerkships because it is often too early in the student’s career to determine whether the student will fit in and want to stay with the firm for the long haul. But Davis’ commitment was clear to the firm because of her work throughout the summers; and as a result, she was offered a full-time associate position after law school. Working in the summer at a firm where you want to be hired, is the easiest way in, Davis said.

Independent by nature, Davis was hesitant to work in such a large, national firm. But she has found working with veteran attorneys crucial to her career as a young lawyer. “It’s very beneficial to work with experienced attorneys because as a young attorney you can’t be prepared for everything; it’s always best to learn from someone else so you don’t make the mistakes on your own at the cost of your firm,” Davis said.

The former TV producer insists that it is all about students’ persistence and research when trying to obtain the summer associate positions at law firms. Davis landed the interview at Quarles & Brady by having excellent grades and utilizing the career services offered by the law school.

It is not impossible to find a position as a summer associate after the first year of law school, but many law students find it to be a daunting task. If students are unable to find their dream position at a firm, Davis believes students can still have a valuable summer. It is important to get involved in substantive legal work in an area of interest that can also assist with networking and creating future job opportunities, she insisted.

The most important piece of advice for students while being a summer associate is to spend the time making sure they fit in well with the firm and show the lawyers that they are capable of doing the written work. “Really do your best while in law school and enjoy the time while in law school because the working world is very different,” Davis said.