Applications for fall Conservation Clinic due April 10
Law Students interested in the UF Law Conservation Clinic for the fall semester may apply between now and April 10. The clinic is capped at 12 students. Students entering their fourth semester are eligible. Although, preference is given to those enrolled in, or intending to enroll in the Environmental and Land Use Law Certificate Program, students with an interest in the many intersections between environmental law and other areas of law and policy are encouraged to consider the clinic and meet with the director.

In the fall the clinic anticipates projects with current and new clients involving implementation of the recent conservation easement and conservation purposes amendments to the Florida constitution, multi-party conservation finance and management arrangements, water and watershed law and policy, clean energy (including local government solar financing districts), as well as continued work in sustainable redevelopment and coastal and marine policy, including adaptation to sea level rise.

Clinic students regularly travel for meetings, workshops and conferences, network with environmental professionals and occasionally must get their shoes wet. Students are encouraged to review the clinic Web site at to get a sense of the clinic’s project portfolio and products. Applications can be can accessed on the clinic Web site, in the offices of the Center for Governmental Responsibility and at Student Services. Interested students and students with ideas for projects based on their own interest and expertise are encouraged to contact Director Tom Ankersen at ankersen@law.ufl.edu or 352-273-0835.

After receiving information about the fellowship, LeVine thought she would be a great candidate and embraced the possibility.

“I was excited about the prospect of working for the Anti-Defamation League,” said LeVine, who graduated from Emory University with a dual major in sociology and religion. “My experience, activities, and educational background reflected my qualifications, but I was uncertain if a first-year law student would be considered.”

With three other finalists in consideration, LeVine believes her interview was a deciding factor.

“The interview, scheduled for 20 minutes, extended to 40 minutes, as we had many ideas to discuss. I was hopeful that was an indication of their interest,” LeVine said. “When I received the position, I was delighted and honored.”

LeVine will have the opportunity to work with the Anti-Defamation League, which awards a $4,000 stipend. She will be working with David Barkey, Southern Area Counsel for the Anti-Defamation League, at the Florida Regional Office in Boca Raton.

ADL is the premier national civil rights organization that fights anti-Semitism and forms of bigotry in the U.S. and abroad, combats international terrorism, probes the roots of hatred, comes to the aid of victims, develops educational programs, and serves as a public resource for government, media, law enforcement, all towards the goal of countering and reducing hatred.

LeVine believes the main focus of her position will be First Amendment issues. In the past, the ADL has dealt with a variety of issues including educating local law enforcement agencies on fighting extremism, combating a Gainesville charter amendment that would have eliminated anti-discrimination protections, and urging the Florida legislature to remove anti-Semitic references from criminal statutes. Her responsibilities will primarily include researching cases and drafting amicus briefs that deal with civil rights issues.

LeVine’s education and upbringing brought her naturally to this journey. “Outreach was a family value,” said LeVine, “We were involved in the community culturally, politically and socially.”

“I graduated from a religious day school, and woven in the tapestry of my educational experience, was the deleterious effect of anti-semitism and bigotry.”

LeVine’s interest in law is diverse. A career involving First Amendment issues may be a possibility, but LeVine is equally interested in intellectual property and family law.

“I enjoy learning about all aspects of law. The possibilities will unfold in time.”

As a part of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Family Law Society and the Alachua County Child Abuse Prevention Task Force sponsored the annual Winds of Change event on Saturday at the North Florida Regional Medical Center from 1 to 3 p.m.

About 25 people placed the pinwheels on the lawn facing Newberry Avenue to spread awareness about the prevalence of child maltreatment in Alachua County.

“There is one pinwheel for each [substantiated] case of child abuse in Alachua County,” said Cynthia Winters, president of the Family Law Society. “Last year there were only 1,984 and this year there are 2,030. It is definitely a growing problem.”

According to the Florida Department of Children and Families, in 2007, Alachua County had nearly 50 percent more reported cases of child abuse than the state average.

Susan Scarpa, a local foster parent and volunteer at Winds of Change, knows firsthand how damaging child abuse can be.

“I had one child who would hide and cry when it was time to see his parents,” Scarpa said. “It broke my heart.”

She said she thinks that education needs to begin with the children because many adult abusers were abused as children.

“You’ve got to start in the kindergarten and the first grade and teach them that it is not okay to hit,” Scarpa said. “Schools have to make up for what families don’t teach.”

Cathy Winfrey is a member of the Alachua County Child Abuse Prevention Task Force, whose purpose is to sponsor events like Winds of Change that educate people in the community about child maltreatment.

“Education is the key,” Winfrey said. “We need to educate parents about the prevention of child abuse.”

Winfrey is a member of the District 3 child abuse death review committee, where she has found that many child fatalities are the result of poor parenting, rather than purposeful abuse.

“Maybe a parent goes to answer the phone and leaves their child in the bathtub and he drowns,” she said. “Or maybe they leave him in the hot car. Many child deaths are preventable.”

The pinwheels are visible from the street, along with several large signs that explain what they represent. They will remain on the lawn for the entire month of April.

Scarpa said that the visual effect of over 2,000 pinwheels covering a lawn is extremely powerful when you remember that each spinning wheel represents a child.

“I always stop to look at them,” she said. “I really hope they make an impact.”

For more information about child abuse in Alachua County and the Alachua County Child Abuse Prevention Task Force, please visit www.capp@peds.ufl.edu.

INFORMATION TABLE Beginning today, Monday, April 6, and running through Thursday, April 9, there will be a table in the courtyard. The table will include Information about domestic violence/violence against women, statistics, interactive activities, movies, and the t-shirts described below.

CLOTHESLINE PROJECT: Come by the table and decorate a t-shirt for display around the campus. Each decorated t-shirt will be in recognition of someone (you, a friend, family member, anyone in your life) that has been affected by domestic violence, violence against women, or any unhealthy relationship. Together, the decorated t-shirts will create a visual display of how domestic violence affects our law school community.

MALE PLEDGE & WHITE RIBBON: We will also be asking the men on campus to sign a pledge against violence against women and to wear a white ribbon in recognition of their pledge. This is an attempt to promote the idea that violence against women is a male issue. As such, the resistance against violence against women needs to start with men. By signing the pledge, men show their personal resistance in opposition of violence against women. Our hope is that every male student, professor, administrator, and employee linked to the law school campus will sign the pledge.

PANEL DISCUSSION/PRESENTATION: The event will culminate in a panel discussion about violence against women. Teresa Drake, assitant state attorney, will speak about the legal aspects and issues surrounding violence against women and Anna Guest-Jelley, the director of the Violence Prevention Program at Peaceful Paths, will speak about domestic violence prevention. This will take place on Thursday, April 9, at 1 p.m. in 382 HOL. Free lunch will be served.

Finally, we want to emphasize that this event is meant to raise awareness about violence against women, to showcase the silent effect these issues have on almost everyone, and to encourage solutions to the problem. It is not meant to target anyone nor to compel anyone to participate against their will. Participants do not have to disclose any identifying information.

We are aware that our program may affect individuals in different ways. It may especially hit home for individuals who have been involved in or witness to a violent situation. Therefore, we will have names and resources for anyone who may wish to discuss anything or to seek outside assistance. If you have any questions about the event, please contact Aaron Kelley at aaronk13@ufl.edu or Kara Wick at kwick25@ufl.edu. We are looking forward to your participation as, together, men and women take steps against violence.

Located 15 miles outside Cape Town in a gang-riddled township, KPS is a K-7 grade school in dire need of funds. The surrounding community is very poor, with high adult illiteracy and unemployment (60%). KPS is funded by the government, school fees, and fundraisers. Due to the poor community in which this school is located, only a few of the 380 students have paid their school fees this year. Many kids come for the promise of food as the government provides children in K-3 with food. As you can see, KPS is crucial to the education and well-being of these kids.

In 2008, UF students, along with the HSCS, started a Flat Stanley pen pal project that raised $3,400 to benefit KPS. The money raised paid 136 KPS students’ tuition ($25 sends a student to school for a year). The pen pal project is now an ongoing project between these primary schools.

South Africa program participants are continuing to collaborate on fundraising with the HSCS this year to raise money for KPS school fees. We are asking for a minimum donation of $3 and using the Flat Stanley/Stacey paper dolls as a symbol of that giving. donors can designate 2007, 2008, or 2009 classes to be credited with your contribution. A prize will be awarded to the group of South Africa program participants who raise the most money for KPS.

In addition to monetary donations for school fees, the International Law Society is having a supply drive to benefit the kids and families of KPS. Because of the high cost of shipping, the 2009 South Africa program participants are volunteering to take the items to South Africa. We ask that you donate useful, lightweight items in all sizes such as hats, mittens, scarves, socks, and underwear. There will be a box located at the South Africa fundraising table.

Thank you for your support of the UF Law South Africa program’s efforts to benefit the children of South Africa.

Professor Miller, an estate planning professor at the Levin College of Law, introduced Bryant as “one of the real success stories in the estates and trusts area” and joked that “Carla suffers from something that I do not suffer from, and that is modesty.”

Already, DeLoach-Bryant has accumulated ten years of practice experience at the young age of 33.

In her presentation, she focused on the vast differences between the cultural environment of a large firm and that of a small firm and revealed what she believes are the keys to her success.

Miller pointed out that despite the current economic downturn, DeLoach-Bryant is hiring additional lawyers to help manage the workload of her firm. On how she continues to expand her practice, she said, “I think if you’re providing good services and giving good advice, pending some sort of depression rehash, you’re going to stay busy, and maybe busier than you want to be.”

Part of DeLoach-Bryant’s humility that Professor Miller mentioned is reflected in her attitude toward the reasons for her success as well as her belief that her practice is about building relationships with clients and fellow attorneys.

DeLoach-Bryant credits her success to several factors, including other people and what she describes as “God’s benevolence.”

“I don’t view myself as the reason why [my firm] is a success. I’ve sought to affiliate myself with people much better and much smarter,” she added, stressing that “the success of this practice has not been because of me.”

She also credits her success to “working really hard,” and said that she has spent “a lot of hours—too many hours” and freely admits that “there have been costs to that.” Her tenacity has also been a valuable asset.

“I’m a very tenacious person and I’ll take ‘no’ nineteen times and keep going and hope to eventually get ‘yes.’”

Along with her humility also comes gratitude. DeLoach-Bryant stressed the importance of providing a written thank-you, when appropriate, to clients and to other attorneys who have provided her with referrals. Sometimes, she even includes a Coach keychain, a bottle of wine, a bottle of olive oil, or a nice tie.

Also important to her success, Deloach-Bryant says, is that she does not view work to be beneath her, especially as it pertains to building relationships with her clients. In one case, she found herself personally driving a client’s daughter to and from the airport and to and from meetings with divorce attorneys. In another, she helped the son of a client arrange for his marriage in Greece.

“The more connection I have with their children, the more they trust me with their estate planning,” she said, adding that “before long, they trust your judgment. They trust you as a lawyer.”

That was the message delivered by three judicial clerks who were on campus recently to share their professional experiences and perspectives to interested students.

“Nine out of ten times a law firm will pick the applicant with practical legal experience and you get that working as a judicial clerk,” said Jennifer Deeb a UF College of Law alumna (JD 00) and a clerk for a senior U.S. District judge in Tampa. “As a clerk, you continue to learn about a variety of legal topics ranging from arraignments to social security appeals. This experience will make you more marketable.”

Lundi McCarthy, a clerk for a U.S. Magistrate judge in Ocala told students that another advantage for working as a clerk is the insight you gain into the judicial process which can help you later on in your career.

“As a clerk, you will work closely with the judge. This will provide you with a unique view of how they operate, and that can really help you prepare when you go to try a case,” said McCarthy. “A clerkship is like an LL.M., you just keep learning.”

UF College of Law alumna Amanda Reid-Payne, Ph.D., (JD 04) agreed with McCarthy and added that the contacts you make during your clerkship can also pay huge dividends later on in your career.

“When you take on a clerkship, you join a ‘family,’” said Reid-Payne. “That means forming professional relationships with past clerks who are now serving as attorneys in law firms. The judge will also make sure you are plugged into all the right organizations and associations. It’s a great network.”

Reid-Payne also mentioned that judges are looking for University of Florida law grads and are disappointed more students don’t apply.

“Don’t be intimidated by the clerkship application process,” said Reid-Payne. “Just be prepared and give yourself a chance.

The clerks offered students a glimpse into what judges expect from perspective clerks:

Presentation: Resume and cover letter should void of errors and straight forward. Avoid a “cute” or “cheesy” cover letter.
Florida connection: They want to see that you have a commitment to their community and state.
Grades: Most are looking for applicants that graduated in the top 10 percent of their class.
Early application: Don’t wait for the deadline. Get your application in as soon as possible.
Respectfully candid: Most judges aren’t looking for someone who agrees with them all the time.
Be nice: Sometimes it all comes down to personality.