The 12 fellows were selected through a rigorous four-part application process and for their outstanding leadership, written and oral communication skills, community activism and a desire to serve the people of Florida. They all take long-distance learning classes at Florida State University College of Law, work a minimum of 20 hours a week with the program and meet weekly as a group to participate in educational activities such as presentations, press conferences and budget and policy briefings.

“I thought being a fellow would complement my interest of state government and service to the state while still allowing me to be a full-time student,” Smith said. “Both as a food and resource economics major and in law school, I’ve had to learn a lot about how laws and policy are created, which is what actually happens here as fellows.”

Smith is also highly involved at UF Law, a continuation of her endless involvement as an undergrad at the University of Florida. She has served as student government constitutional review commissioner and vice president of membership for Florida Blue Key, where she helped diversify membership and run all of the Gator Growl events. She also helps developing student organizations to grow and solve problems.

“Every bit of formal education I’ve had has played some part in preparing me for the fellowship as well as my out-of-the-classroom learning,” Smith said. “Learning to get along with groups of people that come from various backgrounds but are all working for the same end result helped in what I’m doing now.”

Smith believes her roles in clubs and organizations throughout her graduate and undergraduate education have helped her to hone her leadership skills. This is also where she developed much of her knowledge about oral and written communications.

“Law school is all about writing and that’s challenging for a lot of people, but it has really helped me to develop academically,” Smith said. “When you’re writing for judges they want you to slice through the superfluous language and tell them what they need to know. All of the activities I’ve done on campus along with an externship I had with the first district court of appeals in Tallahassee taught me to be much more concise and clear in my writing.”

While Smith is not sure what career path she wants to take after graduation, she is sure she wants to stay in Florida and that she loves state government and policy making.

“The state is not just here in Tallahassee where the seat of state government is,” Smith said. “We have millions of citizens in Florida. Our policies and laws shape their behavior so we have to make sure we’re taking all of those people into account when we’re creating or changing whatever policies we’re working on.”

- Francie Weinberg
Student writer

For the latest details and event listings, visit www.law.ufl.edu/flalaw.

The County Court Mediation Clinic is one of four UF Law civil clinics. The Mediation Clinic is the only one that allows participants to mediate real cases brought before a court.

Senior Legal Skills Professor Robin Davis directs the clinic as well as the Institute for Dispute Resolution. She is the former director of alternative dispute resolution for Florida’s 8th Judicial Circuit Court.

The Florida Supreme Court governs certification requirements for county court mediators. Only select schools in Florida, including UF Law, have the ability to provide the required training.

Davis says participants can expect to complete the main prerequisites for county court mediation certification, which is an otherwise time-consuming process outside of a clinic.

“I have had quite a few students, before graduating, get certified. It is exciting,” said Davis.

Admission into the County Court Mediation Clinic is limited, and each semester between 20 and 30 students apply. The clinic accepts eight students based on seniority.

The clinic participants for the fall semester include Jasmine Saleem (2L), Amanda Delbusto (3L), Lindsay Cohen (3L), Rebecca White (3L), Danielle Edwards (3L), Daria Mitas (3L), Keisha Edwards (3L), and Whitney Mefrew (3L).

Mitas, a Polish national, recalls her excitement to join the clinic as she was studying law in Poland.

“I came here and really knew I wanted to be a part of the program,” said Mitas.

Clinic members attend Friday classes or mediations. Students meet at either the Alachua County Family/Civil Justice Center in downtown Gainesville or in a classroom at UF Law.

At the beginning of the semester, students attend small claims court, where cases may be denied and sent to a mediator. A mediator will take two clinic students into the mediation to observe the process. Near the middle of the semester, students will have completed enough training to co-mediate cases. Co-mediation may be as involved as giving opening statements and writing up an agreement.

“By the end of the semester, the students mediate several cases,” Davis said.

Clinic participation is broken down into a point system, where five points are awarded for every observation of a mediation session and ten points are awarded for every co-mediation. To successfully complete the clinic, participants must accrue 60 points.

Students are also paired with a mentor, one of the Florida Supreme Court’s requirements for county-court mediation certification.

All of the training and mentorship culminates in a final mock mediation in which the student acts as the mediator for a dispute. The mediation is critiqued by eight certified mediators.

Students agreed that Davis makes the clinic easy-going and hands-on; two qualities sometimes missing in the hectic life of a law student.

After completion of the clinic requirements, the application process for county-court mediation certification can begin.

Davis noted that mediation skills are applicable to  many legal areas.

“I could not categorize (mediation). Mediation spans all types of law practice,” she said.

Davis also stressed the importance of mediation in the ever-changing legal landscape. She cited a recent article from The Florida Bar News that discussed the decline of jury trials in civil cases and the accompanying rise of mediation. According to Davis, trials can be expensive and time consuming.

“Litigation is (now) the alternative,” said Davis.

From a student’s perspective, Delbusto added, “A lot of people do trial team or moot court, but realistically, that is far from what you do as a new lawyer.”

The skills learned from the County Court Mediation Clinic can be incorporated into an attorney’s practice. However, some may opt to hang their own shingle and become a full-time mediator.

More broadly, Saleem, one of this semester’s mediation-clinic students, believes mediation skills are useful in life.

“I think mediation is an important skill in dealing with people in general,” she said.

 - Felicia Holloman
Law student writer

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas addresses the UF Law community in February 2010. He will be on campus this week to deliver the Criser Lecture.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas returns to UF Law to deliver this year’s Criser Lecture at 10 a.m. Friday in the Marcia Whitney Schott Courtyard.

The Marshall M. Criser Distinguished Lecture Series was created in early 2007 by Lewis Schott (B.A. 1943, LL.B. 1946) of Palm Beach, Fla., as a tribute to his fellow UF Law alumnus, former UF President Marshall Criser (JD 51). The goal of the speaker series is to host prestigious national and international speakers every year on topics of particular interest to law students. Past speakers have included Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens (ret.), Justice Clarence Thomas and former ABA President Stephen Zack (JD 71).

This event is not open to the public and tickets are required. Tickets are available free of charge to students, faculty and staff. A live webcast is available here.

Turner earned a bachelor of arts degree in Italian Studies from Loyola University in Chicago and J.D. from American University Washington College of Law. After graduating from law school, Turner practiced law at a boutique law firm in downtown Chicago specializing in family law litigation.

After a couple years of practicing law, she advanced her research and writing interests by transitioning from practice to the field of law librarianship and returned to school to earn her master of science (M.S.) in library and information science from the University of Illinois. While pursuing her master’s, Turner worked at the Pritzker Legal Research Center at Northwestern University School of Law.

She said she chose UF Law because of the support the library receives from the UF Law administration, faculty, and alumni.

“I look forward to further developing my professional expertise through my work with students and faculty here at UF Law and the greater UF community,” Turner said.

Moore graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor of philosophy and earned a master of arts degree in African American studies from the University of Iowa.  He earned his law degree, with honors, from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where he served as editor-in-chief of the Florida Law Review.

Moore was a lawyer at a private practice in Miami before enrolling in the law-librarianship program at the University of Washington. He graduated from UW in 2012, earning a master of library & information science degree and a Special Certificate in Law Librarianship. While at UW, he received the prestigious Earl C. Borgeson Research in Law Librarianship Award and completed directed fieldwork at the University of Michigan Law Library.

Moore said he is looking forward to rejoining the Gator Nation as a part of the reference team.

“I’m excited to support an amazingly talented faculty, and I look forward to working with the next generation of Gator lawyers.”

In response to recent events, OUTLaw, UF Law’s gay-straight alliance group, along with other student groups, will distribute ribbons to re-affirm the university’s value of being an inclusive community. Students are encouraged to stop by the table in the courtyard today to get a ribbon and wear it in support of this campaign. Students are welcome to help distribute those items or to otherwise get involved with the effort. Stop by the table for more information.

Professionalism Week: Today through Friday

Organized by the John Marshall Bar Association and the Center for Career Development

Dress for Success

The “Dress for Success” fashion show is Tuesday from 11:50 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. in the courtyard. Hosted by the John Marshall Bar Association, the event will inform students how to dress in a variety of professional settings. Students will model both good and bad examples of what to wear and they will be critiqued by a group of judges that includes professors, attorneys and career services professionals. Lunch will also be provided.  Students can RSVP through Symplicity.

Securing Employment: Minorities in the legal field

On Wednesday from noon to 12:50 p.m. in the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center, the Black Law Students Association will host a presentation on how to maximize employment opportunities. What should minority applicants know when entering the law office? Attendees will learn from the experiences of our esteemed presenters, including Senior Federal District Court Judge Stephan P. Mickel; Susan Goffman, director of legal services for the UF Foundation; and Cecil Howard, director of the Gainesville Office for Equal Opportunity. We look forward to your attendance! Food and beverages will be provided in the foyer after the event.  Students can RSVP through Symplicity.

Student Law Alumni Council hosts happy hour with alumni

On Friday from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 2-Bits Lounge in the Hilton Hotel, the UF Law Alumni Council will host an opportunity for UF Law students to mingle with alumni and learn about how they can get involved to shape the future of the law school. To RSVP, click here ($20 donation requested) http://www.law.ufl.edu/alumni/leadership/alumni-student-council/alumni-student-council-application.  Professional attire suggested.

Constitution Day at UF

The University of Florida celebrates this year’s Constitution Day with “The Affordable Care Act: The U.S. Constitution Meets Health Care Reform,” featuring talks and a discussion from UF Law Professor Steven Willis and Associate General Counsel at Shands Teaching Hospital and Clinics, Inc., Andrei Boyarshinov. The discussion will be today at 10 a.m. in the Advocacy Center courtroom. For complete details, read the press release here: http://www.law.ufl.edu/news/2012/09/04/constitution-day-celebration-examines-health-care-reform/.

‘Women, Work, and Family in the 2012 Presidential Campaign’ roundtable Wednesday at UF Law

The Center for Women’s Studies and Gender Research and the League of Women Voters of Alachua County will present Wednesday a roundtable to discuss “Women, Work and Family in the 2012 Presidential Campaign” at 6:30 p.m. in the Chesterfield Smith Ceremonial Classroom, HOL 180.

This discussion and community event will feature Lynn Leverty, UF Department of Political Science; UF Law Professor Shani King; state Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston; state Sen. Evelynn Lynn, R-Daytona; with moderator Pegeen Hanrahan, former mayor of Gainesville. The panelists will focus on representations of gender and sexuality during this electoral season.

The event is presented with support from the Levin College of Law, the Bob Graham Center for Public Service and Association for Academic Women.

ELULP hosts potluck reception Thursday

A potluck reception for all students and faculty with an interest in environmental and land use law will be held at the home of Professor Mary Jane Angelo on Thursday at 6 p.m. Bring your favorite dish and get to know some students and faculty who share your interests.

RSVP to Lenny Kennedy at lkennedy@law.ufl.edu and let her know if you need directions to Professor Angelo’s home.

Family Law Student-Faculty Social Sept. 25

The Center on Children and Families is hosting a student-faculty social from 5 to 7 p.m. at O!O Garden Grille (behind The Swamp on University Ave.). CCF will provide non-alcoholic beverages and appetizers; O!O has daily drink specials for purchase. RSVP to kelley@law.ufl.edu by Wednesday.

Center for the Study of Race and Race Relations (CSRRR) hosts open house

The CSRRR will host an open house Wednesday, Oct. 3, from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. in the CSRRR meeting room, HOL 370D.

Conservation Clinic focuses on marine and coastal restoration

The UF Law Conservation Clinic has recently been focused on restoring the health of Florida’s marine and coastal waters.  In the Spring of 2012, clinic student associate Chelsea Sims (3L) shepherded the clinic’s client Bluewater Initiative through the complicated maze of federal state and local permits needed to begin removing “rogue tires” that have migrated from a misguided artificial tire reef constructed in the 1970s. The rouge tires are damaging live coral on the reefs off South Florida. Sims continues to help Bluewater Initiative as the tiny non profit seeks a license to grow coral and return it to the marine environment in the vicinity of the tire reef.

In the current academic year, the clinic is turning its attention to assisting communities and non-profits create oyster reefs and “living shorelines” in and along near-shore waters. These reefs contribute to water quality by filtering contaminants and helping to stabilize shorelines affected by erosion and sea-level rise. Clinic students are also busy helping to restore darkness to the state’s beaches by working with the Sea Turtle Conservation on a program for “sea turtle friendly” lighting.

In 2008, Dalton graduated summa cum laude from North Carolina Central University with a Bachelor of Social Work. After completing her undergraduate degree, she entered law school at her alma mater. It was in an Advanced Legal Research Course that she found her passion for legal research and writing. Her law school had a Dual JD/MLS program, from which she she graduated in December 2011.

This is Dalton’s first job in the law librarianship profession and she said she’s especially looking forward to the new legal research curriculum.

“Everyone was so welcoming,” she said. “I enjoyed the fact that I would be a part of the 1L legal research curriculum.”

- Maggie Powers
Student writer

• Florida Rules of Judicial Administration
• Florida Rules of Civil Procedure
• Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure
• Florida Probate Rules
• Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure
• Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure
• Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure

The second major change to the Florida procedural rules will become effective on Oct. 1, 2012. The Florida Supreme Court has adopted a new uniform computation of time rule for the following procedural rules:

• Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.514
• Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.090
• Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.040
• Florida Rule of Civil Procedure for Involuntary Commitment of Sexually Violent Predators 4.090
• Florida Probate Rule 5.042
• Florida Rules of Traffic Court 6.350 & 6.370
• Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure 8.085, 8.180, 8.240, & 8.630
• Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.420
• Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.090

The Florida Supreme Court Order, dated July 12, 2012, explaining the new rule may be found at http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/decisions/2012/sc10-2299.pdf.