Joshua Lukman is among the UF Law grads who passed the July Florida Bar exam.

The University of Florida Levin College of Law achieved the highest passage rate on the July Florida bar exam out of the state’s 11 law schools, according to results recently released by the Florida Supreme Court.

Out of 310 UF Law grads that took the examination, 269 passed, resulting in a 86.8 percent pass rate compared to the state’s overall pass rate of 79.2 percent. Florida State University (86.2) and University of Miami (86) rounded out the top three schools.

“UF Law was first in Florida on the July 2010 Bar Exam, and continues to hold the record of having the most consistently strong performance on the bar over time of any law school in the state. When February and July exam results in the same year are combined to ensure accurate class-by-class comparisons, UF Law ranks first in 2010 and have been in the top two six of the last seven years, 12 of the last 13 years,” said UF Law Dean Robert Jerry.

“UF Law is also proud to be the only top-tier law school in Florida, the only Florida law school ranked in the top ten in the nation in the Super Lawyers ranking of alumni and the first-choice destination for most Florida residents seeking a legal education in Florida,” Jerry said.

The Documentary Institute at the University of Florida and The Florida Governor’s Office of Film and Entertainment cordially invite you to a film screening of At The Death House Door on Friday, March 20, at 5:30 p.m. in Gannett Auditorium located on the first floor of Weimer Hall. This award-winning documentary takes an intimate look at the death penalty in the state of Texas through the eyes of the Rev. Carroll Pickett, who served 15 years as chaplain for the inmates of the infamous “Walls” prison unit in Huntsville where he witnessed nearly 100 executions. The film, directed by Steve James and Peter Gilbert (“Hoop Dreams”) chronicles Pickett’s transformation as a death penalty supporter to staunch opponent. READ MORE»

Music Night 2009 hosted by Dean Jerry

Got a hidden musical talent? Show it off at the upcoming Music Night 2009, to be held Sunday, March 29, at 7 p.m. at the home of Dean Bob Jerry and his wife Lisa. All students and faculty are invited — but the “ticket” to attend is that you must bring a dessert and agree to perform a musical piece (play an instrument or sing a song). A piano will be available. Each participant can bring one guest. Space is limited, so sign up is on a first-come, first-serve basis. To register, stop by the Dean’s Office and see Doris Perron.

Former U.S. Senator and Florida Governor Bob Graham and Former Costa Rican Presidential Candidate and University of Florida Bacardi Eminent Scholar Otton Solis to lecture in Costa Rica Program

Former U.S. Senator Bob Graham who recently established the Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida will join the UF/UCR Costa Rica Program for in class and public lectures in July. Graham has been a champion of environmental policy throughout his career and during his tenure as Governor began the effort to restore the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. He recently worked with the UF Law Conservation Clinic on a petition to UNESCO to relist Everglades National Park as an endangered World Heritage Site, in part due to climate change, a cause championed by his successor Senator Bill Nelson. Otton Solis is a former minister of planning and the Economy in Costa Rica and founded the Citizen’s Action Party of Costa Rica, which rose to challenge the dominant two party system in Costa Rica. Solis lost a closely contested presidential election in 2006. In 2008 he spent a semester at the University of Florida as the Eminent Scholar in Latin American Studies where he taught a course on trade agreements. He will teach a module on trade and the environment in Costa Rica.

ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition teams dominate Boston regional

The respondent team of Dante Trevisani, Charlie Roberson and Rob Davis survived five rounds of competition in the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition’s Boston Regional. As a result the respondent team will advance to the NAAC Finals in Chicago this April. The respondent team, coached by Amelia Williams, also won the fifth best brief award for the region. The petitioner’s team of Jennifer Jones, Michael Friedman and Andrew Hoffman were ranked first coming out of the preliminary rounds and made it to the final round in the regional competition. The petitioner’s team, coached by Ryan Eastmoore, won the second best brief award for the region. Michael Friedman won the third best advocate award and Jennifer Jones won the eighth best advocate award for the region. The issues in this year’s competition included the separation of powers, standing, and the president’s war powers under the Commander in Chief Clause of the U.S. Constitution. (Photo from left: Michael Friedman, Dante Trevisani, Ryan Eastmoore, Charlie Roberson, Rob Davis, and Jennifer Jones. Not pictured: Andrew Hoffman and Amelia Williams)

Time is running out to apply for financial aid

For those of you who have not already done so, now is the time to apply for aid for the 2009-2010 academic year. I encourage you to apply by April 1 using FAFSA on the Web. Just go to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov and follow the instructions on the site. After applying via FAFSA/Renewal FAFSA on the Web, you can check the status of your application and/or make corrections online. You will need to use your Federal Access Code (PIN) to complete the 2009-2010 FAFSA.

Military Justice team wins second place

The team of Lorna Cobb, Shelly Garg, Philip Moring and Gustav Schmidt won second place in the Military Justice Moot Court Competition held at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla. during the last week of February. This competition focused on an emerging military justice issue and required competitors to learn provisions of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The team argued in front of current naval military judges, including the chief judge of the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals. Overall, the competition simulated the Navy JAG experience. Aside from hosting the competition, the Navy provided competitors with the opportunity to operate a flight simulator and tour a Navy frigate ship. (Photo from left: Shelly Garg, Gustav Schmidt, Lorna Cobb, Philip Moring)

Financial aid for Florida Bar prep and exam

Are you making plans to take the Bar and wondering where you will come up with the financing necessary for these out-of-pocket expenses? There are private loan companies who will make Bar exam loans to students who are in their final year of law school. These loans can be used for a student’s living expenses while studying for the Bar, Bar prep classes and other Bar related expenses.

Sallie Mae
1-800-984-0190
www.salliemae.com

Wells Fargo
(To apply, student would need to have some type of account/loan with Wells Fargo)
1-800-378-5526
www.wellsfargo.com/student/

For more information contact Financial Aid Coordinator Carol Huber at 352-273-0620.