In teams of two, the eight students enrolled in the Gator TeamChild Juvenile Law Clinic and the four advance students are assigned cases ranging from juvenile delinquency to family dependency.

“There’s a whole gamut of things that we’re asked to do in our representation of children,” said the clinic’s director, Legal Skills Professor Meshon Rawls.

Many of the clinic’s clients are referred from professionals in the delinquency and dependency systems when the client has special needs that span beyond what the courts alone can provide, such as mental health, social and educational needs, Rawls said.

As certified legal interns, these 12 students have the authority to fully represent their clients in all cases under Rawls’ supervision.

“I came into law school never wanting to do litigation,” said Caitlin Mitchell (3L). “Through this clinic, I had the opportunity to be before the court without assistance, and it helped me discover what I want to do.”

Students in the clinic, which opened in 1998, are assigned about four cases and are required to attend hearings and depositions, meet with clients in detention centers and file motions.

“We know where to stand, we know how to deal with a judge and we know how to write and file motions,” Mitchell said.

Rawls teaches them how to implement what they learned in their substantive courses leading up to their enrollment in the clinic.

“I want students to learn to practice law on purpose,” Rawls said. “If they are having issues in their cases, I will sit down with them and help them realize what they are doing to miss the mark.”

In many situations, cases will carry on through multiple semesters. Students currently assigned to cases keep detailed logs so that the transition to a new team of students does not interfere with the progress of these cases. After the completion of their first semester in the juvenile law clinic, some students may elect to enroll in the advance clinic to act as mentors to the new students and continue their work.

“A lot of our responsibilities include helping the newer students prepare for court and editing their documents and motions,” said Mitchell, a second-semester advance student.

As part of a nationwide network of TeamChild clinics, the clinic has the goal of advocating holistically for youth, which is what distinguishes it from the other clinics offered through the UF Law clinical program.

“We are aligned with the theory behind the unified family court because we are one entity representing a child so that the best decisions can be made in any and all of the child’s cases,” Rawls said. “Our motto is one child, one advocate, one voice.”

Elena Rogers, 3L, graduates in December. (Photo by Joey Springer)

Elena Rogers said she’ll never forget the day one of her clients openly admitted guilt, and after sentencing, looked at her and said, “Thank you, God bless you.”

Rogers, a 3L graduating this December, said working in the clinics has been the most rewarding aspect of her law school experience.

“It’s challenging on both a personal and professional level and it is never dull,” she said. “As with most things, you get out of it what you put into it.”

Before law school, Rogers volunteered with the Guardian ad Litem and worked as a social worker, a juvenile probation officer and a residential counselor for juvenile group homes. She has also externed with a circuit judge on a civil docket and volunteered with a juvenile advocacy firm handling delinquency and dependency cases.

“The clinic complements my previous experience and vice versa,” she said. “I often find myself integrating the things I learned prior to law school into my clinic experience. Even though I come from a helping background, for those who don’t, the clinic is more than just working with people. In the clinic, you have to handle difficult situations with limited time, and sometimes, with limited resources, using creativity and innovativeness and the skill set you learned in law school and undergrad – no matter what your curriculum.”

Rogers decided to get involved in the clinics because she missed interacting with the public and helping clients.

“I wanted to work alongside other attorneys, judges and clients so that upon employment, I would know that I was well-equipped to provide, with confidence, the type of representation that my clients deserve,” Rogers said. “Also, to be frank, I was tired of the typical day-to-day learning environment, and I was anxious to get back to helping people. There is no way you can learn everything you need to know in the traditional learning environment.”

She said some of the most challenging aspects of working in the clinic were delivering “bad” news and working alongside such talented attorneys.

“It’s more than a little intimidating, but the great thing is that the attorneys I work with are always willing to teach and explain, and I enjoy learning from them,” she said.

Rogers said she learned a lot from her experience working with the client who admitted guilt.

“DUI Court reminded me to count my blessings because it showed me that no matter what race, creed, color or economic group a person may belong to, they too can find themselves in an unpleasant legal situation that can alter their life tremendously,” Rogers said. “Another client had serious drug issues that were taking her down a tragic path headed straight to jail. Because I fought for her, her charges were dropped and she now has the opportunity to seek the help she needs.”

In addition to hands-on experience, working with the clinic affords students the opportunity to become a Certified Legal Intern (CLI), which can be a helpful jumpstart to one’s career.

“Many judges and successful attorneys I’ve spoken to took part in a clinic while at law school,” she said. As a CLI, students are able to represent clients as a practicing attorney under the supervision of a licensed attorney and under a licensed attorney’s bar license, she said.

“This is a great benefit because it’s not just research you’re doing – you are actually advising, arguing motions, speaking on behalf of your client in court, entering pleas on the record and going to trial,” she said.

Becoming a CLI is also important in today’s job economy for a couple of reasons.

“First, if you are a CLI in an office where you want to work after graduation, it’s like a working interview,” she said. “The employer may just convert your internship into a job offer once you graduate.”

“They’ve already trained you, you already know the judges and the procedures, and they already know your work ethic,” she said. “Hiring you would be easier than hiring someone they do not know.” “Also, timing and opportunity are everything. If a position becomes available after you graduate and you are a CLI, you can begin working prior to taking the bar or prior to getting your bar results.”

Rogers says she highly recommends the clinics because they will help students discover strengths and weaknesses and maybe even reveal a passion for a new field of law.

“Because of the exposure to the law you get while in the clinic, you may just fall in love with an area of law that you never even considered,” she said.

The deadline for clinic applications is Oct. 22. Applications are avaiable in the clinics, and must be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs. Students who are accepted will be notified by Nov. 1 and additional mandatory paperwork will need to be completed in the clinics immediately after acceptance. For more information, please visit the Clinics webpage.

Civil clinics afford students the opportunity to gain valuable legal practice experience. (File photo)

“I don’t know why anyone would want to graduate law school without having taken a clinic,” said Christiane Rossi, 3L.

The Virgil D. Hawkins Civil Clinics at the Levin College of Law are substantial learning experiences that afford students the opportunity to gain valuable legal experience with real people and real cases.

Most clinics offer Certified Legal Internship (CLI) for client representation under the Student Practice Rule. CLI status can be recertified for up to 12 months to allow graduates working in certain public sector jobs to represent clients while studying for the Bar.

Rossi fought to get in the IPVAC (Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Clinic) not only because of the experience of the clinic, but also because of her life experiences as a domestic violence survivor.

Rossi is not shy about her life experiences, and also has a son with autism. He is 15, and she has been fighting to protect him and his rights his whole life, she said.

“He is the reason I wanted to go to law school. I came to law school because I wanted to be an advocate for children. I have not lost sight of that goal,” she said.

Rossi appreciates that the clinics offer clients in need an opportunity for legal representation and advice, and the opportunity for students to experience face-to-face interaction with clients who are able to communicate to students their struggles, passions, secrets and goals.

“I have had a really full law school experience,” said Rossi, who has had externship and volunteer experience. “I can honestly say that the clinic experience is the closest to actual practice, and I feel the best way to prepare for actual practice.”

Rossi said that in an externship, a student only gets to observe, and maybe participate minimally to get an understanding of the practice of law.

“But in a clinic, the clients are yours. You work with real people with real problems, and the consequences for a lack of preparation are not only yours,” she said.

“The knowledge we learn in the classroom is important, and it is in the clinics that we truly see if we can apply that knowledge to actual practice,” she said. “As I come close to graduating, I feel comfortable with getting a job and practicing right out of law school.”

To learn more about the clinics, visit http://www.law.ufl.edu/centers/hawkins/.

• See full list of winners

Music Night 2010 hosted by Dean Jerry
Got a hidden musical talent? Show it off at the upcoming Music Night 2010, to be held Sunday, April 18, 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.

Clinic application deadline March 31
The deadline for clinic applications is March 31. The Florida Bar clearance letters must be attached to the application (except for Mediation Clinic). Conservation Clinic applications are available online and should be submitted directly to Director Tom Ankersen at ankersen@law.ufl.edu. All other clinic applications are submitted to Student Affairs. Offers are based on total credit hours, pre-reqs for some of the clinics, and application submission date/time may also be considered. Also, for the first time this fall, Interviewing, Counseling and Negotiation (LAW 6388) will be offered and will be mandatory for civil clinics (except Mediation) beginning with spring 2011 enrollment. The clinics consider the application period a time of “open house” and interested students who are planning ahead or who are applying for summer/fall are encouraged to stop by.

Application deadline for UF’s Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Clinic is March 31
The Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Clinic is the first of its kind in the nation! IPVAC is a partnership between the College of Law, College of Medicine, Shands and Peaceful Paths Domestic Abuse Network. Under the supervision of Director Teresa Drake, students will represent indigent victims of domestic violence in court with a variety of issues. Students will also have the opportunity to work with IPVAC’s interdisciplinary team consisting of social workers, outreach counselors and various medical personnel at Shands and negotiate such legal and ethical issues as HIPPA, confidentiality and client/patient privilege. Applications for IPVAC can be picked up at Student Services. Students should attach their initial clearance letter from the Florida Bar to their application. Students must also speak briefly with Director Teresa Drake (drake@law.ufl.edu) prior to applying.

Environmental & Land Use Law Certificate Program deadline April 2
Students interested in enrolling in the Environmental & Land Use Law Certificate Program this semester are encouraged to do so before Friday, April 2. Through the Environmental and Land Use Law Certificate Program, students can graduate from law school with a valuable credential that indicates both concentration and accomplishment in these two fields. If you have recently enrolled, or plan to do so, please contact Lena Hinson at hinson@law.ufl.edu to set up an appointment with Professor Alyson Flournoy, director of the Environmental & Land Use Law Program, to discuss your course of study for fall 2010. For more information on the ELUL Certificate Program please visit the ELULP Web site. Enrollment forms are available online or in 319 Holland Hall. Students enrolled in the certificate program will receive e-mail notification regarding priority pre-registration for core courses.

Become a Public Interest Law Fellow: Deadline April 5
Make a difference in your community and the world — and get paid for it. The Levin College of Law is currently seeking students for the Public Interest Law Fellows Program for 2010-11, funded by The Florida Bar Foundation. Public Interest Law Fellows are engaged in a number of public service projects in the community, and receive a stipend for their work. Applications are available in the Center for Governmental Responsibility, 230 Bruton-Geer Hall. The application deadline is April 5, at 5 p.m. For more information, e-mail Tim McLendon, mclendon@law.ufl.edu.

APIL fellowship applications due April 5
Need funding for your unpaid summer job? Applications for the APIL summer fellowship 2010 are here. Please download the application form that is available on APIL’s Twen page and submit your application to the Career Development Office by noon on April 5. Download the application »

UF Federalist Society sends delegation to national student symposium
A delegation from the UF Federalist Society represented UF at the 2010 Federalist Society National Student Symposium, an annual gathering of conservative and libertarian students, lawyers, and law professors from around the nation. The symposium was held Feb. 26 & 27, at the University of Pennsylvania Law School in Philadelphia. The theme was “Originalism 2.0.” Members of the UF delegation included, Federalist Society President Joshua Mize, Nakku Chung, Eugenia Fischer, Jason Yoepp, Christine Pratt, Michael Kelley, and Jordan Pratt. At the symposium, law professors and judges conducted panel discussions and debates on topics such as “Originalism: A Rationalization for Conservatism or a Principled Theory of Interpretation?,” “Originalism and Construction: Does Originalism Always Provide the Answer?,” and “Originalism, Precedent and Judicial Restraint.” Panelists included, Yale Law Professor Jack Balkin of the legal blog “Balkanization,” Professor Richard Fallon of Harvard Law School, former U.S. Solicitor General Greg Garre, Judge A. Raymond Randolph of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, Judge Diane Sykes of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and Professor Jeffrey Rosen of George Washington University School of Law. The keynote speaker was Dr. Bill Kristol, editor of The Weekly Standard.

Congratulations to the UF Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Team
Over the weekend, the Vis team travelled to the University of Miami campus to compete in the Florida scrimmage competition hosted by The Florida Bar. The participants were Olga Butkevich, Chana Cannon, Sasha Funk, Anastasia Campbell, Julianne Parker and Andres Healy. Campbell received the highest score awarded in UF’s match-up against the University of Versaille, Healy received the highest score awarded in UF’s match-up against Florida Coastal, and Parker received the highest score awarded in UF’s match-up against Stetson University. Additionally, Healy was one of three students recognized for “Top Oralist” honors. Thanks to the generous donation from adjunct coach Eduardo Palmer (JD 85) the team will travel to the competition in Vienna from March 26 through April 1. For more information please visit http://www.cisg.law.pace.edu/vis.html. Tryouts for UF’s team are held each fall.

Congratulations to the 2010-2011 JMBA Executive Board
President: Joe Joyce; Vice President Student Services: Laurie Tyler Yonge; Vice President Social: Ashley Johnson; Secretary: Katie Kellam; Treasurer: Justin Pacific. General Board: Jenny Albano, Sarah Casey, Jessica Couvertier, Amber Curtis, Martin Holland, Brian Johnson, Joe Kovecses, Dan Lazaro, Jay Levin, Vincent Massaro, Matt Michel, Sarah Moore, Katie Moum, Josh Nemser, Moish Peltz, Sal Picataggio, Megan Policastro, Lindsay Powell, Christina Russo, Bethany Turner, Genevieve Turner, and Chase Wiley.

2010 Census Information
This March, the 2010 Census will arrive in every Gainesville resident’s mailbox. The responses will directly affect the distribution of more than $400 billion in federal funding for education, healthcare, transportation and the environment. Off-campus students must fill out the form with their housemates and return it by mail before April 1. It is important that everyone in Gainesville fill out the census form to ensure funding that will help keep The Gator Nation great.

Law students who have completed 48 credit hours may be certified by the Florida Supreme Court to appear in court on behalf of an indigent person while under supervision of a lawyer in an ABA-approved law school practice program (clinic).

Effective this semester, to become certified with the Florida Supreme Court you must be registered with the Florida Board of Bar Examiners (FBBE) as a certified legal intern registrant (or have already received your FBBE clearance letter). See Chapter 11: Rules Regulating The Florida Bar.

It is crucial that you allow sufficient time for the mandatory FBBE “fitness and character screening” so that you receive your clearance letter from them prior to enrolling in clinics requiring CLI.

We recommend you submit your application to the Bar at least three to six months before you apply for one of the law school clinics (not required for Mediation or Conservation Clinic).

Clinic prep courses do not require the certification for registration, but you must be eligible by mid-semester of the prep course (Juvenile and Pro Se).

For more information about certification eligibility visit the clinics or attend the information session on Nov. 5 at noon in 180 HOL.

Clinic Calendar and Deadlines:
Oct. 27: Schedules and clinic applications available to students.
Nov. 5: Clinic information meeting at noon in 180 HOL – Pizza will be served.
Nov. 7: Clinic applications due in Student Affairs.

NOTE: Students will be notified after Nov.14 of their acceptance into a clinic and made an offer to accept within a certain amount of time. If they decline the offer will be made to the next person on the waiting list. Also, registration is department-controlled ( i.e., you may only register through Student Affairs based on the offer and you may only drop the clinic through Student Affairs).