Students ask questions and voice concerns at the April 9 John Marshall Bar Association Town Hall meeting. (Photo by Maggie Powers)

By Jenna Box
Student writer

On April 9, the John Marshall Bar Association hosted UF Law’s latest Town Hall Meeting with four UF Law deans. Historically these meetings have led to updates like the study lounge and more swipe card entries.

Dean Robert Jerry; Alyson Flournoy, senior associate dean for academic affairs; Rachel Inman, associate dean for students; and Deb Staats, associate dean for administrative and fiscal affairs, listened and addressed concerns from students on various topics.

“It’s been really encouraging to see the administration is really taking our suggestions, our wishes and our needs into consideration,” said a JMBA representative who introduced the panel. “They’ve really done a lot to help us as a student body going forward.”

Discussion highlights included:

Facilities

New water fountains, waterless urinals, better cleanliness and an increased number microwaves in the cafeteria were among suggestions and topics of question.

Staats urged students to snap photos of cleanliness issues when spotted. She said these could be used by the custodial team to target problem areas. She also encouraged students to take advantage of the two new microwaves in the cafeteria that will soon arrive and the cleaning products — such as Sani-wipes — that will be nearby.

Library Hours

Students expressed concern about library hours during football games and exam week. Currently, the library is closed during home football games.

Jerry empathized with students on this issue and said that options to make sports-infused weekends more study-friendly would be pursued, but he said that tailgating near the law school on game days poses a risk to the interior of the building if it were to be open, based on recent experiences with the restrooms that have been open on game days.

Students also requested later hours for a longer period near exam weeks and in general.

According to figures recorded by the library during past extended hours, on average only up to 10 people were in the library at the 4 a.m. hour, and about 20 during the 2 a.m. hour, said Claire M. Germain, associate dean for legal information. She also noted that staffing the library during these hours posed a problem.

For those who prefer to study late, space is currently available via swipe entry in Bruton-Geer Hall, Jerry said, and the possibility of extra classroom space will also be considered.

The planned extended hours — 7:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. — for the library began April 12, and will continue through May 2.

Curriculum and Registration

Regarding recent registration concerns, the course schedule is currently available in an Excel spreadsheet and in a PDF on the website, Flournoy said.

Flournoy also mentioned the possibility of online career guides that would list courses available to students who want to pursue a specific legal path, such as construction real estate law or sports law. Oftentimes, classes that benefit a certain type of law study aren’t necessarily labeled in a way that makes it obvious, she said.

The valuable Pretrial Practice class will be evaluated to decide if it should be expanded to a four-credit course, as students had suggested, or whether the topic warranted more than one course.

Finally, where students identify class conflicts involving a registration priority course, she advised checking both fall and spring schedules during registration. The schedules have been designed to include multiple sections of these classes.

Externships

Currently, law firms are not allowed as externships at UF Law. Jerry called this rule “a relic of the past,” even though, he said, a majority of law schools currently have the same rule as UF.

Because the externship has become a stepping stone to the job market, this is something the administration and faculty will need to look at to provide opportunities to connect new forms of skills training with the private sector, Dean Jerry said.

All input is appreciated by the administration, and students are encouraged to pass along further questions or concerns to the JMBA office.

Two positions are now available at the Florida Supreme Court for the Spring 2012 semester. They are each a five-credit externship, running Jan. 14 – April 26, 2013, and require 20 hours per week. You must have a clearance letter from The Florida Bar to participate. For more information or to apply, contact Tim McLendon in CGR in 230 Bruton-Geer, by email at mclendon@law.ufl.edu, or by phone at 273-0835.

Applications open for 2013 Evan Yegelwel Summer Fellowship

The Evan Yegelwel Summer Fellowship award permits one UF Law student to participate in a paid Summer Fellowship Program at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Florida Regional Office in Boca Raton. The Yegelwel Summer Fellowship award is $4,000. The ADL is a premier national civil rights organization that fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry in the U.S. and abroad, combats international terrorism, probes the roots of hatred, comes to the aid of victims of bigotry, develops educational programs, and serves as a public resource for government, media, law enforcement, all toward the goal of countering and reducing hatred. A generous gift from Evan Yegelwel (JD 80) has made this fellowship possible. Yegelwel is a partner in the Jacksonville law firm of Terrell Hogan Ellis Yegelwel, P.A. Click here for more fellowship and application information.

Spring Semester Foreign Enrichment Course and Spring Break Field Course will feature International Development Law and Policy

The UF Levin College of Law Environmental and Land Use Law Program will offer the following conservation and development practice related courses for Spring 2013 Semester:

• Contemporary International Development: Law, Policy and Practice (1 credit) (Spring semester on campus)
• Sustainable Development Field Course: Law Policy and Practice (2 credits) (Spring Break in Belize)

Students are eligible to enroll in either or both. Course descriptions and further information provided below.

Contemporary International Development: Law, Policy and Practice (1 credit) addresses the international and comparative law framework within which international development is carried out. The course will explore models of international development and development assistance as these have evolved since the Post-WWII Breton Woods accords that created the World Bank Group and regional progeny.  Topics that will be addressed include, but are not limited to free and fair trade, environmental security, human rights and global health.  The course will be coordinated by UF Law faculty and taught by law and policy practitioners from Costa Rica, Argentina and Jamaica.  Course instructors include Otton Solis, a Costa Rican development economist, former minister of the economy and presidential candidate; Oscar Avalles, an Argentinean attorney and World Bank country director for Guatemala; and Danielle Andrade, a Jamaican environmental and human rights attorney with the Jamaica Environment Trust.  The one-credit course will meet for one hour on Tuesday and Wednesday at 9 a.m. and conclude on Feb. 27 before spring break.

SPRING BREAK FIELD COURSE IN BELIZE

Sustainable Development Field Course: Law Policy and Practice (2 credits) will provide students with an on-site, interdisciplinary understanding of the law and policy challenges associated with “sustainable development” in a developing country.  Students will travel to and within Belize over Spring Break and delve into international and domestic law issues concerning protected areas, indigenous land rights, intellectual property in biological diversity, water, mining and energy development, fisheries and coral reef conservation – all within the context of national pressures for human development.  In addition to domestic Belizean law and international development policy, students will be exposed to the unique legal framework of the commonwealth Caribbean. The course will include skills exercises based around ongoing projects of the UF Law Conservation Clinic.   The course includes a Program fee that will cover in-country expenses and students must make their own international travel arrangements.  Enrollment is capped at 12 students.  Preference in given to students enrolled in the college of law’s Environmental and Land Use Law Program, but others may apply on a space-available basis.

Students interested in either course can contact Professors Tom Ankersen (ankersen@law.ufl.edu) Mary Jane Angelo (angelo@law.ufl.edu) or Research Assistant and Joint J.D./M.D.P candidate Gentry Mander (Gentry.Mander@gmail.com )

Apply now for externships
Many opportunities are available in the Gainesville area for Spring 2011 externships. Go to the externships page to view locations and apply. Externships provide practical experience and permit you to earn course credit while you take other classes. The deadline for applications for most externships is Thursday, Oct. 14.

UF Law welcomes Luis Maria Palma
We would like to welcome Luis Maria Palma of Buenos Aires, Argentina to the College of Law. He is here with his wife, Paula. He will be teaching a foreign enrichment program on Latin America Judicial System & Reform from Oct. 4 to Dec. 1. Palma teaches at the University of Buenos Aires, and works for the Argentine Supreme Court as General Coordinator of the National Judicial Management Commission. He also works as a consultant for the U.S. Embassy on judicial reform issues. He has taught and consulted on these issues throughout Latin America and at the National Judicial College in the U.S. Palma’s office is located in HOL 362, or you can reach him by email at lmpalma@ufl.edu or by phone, 352-273-0995.

A Global Approach to Legal Education – Semester exchange programs deadline Oct. 13
The Levin College of Law offers numerous opportunities for semester study abroad. We encourage all students to consider these programs, as lawyers today have increasing global responsibilities for both domestic and foreign clients. Students can transfer up to 16 credits from the 10 one-semester exchange programs, including the two newest exchanges in Israel. Program eligibility is based on completion of first year and good academic standing. Grades are pass/fail and are not factored in to GPA. Students pay tuition only to UF and are responsible for all travel, housing and other costs. Financial aid may be used for study abroad. It does not cost anything to apply and be considered. Just fill out the UF Law application for the exchange programs; if accepted, we will forward your information to our partner institution and there will be some additional paperwork for them. Then, the only application fee is the $250 UF International Center (UFIC) fee, which you can pay after you know you are accepted. Links to our partner institutions and the application for the exchange programs can be found here. To discuss any of these programs, please contact Michelle Ocepek in the Office of Student Affairs in HOL 164 or e-mail her at ocepek@law.ufl.edu or call 352-273-0620.

Find out about Environmental and Land Use Law opportunities
The Environmental and Land Use Law Program offers students many opportunities to learn about this exciting area of law and develop relevant skills, by earning a Certificate in Environmental and Land Use Law, or enrolling in any of the wide array of course offerings, including the Conservation Clinic, summer externships and the Summer Study Abroad in Costa Rica. A one year post-J.D. LL.M. is also offered through the program. In addition, students can gain experience and knowledge, broaden their networks, and get to know fellow students and faculty by participating in the Environmental and Land Use Law Society (GreenLAW), the Environmental Moot Court Team and the Public Interest Environmental Conference. This year, the program will also offer several fellowships for students involved with the program. To learn more about these opportunities, students should attend the ELULP informational meeting Tuesday, Oct. 12, from 12–12:50 p.m. in HOL 345. If you want to learn more now, please visit our website, or contact Lena Hinson at elulp@law.ufl.edu if you have specific questions or want to set up an appointment with Program Director Alyson Flournoy.

Enrollment deadline for Environmental and Land Use Law Certificate Program
Students interested in enrolling in the Environmental and Land Use Law Certificate Program for this semester are encouraged to do so before Monday, Oct. 18. Through the Environmental & 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 Program Director Alyson Flournoy to discuss your course of study for Spring 2011. For more information on the ELUL Certificate Program, please click here. Enrollment forms are available online or in HOL 319. Students enrolled in the certificate program will receive e-mail notification regarding priority pre-registration for core courses.

Anti-Defamation League Fellowship in Boca Raton
The 2011 Yegelwel Fellowship provides a $4,000 stipend to a UF Law student to participate in a Summer Fellowship Program at the Anti-Defamation League Florida Regional Office in Boca Raton. A generous gift from UF Law alumnus Evan Yegelwel, who graduated in 1980, has made this Fellowship possible. Yegelwel is a partner in the Jacksonville law firm of Terrell Hogan Ellis Yegelwel, PA.
Fellowship duties: The fellowship will last eight to 10 weeks, with the student committing to a minimum of 35 hours per week. The fellow will be supervised by the ADL Southern Area Counsel. Previous fellows conducted legal and legislative research on a broad variety of subjects including freedom of speech and association, religious freedom and separation of church and state, and employment and public accommodations discrimination. The fellow also handled constituent discrimination complaints and participated in ADL meetings, functions and events.
Eligibility:The Yegelwel Fellowship is limited to UF Law students who have successfully completed the first-year required curriculum, including Constitutional Law, and who are in good academic standing prior to beginning the fellowship. “Successful” completion of the first-year required curriculum means earning a passing grade in each course and maintaining an overall GPA of at least 3.0. First-year students are encouraged to apply for the fellowship, subject to verification of successful completion of their first-year courses prior to the start of the fellowship term. The student must also pass a background check. To apply, please submit the following: (1) a personal statement of 500 words or less outlining any past experiences or qualifications that indicate your interest in and commitment to public service; (2) a resume; (3) two references (including names, addresses and phone numbers); (4) an official transcript and (5) a letter verifying good academic standing. Please submit a hard copy of these items to Patricia Hancock in HOL 340. Deadline to apply is Nov. 1. Questions? Come to the Yegelwel Fellowship Open House. Past Fellows will discuss their experiences and answer questions about applying for the Fellowship, Wednesday, Oct. 13, at noon in HOL 350. Open to 1Ls, 2Ls and 3Ls. Pizza and refreshments will be served. For more information, please contact Melissa Bamba (CSRRR Assistant Director) at 352-273-0614 or bamba@law.ufl.edu.

Leah Edelman stands in front of the United Nations in New York City, where she externed this summer. During her externship, she saw the Queen of England. (Photo courtesy of Leah Adelman)

During the summer of 2010, Levin students worked in more externships than ever. At least 203 rising 2L and 3L students worked in externships, where they earned course credit in lieu of pay.

Externships, regulated by American Bar Association Standard 305, provide the opportunity for students to assist attorneys and judges with real legal issues and cases. Externs perform legal research, draft memoranda, motions and contracts, and attend client meetings, hearings and trials. Each student is mentored by a field supervisor (an attorney or judge at the externship site) and a Levin faculty member. The externship experience enables the student to apply first-hand principles learned in law school, and enhances the learning experience upon return to the classroom. Students meet new attorneys as well as work side-by-side with experienced attorneys and judges. In some cases, externships may lead to employment offers after graduation.

Of the more than 200 externship placements this past summer, 75 students worked for judges, including 35 in federal courts, nine in state district courts of appeal, and two at the Florida Supreme Court. (In addition, one student is working this fall as an extern for the Honorable Gerald B. Tjoflat at the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.)

Some of the externship sites included the EEOC, FCC, NOAA, World Intellectual Property Organization, Department of Homeland Security, ACLU, and the Florida Solicitor General. Seventeen students worked as externs for private corporations, including entities such as the Discovery Network, Elizabeth Arden, Office Depot and Sony Corporation.

Ten students worked in externships outside of Florida, including New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Irvine, Alexandria, Charlotte, Scranton, Atlanta, and Detroit. Two students worked in international externships in Cape Town, South Africa and in London, England.

Externships can provide exciting and high profile experiences. This summer, students worked on issues such as the Gulf oil spill and drywall litigation, and one student attended a meeting at which the Queen of England was present.

“I learned so much from my externship. Every day was a rush,” said 3L Natalie Shorrock about her externship in the Office of the State Attorney in Broward County. “I sat at counsel’s table during a first-degree murder trial, and the attorney read the arguments I made while taking notes during the trial word-for-word in her closing argument. It is an experience I strongly believe every student interested in criminal law should consider.”

Levin students perform externships in the fall and spring semesters as well as summers. Information regarding applications for spring 2011 will be provided to all students during the fall 2010 semester.

For more information regarding externships, visit www.law.ufl.edu/programs/externships or contact Prof. Leslie Knight, director of externship programs, knight@law.ufl.edu, or Julie Barnes, externship program coordinator, barnes@law.ufl.edu.