Ranaldo Allen (2L)

It may seem quite remarkable to have completed two summer associate positions and a Supreme Court Externship all before graduating law school, but for Ranaldo Allen (2L) this only seems natural.

Allen, 25, said he has always been an engaged student who appreciates the opportunities to hone his skills by staying actively involved throughout the law school and legal community. Originally from Jacksonville and the first in his family to graduate from college, Allen knew from an early age that being an attorney was the path he wanted to take.

“I have always known that I wanted to do trial work,” Allen said. And it is quite evident that Allen has not let much get in the way of his dream.

Before entering law school Allen worked in Washington, D.C. for the Environmental Protection Agency as a strategic workforce planning consultant for the human resources department, and he spent this past summer working as a summer associate for Gary, Williams, Parenti, Finney, Lewis, McManus, Watson & Sperando in Stuart, Fla.

This summer Allen will be working as a summer associate for Rogers Towers in Jacksonville before heading to Tallahassee for his fall semester to clerk for the Florida Supreme Court.

While in law school Allen served as a senator for UF Student Government and was elected president of the Graduate Student Council. He is also a member of the Black Law Students Association and was part of both the student recruitment team and student ambassadors.

Allen is an active member of UF’s Trial Team and was selected as the “Spring 2008 Best Advocate” for his outstanding performance in the spring 2008 Final Four Competition.

In 2007, he was selected as one of six UF law students who were granted the opportunity to become a member of the Chester Bell Inn of Court in Jacksonville, a program designed as a mentoring opportunity for law students to network with lawyers and judges around the area through monthly meetings.

Each of the regular meetings, occurring six to eight times a year, consist of dinner with all members of the Inn followed by an educational component, in which the members of the Inn demonstrate and discuss issues, techniques, problems and ethics of trial advocacy, said Linda Calvert Hanson, Assistant Dean for Career Services. Students who are invited to participate in the Inn are included as an integral part of all Inn activities.

“This is a great networking opportunity and was also incredibly informative because you are hearing from federal judges and really the best trial and appellate lawyers in the area,” Allen said. “They are constantly giving great tips on every aspect of trial work.”

For more information about applications for the Chester Bell Inn of Court, contact Kim Tyson in Career Services at tysonk@law.ufl.edu. The application deadline is April 10 at 5 p.m.