From left, Professor Steven J. Willis, Visiting Assistant Professor Yolanda Jameson, LL.M. Tax Candidate Adam Smith, Paul D’Alessandro, Jr. (3L), Stephanie Malen (3L), Sara Heuer (3L) and KaLynn Ryker (3L). (Photo by Maggie Powers)

By Francie Weinberg
Student writer

The University of Florida Levin College of Law can proudly display its new trophy after two victories at the American Bar Association Law Student Tax Challenge. UF Law students placed first and third in the Orlando competition, held the last weekend of January, during which a total of 88 teams from 46 schools around the nation brought their best orators to compete.

According to the American Bar Association, the Law Student Tax Challenge (LSTC) is a national tax-planning competition sponsored by the Young Lawyers Forum of the Section of Taxation. The LSTC offers students the opportunity to demonstrate their acquired knowledge and interact with experienced practitioners and potential future employers. In the competition’s 12-year history, the LSTC has become one of the largest tax competitions for law students in the U.S. with both LL.M. and J.D. divisions.

UF Law had two of the six teams chosen to participate in the J.D. semi-finals and two of the three teams chosen to advance to the finals. Among the competition in Orlando included law schools of William & Mary, Harvard, Columbia, University of Oregon, Syracuse, Northwestern, Georgetown and the University of Virginia. Despite Harvard’s first place in the written portion, the team did not advance to the finals.

Top prize went to Stephanie Malen (3L) and Paul D’Alessandro Jr. (3L), coached by Madison Felder and Adam Smith, both LL.M. students, and Professor Steven J. Willis. The third place team was comprised of Sara Heuer (3L) and KaLynn Ryker (3L), and was coached by Professor Yolanda Jameson. Every member took home a trophy.

UF Law did not compete in the LL.M. division of the ABA Student Tax Challenge this year, but next year could produce a formidable LL.M. team. Malen and D’Alessandro plan to enroll in the UF Law LL.M. Graduate Tax program and Heuer and Ryker are seriously considering it.

Willis is also the coach of the moot court team. He and Dean Robert Jerry are proud of the four competitors and their coaches.

“Congratulations to our four competing students, our LL.M. student-coaches, Yolanda Jameson, and Steve Willis on these excellent results,” Jerry said.

Journal members made dinner for 40 residents of the house.

In conjunction with their visit, JLPP held a drive to collect household cleaning supplies and personal hygiene items.

After the drive, JLPP donated several boxes of supplies to St. Francis House.