Fredric G. Levin College of Law

March 31, 2008 | Vol. XI, Issue 27

UF Law Moves Up in U.S. News Rankings

The Levin College of Law rose a spot in recent U.S. News and World Report rankings to place in the top 25 public and 46th overall of the nation’s nearly 200 accredited law schools. The graduate tax program was once again rated first among public law schools and second overall, with only New York University ranking higher. The law school also was ranked 13th overall and 6th among public schools for Environmental Law.

UF Law Dean Robert Jerry said, "First let me emphasize, as detailed in a letter I have endorsed along with about 170 other law school deans in the nation, that ranking systems are an unreliable guide to the differences among law schools that should be important to anyone trying to compare them. The U.S. News and World Report ranking methodology is, in my opinion, an extremely inexact measure of an institution’s true quality. But the reality is that many people use such rankings, and it would therefore be poor judgment for us simply to ignore them. Having said that, we are still pleased that the exceptional quality of our Graduate Tax Program continues to be recognized, as is our status as one of the country’s best public law schools."

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright Talks to UF Law About the State of the Presidency

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright spoke on March 26 to a packed classroom of UF Law students, faculty and staff about the difficulties the next president will face. Albright discussed the state of the presidency and her new book, Memo To The President Elect: How We Can Restore America's Reputation and Leadership. "It was written for the president elect to read on election night, but it’s out now, so it’s basically for Americans primarily, some foreigners, in order to see what I think are the major national security issues for the next president to confront," she said.
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Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum Speaks at 20th Anniversary of Florida Journal of Law and Public Policy

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum (JD 68) discussed the role of the Office of Attorney General of Florida at the University of Florida Journal of Law and Public Policy's 20th Anniversary Celebration on March 28. McCollum said he truly enjoyed his days as a U.S. congressman because of the new challenges he faced every day, but as the chief legal officer of the state, McCollum said his role is very different but still exciting. "You are in the executive branch, you have to make tough policy decisions, and you are able to really get things done. The pay isn’t very good, but you are doing good every day," McCollum said.
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Career Services: Getting Ready for Summer and Fall Recruitment and the IL Shadow Program in The CCS Buzz

Learn more about getting ready for summer and fall recruitment and the IL shadow program in this week's issue of The CCS Buzz, your source for a quick synopsis of programming, recruiting, networking, volunteer, and “SHIP” opportunities available to you. The CCS Buzz can be found in FlaLaw Online, via a link on your Symplicity homepage after you log in, or you can pick up a hard copy in Career Services at 244 Bruton Geer Hall. Click below to download The CCS Buzz, your weekly guide to what is important to your career and professional development:
• The CCS Buzz

Heather Jarvis Speaks on New Law Helping Students Pursuing Public Interest Pay Off Debt

There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Law students finally have a way to pay off those large student debts and still practice public interest law. The U.S. Congress has finally caught on to the need of graduating students who have excessive loans. Equal Justice Works Senior Program Manager Heather Jarvis spoke to law students March 19 about The College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007. As a graduate of Duke University School of Law and an attorney who works tirelessly for the poor, Jarvis said she understands the financial barriers that exist with practicing public interest law. But thanks to Congress there is finally a law on the books to help students with particularly high debt and low salaries.
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UF Law Professors Berta Hernandez-Truyol and Steven Powell to Publish Just Trade

UF Law Professors Berta E. Hernandez-Truyol and Steven J. Powell are set to publish their new book Just Trade: A New Covenant Linking Trade and Human Rights. The book explores trade’s effect on human rights policies involving child labor, sustainable development, health, equality of women, human trafficking, indigenous peoples, poverty, citizenship, and economic sanctions. Just Trade proposes that the inevitable intersection of these two dominant human policies be purposeful, conspicuous, proactive, and ingenious, rather than simply more of the ad hoc mélange of superficial duct-tape "solutions" the world’s poor, disenfranchised, and otherwise marginalized majority have had so far to endure. New York University Press will publish Just Trade in October. Keep up with what UF Law faculty are saying in the media and writing about in scholarly publications in FlaLaw Online's weekly updates on Faculty Scholarship & Activities.
• Faculty Scholarship & Activities

Deadline Extended to April 11 for ABA-Approved Summer Program in France

The deadline for the France summer program application has been extended to Friday, April 11. The other two study abroad programs in Costa Rica and South Africa are full. The France trip includes a week in Paris, four weeks in southern France, lots of travel opportunities, and up to six law school credits. The program runs this summer from late June through July. Students studying in the Summer 2008 Law Program in France benefit from a dual focus on comparative and international law. American and French professors examine United States and French legal systems and European community law. Both French and American students also meet with members of the judiciary and the legal profession. In addition, the program allows you to live in and enjoy the rich French culture.
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News Briefs

Environmental Moot Court Tryouts: Application Deadline Monday, March 31
Interested in environmental law? Want to hone your brief-writing and appellate advocacy skills? Second year students are invited to try out for the Environmental Moot Court team, which will represent UF at the National Environmental Moot Court Competition in February 2009 in White Plains, New York. The application process includes a written submission and oral argument tryout. Written applications are due Monday, March 31, by 4 p.m. in 319 Holland Hall. Oral argument tryouts will be held Wednesday, April 9, 3–5 p.m. The application process includes a written submission (resume and argument section of your brief from Appellate Advocacy) and an oral argument tryout. You should remove your name and contact information from the resume and writing sample and identify your application with the entrant number you will be assigned. You can sign up for an oral argument time slot when you submit your application. For more information, contact Lena Hinson hinson@law.ufl.edu or 273-0777.

UPD Chief Linda Stump Addresses Students' Safety Concerns at Town Meeting
Chief Linda Stump and Capt. Jeff Holcomb (both pictured left) joined students, staff and faculty to discuss personal safety on campus during a town hall meeting hosted by the law school on March 19. Both Stump and Holcomb presented basic information about safety and then opened up the floor for questions from the audience. Issues regarding gender, personal safety, rape-aggression defense, mental health concerns and the likelihood of an active shooter on campus were all topics discussed at the meeting. Its purpose was to benefit the students, faculty and staff while allowing an opportunity to address concerns regarding safety on campus, said Rachel Inman, Associate Dean for Students. For more information about programs offered by the university police department, call (352) 392-1111 or visit www.police.ufl.edu.

Stephanie Coontz Challenges Marriage Myths at Second Annual Weyrauch Distinguished Lecture in Family Law
The role of marriage was discussed March 26 by Stephanie Coontz, professor, Evergreen State College and director of research and education of the Council on Contemporary Families at the second annual Weyrauch Distinguished Lecture in Family Law. The lecture titled “Courting Disaster: The Historical Revolution in Marriage” challenged many myths regarding traditional versus modern marriages. Coontz, a social historian who is nationally known for her work on the history of marriage, most recently published Marriage, A History: From Obedience to Intimacy, or How Love Conquered Marriage. Presented by the Center on Children and Families, the lecture is named in honor of Professor Walter O. Weyrauch, internationally known for his work in foreign and family law.

The Executive Council of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar to meet April 3-5
The Executive Council of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar will meet April 3 and 4 at the UF Hilton and on April 5 at the UF law school. Roundtables will be in session from 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. in rooms 355B and 355C Holland Hall. The Executive Council meeting will run from 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. in 180 Holland Hall. The committee meetings attract over 150 of the best and brightest attorneys from around the state to discuss legislation, plan seminars for presentation to members of Bar and share ideas about best practices to serve clients. For more information, contact Melissa Murphy melissam@salterlaw.net or 352-376-8201.

UF Law Employees Honored for Service at Pinning Ceremony
UF Law employees were honored for their service to the university at a pinning ceremony in the Rare Book Room on March 19. Among those honored were (pictured left to right) Tena Canter (5 years), Mary Driggers (35 years), Paula Watkins (5 years), Julie Barnes (20 years), Robert Horn (20 years), Trudi Reid (15 years), Nancy Schmit (20 years), Lena Hinson (20 years) and Ron Perry (15 years).

Joint degree student Ana-Klara Hering finalist for Madelyn Lockhart Dissertation Fellowship Award
Ana-Klara Hering, a joint degree student seeking a law degree and doctorate in media law and policy, was a finalist for the Madelyn Lockhart Dissertation Fellowship Award presented by the Association for Academic Women. She received the $1,000 award, courtesy of UF President Bernie Machen, at the 11th annual Women’s History Month Awards Reception on March 25. Hering, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, has a master’s in communication and plans to work as a summer associate for Thomas and LoCicero in Tampa.

U.S. Circuit Judge William H. Pryor Jr. to deliver annual Dunwody Distinguished Lecture in Law April 18
The Honorable William H. Pryor Jr. will deliver the 27th annual Dunwody Distinguished Lecture in Law at 10:00 a.m on April 18 in the Chesterfield Smith Ceremonial Classroom (180 Holland). This event is open to the public and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The lecture, hosted by the Florida Law Review, is entitled "The Perspective of a Junior Circuit Judge on Judicial Modesty." Judge Pryor is a judge for the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and former attorney general of Alabama. He is an adjunct professor of federal jurisdiction at the University of Alabama School of Law and he is active in the Alabama Law Foundation, the Alabama Center for Law & Civic Education, and the American Law Institute. The Florida Law Review Dunwody Distinguished Lecture in Law series was established by U.S. Sugar Corporation and the law firms of Dunwody, White & Landon, P.A. and Mershon, Sawyer, Johnston, Dunwody & Cole in honor of UF Law graduates Elliot and Atwood Dunwody.

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