Fredric G. Levin College of Law

April 7, 2008 | Vol. XI, Issue 28

Mickle Honored for Leadership and Decade of Service on Federal Bench

Stephan P. Mickle (JD 70) pulled into the driveway of his parents’ house as a young man ready to sell his beloved red Chevy Malibu. Selling this car marked the defining moment when Mickle’s parents realized he was serious about attending law school and no longer wanted to be a social studies teacher, his mother Catherine said. This decision to sell his car undeniably helped pave the way for Mickle’s unprecedented career. Since then, a decade of service as a U.S. Federal Judge in the Northern District of Florida has been just one of Mickle’s many contributions to the legal system — contributions the Center for the Study of Race and Race Relations honored at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center on March 28.
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Students Celebrated for Pro Bono Work and Community Service

More than 100 UF Law students were honored at this year’s Pro Bono and Community Service Brunch for their dedication in serving others. The event was held to applaud the efforts of students who went above and beyond what is expected of the typical law student. The students honored dedicated at least 35 hours in their respective programs. "I think it's not only an outstanding opportunity to provide to under-served populations, it's a testimony to the responsibility and dedication of our students," said Assistant Dean for Career Services Linda Calvert Hanson.

The two programs, Pro Bono and Community Service, serve similar purposes of helping others but use different avenues. The Pro Bono Project allows students the opportunity to serve those in need with legal volunteer work, and an attorney usually supervises these students. In contrast, the Community Service Project allows students to be recognized for volunteer work benefiting the community at large. As an advocate for pro bono causes, Dean Robert Jerry commended the honorees. "The community service you have done illustrates and manifests what we stress here. As someone who gives back to the community this will be important to what you do once you leave the law school," he said.
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Student Profile: Allen Hones Trial Skills Through Supreme Court Externship and Mentoring Program

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.
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Career Services: Interested in Becoming a Career Services Ambassador? Learn More in The CCS Buzz

Learn more about becoming a Career Services Ambassador and the new interviewing policies and procedures 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

Perea Discusses Constitutional Basis of Obama’s Speech on Race

UF Law Professor Juan Perea, expert on civil procedure, constitutional law, and race and race relations, gave a presentation at Duke University Law School on March 20 discussing aspects of presidential candidate Barack Obama's recent speech on race. He spoke on the constitutional basis for some of Obama's assertions and the role that Latinos might play on the path to a "more perfect union." Perea has published numerous articles on race in America and is the author of Race and Races: Cases and Resources for a Diverse America. 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

UF Law Costa Rica Program to Host Florida Bar CLE Conference

The UF/UCR Joint Program in Environmental Law will co-sponsor a CLE Program with the Environmental and Land Use Law Section of the Florida Bar during this year's UF Law Costa Rica Program June 27. The conference, "Green Republic - Sunshine State" will address comparative approaches to environmental and land use law with a focus on land use and growth management law and policy. Speakers include UF Law faculty Michael Siebecker, Joan Flocks, Steve Powell, and Tom Ankersen. A copy of the conference agenda can be found on the program Web site at: http://www.law.ufl.edu/conservation/costarica. The Executive Council of the Environmental and Land Use Law Section of the Florida Bar will hold its annual retreat in Costa Rica in conjunction with the Conference.

Former U.S. Senator Bob Graham is tentatively scheduled to join the program during its fourth week and to participate in the program's field trip to tag sea turtles at the Tortuguero Biological Station on the Caribbean coast. Arrangements are also being made for the former U.S. senator to deliver a public lecture to the people of Costa Rica.

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News Briefs

Study Abroad Program Raises Awareness to Benefit South African School
The UF/University of Cape Town Study Abroad Program and the High Springs Community School will sponsor a pen pal project with a goal of raising $1000 to benefit Kalksteenfontein Primary School (KPS) in South Africa. Fundraising will take place in the Marcia Whitney Schott Courtyard until April 10. This is part of the UF students' community service and comparative law project and is a High Springs Community School educational and fund-raising project. Located 15 miles outside Cape Town, South Africa, in a gang-riddled township, KPS is a K-7 grade school in dire need of funds. KPS is funded by the government, school fees, and fundraisers. For more information, contact Michelle Ocepek ocepek@law.ufl.edu or 352-273-0620.

Grosack and White Take First Place in Securities Moot Court Competition
The Corporate and Securities Litigation Group (CSLG) would like to congratulate Matt Grosack and Matt White who took first place in the first intramural Securities Moot Court Competition on March 28. They defeated strong competitors Christina Sochacki and Nina Lacevic, and John Knowles and Ian Goldfarb in a close contest. The competition was the first of its kind since the organization’s inception three years ago. This year’s intramural competition began early in the spring semester when a securities question was developed with the help and guidance of Professor Stuart Cohn. Participants were then grouped into teams to write appellate briefs to present in front of professors William H. Page and Michael Siebecker who sat as justices. CSLG hopes this year’s intramural competition will help establish a team they could sponsor to compete in the Fordham Securities Moot Court Competition, a national competition held every year in New York.

International Commercial Arbitration Moot Team Ranks Among Best in Vienna Competition
The UF Levin College of Law’s International Commercial Arbitration Moot (ICAM) team along with principal contributor, Eduardo Palmer and Professor Jeffrey Harrison, went to Vienna, Austria March 14-21 where they competed in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot. The competition hosted 204 teams from 50 countries and, after four rounds of arguments, held elimination rounds for the top 64 teams. Six schools from the state of Florida participated in the competition with only the University of Florida and Stetson making it to the top 64. The UF ICAM team is also supported by the International Law Section of the Florida Bar.

Law College Council to Host Second Annual Multicultural Fair April 10
The Law College Council and the Office of Student Affairs will host the second annual Multicultural Fair April 10 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The Multicultural Fair events will include the “dunk tank” and the student and professor of the year awards will be announced. The fair allows many of the law school’s student organizations to present a diverse menu with a variety of food to celebrate their culture.

Legal Information Center Extended Exam Hours Begin April 18
Extended hours in the Legal Information Center for the exam period will begin on Friday, April 18, and will run through Thursday, May 1, as follows:

Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sat 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sun 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.

On Friday, May 2 the library will be open 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. The library will be closed Saturdays and Sundays after exams have ended until the beginning of the summer term.

UF Smathers Libraries Host Annual Read-A-Thon March 14-17
The annual Read-A-Thon, presented by the UF Smathers Libraries, will take place on the Plaza of the Americas in front of Library West, April 14-17. Events include a Children's Day, Humor Day, Southern Literature Day, and an Edible Book Contest. Sponsors of the event include Five Star Pizza, Publix, and Starbuck's. Everyone at UF is invited to sign up to read for a 10-minute slot, or just to show up and enjoy a celebration of literature, reading, and libraries. Some of the law school's librarians will be reading. For more information, visit http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/readathon/ to see who is reading or to sign up to read.

UF Law Welcomes New Assistant Dean for Students Kari Mattox
UF Law would like to welcome new Assistant Dean for Students Kari Mattox. Mattox (JD 01) has a Bachelor of Arts from Florida State University and is currently a doctoral candidate in higher education administration in the UF College of Education. For the past four years she has worked as a student development specialist at Santa Fe Community College. "I am extremely excited about returning to the Levin College of Law as a professional staff member," Mattox said. She will begin at the UF Law Office of Student Affairs May 2.

U.S. Circuit Judge William H. Pryor Jr. to deliver annual Dunwody Distinguished Lecture in Law April 18
The Hon. 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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