Fredric G. Levin College of Law

October 8, 2007 | Vol. XI, Issue 8

Florida Supreme Court Justices Wells and Anstead Among Judges for Moot Court Final Four Oct. 12

This year's University of Florida Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court Team Intramural Tryout Competition concludes with the Final Four at 9:30 a.m. this Friday, Oct. 12, in the Chesterfield Smith Ceremonial Classroom (HOL 180A). The Moot Court Team holds tryouts for eligible third semester students each fall semester. Students trying out for the team must submit an appellate brief and prepare two oral arguments. After the team picks its new members, the top four finishers and one alternate compete in "The Final Four." This year's Final Four will feature Shawn Taylor and Dante Trevisani representing the petitioner, and Jennifer Jones and Tim Haughee representing the respondent (Andrew Hoffman is the alternate). In teams of two, the competitors will present oral arguments in front of a panel of prestigious judges, including Florida Supreme Court Justices Harry Lee Anstead and Charles T. Wells; Circuit Judge Charles R. Wilson from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals; District Judge Steven D. Merryday from the Middle District of Florida; and District Judge Stephan P. Mickle from the Northern District of Florida. The arguments are open for observation by fellow students, alumni, and faculty. The Final Four Competition is sponsored by Zimmerman, Kiser & Sutcliffe, P.A. Read more about the case on appeal by clicking on the link below.
READ MORE>>www.law.ufl.edu/flalawonline

Career Services: The Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Law Helps Public Service Lawyers

On Sept. 27, President George W. Bush signed the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. This act helps public service lawyers by lowering monthly student loan payments on federally guaranteed student loans (Income Based Repayment or IBR), and cancelling remaining debt after 10 years of income-based repayment (public service forgiveness).

This exciting legislation is for those of you with a desire to enter public service, but who are also wondering how a public service salary can be stretched to pay not only your basic living expenses but also your student loan payments. To find out how this new law can help you, Equal Justice Works has prepared the following useful summary:
http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/files/ejw_college_cost_reduction.pdf

Additional Career Services Articles
• Programming This Week
• Important Upcoming Deadlines
• Save The Date: Fourth Annual Minority Mentoring Picnic Oct. 27

Career Spotlight: Charles E. "Chuck" Hobbs, II

Although Charles E. "Chuck" Hobbs, II (JD 98) has practiced law for less than a decade he has already made history—and headlines. Hobbs, who practices in the areas of criminal trial law, appeals, personal injury and wrongful death, was the lead defense attorney behind Florida's first hazing trial, which was televised last fall on Court TV. Hobbs represented four of five members of the Alpha Xi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity on trial for allegedly participating in the hazing of a pledge at Florida A&M University.
READ MORE>>www.law.ufl.edu/flalawonline

Clinics Offer Rare Law School Opportunity to Apply Classroom Theory in a Practice Setting

Interested in counseling clients, advising government agencies regarding policies, or even doing a jury trial? You should look closely at one of the law school's excellent clinic programs. Clinics offer the rare law school opportunity to apply classroom theory in a practice setting while learning valuable lawyering skills. Students are closely supervised by one of our highly experienced clinical professors/practitioners. In a number of the clinics, students gain valuable experience collaborating with social workers, mental health and family counselors, environmental and land use professionals, or alternative dispute resolution experts.
READ MORE>>www.law.ufl.edu/flalawonline

Center for the Study of Race and Race Relations Announces First Oral Competition

The University of Florida Center for the Study of Race and Race Relations (CSRRR) is pleased to announce its first oral competition. The Race, Law and Justice Oral Competition provides law students with an opportunity to research, discuss and debate important issues of race and justice. The subject for this year's competition is race-based hate speech. The hypothetical that students will research and debate is based upon an actual incident involving racial conflict between white and black high school students in a South Carolina town. White students wore T-shirts emblazoned with the confederate flag and "100 percent cotton and you picked it." Black students responded by having T-shirts printed with the confederate flag in red, black, and green—the colors of African liberation.
READ MORE>>www.law.ufl.edu/flalawonline

Deadline Oct. 10 for Spring 2008 Study Abroad, Including New Program with University of Costa Rica

UF Law has seven ABA-approved semester exchange programs and the deadline to apply for Spring 2008 is this Wednesday, Oct. 10.

Don't miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime. Spring opportunities include (all programs are taught in English except where noted):

• Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany (April-July; must be fluent in German)
• Leiden University, The Netherlands (Feb.-June; also available in fall)
• Monash University, Melbourne, Australia (Feb.-June; minimum 3.0 GPA)
• Pontificia Universidade Catolica-Rio de Janeiro (PUC-RIO), Brazil (March-July; must be fluent in Portuguese—one-month language preparatory course available for Spanish speakers)
• University of Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica (also available in fall; must be fluent in Spanish; minimum 3.0 GPA)
• University of Montpellier, France (Jan.-May; also available in fall; many classes are taught in French)
• University of Warsaw, Poland (Feb.-June)

If you are interested in studying abroad, check out the UF Law study abroad website at http://www.law.ufl.edu/students/abroad/. You’ll find links to all of our partner institutions and the student exchange application.
READ MORE>>www.law.ufl.edu/flalawonline

Challenge of Protecting Trade Secrets in a Digital World Among Topics Discussed by UF Law Faculty

Read what UF Law professors are saying in the media and writing about in scholarly publications in FlaLaw Online's weekly updates on Faculty Scholarship & Activities. Among other news, Professor Elizabeth Rowe (pictured left, standing) discusses the challenge of protecting trade secret information in a digital world, and Professor Christopher Slobogin (pictured seated) writes about the U.S. Supreme Court's recent rulings in criminal mental health cases.
• Faculty Scholarship & Activities

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News Briefs

Fathers' Rights Movement Topic of Oct. 26 Lecture Presented by UF Center on Children & Families
The UF Center on Children & Families 2007-2008 lecture series, "Families in Transition," presents "The Fathers' Rights Movement, Law Reform and the New Politics of Fatherhood: Reflections on the UK Experience," with Richard Collier, professor of law and social theory, Newcastle University, Newcastle Law School, in the United Kingdom, Friday, Oct. 26, at noon in the Chesterfield Smith Ceremonial Classroom (HOL 180). A lunch reception will follow in the Faculty Dining Room. Collier is the author of several books on law and fathers, fathers’ rights and legal reform, and law and masculinities. This is the first of four lectures to be presented this academic year, all of which will be open to faculty, staff and students.

Levin College of Law Honor Committee Holding Elections
The Levin College of Law Honor Committee will be holding elections to elect representatives for the 2006 and 2007 entering classes and for LL.M. students on Thursday, Oct. 18, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The Honor Committee administers the Honor Code. In this capacity, the Honor Committee has the authority to do all actions which are necessary for the proper administration of the Code. It is composed of law students, two faculty advisors, the Levin College of Law associate dean for students, and a representative of the University of Florida Office of Student Judicial Affairs. Five students will be elected from the Fall 2006 entering class, five from the 2007 entering class, and two students will be elected to represent LL.M. students. To run for a position, contact nsbgator@ufl.edu for a registration form and the rules. The deadline to register is Monday, Oct. 8. Registration forms are available in the Office of Student Affairs, 164 Holland Hall.

UF Law Alumni Council Happy Hour at Orlando's UrbanThink! Bookstore Oct. 18
The University of Florida Law Alumni Council would like to invite all Central Florida area alumni, students, and friends of the UF College of Law to a happy hour on Thursday, Oct. 18, 6-8 p.m., at the UrbanThink! Bookstore, 625 East Central Blvd., Orlando. Our special guest will be UF Law Professor Michael Seigel, who will be signing copies of his book, Improbable Events: Murder at Ellenton Hall, an exciting murder mystery that takes place in a law school. We are currently planning to have these events two or three times a year, and limited sponsorships are available. Please contact Sarah Rumpf at srumpf@cfl.rr.com if you or your firm are interested. Current sponsors are UrbanThink! Bookstore; Harris, Harris, Bauerle & Sharma P.A.; and Gatorlando, LLC. Remember to RSVP and support your College of Law. Check out the online invitation.

Jury Duty Notices Sent to Half of Fall 2007 Entering Class Students
Notices of jury duty have been sent to half of the Fall 2007 entering class. These students are required to serve on a jury for Trial Practice or Clinics (see http://www.law.ufl.edu/students/policies.shtml#15) and will lose registration priority if they shirk their duty. The notices are also posted on the academic bulletin board outside Student Affairs (HOL 164). First semester 2Ls are also reminded that if they missed their jury duty last fall they need to come to the Clinics (Bruton-Geer 105) and sign up.

Third-Year Law Student Cameron Wilson Takes First Place in UF Law's Annual Art Show
Third-year UF Law student Cameron Wilson (pictured left) was awarded first place in the Levin College of Law's Third Annual Art Show, which is currently on display on the first floor of the Chiles Legal Information Center. The art show, which opened Sept. 28, includes work from faculty, staff and students, and will continue through the end of October. Wilson's acrylic and mixed media piece is titled "A Fear of Aging."

The Docket Resumes Oct. 15
The John Marshall Bar Association (JMBA) needs your help putting together a monthly social calendar that will be placed in The Docket (the official JMBA newsletter). JMBA wants to make sure that everyone is well aware of all the events going on. The first issue is set to be published Oct. 15. If you would like your events publicized in The Docket, please send information to ufdocket@gmail.com by Oct. 8. The Docket welcomes information on social events, philanthropy events, speakers, and general meetings open to all law students. You may include, in one email, all events through December or update the editors as needed. There will be three issues this semester (deadlines are Oct. 8, Nov. 1, and Nov. 26).

HLLSA Announces Upcoming Fundraiser Events
The Hispanic and Latino/a Law Student Association (HLLSA) executive board would like to thank all the students who attended HLLSA's first meeting of the semester Sept. 27, which drew more than 40 students, and would like to announce the following events. Sabor Latino 2007 HLLSA Social and Fundraiser will take place Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m. Come enjoy delicious Latin food and a mix of Latin music, including, salsa, merengue, bachata, reggaeton and more. Minimum $3 donation. Proceeds will be used toward our "Blankets for Babies" community service project. Tabling for the event will take place this week in the Schott Courtyard. HLLSA will also host a Wine Tasting Fundraiser Oct. 26 at 6 p.m, where you can learn about wine as you sample numerous varieties and bond with fellow students and professors. We would also like to note that HLLSA was featured in the October issue of the ABA Student Lawyer magazine for hosting our Diversity Day event, "Thriving in a Law Firm: Diverse Attorneys Share Strategies for Success," last spring (pictured above), a panel discussion and reception about the experiences of minority attorneys in the practice. For more information, including the locations for these events, email ufhllsa@gmail.com.

Loans Available for Bar Exam Expenses
Are you making plans to take the bar and wondering where you will come up with the financing necessary for these out of pocket expenses? There are private loan companies who will make Bar Exam loans to students who are in their final year of law school. These loans can be used for a student's living expenses while studying for the Bar, Bar prep classes and other Bar-related expenses. You may borrow from as little as $500 to as much as $15,000. For more information regarding these private loans you should contact the lenders directly at:

• Access Group, 800 282-1550, www.Accessgroup.org
• Key Education Resources, 800 539-5363, www.Key.com/law

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