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FlaLaw Online is published each week school is in session by the Levin College of Law Communications Office: Fredric G. Levin College of Law |
Thomas Hall (above) housed the College of Law from its first day in 1909 until 1915 when the school was moved to Bryan Hall (1915-1968). This year marks the 100th anniversary of the University of Florida College of Law. Share your stories from the past century by sending them to flalaw@law.ufl.edu or by going to the UF Law history page.
The law school is closed this coming Monday, Jan. 19, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Classes will resume a normal schedule on Tuesday, Jan. 20., and Monday classes will meet Friday, Jan. 23.
Entertainment and Sports Law Symposium draws industry leaders Jan. 23
The Second Annual Entertainment and Sports Law Symposium will bring together some of the best and brightest minds in the world of sports to the University of Florida Levin College of Law on Jan. 23. Kevin Sullivan, assistant to the president for communications, and Bill Rasmussen, founder of ESPN, will present the keynote and closing speeches at the symposium. The event kicks off at 11 a.m. with a discussion on recruiting, moderated by Professor Thomas Hurst followed by a panel on negotiation. Speakers will include sports law professors at various U.S. legal institutions, sports and marketing agents at top sports and talent agencies, public relations professionals and top wealth advisors.
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UF Law helps local bar play Santa for elementary school
Joy lit up the faces of hundreds of children as lawyers from the Eighth Judicial Circuit Bar Association (EJCBA) gave Christmas gifts to an entire elementary school. Words like "inspiring" and "uplifting" do not adequately describe the event. More than 400 students at Rawlings Elementary in Gainesville received gifts from EJCBA members and other donors, based on wish lists the children had written to Santa Claus.
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Crist names Labarga to Florida Supreme Court and Mays interim to District 4 seat
Gov. Charlie Crist appointed UF Law alumnus Jorge Labarga to the Florida Supreme Court on Jan. 2. Labarga (JD 79), of Wellington, Fla., was a state circuit judge who Crist appointed to an appellate court position just last month. He was named to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Harry Lee Anstead. A Cuban-born lawyer and double Gator, Labarga has been a circuit judge since 1996 and was a public defender and prosecutor before that in a legal career that has spanned 28 years.
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Alumni Profile: Michael E. Kinney
Alumnus Michael E. Kinney (JD 94) prevailed in an international child abduction appeal. Kinney secured for his client a landmark ruling from the Supreme Court of Virginia, applying the fugitive disentitlement doctrine in an international child abduction case. The doctrine holds that a fugitive from justice “cannot seek relief from the same judicial system whose authority he evades.”
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Faculty Book Round-Up
A number of faculty have recently published books, including Professor Katheryn Russell-Brown who published The Color of Crime, Professor Michael Seigel who published Race to Injustice and Professor Michael Allan Wolf who published The Zoning of America: Euclid v. Ambler.
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Upcoming Events
Music Law Conference Meeting Jan. 13
The Music Law Conference is less than six weeks away and we have a lot to take care of before the big event. All members are required to attend the meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 5 p.m., room TBA. If you were too busy to attend last semester's meetings or just found out about the Music Law Conference, please come to the meeting — we need all the help we can get. We will discuss the final panelist lineup, showcase bands, food, and marketing. For more information visit www.law.ufl.edu/musiclawconf.
Summer in France Informational Meeting Jan. 22
The UF Law Summer Program in France (June 21-July 24) informational meeting will be Thursday, Jan. 22, from 10-11 a.m. in Room 284. Students studying in the UF Law France program benefit from a dual focus on comparative and international law. For more information visit www.law.ufl.edu/students/abroad/ or contact the program's director, Professor George Dawson dawson@law.ufl.edu or 352-273-0932, or Director of Student Programs Michelle Ocepek ocepek@law.ufl.edu or 352-273-0629.
Summer in South Africa Informational Meeting Jan. 26
The UF Law summer program in South Africa (June 16-July 18) informational meeting will be on Monday, Jan. 26, at noon in Room 359. Students studying in Cape Town benefit from a dual focus on comparative and international law. We examine United States and South African legal systems on a comparative basis with American and South African professors. For more information visit www.law.ufl.edu/students/abroad/ and contact the program’s director, Associate Dean Kathie Price at pricek@law.ufl.edu or 352-273-0706, or Director of Student Programs Michelle Ocepek at ocepek@law.ufl.edu or 352-273-0620.
News Briefs
CCF needs research help with anti-gay adoption brief
The Center on Children and Families needs immediate research help for an amicus brief on Florida's anti-gay adoption statute. Several distinct projects exist, most of which need to be completed in the next 2-3 weeks. Contact Joe Jackson at jjackson@law.ufl.edu if interested.
Earn pro bono hours with VITA program
The Volunteer Income Taxpayer Assistance program begins this semester and is a great way to earn pro bono hours toward your pro bono certificate. Volunteers in VITA prepare tax returns for low and middle income taxpayers in Gainesville. Many UF students also use VITA as well. Once a tax return is prepared, an experienced coordinator will review the return. You also obtain first-hand experience interacting with taxpayers and learning more about our tax system. No prior tax experience or knowledge is required. The training materials will provide you with the basic information you will need to prepare tax returns. There are two basic tests that must be passed by the end of January before you can volunteer for VITA. You only have to volunteer one day a week (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.) during the spring semester, excluding spring break. For more information contact Christopher Pavilonis at cpav2@ufl.edu.
2009 Haitian Lawyers Association Scholarship
The Haitian Lawyers Association (HLA) is pleased to announce that it is now accepting applications for the 2009 scholarship awards. Every year HLA awards monetary aid to a student of Haitian descent. Since the award’s inception, the amount has increased to a total of $8,000, and HLA has expanded the offer from the South Florida area law schools to law schools statewide. The application deadline is Jan. 19, and each recipient is eligible to receive up to $2,000. Recipients are invited to attend the association’s annual gala on Feb. 7, 2009. The student must be of Haitian descent and must be in good academic standing. The student must submit an official transcript, and a one page (maximum two pages) personal statement describing involvement in the community, financial need for the award, as well as reasons why the student is better qualified to receive the award. The entire submission shall be postmarked no later than January 19, 2009 and mailed to the attention of Kertch J. Conze, Esq., at 801 N.E. 167th St., Second Floor, North Miami Beach, FL 33162. For more information contact Kertch Conze at 305-455-2040 ext. 245.
Moot Court Board wins in Atlanta
Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court Board members Andrew Hoffman, Michael Friedman, Lorna Cobb and coach Meghann Wolfe won the Best Brief award at the Region Five National Moot Court Competition held in Atlanta, Ga. on Nov. 21-22, 2008. The team also advanced to the semi-final round, surpassing six other teams. Mercer University School of Law defeated Florida by a narrow margin, and later finished as the Region Five champion. Andrew, Michael, and Lorna argued the constitutionality of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act and as a separate issue, whether the Individuals with Disabilities Act requires a student to enroll in public school before becoming eligible for private school tuition reimbursement. The team received valuable assistance from professors Little, Fenster and Pflaum. The Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court Board represents UF Law in numerous state and national appellate advocacy competitions throughout the year. The Board was founded in 1961, and was named after the prominent Florida Supreme Court chief justice. The board’s mission is to promote excellence in appellate advocacy. Comprised of students from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, the board has received numerous state and national awards. New members are selected each year from all third semester students who try out for the team. (Photo: Lorna Cobb and Michael Friedman. Not pictured: Andrew Hoffman)
Students form Faculty Recruitment Committee
In fall 2008, the Faculty Recruitment Committee was formed with the help of the Office of Student Affairs. The committee is led by founder David Kerner (2L) and Kali Feinman (2L) and consists of 16 diverse members of the law school community, ranging from 1Ls to members of the LL.M. tax program. The committee, which works under the Faculty Appointments Committee, was designed to interact with professorial candidates who were invited to interview for a tenure track faculty position. “It is the FRC's hope to put the student body's best foot forward during this important function and to let the candidate know that our student body is involved and invested in the affairs of the law college,” said Kerner. “We believe that student body input is vital to the faculty recruitment process, and with the help of the members of the committee, I know we were able to fulfill the committee's mission of doing just that.” Kerner also noted that the success of the committee would be impossible without the encouragement and assistance of the faculty, and in particular, Professor Hernandez and Professor Wright, who head the faculty hiring process. The current student members of the Faculty Recruitment Committee are: Andrew Comiter (LL.M.), Jenny Perkins (3L), Charles King (3L), Jonathan Blocker (3L), Clay Carlton (2L), Kali Feinman (2L), David Kerner (2L), Stephen Liverpool (2L), Gaston Fontela (2L), Darren Heitner (2L), Rebecaa Sable (2L), Ashley Beaman (2L), Jennifer Hartzler (2L), Harlan McGuire (2L), Wayne Atkinson (2L), Sara Casey (1L) and Kyla Tan (1L). (Photo: Pictured from left to right, Darren Heitner, David Kerner, Professor Candidate Dr. Noa Ben-Asher and Ashley Beaman during one of the committee's breakfast interviews.)
Upcoming Events
| Music Law Conference Meeting Jan. 13 |
| Summer in France informational meeting Jan. 22 |
| Summer in South Africa informational meeting Jan. 26 |
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Career Services
| At the beginning of every week, check out The CCS BUZZ for a quick synopsis of programming, recruiting, networking and volunteer and "SHIP" opportunities available to you. The CCS Buzz can be found in FlaLaw Online, via link on your Symplicity homepage after you log in, or you can pick up a hard copy in Career Services 244 Bruton-Geer Hall. |
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