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John G. "Jay" White, president of The Florida Bar, visited UF Law and spoke to students in the Bailey Courtroom on Friday. (UF Law/ Lauren Jannelle)
Tritt, Doyle win professor, student of the year
Unlike a typical prom where high school students await the name of the prom king and queen, law schools students at the University of Florida College of Law’s Barrister’s Ball were waiting to hear the winners of a completely different award. On April 3, during the ball, the John Marshall Bar Association (JMBA) announced third-year law student Kassie Doyle and Professor Lee-ford Tritt as recipients of the 2009 Student and Professor of the Year, respectively. Each year JMBA selects recipients of both awards through a systematic process.
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Center for Governmental Responsibility Fellows make a difference with public service
The Center for Governmental Responsibility (CGR) Public Interest Law Fellowship program is a cooperative effort between The Florida Bar Foundation and CGR that began in the mid-1980s and provides low-income and indigent citizens with valuable legal assistance. The fellowships are financed by the foundation from Interest on Trust Accounts (IOTA) and more than $700,000 has been provided to help pay for the practical legal education of selected third-year law students. These students, supervised by licensed attorneys, gain hands-on experience as advocates for the poor and serve non-profit and government agencies such as Florida Institutional Legal Services, Southern Legal Counsel, Three Rivers Legal Services, the State’s Guardian ad Litem program and the Eighth Circuit public defender's office. Included as part of the students’ nine-month commitment are projects to promote to the law school and greater community awareness of poverty issues and public interest, and a required course in poverty law. Read each Florida Bar Foundation Public Interest Law Fellows’ article to learn more about their experience:
Students celebrated for pro bono work and community service
Law students who showed their dedication to serving others were honored at the pro bono and community service awards ceremony Thursday. The ceremony recognized the law school students who have excelled in serving their community. The students who were honored dedicated at least 35 hours in their respective programs. “We are here today celebrating you,” said Kristen Bryant, assistant director for Career Services and pro bono and community service project coordinator, as she opened the ceremony. “You all have achieved amazing things throughout the course of your law school career, along with the number of hours that you have been able to accumulate.”
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UF law student serves to lighten taxpayers’ load
As Dave Barry once joked, tax time is when “you gather up those receipts, get out those tax forms, sharpen up that pencil, and stab yourself in the aorta.” Despite Barry’s levity, completing tax returns is no joking matter, and the complexity of the tax code leaves most of us using that sharpened pencil to scratch our heads in confusion. Not so for Justin Axelrod, a third-year law student at the University of Florida Levin College of Law with a love of all things taxation. At 25 years of age, Axelrod is the youngest member ever appointed to the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel by the U.S. secretary of treasury. He’s excited by the prospect of committing between 300 and 500 hours of time annually during his three-year appointment, which began in December.
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BLSA celebrates UF Law's largest class of black graduates
On Friday April 17, the Black Law Student Association (BLSA) kicked off the University Of Florida Levin College Of Law’s Centennial celebration. In addition to celebrating 100 years of legal education, BLSA also celebrated 50 years of diversity as the first African-American student George Starke was admitted in fall 1958. Recognizing that diversity extends beyond the black community, the event held at the Matheson Museum, was open to the entire UF Law community.
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Distinguished alumni to be honored at graduation
Graduation will be Friday, May 15, at 2 p.m. in the O'Connell Center. Four UF Distinguished Alumnus awards will be presented at commencement: Judge Rosemary Barkett (JD 70), our alumnus on the 11th Circuit and the first woman to serve on the Florida Supreme Court; Dexter Douglass, (JD 55), who has had a distinguished career in Tallahassee and whose service includes chairing the 1997-98 Constitution Revision Commission; Justice-emeritus Ben Overton (LLB 52) of the Florida Supreme Court, a member of our adjunct faculty; and George Starke, Jr., who matriculated at the college in 1958 as the first student of color at the University of Florida. Dexter Douglass (LLB 55) will be our Commencement speaker, and Professor Mike Seigel has been selected by the students to give the faculty exhortation. Eric Gold, who passed away in January 2008, would have graduated with this class. His parents will be present to receive a posthumous UF Honorary Alumnus designation for Eric.
Center for Career Services hosts small firm practice series this summer
This summer, the Center for Career Services will present the Small Firm Practice Series here at UF Law. Smaller firms are a significant employment market for students in and just out of UF Law. Law students well trained in legal skills and practicing with professionalism are more successful in gaining employment within these firms. As part of the Small Firm Project, local practitioners and other experts will teach classes which will help interested students learn those valuable legal skills. Initially, the series will consist of four three-hour classes (not for academic credit) designed to provide participants with both instruction and hands-on practice. The class topics include: pleadings and motion practice, crafting a defense, a deposition skills workshop, and understanding malpractice insurance and tips to avoid claims (FLMIC). The classes will take place on several Friday afternoons during the summer (May 29, June 5, 12, and 19) from 2-5 p.m. There will also be a reception to wrap-up the series on Friday, June 19, from 5-7 p.m. This series is a great learning and networking opportunity for students. Contact Career Services for more information.
Legal Skills Professors receive FEO awards
Legal Skills Professors Leanne Pflaum and Anne Rutledge received Faculty Enhancement Opportunity (FEO) awards. Pflaum received the award for the summer and fall 2009 term, during which time she will prepare the second edition of "Legal Writing by Design" (2001), along with a teacher's manual and a guide to be used by judges in training their clerks to write orders, judgments, and opinions. Rutledge received the award for the summer and fall 2009 terms, during which time she will write a textbook to be used by the Legal Drafting faculty in the Legal Drafting course. 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 »
Upcoming Events
Football registration for 2009-2010 begins April 20
Football registration for the 2009-2010 season opens on Monday, April 20. Registration will remain open until Friday, June 5. You may register at any time during these dates and your chances will not increase with the earlier you register. More information and your online account manager can be found at http://gatorzone.com/tickets/students/. Send any questions to lawschoolfootballblock@gmail.com.
Professor Seigel presents new book at Goerings April 22
Professor Mike Seigel will present his new book, Race to Injustice: Lessons Learned from the Duke Lacrosse Rape Case on Wednesday, April 22, at 8 p.m. at Goerings Book Store for The Avenue Coffee House: UF Professors and Their New Books. Afterwards, he will be signing books and refreshments will be served.
I scream, You scream, We all scream for ice cream! April 22
The Levin College of Law is holding a free ice cream social for all students, faculty and staff Wednesday, April 22, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the west end of the law school by the Orange Faculty/Staff parking lot. The ice cream will be from Sweet Dreams Ice Cream and it will be served from the back of the Sweet Dreams fire truck. The event is sponsored by the Gene K. and Elaine Glasser Endowment. The Glassers, who are both UF alumni, also brought us last year's barbecue. They hope the events will encourage a greater sense of community among people at the law school. "The law school education I received at the University of Florida has greatly influenced my professional and personal life, creating lasting memories with my friends," said Gene Glasser, a Fort Lauderdale attorney who received his law degree from UF in 1972. Please come and enjoy the ice cream in celebration of another successful year at the Levin College of Law and in celebration of our law school community. For additional information, please contact Assistant Dean of Students, Kari Mattox at mattoxk@law.ufl.edu.
News Briefs
CCF Research Opportunities
The Center on Children and Families needs research help for an amicus brief on Parental Alienation Syndrome. The brief is due in June, so the work could be done immediately after final exams are over. Contact Joe Jackson at jjackson@law.ufl.edu if interested.
Florida Law Review tutoring program helps 1L students
This week the Florida Law Review concluded its year-long tutoring program for first-year law students. The program began in 2002 as a way to give back to the law school and to assist 1Ls with their first-year courses. Florida Law Review members contribute more than 148 hours per semester toward tutoring sessions, and more than 370 first-year students enrolled for tutoring during the 2008-2009 school year.
The tutoring program provides first-year students with the opportunity to ask questions in a less-formal environment, often from students who were taught by the same professors. First-year students rave about how much the extra tutoring helps them with their classes. “The Florida Law Review tutoring program is the pinnacle of peer tutoring,” said first-year student, Greg Kwok. “The guidance and instruction the tutors provided allowed for a more thorough examination and understanding of the course material, given that it comes from students and not professors. It is a tremendous opportunity for the 1L class to work with some of the Law Review students in a very informal and relaxed atmosphere.” “The Florida Law Review tutoring sessions are an invaluable resource for first year law students,” said first-year student, Margo Lyon. “After attending the Law Review tutoring sessions, I felt much more confident and at ease going into my exams.”
Moot Court brings home victories from ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition
At the conclusion of the 2009 ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition, University of Florida’s Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court team members claimed many victories. At the Boston Regional, the petitioner team of Jennifer Jones, Michael Friedman and Andrew Hoffman, coached by Ryan Eastmoore, was ranked first coming out of the preliminary rounds and advanced to the final regional round. The petitioner team won the regional second best brief award,
Michael Friedman won the third best regional advocate award, and Jennifer Jones won the eighth best regional advocate award. The respondent team of Dante Trevisani, Charlie Roberson and Rob Davis, coached by Amelia Williams, survived five rounds at the Boston Regional and advanced to the nationals in Chicago. The respondent team was ranked fifth coming out of the preliminary national rounds and placed in the top sixteen at the end of the competition. In addition, the respondent team took home the national third best brief award. The issues in this year’s competition included the separation of powers, standing, and the president's war powers under the Commander in Chief Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Florida Law Review student notes & comments selected for publication
The Florida Law Review is pleased to announce the selection of 8 notes and 3 comments for publication in its 2009-10 issues. Vincent Galuzzo's note on P2P litigation was the winner of the Best Note of 2009 award. Kristen Rasmussen's comment on false light in Florida was selected as Best Comment of 2009. The notes and comments will be available in a print copy of Florida Law Review, as well as published on www.floridalawreview.com in the month they are printed. We encourage you to check our Web site frequently for current and new publications.
See the list of selected notes »
LIC extended exam hours
The Legal Information Center (LIC) will be open for extended hours during the final exam period. Beginning on Friday, April 24, through Thursday, May 7, the LIC will be open according to the following schedule:
Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. - 2 a.m.
Saturday from 9 a.m. - 2 a.m.
Sunday from 10 a.m. - 2 a.m.
Friday, May 8: 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
During the intercession, from May 9, until May 19, the LIC will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. The LIC will be closed Saturdays and Sundays during the intercession. Regular summer hours begin starting May 20.
Fall 2010 Financial aid renewal reminder
For those of you who have not already done so, now is the time to apply for aid for the 2009-2010 academic year. I encourage you to apply by April 1 using FAFSA on the Web. Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov and follow the instructions on the site. After applying via FAFSA/Renewal FAFSA on the Web, you can check the status of your application and/or make corrections online. You will need to use your Federal Access Code (PIN) to complete the 2009/2010 FAFSA.
LIC Reminder: Designated quiet areas
The Legal Information Center (LIC) would like to remind students that certain areas of the library are designated "quiet" areas. These include the Supreme Court Reading Room, the second floor of the library, and the reading room on the west side of the building just past the elevator. Areas that are not designated "quiet" include: the reference area, the lobby, and the reserve area. Should you need to use your cell phone or engage in conversation, please do so only in the areas that are not designated "quiet." Even in those instances, please be mindful of the other students and staff in the LIC. Noise carries in the lobby and stairwell, so please keep the volume of your conversation low.
Upcoming Events
| Football registration for 2009-2010 begins April 20 |
| Professor Seigel presents new book at Goerings April 22 |
| I scream, You scream, We all scream for ice cream! April 22 |
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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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