(L-R): Professor Charles Rose, Aaron Watson, Stacy Kemp and Tami Augen Rhodes.
Three leading Stetson Law alumni entrepreneurs, Stacy Kemp J.D. ’07, Tami Augen Rhodes J.D. ’98, and Aaron Watson J.D. ’07 joined Professor of Excellence in Trial Advocacy Charles Rose for a panel discussion on March 2 with students on successfully developing a business brand.
“We were delighted to welcome these three successful alumni back to campus for this opportunity to impart their knowledge and lessons learned as they have each worked to build their business since graduating from Stetson Law,” said Assistant Dean for Development & Alumni Relations Kevin M. Hughes. “The opportunity to hear directly from alumni such as this provides both an inspiration and blueprint for our students as they ponder their own path after Stetson Law.”
Students had an opportunity to ask panelists questions about how they achieved success in business and in law at the Leadership and the Law: Building Your Brand program in the Florin Roebig Courtroom on Stetson’s Gulfport campus.
Erica Ramos moderated a panel of (L-R): Haksoo Stephen Lee, Thania Clevenger, and Teresa S. Fitzpatrick for the “Minority Report” presentation in the FR Courtroom.
Stetson University College of Law hosted more than a half-dozen programs for students during Diversity Week, Feb. 26-March 1, on the Gulfport campus.
The Echo Dance Crew performed at the Lunar New Year celebration coordinated by the AALSA. Photo by Brielle Tucker.
The week kicked off on Feb. 26 with a presentation from the Lambda student organization on “Being an Ally 101,” followed by a Bible study program, “Gay in the Church.” On Feb. 27, the Asian American Law Student Association, Pillars and the Hispanic Bar Association co-coordinated “Minority Report” and the International Law Student Association presented “A Voice for Those Without.” The Black Law Students Association presented “Crossing Racial Borders” on Feb. 28 and If, When, How presented “Reproductive Justice” on March 1. The AALSA wrapped up the week with a colorful celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year.
Anne Harvey Holbrook delivered the Foreman Biodiversity Lecture at Stetson Law on March 1.
Anne Harvey Holbrook of the Save the Manatee Club presented March 1 on Stetson’s Gulfport campus on manatee conservation. Holbrook’s presentation was the second in the series of free public Foreman Biodiversity Lectures scheduled at the college during the spring semester.
“I think for manatee conservation, one of the things we need to do moving forward is to get a handle on nutrients in Florida’s waterways and protect our springs, and ensure that they have stable flows for future generations of both manatees and Floridians to enjoy,” said Holbrook.
The next lecture, scheduled March 22, features Dr. Ruth Cromie of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, UK, presenting on the highly pathogenic avian influenza.
Stetson’s Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy, recipient of the 2016 Distinguished Achievement in Environmental Law and Policy Award, coordinates the lectures.
Dr. Susan Demers spoke at Stetson. Photo by Merve Ozcan.
By Rachel Wise
The Student Leadership Development Committee hosted its first luncheon of the semester on Feb. 21 with Dr. Susan Demers, the dean of Public Policy and Legal Studies at St. Petersburg College. SLDC hosts three events each semester where students earn credit towards their leadership certificates while engaging with esteemed speakers from all over the country.
Dr. Demers has undergraduate degrees in speech and drama as well as a J.D. from the University of Florida. She advises the Stetson Law Advocacy Boards and has taught various courses on technology advance advocacy.
At the luncheon, Dr. Demers spoke to more than 50 students about the importance of problem solving as a pillar of leadership.
“All of the practice of law is one kind of problem solving or another,” she said.
Dr. Demers stressed the importance of seeking input from colleagues with conflicting opinions and continuing education by exploring free massive open online courses otherwise known as MOOCs.
She closed the event by encouraging the students to find a balance between analyzing a problem and taking action to fix it by putting ideas down on paper.
“Never underestimate the value of a white board and an array of different colored markers,” Demers said.
(L-R): Dean Christopher Pietruszkiewicz and student Alexis Deveaux.
Stetson University College of Law Dean Christopher Pietruszkiewicz welcomed scholarship recipients to a special Spring Scholarship Banquet celebration on Saturday, Feb. 17, on the Gulfport campus. More than 100 students celebrated receiving more than 50 scholarships at Stetson Law.
Prineet Sharma J.D. ’98 and Shamila Sharma J.D. ’96 with Dean Christopher Pietruszkiewicz.
Student scholarship recipient Alexis Deveaux spoke about what receiving a scholarship meant to her and Law alumni Prineet Sharma J.D. ’98 and Shamila Sharma J.D. ’96, husband and wife who met at Stetson as students, presented on the new Sharma Family Veterans Scholarship.
“Scholarship plays such a critical role in making a legal education more affordable for our law students and in enabling them to pursue the careers of their choice without crippling debt after graduation,” said Assistant Dean for Development & Alumni Relations Kevin M. Hughes. “This banquet is a wonderful opportunity to honor and recognize our students for their achievements and to celebrate the supportive, community environment that defines Stetson Law.”
Ranse Hare and Ryan Hawks from Cumberland School of Law won the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution’s Representation in Mediation Competition at Stetson.
Cumberland School of Law won the final round of the regional American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution’s Representation in Mediation Competition at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida, on Feb. 16-17.
Eight teams representing law schools from the Southeast and Midwest competed in the regional rounds for a chance to advance to the national finals of the ABA competition in Washington, D.C., in April.
Two teams, representing Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law and the University of Mississippi School of Law, advanced to the final round of the regional competition at Stetson on Saturday.
“We enjoyed hosting this competition and hope students left having had the opportunity to refine their advocacy skills and having received some useful feedback from attorneys who are experienced in the field of mediation,” said Stetson Professor of Law and Dispute Resolution Board Director Kristen David Adams. Professors Adams and Kelly Feeley coordinated the regional competition at Stetson.
The competition is designed to acquaint the law student participants with advocacy skills in alternative dispute resolution processes, specifically mediation. Students are judged on criteria designed to reward the use of a combination of advocacy skills and problem-solving approaches.
To learn more about the Center for Excellence in Advocacy at Stetson, advocacy boards at Stetson, and the top-ranked program in trial advocacy in the country, visit www.stetson.edu/law/advocacy.
Students gathered in the Great Hall for “Restoring Respect to Politics” on Feb. 13. Photo by Merve Ozcan.
By Bianca Lopez
The American Constitution Society, Federalist Society and Stetson Democrats organized “Restoring Respect to Politics” on Feb. 13 in the Great Hall on the Gulfport campus. The event, now in its third year and recently made biannual, encourages law students to discuss controversial matters ranging from geopolitics to free speech to healthcare.
The 30 event participants each took a sticker to wear representing their political affiliation; red for Republican, blue for Democrat, dark green for Independent, yellow for Libertarian, and light green if they would prefer not to say. Tables featured coordinating stickers to guide participants on where to sit and allow for diversity within each group.
Student Maximillion Brown attended the event last year and said his passion for political discourse inspired him to return.
“I enjoyed the opportunity to discuss current political issues in a congenial and structured atmosphere,” Brown said. “I think that it’s important to speak to people with different ideologies, not because anyone is going to change their minds, but because it’s important for people who don’t feel like they have anything to contribute to the discussion to feel welcome to speak up, voice their concerns, and be acknowledged by society.”
The event welcomed the exchange of hot-button issues by providing possible topics for discussion on a screen in the front of the room. The sponsoring organizations request that participants act respectfully and without judgment, in order to allow everyone to feel they may speak freely.
“It surprised me that people were so quick to give an answer,” said Victoria Tamayo, student vice president of the Federalist Society. “When they had their minds made up, it doesn’t allow for conversation.”
Event organizers travelled from table to table with the goal of building bridges and finding common beliefs even within seemingly polarized groups.
“[Restoring Respect to Politics] helps me find new ways to approach my own values,” said Max Yarus, student president of the Federalist Society. “If you can agree on basic principles, then it’s easy to draw a path to what your final goal is.”
In the end, most groups were able to find common ground.
“People from completely opposite sides of the spectrum were respectful and they did actually find agreement on some issues,” Tamayo said.
(L-R): Professor Luz Nagle, Jacquelyne Bradford, Telisia Espinosa, Jenay Iurato and Brent Woody. Photo by Merve Ozcan.
On Feb. 14, Stetson University College of Law hosted a noontime program for students on “Love and Deceit: The Truth About Human Trafficking.”
A panel of experts joined Professor of Law Luz Nagle in a discussion about human trafficking in the U.S. and around the world.
The panel included Human Trafficking Project Supervising Attorney at Gulfcoast Legal Services Jacquelyne Bradford; activist and advocate for human trafficking survivors Telisia Espinosa; Tampa attorney and advocate Jenay Iurato J.D. ’00; and Justice Restoration Center founder Brent Woody.
The panel discussed methods used to lure vulnerable people into sex trafficking, domestic servitude and forced labor.
(L-R): Joann Grages Burnett (standing) Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, Judge Anthony Porcelli, Lauren Pilkington Rich, Darnesha Carter and Aimée Canty. Photo by Merve Ozcan.
Stetson University College of Law hosted a Judicial Clerkship Panel on Jan. 30 for students.
The panel offered advice for law students on how to prepare for jobs after graduation and featured Aimée Canty, central staff attorney for the 2DCA; Darnesha Carter, law clerk for Judge Mary S. Scriven; Lauren Pilkington Rich, Assistant General Counsel at Raymond James Financial; U.S. Magistrate Judge Anthony Porcelli of the Middle District of Florida; and Stetson Leroy Highbaugh Sr. Research Chair Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy.
Stetson’s Career and Professional Development and Clinical Education offices co-sponsored the event with the Federal Bar Association Stetson Chapter.
Vivek Menon of the Wildlife Trust of India spoke at Stetson on Feb. 1. Photo by Merve Ozcan.
Vivek Menon, the executive director and CEO of Wildlife Trust of India, presented a talk Feb. 1 on “The Elephant at the UN” as the first in the spring semester series of Edward and Bonnie Foreman Biodiversity Lectures at Stetson University College of Law.
“Don’t forget the local people when negotiating biodiversity deals,” Menon told the law students in the audience. “Consider every person a human being and see what moves him or her into making the decision that you want.”
Menon is an elephant conservation expert based in India who is also a biologist, author and international relations expert in the area of biodiversity. For three decades, he has worked on endangered Indian fauna in roles ranging from scientist to undercover operative and wildlife crime-buster, to international negotiator and advisor to the Indian government. The Wildlife Trust of India is the largest wildlife conservation organization in India.
The Foreman Biodiversity Lecture Series at Stetson continues on March 1 with Anne Harvey Holbrook of Save the Manatee Club presenting on manatee conservation, and on March 22 with Dr. Ruth Cromie of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, UK, presenting on highly pathogenic avian influenza.
Lectures are free and open to the public, coordinated through Stetson’s Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy. RSVP for lunch to [email protected].
Stetson University College of Law is inviting future law students to visit the Gulfport campus of the top-ranked law school in the U.S. for trial advocacy from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24, for the Stetson Experience.
Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. for the program beginning at 10 a.m. at Stetson Law in Gulfport, 1401 61st St. S. Lunch will be provided.
Campus visitors will attend workshops and information sessions, tour campus, meet students, and learn more about the advocacy, environmental law, elder law speciality areas as well as the J.D./M.B.A. and study abroad programs at Stetson. Future law students will also learn more about career development, residential life and student organizations at Stetson.
The program includes presentations by Professor of Law Candace Zierdt; Professor of Excellence in Trial Advocacy Charles Rose, director of the Center for Excellence in Advocacy; and Assistant Dean Laura Zuppo on topics ranging from “The First Year Experience” to “Awakening the Advocate Within” and “Applying to Stetson.”
For more information about Stetson Law and the application process, please contact the Office of Admissions and Student Financial Planning at 727-562-7802 or [email protected].
Stetson Law students attended a daylong professional development conference on Jan. 19 on the Gulfport campus. The Campus to Career conference for students kicked off with an opening keynote address by Professor of Law Louis Virelli. Professor Virelli described his personal 15-year career path, from bioengineering student in college to law student, lawyer and then law professor.
Bemetra Simmons provided the closing keynote address at the Campus to Career event at Stetson.
“Finding your ideal job and getting it the first time are not the same thing,” Professor Virelli explained.
He encouraged the students in the audience to make intentional choices with an ending in mind. Through experience, Virelli said that it was the discovery of his love of teaching and dislike of teaching engineering that ultimately led him to law school.
“Spend time trying things out,” Virelli said. “Being wrong is informative. Being indifferent is not. Learn what to take off the list. Listen and talk to each other. Find your ceiling and don’t self-select yourself out of a job you want. Find out what you are able to achieve.”
Bemetra L. Simmons, senior private banker with Wells Fargo and co-founder of the Corporate Homie community that helps women and minorities achieve success in corporate America, provided the closing keynote address.
The conference included a broad range of breakout sessions on building confidence for difficult conversations, using effective time management, responding to job offers, dealing with self-doubt, respectfully disagreeing, making the most of summer law firm jobs, developing advocacy skills, recognizing diversity in attorney-client communications, using experiential education to transition to practice, transitioning from student to leader, and polishing writing.
