Campus Life News Archives - Page 22 of 29

More than 100 Stetson law students train with VITA to help prepare free tax returns

On Jan. 13 and Jan. 20, Stetson’s American Bar Association chapter along with United Way and IRS volunteers trained more than 100 Stetson Law students in preparation for this year’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. The VITA program provides free assistance to low-income, elderly, disabled and other individuals to provide free assistance in preparing tax returns. Trained Stetson Law students will be volunteering at various site locations during tax season in partnership with United Way Suncoast in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Sarasota counties.

Adriane Alexander led the training with more than 100 Stetson Law students interested in helping the VITA program. Photo courtesy Nathan Bruemmer.

“Working with individuals and families to figure out their tax refunds is essential because for many low-income families, those refunds are used for basic living expenses or to pay down debt,” said student ABA Law Student Division Representative Nathan Bruemmer, who helped spearhead the program along with student VITA ABA Chair Kristen Nasser. “Many low-income people and families are preyed on by tax preparation services at this time of year who charge high rates for simple tax filings. So many in the community don’t even realize this service is available for free.”

Approximately 120 Stetson Law students trained to volunteer for the pro bono VITA free tax return assistance program.

IRS/SPEC trainer Adriane Alexander, as well as VITA community volunteers John Bachan, Harriett Chandler, Maria Clack, and Dr. Judy Hall dedicated several hours to training the students.

“I am thrilled to see so many Hatters get engaged in this meaningful pro bono project,” said Bruemmer.

Student affairs dean receives Hillsborough County Bar Association Outstanding Young Lawyer Award

Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Tammy Briant J.D. ’06 received the Hillsborough County Bar Association Outstanding Young Lawyer Award at the Hillsborough Bar Diversity Luncheon on Jan. 11.

(L-R): Tracy Rich, Assistant Director of Residential Life; Madison Honchell, Clerical Assistant; Tammy Briant, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs; Alicia Norton, Student Success Coordinator; Sarah Siegrist, Licensed Mental Health Counselor; Jenna Kelly, Associate Director of Student Affairs. Photo courtesy Tracy Rich.

Briant served actively on the board of the Hillsborough Bar Young Lawyers Division for several years. During her time on the YLD board, she assisted with the development and the production of “Before the Law Was Equal,” a documentary about the desegregation of the legal profession in Hillsborough County. She volunteers with Bay Area Legal Services and Wills for Heroes, who draft wills and other end-of-life directives for first responders. She is also a member of the board of directors for the Gasparilla International Film Festival.

Briant was recently included in the Business Observer’s “40 Under 40” list that highlights the brightest young stars of the business community on the Gulf Coast, and was honored in 2014 as an Outstanding Professional in Graduate and Professional Student Services by the National Association of Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, NASPA.

At Stetson, Briant oversees 45 student organizations, campus counseling and student leadership development. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Stetson Law and at the University of South Florida.

Stetson’s lecture series on the environment begins on Jan. 24

Dr. Naomi Rose presented a biodiversity lecture on captive marine mammals last semester at Stetson.

Stetson University College of Law’s Foreman Biodiversity Lecture series returns to the Gulfport campus for the spring semester on Jan. 24. All lectures are complimentary and open to the public on Stetson Law’s Gulfport campus, 1401 61st St. S.

Upcoming lectures include:

Jan. 24, 12 p.m., Great Hall, Jaclyn Lopez, Center for Biological Diversity;
Feb. 27, 12 p.m., Great Hall, Dr. Song Gao, Stetson University;
March 30, 12 p.m., Great Hall, Judge Anthony Lucky of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.

*Judge Lucky’s lecture will be presented in conjunction with the International Environmental Moot Court Competition at Stetson in March, a competition of student advocate teams from around the world which this year focuses on ocean fertilization and marine biodiversity.

Stetson’s Foreman Biodiversity Lecture series is coordinated through the Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy, which is the recipient of the 2016 American Bar Association’s Distinguished Achievement Award in Environmental Law and Policy.

To learn more about environmental law programming and the Institute at Stetson, visit www.stetson.edu/law/biodiversity. RSVP [email protected].

Stetson law school hosts Inclusive Excellence in Teaching Symposium in February

Stetson University College of Law hosts the third annual Inclusive Excellence in Teaching Symposium on Feb. 25 in Gulfport, Florida. Stetson faculty, staff and students are invited to participate.

The theme of this year’s symposium, Pedagogical Ecosystems, focuses on the idea that classrooms are like ecosystems where learning takes place among students and teachers from varied backgrounds and diverse perspectives.

“The symposium provides us with an opportunity to think collectively about how we teach and is part of our on-going commitment to ensuring an inclusive environment for our faculty, staff and students,” said Stetson Law Dean Christopher Pietruszkiewicz.

The symposium will provide Stetson University faculty and staff with the opportunity to discuss how they have transformed their teaching techniques and classroom spaces to accommodate a diverse student body.

More information may be found: https://blog.stetson.edu/faculty-engagement/programs/symposium/.

The symposium is sponsored by Stetson University’s Brown Center for Faculty Innovation and the College of Law.

Future students invited to the Stetson Experience open house

Stetson University College of Law invites future law students to attend the “Stetson Experience” open house on Saturday, Feb. 18, 10 a.m.-2p.m. in the Great Hall at 1401 61st St. S. in Gulfport.

Stetson Law's beautiful Gulfport campus. — Stetson Law’s beautiful Gulfport campus.

Stetson law school professors and admissions staff will lead workshops and presentations on “The First Year Experience,” “Awakening the Advocate Within,” and “Applying to Stetson.”

Future law students may tour the Gulfport campus and learn more about studying abroad, a general J.D. curriculum, or specializing in advocacy, environmental law, elder law, international law or social justice advocacy.

To register for this free event, visit stetson.edu/openhouse or contact admissions and student financial planning at 727-562-7802 or [email protected].

Stetson hosts AMCA national tournament with top student advocacy teams: Patrick Henry College wins championship

A team from the United States Air Force Academy were finalists and students from Patrick Henry College were named the AMCA champions.

More than 350 teams from across the U.S. competed in invitational events and 11 regional tournaments around the country to qualify to participate in the national tournament of the American Moot Court Association on Jan. 6-7 at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida. A team from Patrick Henry College won the national championship. The U.S. Air Force Academy team was the national finalist.

Eighty teams competed in the American Moot Court Association National Tournament at Stetson. This year’s case questioned, among other items, whether the Voter-Identification and Anti-Voter Fraud Act violates the political speech and voting rights protected by the First Amendment.

“Participating in the AMCA regional and national tournaments allows undergraduates to engage in simulated legal arguments in a hypothetical case before the U.S. Supreme Court,” said Professor Brooke Bowman, associate director of the advocacy center and moot court advisor at Stetson. “This kind of experience provides students with an opportunity to hone the real world communication skills they will use throughout their careers, no matter what career they embark on.”

Stetson’s trial advocacy program is ranked no. 1 by U.S. News & World Report. Learn more about advocacy at Stetson by visiting stetson.edu/law/advocacy.

View a gallery of photos from the tournament:

Students learn financial planning from investment expert

Steve Renault, author of Mid-Life ~~Crisis~~ Retirement, was a guest speaker in Professor Joe Morrissey’s Business Entities class in the fall. Renault, who helped build one of the most successful brokerage firms in Canada, took time to share ideas on investing and personal finances with Professor Morrissey’s students.

“As a 20-something, the idea of retirement seems far removed,” said student Stephanie Pletcher. “Finances are one of the major stressors in people’s lives, and no one really enjoys talking about it. However, understanding investing and creating a financial plan are two elements to a successful and happy life.”

Renault advised the class that markets are cyclical and investors should pay attention to those cycles to try to take profits when markets are up for sustained periods of time, keep their money in cash or money markets, and then reinvest when markets hit relative lows. Renault shared that he is laser focused on making sure that investors are investing in index funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs), funds that have very low fees, some as low as 0.2 percent.

“I think Steve gave an excellent explanation of the market, especially how it functions in cyclical trends and how to maximize your investments over the course of your lifetime,” said student Abbey A. George.

Early in his career, Renault struggled financially. He realized he needed to do something to take control of his finances. So, he and his wife created a household family budget and put aside enough cash to cover expenses. As Renault moved along in his career, he carefully watched the market cycles, made smart investments, and quickly became financially independent.

Renault told Morrissey’s class that he decided to retire when he realized that he was working too much and not spending enough time with his family. He decided he had achieved enough professionally and financially to make a dramatic change. Renault retired shortly before his 40th birthday, moved his family and three young boys into an RV, and traveled out West.

Renault recently launched a business with his wife in life coaching and investment consulting.

“Anyone can give financial advice,” said Pletcher. “Having someone who is capable of giving financial advice, but also giving advice on how you want to live—that is unique.”

Attend an open house: Learn about the part-time law program at Stetson

Stetson University College of Law is hosting open houses in January at the Tampa Law Center and in February at the Gulfport campus with afternoon, evening and one-on-one sessions available for future law students seeking information about the part-time J.D. program.

Stetson's Tampa Law Center. — Stetson’s Tampa Law Center.

Future law students are invited to learn more about Stetson law school’s part-time J.D. program by registering for a session at the Tampa Law Center, 1700 N. Tampa St., on Thursday, Jan. 19:

12:15-1 p.m., Afternoon General Info Session;
1:30-5 p.m., One-on-one Sessions;
6-7 p.m., Evening General Info Session.

Stetson law school's Gulfport campus. — Stetson law school’s Gulfport campus.

Stetson is also hosting an open house providing the same information in Gulfport in February. Future law students may register for a session at Stetson’s Gulfport campus, 1401 61st St. S., on Thursday, Feb. 9:

12:15-1 p.m., Afternoon General Info Session;
1:30-5 p.m., One-on-one Sessions;
6-7 p.m., Evening General Info Session.

To register, visit stetson.edu/ptnews.

For more information, call the Office of Admissions and Student Financial Planning at Stetson at 727-562-7802 or email [email protected].

Stetson Law’s December class: public service leaders

Stetson University College of Law students celebrated their completion of law school on Dec. 15 in the Great Hall on the Gulfport campus. A total of 47 degree candidates, including 20 full-time and 27 part-time J.D. students, were invited to attend the celebration. The full-time J.D. class includes two J.D./Grado students, one J.D./MINTEC and one J.D./MIEBL student.

Eight LL.M. in Advocacy, one joint J.D./LL.M. in Advocacy, and seven LL.M. in Elder Law students were also recognized.

December’s graduating class at Stetson law school includes:

Starcee Brown, J.D. and LL.M. in Advocacy candidate, a single mother, former Trial Team member, and scholarship recipient who began working at the Orlando Public Defender’s Office this fall;
Brittany Brochard, J.D. and Certificate of Concentration in Social Justice Advocacy candidate, a former high school teacher, Guardian ad Litem and student ambassador who received the Thomas E. Penick Jr. Award for Community Service and the William F. Blews Pro Bono Service Award;
Patrick Iyampillai, J.D. candidate, a member of the Trial Team, Jewish Law Student Association president, student ambassador, Student Bar Association representative who dedicated numerous hours to helping veterans through Stetson’s Veterans Advocacy Clinic;
Christopher Knight, J.D. and Certificate of Concentration in Advocacy candidate, a Student Bar Association representative, recipient of the William F. Blews Pro Bono Service Award, and a U.S. Army veteran whose service dog, Kevin, walked with him at the graduation celebration;
Nicole Westmoreland, J.D. and Certificate of Concentration in Social Justice Advocacy candidate whose article, “Exactly How Would You Like Us to Protest?” was published in Forbes, received the William F. Blews Pro Bono Service Award and the Walter Mann Award for showing great promise in leadership.

Stetson students volunteered more than 28,000 hours of community service last year. Stetson offers certificates of concentration in advocacy, environmental law, international law, and social justice advocacy. Stetson’s advocacy program is ranked the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Stetson’s legal writing program consistently places among the top six in the U.S.
Fall Graduate Celebration – Dec. 15, 2016

To learn more about serving the public interest at Stetson, watch this series of video interviews with Stetson Law alumni:

Student Kyle Goss takes one step closer to lifelong goal with HSN internship

Ask third-year Stetson Law student Kyle J. Goss what brought him to law school, and he recalls reading “The Street Lawyer” by author John Grisham in the seventh grade. Goss says that he fell in love with the idea of being an attorney while reading the book.

“I made it my life-long goal to pursue a career in the legal industry,” says Goss.

3L Kyle Goss interned at HSN this past fall. Photo courtesy Home Shopping Network. — 3L Kyle Goss interned at HSN this past fall. Photo courtesy HSN.

He majored in legal studies at the University of Central Florida with plans to attend law school. After UCF, Goss says that life happened and he took a few years off.

At the urging of his family, including a cousin, Carrie Ann Wozniak J.D. ’04 who graduated from Stetson Law, Goss delved into studying for the Law School Admissions Test with the focus of attending law school in Florida.

He set his sights on Stetson Law, and enrolled in the fall of 2014.

“For as long as I can remember, I have always had an interest in the area of corporate law,” says Goss.

Last spring, Goss learned of in-house counsel internships while taking a course on secured transactions with professor Theresa Radwan.

One internship in particular stood out: an opportunity with HSN.

“HSN specifically stood out from the other numerous placement opportunities. I believed that it could be a possible career path that I would be interested in,” says Goss.

In the fall of 2016, Goss had an opportunity to try out his dream. Accepted for the internship at HSN, Goss encountered a breadth of experiences.

With oversight from in-house counsel, he conducted research on legal issues and potential legal issues that HSN or its vendors might face, redlined contracts, and helped with a company policy rewrite.

“Throughout my time with HSN, I was also able to shadow numerous attorneys and gain valuable insight into legal issues within the workplace,” says Goss.

The work cemented his interest in an in-house counsel position after law school.

“Ultimately I would love to follow a career path similar to HSN,” Goss says. “I am hoping to obtain an in-house counsel position post graduation and would very much enjoy the opportunity to work at HSN, if the opportunity were to present itself.”

Stetson offers free will service for veterans aged 60 or older

Stetson University College of Law is again partnering with the Community Law Program and the St. Petersburg Bar Foundation during the month of February to prepare free simple wills and advance directives for low income veterans and their spouses aged 60 or older though the Annual Wills for Warriors Program, now in its fifth year.

Walk-in appointments are not available. Veterans or their spouses must schedule individual appointments in advance by calling 727-562-7577. The deadline to schedule an appointment is Feb. 1, 2017.

The Wills for Warriors program is designed to assist veterans and their spouses aged 60 or older who have low incomes and limited assets. Individuals owning real estate outside the state of Florida are not eligible to participate.

Stetson students and volunteer attorneys from the Community Law Program will assist Stetson’s Center for Excellence in Elder Law with this program.

Survival of the Fittest helps students prepare to navigate the legal profession

Stetson’s Black Law Students Association, George Edgecomb Bar Association, Solo & Small Firm Section of the Florida Bar, and the Fred G. Minnis Sr. Bar Association hosted a workshop on Nov. 5 to help students build practical skills to successfully navigate the legal profession.

Survival of the Fittest featured more than a dozen presenters this year. Guest speakers, members of BLSA and students gathered by the courtyard fountain for a quick picture.

Attorneys from the George Edgecomb Bar Association Networking Hour took time out of their busy schedules to come speak with students about the practice, and life during and after law school.

Students listen attentively as Judge Daryl Manning of the 13th Judicial Circuit voices his opinion on the topic of "highlighting your narrative." — Students listen attentively as Judge Daryl Manning of the 13th Judicial Circuit voices his opinion on the topic of “highlighting your narrative.”

The six-hour Survival of the Fittest: Unite and Conquer workshop on Stetson’s Gulfport campus, now in its ninth year, featured presentations by more than a dozen attorneys, judges and law professors representing the Florida Bar, the George Edgecomb Bar Association, and the Fred G. Minnis Bar Association, the 6th and 13th judicial circuits, Carlton Fields, Shutts & Bowen, the City of St. Petersburg, the U.S. Department of Justice, and several boutique firms.

This year’s workshop included sessions and panels on tactful peer communication, and maintaining relationships while transitioning from big firm life to public service.

Stetson Law Dean Christopher Pietruszkiewicz and Associate Dean for Faculty and Strategic Initiatives Darryl C. Wilson, faculty adviser for the Black Law Students Association at Stetson, introduced the program.