News Archives - Page 13 of 138

Recap: Stetson Law Honors & Awards 2023

Rows of statues featuring Lady Justice and the phrase "Order of the Barristers" line a table. — Honors & Awards at Stetson Law

Reflecting a spirit of service and commitment to enter the legal profession with robust experience, members of Stetson Law’s 2023 graduating class were recognized for their exceptional work.

Held yearly on the eve of Spring Commencement, the Honors and Awards Ceremony lauds those who have gone above and beyond Stetson Law’s rigorous curriculum and pro bono requirements. This includes participation in a Stetson Law legal journal, going well above the College of Law’s pro bono requirement, honors program participation, advocacy board membership, superior academic performance, and earning a certificate of concentration. (See full video below.)

Outstanding students were also given awards named for key members of the Stetson Law community.

College of Law faculty and leadership commended the graduating students and invited them to remain involved as they build their careers.

“It is my hope that you will remain committed to improving your community, wherever you might be,” said Stetson Law Interim Dean Theresa Pulley Radwan. “Law school not only teaches you to be a lawyer — it also teaches you to be a leader. You defined yourselves as leaders who are dedicated to justice and public service, you have also defined yourselves as leaders with stellar academic achievements.”

Unique challenges, indomitable spirit

Noting that most members of the 2023 graduating class started their law school journey in 2020 – squarely within the throes of the Covid-19 pandemic – Stetson Law Board of Overseers member Tracy Raffles Gunn, who earned her J.D. from Stetson Law in 1993, said it was evident early on that this class shared a common characteristic: “fierce.”

Students challenged themselves and others, she said, and took ownership of their time at Stetson Law in ways that will benefit them as lawyers.

“Please know that the Board and the school are extremely proud of your class and that we are committed to continuing to support you as Stetson Alumni,” Gunn said. “I hope that you will consider your Board of Overseers and your Law Alumni groups to be a resource for you.”

Noting their next set of challenges, passing the bar and launching their careers, she encouraged them to keep in touch with their alma mater.

“We want you to stay involved with the school. I hope you will share your knowledge and experience with the Stetson students who come after you in whatever way fits your time and passions,” Gunn said. “It’s going to be your turn to be the mentors, coaches, guest speakers and competition judges. You have a lot to offer.”

In Photos: Honors & Awards 2023

HonorsandAwardsAudienceFront

Prestigious awards bestowed

At the ceremony’s culmination, the focus turned toward three students whose activity and performance were so exceptional that they were recognized with the three most prestigious named awards: The Walter Mann Award, The Dean’s Excellence Award, and The Edward D. Foreman Most Distinguished Student Award.

The Walter Mann Award, which recognizes a student who has shown the greatest promise of becoming an outstanding leader in the legal profession, was given to Nancy Eriksen, a student veteran whose past recognition includes a national award for women in the white collar field. The Dean’s Excellence Award, which honors a graduating student who has given extraordinary service to Stetson University College of Law, was given to Student Bar Association President Blake Radford.

At the request of the Foreman family, special guest Kathryn Christian, a 2006 graduate and past recipient of the Edward D. Foreman Most Distinguished Student Award, presented that award to Kathryn Alkire. Heavily involved on campus, Alkire served as the Stetson Law Review editor-in-chief for the 2022-2023 academic year. As the award’s recipient, her name has been cast in bronze and is being secured to the plaque outside of the Great Hall. She will also be given a $5,000 check as part of the award.

Alkire said she was “honored and humbled” to receive the award, adding that she and her classmates now have a “tremendous opportunity” to have a positive impact – just as the award’s namesake and his wife, Bonnie Foreman, had over their lifetimes.

As the event drew to a close, Interim Dean Radwan once again commended the graduated students for their exemplary commitment to the values at the core of Stetson Law’s mission.

“Stetson Law is a remarkable law school filled with dedicated individuals with one, unified goal — to prepare our students to be change agents who make significant contributions to our communities and to society,” she said. “I think you saw today that we have a new group of graduates who are going to do just that.”

FULL VIDEO: Stetson Law Honors & Awards 2023

U.S. News Ranks Stetson Law No. 1 in Advocacy

A wide shot of the main Stetson Law building in Gulfport from the Plaza Mayor. — Stetson University College of Law’s Tower building, as viewed from Plaza Mayor.

The annual U.S. News & World Report results have been announced for 2024.

This year, the publication has once again ranked Stetson Law the No. 1 law school for Trial Advocacy and the No. 3 destination for Legal Writing. Stetson is the only law school to consistently rank among the top schools in the nation in both Advocacy and Legal Writing year after year. Stetson Law’s Dispute Resolution rank continues its upward trajectory, climbing from No. 72 in 2021 to No. 18 in 2024 – a truly impressive increase. These three programs showcase Stetson Law’s commitment to rigorous and holistic training.

The College of Law’s overall ranking also climbed nearly 30 spots to No. 84 from its 2023 ranking of 111. This year, the rankings were redesigned to place more emphasis on successful student outcomes, and they now better reflect Stetson’s continued dedication to producing practice-ready legal professionals. Stetson Law is now proudly within the top 100 law schools in the U.S.

Community-wide collaboration

From championship-winning competition performance to advocating for the community through pro bono work, students have gone above and beyond as advocates. Faculty have inspired them to dig deeper into the true meaning of advocacy while helping connect students with real-life experience. Across numerous departments, the staff strives to support student and faculty achievement as well as the prestigious national and international competitions and conferences the College of Law hosts.

Alumni have been ardent supporters of advocacy at Stetson Law in countless ways, from coaching competition teams to giving generously so that Stetson Law can build upon its legacy as the top law school for trial advocacy through the Advocacy Institute, which will open its doors later this year. The innovative facility will help Stetson Law remain a trial advocacy leader in perpetuity – and will help the College of Law grow its reputation as a leading U.S. law school.

Law Professor Elizabeth Boals, Director of the Center for Excellence in Advocacy at Stetson Law.

“Preparing our students to be competent and professional advocates after graduation is our primary goal,” said Law Professor Elizabeth Boals, Director of Stetson Law’s Center for Excellence in Advocacy. “That objective requires us to focus on the students’ advocacy education by selecting excellent professors and competition team coaches; offering an array of advocacy courses that allow students to hone their skills; and by connecting students with alumni and practitioners that support their career development. The entire school is behind this mission. We are proud because we are Stetson.”

Stetson Law’s celebrated Legal Writing program remaining at No. 3 reflects a passionate commitment to bettering our understanding of legal communication, which is something that is fundamental to the study, practice, and evolution of American jurisprudence. Through proven methods of improving legal communication skills, thoughtful analysis of emerging issues related to the field, cutting-edge scholarship, and innovative programming, Stetson Law is driven to lead the way in this critical area.

“Being a national leader in trial advocacy and legal writing is about more than accolades and trophies – it represents our commitment to the legal profession and its critical role in promoting justice for all,” said Stetson Law Interim Dean Theresa Pulley Radwan. “We congratulate every member of the Stetson Law community for remaining committed to educating ethical professionals who will leave our campuses with the legal acumen, real-world skills, and empathy they need to succeed as Stetson Lawyers.”

A bright future for Stetson Law

With thoughtful planning and execution, Stetson Law will continue to make long-term investments that will further elevate our national reputation in all areas.

Interim Dean and Law Professor Theresa Pulley Radwan

These include investments in our enrollment strategy, Academic Success and Bar Preparation that starts with 1L students, career services, and student support that aim to educate ethical professionals who will leave our campuses with the legal acumen, real-world skills, and empathy they need to succeed as Stetson Lawyers.

Stetson Law invites students to hone their legal knowledge and skills through the lens of their choosing – all while making lifelong connections with leaders in their chosen area of practice.

Through centers and institutes led by globally and nationally renowned faculty, the College of Law offers students practical experience and opportunities to have a direct impact on the issues about which they are most passionate. In addition to the Center for Excellence in Advocacy, these include: The Center for Excellence in Elder Law, The Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy, The Institute for the Advancement of Legal Communication, The Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy, The Institute for Caribbean Law and Policy, and The Veterans Law Institute.

Learn more at Stetson.edu/law.

Introducing Stetson Law’s New Meditation & Wellness Spaces

Features from a meditation room, including a salt lamp, yoga mats, cushions, and a mandala on the wall. — Students will find adjustable lighting, aromatherapy, yoga mats, and other features to help them destress in Stetson Law’s meditation rooms.

Reflecting Stetson Law’s commitment to mental health and wellness, faculty, staff, and students celebrated the opening of two thoughtfully appointed student meditation rooms on campus.

Members of the Office of Student Affairs, the Office of the Dean, the Student Bar Association Health & Wellness Committee, and other groups gathered April 28 to mark the occasion, which is the culmination of a collaboration among students, staff, and administration officials. The rooms, located in the Dolly and Homer Hand Law Library and the Office of Student Affairs, aim to help students balance the challenges they face with mindfulness practices, de-stress, and build resilience, be it through yoga, talking through issues, journaling, prayer, or meditation.

“Students need a place to just quietly relax – or maybe sometimes quietly scream,” said Blake Radford, who is president of Stetson Law’s Calvin Kuenzel Student Bar Association. “It makes campus a safer place to be – not just a place where you’re studying and you’re panicking… It’s a place you can relax.”

Balancing the rigors of law student life

Daily life for law students can feel nonstop as they strive not only to succeed, but to stand out.

Law school is often so focused on competition and other intensive activities, said Associate Dean for Assessment and Professional Engagement Anne Mullins, that wellness can often be an afterthought.

“We don’t always celebrate just being. And as lawyers, that’s really important for us,” Mullins said. “We’re kind of set to go and do – and the be part gets kind of underattended.”

Multifaceted meditation rooms

The two mediation rooms are located in strategic spots on campus.

The library meditation room is located in room 233 on the south side of the building’s second floor and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Items for the room were made possible by the SBA, as well as the library’s Waters Wellness Fund, a donation-based fund dedicated to wellness programming for students.

The other meditation room is currently located in the Office of Student Affairs. This space will operate from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Items for the room, including an accessible yoga mat were made possible by the SBA, along with a donation from the Office of Student Affairs.

A student shows wellness accessories to others in a campus meditation room. — Dominique Alford-Raymond, right, shows students, faculty, and staff some features of a meditation room at Stetson Law.

The rooms’ ADA-friendly lighting can be adjusted by touch and changed to different colors. They also feature comfortable seating, salt lamps, a notebook for students to write down their thoughts or share inspirational messages, aromatherapy, an ambient sound machine with 50 different relaxing noise options, and more.

Dominique Alford-Raymond, chair of the SBA’s Student Health and Wellness committee, helped lead the initiative. She said the rooms were appointed to help students achieve comfort amid their most stressful moments.

“Mental health and wellness is very complex,” she said. “Just like everything else in law school, the solution to mental health is, “It Depends”. So while some may see an empty set of rooms with a couple of chairs and a salt lamp; it is actually solving a complex set of issues in a few ways.”

These include dimmable lights, aromatherapy, a calming atmosphere, ADA-compliant accessibility measures, and materials like cushioned yoga and prayer mats that vary in size, length, and texture. Such items, she said, can help deescalate anxiety or panic attacks.

“If you don’t feel comfortable, you’re not going to calm down. If you’re not at peace, your mind won’t stop racing,” Alford-Raymond, a 2L enrolled in Stetson Law’s part-time J.D. program, said.

A space for staff

Stetson Law leadership is also creating a space for staff members to relax during the workweek. The Human Resources department has outfitted a room in the Tower building with similar wellness accoutrements.

It will be located on the second-floor dorm hall (D203) and will feature a comfortable sitting area, yoga mats, coloring books, space for a new parent to breastfeed/care for a child, softer lighting, a television for streaming music or meditation videos, and more.

“It was important for us to set aside a space within our community with our employees’ well-being in mind, promoting both physical and mental wellness,” said Stetson Law Director of Human Resources Pamela Skoularakos. “We hope the room will help employees in need of a boost of energy or just a quiet space to get away from their workload for a few minutes of peace.”

She said staff should keep an eye out for a launch in the near future.

Reflecting a cultural shift

Having space where students (and staff) can relax and unwind reflects the College of Law’s commitment to inclusive excellence, said Carmen Johnson, Stetson University’s Executive Officer of Diversity, Collaboration, and Inclusion. It also invites students to process their experience at Stetson Law (and in life, in general) in a manner unique to them.

“This is really thinking about how we create spaces to be our authentic selves in multiple mediums. Whether it’s through advocacy; whether it’s through faith, prayer, meditation, and mindfulness,” Johnson said. “Everyone works collaboratively to make these kinds of spaces happen.”

These spaces also reflect an evolution in the way many individuals choose to approach professional life.

“These days, there is a lot more talk about self-care, mindfulness, and practices that offset the stresses of daily life,” said Interim Dean Theresa Pulley Radwan. “As one of the most challenging – and rewarding – pursuits one can take on, law school should be no different.”

As future lawyers whose work can be transformative for the lives of others, focusing on wellness is paramount.

“It is my hope that the self-care practices our students adopt here at Stetson Law will stay with them as they embark on their careers,” Pulley Radwan said. “You can’t take care of your clients if you don’t take care of yourself first.”

IEMCC 2023: Pirates, Deep-Sea Mining & Global Connections

A collage of images taken at the International Environmental Moot Court Competition finals — Clockwise from top left: Ed Gardner speaks on overfishing & piracy; teams gather for a round; Erin Okuno as the shark at the center of the IEMCC problem; Professor Royal Gardner announcing competition results.

Over three lively days of moot court sessions, 18 teams from 12 countries contended for the top spot at Stetson Law’s International Environmental Moot Court Competition April 13-15.

The final rounds of this international event, now in its 27^th year, brought teams of law students to Stetson Law’s Gulfport Campus from Brazil, China, Colombia, India, Ireland, Korea, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States. The two U.S. teams that made it to this round were from the University of Miami School of Law and William and Mary Law School.

The teams argued on either side of a fictional case involving parties from two (also fictional) nations, a state-run deep-sea mining operation for minerals used in electric-vehicle batteries, and a species of shark once believed extinct. A fresh specimen of the shark had been found in a net near the mining site and an environmental group sought to halt mining in the area.

In the end, the team from West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences in Kolkata, India emerged as this year’s champion. They bested the Law Society of Ireland team in the final round on Saturday, April 15. (See more results below.)

An update from team Ukraine

As the event kicked off, Kateryna Skichko, a coach for the team that traveled from the Educational and Scientific Institute of Law, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, gave an update on the environmental impacts of the war in Ukraine. It will be a long time before the world will know the extent of it both on Ukraine’s environment and the world in general, she said, given the climate impacts of modern warfare.

“When we speak about armed conflicts, they impact all the world when we speak about climate change,” she said. “The war is ongoing and we cannot assess the level of harm that has already been inflicted, or will be inflicted in years’ time.”

Last year, a Ukraine team was slated to compete in the IEMCC, but that changed when Russia attacked the country on February 24, 2022. In lieu of their presence, they sent a compelling video message to all of the 2022 IEMCC participants.

This year, the team was able to participate in person.

Unsustainable fishing & piracy: a deadly connection

Skichko’s update preceded an insightful conversation with Foreman Biodiversity Lecturer Ed Gardner, a retired Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) special agent whose work involved extensive enforcement of anti-piracy measures; he is also the brother of Law Professor and Director of Stetson Law’s Institute for Diversity Law and Policy Royal Gardner.

He focused on the connection between unsustainable, habitat-destroying, often illegal fishing practices like high bycatch, bottom-trawling, and blast-fishing and rises in piracy in proximal areas where these practices may be taking place, such as Somalia.

These practices, he said, are in fact a root cause of piracy, a costly problem with a grave economic and human toll as local fishers whose yields are negatively affected by Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing operations turn to extreme measures to feed their families.

“The argument was, you take away their fish, and they’re going to turn to piracy, or they’re going to turn to criminals to protect their fishing, and the criminals themselves become pirates,” Gardner said.

And while fighting piracy across the globe can be a bit like a game of whack-a-mole, Gardner said getting to the root of the problem by fighting IUU could drastically reduce a problem that can cost the economy $16 billion annually in ransoms, property theft, insurance, enforcement, alternative shipping routes, private security, and transportation fees – not to mention the trauma inflicted on piracy victims and their families.

A major source of these overfishing operations are tied to big corporations or national governments, he said.

“The vast majority of illegal fishing is conducted by corporations or state-sponsored fishers,” Gardner said. “That’s going to be the people who have the economic ability to have a refrigerated vessel out at sea, send a trawler out, pack the fish, bring them back to one location, dump them, keep dumping them, and stay out for a year at a time.”

Looking out into a room full of law students from around the globe, he said he is hopeful that they can take this information and help shape policy to fight IUU – and, by extension, piracy – in the future.

“You are in a unique position,” Gardner told his audience. “When you leave and go back and actually become lawyers in your home countries, you’ll have the opportunity to influence legislation, and law, and practice of that law.”

A successful competition

Since 2020, the IEMCC has either been held online or – as was the case in 2022 – affected by COVID-19 travel visa restrictions. This year’s competition was the first in years to see little to no effect from the global pandemic.

The event’s successful run stems from months of planning, namely by Foreman Biodiversity Fellow Katherine Pratt, Law Professor Royal Gardner, Miami Law Professor Erin Okuno and others involved in the Biodiversity Institute.

“It was incredible to see this all come together, and to once again experience Stetson Law’s global connection,” Professor Gardner said. “We expect that the competition’s participants will use what they’ve learned to promote and advocate for policies that help nations ensure sustainability for generations to come.”

More IEMCC 2023 results

International Finals Champion: West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata, India
Runner-up: Law Society of Ireland
Best Oralist in the Final Round: Sanyam Jha – West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata, India
Semifinalists:
- University of San Agustin, Philippines
- University of the Philippines College of Law
Memorial Awards:
- Best Memorial: Soongsil University
- Runner-up Best Memorial: Singapore Management University

Interim Dean Radwan Receives FL Bar Professionalism Award

Stetson Law Interim Dean Theresa Pulley Radwan

With enthusiastic backing from Stetson Law faculty, Interim Dean Theresa J. Pulley Radwan has been given the Florida Bar Center for Professionalism’s 2023 Law Faculty/Administrator Professionalism Award.

The recognition follows Radwan’s 22 years of service at Stetson Law, where, in addition to being a top bankruptcy law expert, she has held several roles at the College of Law. Radwan has served as interim dean since summer of 2022, and has also held the roles of Associate Dean of Academics, Senior Associate Dean of Academics, Associate Dean for Administration and Business Affairs, and Transitional Business Administrator.

“In all these capacities she has acted with the highest level of integrity and professionalism,” states a nomination letter submitted on behalf of the Stetson Law faculty recommending Radwan for the award. “She exudes professionalism in everything she does, from how she writes an email, to how she introduces speakers, how she interacts with faculty, staff, and students, how she teaches classes, and how she performs her current role as interim dean of the law school.”

Starting in 1999, the award has been presented annually to a faculty member or administrator who “best supports or exemplifies the mission of the Standing Committee on Professionalism” through scholarship, teaching, and service to the profession. Past recipients of this award from Stetson Law include former Dean Bruce R. Jacob (2018), Professor Emeritus Robert Dean Bickel (2016), Law Professor Roberta K. Flowers (2005), and Law Professor Rebecca Morgan (2003). See all award recipients.

She will be presented with the award at the Florida Bar’s Annual Convention during the Judicial Luncheon.

Leading Stetson through unprecedented challenges

At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Radwan took on the challenging role of leading the University’s team in overseeing the Pandemic response for all of Stetson’s campuses. She spent endless hours as the co-chair of the Safer Campus Task Force while also teaching classes and writing scholarly works. She received the “She Stepped Up Award: Recognizing Extraordinary Leadership During COVID-19,” presented by the American Council on Education (ACE) Women’s Network – Florida.

She was one of six women in all of higher education in Florida selected as a winner of this award for her leadership in making a difference in the lives of students as well as employees on their campuses. Well before she began serving as interim dean, students, faculty, and other members of the Stetson Law community lauded her for her communication and listening skills, sense of fairness, and scholarly work.

Advocating for campus diversity

As dean, she has been a key advocate for campus diversity; not only in being present for events, but also in promoting the importance of community. Her support for Stetson Law’s commitment to diversity is evident in everything from her encouraging faculty to participate in community MLK Day events to her scholarship of elder law issues in bankruptcy. Her behind-the-scenes efforts as a faculty member who served on the Appointments Screening Committee is a key reason behind the current diversity of Stetson Law’s faculty.

She served as a president of the Ferguson-White Inn of Court, as a member of the Florida Bar Association Standing Committee on Professionalism, and, in 2007-08, as the chair of the Professional Award Subcommittee.

The list of activities that she has done behind the scenes to advocate and reward professionalism in the legal practice is long.

Campus Vegetable Garden a Labor of Love for Students

A professor and several students pose for a selfie in front of a garden. — Law Professor Lance Long and members of the Food Law Society enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Obscured by trees along the north side of 15^th Avenue South is a garden oasis where good things are growing.

A banyan-shaded green space yielding massive heads of organically grown cabbage and broccoli sprouts, it’s the result of a recently revived Stetson Food Law Society project.

“This year we have a beautiful garden, and I am probably one of the biggest consumers of the crops,” said Law Professor Lance Long, the Food Law Society’s faculty advisor.

Reviving an old tradition

Long said the garden is the latest – and most successful – iteration of a student-run gardening initiative dating back about a decade. Then, a series of container gardens in Crummer Courtyard was productive, but it didn’t create a verdant, sanctuary-like space like the current garden initiative does. More recently, the current site of the project – just west of the Banyan Courtyard – had fallen into disrepair.

Students kneel in front of two garden beds. — Volunteers tend to Stetson Law’s organic garden,

Fresh membership and a renewed sense of purpose inspired the Food Law Society to revive the project in the fall of 2021.

With help from the facilities department – which installed a hose and let the students use store their tools in a nearby shed – the students began making true progress on the garden in Spring 2022 as part of an environmental law class. Through planning, meticulous work, and a bit of trial-and-error, the space was thriving within six months.

Much of the labor is divided among Food Law Society President Iman Mamdouh, Vice President Jon Burton, and Treasurer Saad Chowdhury.

“The garden became our shared ‘toddler’ on campus,” joked Mamdouh. “Between the three of us, we rotate watering, covering the garden in tarps to prevent weeds, and shop for new seeds, seedlings, soil, manure, and labeling stakes.”

Two photographs show a garden space in disrepair. — Before students set out to revive the garden in 2021, the space had fallen into disrepair.

It became a community effort among Stetson Law’s eco-conscious students. Other Food Law Society members assisted in de-weeding and replanting each month. One even brought used coffee grounds from the café where she works to use in the fertilizer.

“With the effort we all put in, we share in the literal fruits of our labor but also in the failed attempts that educate us in the dos and do-nots of gardening,” Mamdouh said.

The January harvest yielded produce for all members of the Stetson Law Community to enjoy at no cost. As a shaded green space open to all, the garden is also a great place to de-stress from the rigors of law school.

“Someone can enjoy fresh produce from the garden, or destress with a garden cleanup event, or even sit among the plants under the banyan tree,” Chowdhury said. “Moreover, the garden demonstrates gratitude. Seeing where food comes from and the work needed is a humbling experience.”

Digging deeper: Cultivating conversations around food

There are, of course, much bigger-picture aspects to the undertaking.

For one, economic conditions and broader food policy in the U.S. can result in limited access to nutritionally dense foods in many communities – including, potentially, at Stetson Law.

A refrigerator featuring cabbage and other vegetables grown in the Stetson Law garden — Vegetables grown in the Stetson Law garden.

“We realized while many schools offer food, there is a deficiency of nutrients – especially for any students who were food insecure because of finances or otherwise,” Burton said.

The group also hopes the project will help individuals think more critically about what it means to “eat local,” given how the current federal-government definition of “local” may cause consumers to buy produce that’s not as sustainably farmed as they think.

“We also realized that in 2022 the transportation and display system of in-store foods when the [United States Department of Agriculture] considered ‘local’ to be within 400 miles or less of product origin introduced spoilage and some nutrient degradation compared to truly local foods,” Burton said. “We hope the garden does draw community education about the localization of foods and the importance of nutrition.”

Keeping it growing

As 3Ls, law school is drawing near its close for Mamdouh and Burton – but the garden will live on. As incoming president of the Food Law Society, Chowdhury will take the reins – and he’s got big plans.

He said he hopes to foster more food justice initiatives, from encouraging students to volunteer at local food banks to creating “an educational space where students can learn about Food Justice issues, such as food deserts, legislative hurdles, and the socio-economic determinants for nutrition in our community,” he said.

That will likely include informative signage in the garden itself as well as walking paths to help invite others to explore the connection between local food and global sustainability. “I’m relieved to graduate knowing we have set solid building blocks for the Stetson Community Garden to further flourish in the upcoming years, and I hope it becomes a Stetson landmark,” Mamdouh said.

Benjamin Barros Named New Dean of Stetson Law

Benjamin Barros, incoming Dean of Stetson University College of Law

Following a nationwide search led by an exceptional search committee and assisted by Issacson | Miller Executive Search, Stetson University has selected Benjamin Barros as the next dean of the Stetson University College of Law.

A proven leader

Dean Barros joins Stetson Law from the University of Toledo College of Law, where he has been Dean since 2015. During his time as Dean, Toledo Law saw significant improvement in enrollment, bar success, graduate employment, and fundraising.

Dean Barros has been a leader in the legal community, serving two terms as a member of the Association of American Law Schools Executive Committee and serving as Chair of the Supreme Court Task Force on the Ohio Bar Exam. He is a Property Law expert and has authored a popular Property textbook. He is a former Chair of the AALS Section on Property Law and a former President of the Association for Law, Property, and Society.

Practical experience & education

Before joining the legal academy, Dean Barros practiced as a litigator at two prominent firms in New York City.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Colgate University, a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Maryland, and a law degree from Fordham University School of Law, as a member of Order of the Coif.

“I’m incredibly excited to join Stetson Law,” says Barros. “Stetson Law has earned a national reputation for excellence in advocacy, legal writing, and elder law, among other areas of excellence and I look forward to working with all members of the Stetson Law community to build on these existing strengths towards an exciting and bright future.”

Welcoming a new campus leader

Members of the search committee are enthusiastic to have a leader with deep decanal experience, a collaborative spirit, and a clear focus on student excellence join the college.

Search committee co-chairs Ellen Podgor (Stetson University’s Gary R. Trombley Family White-Collar Crime Research Professor of Law) and Greg Coleman (Chair of the Board of Overseers, partner at Critton Luttier Coleman and Past President of The Florida Bar) extend their thanks to all who contributed to this extraordinary outcome.

The entire Stetson community is thrilled to welcome Dean Barros and is eager to see how his partnership with Stetson’s faculty, staff, and students will lead Stetson to even stronger successes in the future.

Dean Barros starts his role as Stetson’s newest dean on July 1, 2023.

Stetson Law Emerges as Top U.S. Team at Vis Moot

A group of students and a professor stand in front of a Vienna cityscape. — Left to right: Jaclyn Foster, Phil Faires, Mary Roseth,, Professor Stephanie Vaughan, Matt Ceriale, Taylor Simonds, and Sam MacDougal.

Over days of intense competition, Stetson Law emerged as the only U.S. team to make it to one of the final rounds of the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna, Austria.

The five-member team representing Stetson Law at the prestigious tournament – consisting of Phillip Faires, Jaclyn Foster, Sam McDougall, Mary Roseth, and Team Captain Taylor Simonds – competed against 378 teams from 89 countries. They were one of 49 teams from the U.S. to compete – and the only U.S. team to make it into the event’s top 16 teams before advancing to become one of the competition’s top eight teams. This was the first in-person Vis competition since 2019, when Stetson’s team also advanced to the top eight.

As a top-eight team, Stetson lost in a split decision to a team from Singapore. The incredible run – which put the Stetson team in the top two percent in the world – serves as a milestone for the five competitors and their coaches, alumni Jason Stearns and Matt Ceriale, as well as Professor Stephanie Vaughan.

“Hearing Stetson’s name called not only for one of the Top 64 teams out of 378 that would be advancing, but also as the (by unanimous vote!) winner of three head-to-head elimination rounds in a row is undoubtedly the highlight of my law school career,” said Simonds.

Prestigious event, extensive preparation

The team spent months preparing for the event, which featured a fictional case involving drone manufacturers in the politically unstable “nation” of Equitoriana. The experience helped them develop their advocacy skills and explore new areas of the law.

“The entire team worked so hard in devoting ourselves to this problem for upward of five months – improving our advocacy skills, researching international standards for niche areas of law, and trying to convince ourselves and others that a helicopter-sized drone might not legally be an aircraft – and seeing all that work pay off was incredibly validating,” Simonds said.

An advocacy milestone

As both a professor and a coach, Vaughan said it was incredible to watch the team members develop their skills through diligent practice – then to advance farther than any other school in the United States.

“To say that I am proud of this team would truly be an understatement,” Vaughan said. “Being a part of this team’s success at Vis has been incredibly rewarding. It was a true feat for Stetson Advocacy.”

To the team, it was an incredible honor to emerge as the top U.S. team after competing with the likes of Harvard Law and Columbia Law School.

“Overall, this was an experience none of us will ever forget, and it allowed us an unparalleled opportunity to grow our skills in communication, research, creative argument, teamwork, and international perspectives in a way I know we will all carry into our careers,” Simonds said.

Stetson Law Review Symposium Explores Elon Musk & the Law

A room full of people during a Stetson Law Review Symposium presentation in Great Hall. — The 2023 Stetson Law Review Symposium

There was an air of excitement on campus as students, faculty, and other members of Stetson Law and the legal community gathered to discuss the timely topic of the 2023 Stetson Law Review Symposium: Elon Musk and the Law.

Throughout the day, esteemed legal scholars examined legal aspects of the famous and controversial billionaire’s many endeavors, from Space-X to Twitter. Speakers included experts from across the U.S. such as The University of Tennessee Rick Rose distinguished Professor Joan Heminway, Stetson Law Bruce R. Jacob Visiting Assistant Professor of Law Tomer Stein, and Florida Supreme Court Justice John Couriel, who gave the event’s thought-provoking keynote address.

One topic, countless perspectives

The symposium covered a range of topics and issues, all exploring an aspect of the eccentric entrepreneur’s multitude of business endeavors through a legal lens.

In the first discussion, for example, Duncan School of Law Vice President and Associate Dean Matt Lyon and Southern University Associate Professor of Law Kenya Smith talked about accountability, from the role of directors and regulators to First Amendment questions surrounding Musk’s purchase of Twitter. It was titled “The Untouchable Elon Musk.”

A woman speaks at a podium in Stetson Law's Great Hall. — University of Tennessee Rick Rose Distinguished Professor of Law Joan MacLeod Heminway

Other sessions covered issues like securities disclosure challenges, professional responsibility concerns, and corporate law and governance concerns related to the acquisition of Twitter, Inc.

Breakfast and networking sessions gave attendees the opportunity to connect with colleagues and reflect on the day’s discussions.

A Florida Supreme Court Justice speaks

During an engaging keynote address, Florida Supreme Court Justice John D. Couriel took a broader perspective. Using hypothetical legal challenges a Musk-like figure may face when making business decisions like building a new manufacturing facility, Couriel said there’s an untapped resource that can help lawyers win cases on behalf of such clients: a state’s constitution.

A Florida Supreme Court justice addresses a group of people in the Great Hall at Stetson Law. — Florida Supreme Court Justice John Couriel speaks during the 2023 *Stetson Law Review* Symposium.

“The lawyer who gets hired is the lawyer who comes up with the solution to the problem that the client hasn’t heard before,” Couriel said. “State constitutional law frequently supplies answers to your problems and lines of attack that the client has never heard. And for that reason alone, to the practitioners in the room, I say, pick up the sword. Develop these areas of the law. To the academics in the room, I say, write those things. Explore them. Because I think they speak to some of the most important challenges of our time.”

A collaborative effort, led by students

The day was a seamlessly run, thought-provoking affair thanks to the students on the Stetson Law Review staff who led it.

Though she worked tirelessly to organize and run the event, Stetson Law Review Editor-in-Chief Kathryn Alkire said she was grateful to everyone who had a hand in the event’s success.

A group of speakers at the Stetson Law Review 2023 Symposium — Left to right: *Stetson Law Review* Editor-in-Chief Kathryn Alkire, Southern University Law Center Associate Professor Kenya J.H. Smith, Gonzaga University School of Law Visiting Assistant Professor Angela Aneiros, LMU Duncan School of Law Vice President and Associate Dean Matt Lyon, Northern Illinois University Associate Professor of Law David Rosenfeld, SMU Dedman School of Law Assistant Professor Carla Reyes, University of Tennessee Rick Rose Distinguished Professor of Law Joan MacLeod Heminway, Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law Assistant Professor Nicole Iannarone, and Stetson University Bruce R. Jacob Visiting Assistant Professor of Law Tomer Stein.

“The event was an enormous success thanks to the fabulous group of speakers, professors, faculty, staff, and students who joined forces and worked hard to create such an engaging program,” Alkire said. “It truly was a team collaboration.” She added that she and her fellow Stetson Law Review staff members are especially thankful for University of Tennessee College of Law Professor Joan Heminway, who curated the group of speakers and constructed the symposium topic, and Justice Couriel for graciously sharing his insights.

Support from the Stetson Law community

Alkire also expressed gratitude for Professor Stein, who, in addition to presenting at the symposium, served as the event’s faculty advisor, as well as the work of the event’s volunteer, student Symposium Planning Committee (Noah Anderson, Caitlin Carey, Cameron Kubly, and Sophia LaFrance) and Marketing Team (Marketing Editor Jacquelyn Christoph and her assistant Sam McDougall).

Support and advising from Stetson Law faculty members as well as staff from multiple departments helped make the symposium the success it was, Alkire added.

“This event’s success is attributable to an entire team of people who surrounded and uplifted Stetson Law Review with their support,” she said. “We are very fortunate to attend a school that so strongly supports its student-run programs.” The panelists who participated will have their forthcoming scholarship on Elon Musk and the Law featured in Stetson Law Review publications throughout the 2023–24 [KLA1] academic year.

FAWL Recognizes Stetson Chapter for Exceptional Work

Four women law students pose for a photo — Left to right: Avery Sherrer, Savannah Green, Madison Hanna, Lauren Johansen

Over the last year, there’s been a lot of activity within the Florida Association for Women Lawyers at Stetson (FAWLS), the college of law’s chapter of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers (FAWL). Organization leadership at the state level have taken notice.

Citing the chapter’s effective strategies for growing and engaging membership, encouraging members to become leaders, and involvement with the surrounding community, FAWL has recognized its Stetson Law chapter with the 2023 Outstanding Student Chapter Award.

The Outstanding Student Chapter Award aims to recognize a Student Chapter that has been particularly active both in its local community and in the state FAWL organization.

“Your Chapter has developed innovative ways to build its membership, including by providing programs and services which specifically encourage and assist members to become leaders in the profession and in the community,” said FAWL President Donna Eng, Esq. in a letter congratulating the group. “We recognize how much work chapter leadership has put into these efforts, and we thank you for the investment you have made in the organization.”

Sustained efforts to promote women in law

This award focused on FAWLS’ extensive events, membership, and pro bono activities from the past year, including the group’s annual Women’s Week programming.

Two female law students sit at a table promoting their organization at an event in the Great Hall — FAWLS President Savannah Green and Pro Bono Chair Lauren Johnson tabling at an event.

Other activities involve partnering with the Pinellas Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Southeastern Women in Financial Services, the Office of Diversity, Collaboration and Inclusion at Stetson, and multiple Stetson Law student organizations to hold events for our members. These collaborations have helped FAWLS’ actively promote gender equality and leadership roles in the legal profession through networking events, informative panels, professional development opportunities, and empowerment activities for students at Stetson.

“Coming in as FAWLS President, I had a focus on increasing membership and expanding our collaboration both on and off campus,” said FAWLS President Savannah Green. “I am so proud that FAWLS has successfully done both over the past year! I am very grateful to have an incredible executive board and passionate members who support one another and exemplify what it means to be strong women leaders.”

FAWLS’ executive board consists of: Green (president), Vice President/Treasurer Cara Zimmerman, Secretary Madison Hanna, Chapter Representative Avery Sherrer, and Pro Bono Chair: Lauren Johansen.

Recognition at the Florida Bar convention

As a recipient the award, the chapter will receive a $250 prize. The check, along with a certificate recognizing the achievement, will be presented at FAWL’s Awards & Installation Celebration in June during The Florida Bar’s annual convention.

Green, who was the 2022 recipient of the prestigious Milestone LawHER award, said she looks forward to attending and accepting the award on FAWLS’ behalf.

Learn more about FAWLS.

Students, Alumni Give Back During Wills for Warriors

A veteran sits at a desk in a legal office. — Wills for Warriors at Stetson Law

For the first time since before the Covid-19 pandemic, Stetson Law invited elder veterans to campus for assistance creating simple wills and other important documents.

The free, confidential Wills for Warriors program is available to U.S. military veterans over 60 and their spouses. The event brought seven local attorneys and 13 student volunteers to Stetson Law’s Center for Excellence in Elder Law for a day of pro bono legal work.

In all, they helped 12 people – eight veterans and four spouses – in creating simple wills and advance directives.

Giving back through volunteering & mentorship

Alumna Jenna Jordan, who participated in the program over all three years as a student at Stetson Law, said taking part in Wills for Warriors as a 1L was her first experience in a real-life client-attorney setting. It’s a fond memory for her, she said, one that solidified her decision to go into elder law.

Participating as a volunteer practitioner this time, she let the students work through the process with the clients. “As an attorney participating in this event, I tried to take a back seat and let the students ask the clients the questions, and only fill in where needed to provide the legal advice,” she said. “I also took the time to explain to the students why I asked certain questions along the way. I wanted to make sure this was a learning experience for the students as much as it had been for me.”

Making a difference through hands-on experience

To Stetson Law student Victoria Benson, it was an incredible opportunity to help veterans from the local community – and a unique way to have an impact.

“It’s not every day students have the opportunity to put pen to paper and show the skills we’ve learned during law school, but Wills for Warriors allowed us to do just that while also giving back,” Benson said. “It was so rewarding to use our skills to benefit our local veterans who have given so much, and hearing the relief we granted them was extremely motivating.”

She added that she would encourage any law student to participate in the program.

The 12 other 2023 student volunteers were Lauren Armstrong, Brenton Avery, Mason Bo, Sophia Bond, Sierra Fackler, Brianna Faenza, Erin Hinsberg, Meagan Lynch, Lisa Mueller, Rachel Propper, Richard Shockley, and Natalie Taylor.

Serving those who have served

Now elder law attorneys, the Stetson Law alumni who returned to assist veterans during Wills for Warriors say they are all too familiar with what can happen when someone goes without critical documents – and the thought of a veteran not having access to legal services is particularly heartbreaking.

“As a practicing elder law attorney, I see what can happen when someone doesn’t have an estate plan or when it’s done incorrectly, and participating in events like this can really make a difference to veterans and to their families one estate plan at a time,” Jordan said.

Through lending a small amount of time and expertise, they can give aging and elder veterans peace of mind by assisting them as they review, plan, and complete their advance directive as well as estate legacy planning such as a health care surrogate designation, a living will designation, and a simple last will and testament.

“Warriors have given, served, and sacrificed so much, with many if not most having extremely modest but no less meaningful lives and legacies,” said alumnus Slade Dukes. Each of those lives and legacies are so deserving, and it is great that we can be part of a program that gives back, easing their concerns about understanding and completing necessary and appropriate advance directive and estate legacy planning documents.

Learn more about Stetson Law’s Center for Excellence in Elder Law.

Inns of Court: Steve Binder Reflects on Transformative Work on Homelessness

Steve Binder speaks to a large audience in Stetson Law's Great Hall. — Steve Binder, creator of the Homeless Court Program, spoke at the 2023 Inns of Court banquet.

Speaking to members of the Stetson Law community gathered in the Great Hall, Steve Binder reflected on the transformative potential of a career in law – especially in helping society’s most vulnerable.

Known for developing the Homeless Court Program in San Diego, which dozens of other communities have since adopted, Binder was the Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Distinguished Lecturer at the 2023 edition of Stetson Law’s Annual Inns of Court banquet.

“Many law students seek to use their skills to one day change the world – and Steve Binder, indeed, has,” said Stetson Law’s Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Law Kristen Adams said as she introduced him to the audience. “He developed an alternative court system that considers the unique challenges of being unhoused in determining the outcome in each case.”

A lifelong passion for helping the unhoused

Born in Flint, Michigan, he was in junior high when he discovered the cause to which he would ultimately dedicate his career when a class visit to a homeless shelter brought him face to face with the economic and legal toll homelessness can have on those lacking a support system.

As a young lawyer in San Diego County in the late 1980s, Binder saw how unfair the criminal justice system was to homeless people with substance abuse, mental health challenges, and a lack of financial resources – and how focusing on punishment over rehabilitation can push vulnerable individuals further from society. Many were cited for sleeping in public, and were either given a fine they couldn’t pay or arrested with less than a fighting chance of beating the charges in court.

“When a homeless case did come to court, I heard tales of hardship and renewal,” Binder said.
Some came to court telling me they had recently found a place to live. Many asked, Where am I supposed to go? Homeless shelters are full.”

Some came to court carrying all of their worldly belongings. Some hadn’t showered. Others spouted FBI and CIA conspiracy theories. All, he said, struggled with problems the criminal justice system ignored.

“Invariably, a judge would take the plea and sentence them to an array of fines that they couldn’t afford, and terms and conditions that frustrated their continued participation in society,” Binder said. “More often than not, homeless defendants failed to appear in court – not because of a disregard of the court system, but due to their status and condition.”

Pervasive problem, creative solutions

The experience inspired him to create the Homeless Court Program, a local court system model that takes into consideration the needs and limitations associated with poverty and homelessness. Such entities now operate in dozens of jurisdictions throughout the U.S.

They build on partnerships between courts, homeless services organizations, and other entities and substitute participation in services and activities for fines and custody. To help offset the challenge of getting to the courthouse for multiple hearings, the programs try to resolve cases in one hearing.

Binder said there are four basic principles of a Homeless Court Program: Participation is voluntary, there’s a progressive disposition of cases, a non-traditional sentencing structure, and the assurance that no one goes into custody.

Individuals are invited – but not forced – to participate in programs and services to help them avoid further legal troubles, such as life skills courses, substance abuse treatment, literacy classes, or counseling.

“The homeless court reinforces this work and the work of participants with a sentencing structure that is not coercive or punitive in nature, but rather designed to assist participants with reintegration into the community,” Binder said. “It gives credit for time served for participation in program activities.”

Now in place at dozens of jurisdictions throughout the U.S., these programs have helped countless individuals experiencing homelessness find more positive life paths. And though it doesn’t address the underlying reasons homelessness is so widespread or eliminate its associated challenges, Binder said it’s important to not lose hope. “While the continued problems homelessness represents are discouraging and frustrating, it’s important to remember it’s the condition homelessness represents that’s undesirable, not the people.” “The criminal justice system will not solve homelessness. Treatment, service, community, and trust are needed if we are serious about addressing the myriad of problems homelessness represents.”

Honoring a public service titan

The event is one way Stetson Law continues to honor the legacy of the late, legendary Florida lawyer William Reece Smith Jr. Inducted into Stetson Law’s Hall of Fame in 2004, he served Stetson for decades as a distinguished professorial lecturer, Board of Overseers member, and university trustee.

“For those of you who did not have the pleasure of knowing Reece, he was a legal icon, a mentor, an advisor, a teacher, a champion of civil rights, and a consummate professional who upheld the highest of ethical standards,” said Stetson Law Interim Dean Theresa Pulley Radwan at the start of the event.

The Inns of Court banquet was inspired by an English mentoring program for barristers dating back centuries. A reflection of the profound value the Stetson Law community places on mentorship, the program gives Stetson Law students an opportunity to connect with prominent lawyers on current topics concerning law and ethics.