News Archives - Page 21 of 138

See Team Ukraine’s Message to International Environmental Moot Competition

Anastasiia Kryshtanovych and her team were slated to come to Stetson Law from Ukraine to compete at IEMCC.

Prior to February of 2022, five Ukrainian women planned to attend Stetson Law’s International Environmental Moot Court Competition (IEMCC) finals on behalf of National University Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. The team was planning to join others from Mexico, Northern Ireland, Korea, Singapore, and beyond for the event’s 26^th edition.

That changed when Russian forces invaded Ukraine.

Ahead of the event, which takes place April 7-9, the team sent a powerful message to participants via a video posted on YouTube. They said that prior to late February, they had been looking forward to competing.

“Unfortunately, it’s no longer possible due to the aggression of the Russian Federation against our country, Ukraine,” said Maria Stolbova, the team’s coach.

The team members said they are all safe, but deeply concerned about their fellow Ukrainians.

This year’s theme, Protected Areas & Armed Conflict, was chosen months before Russian President Vladimir Putin began his most recent attack on Ukraine. Teams have been competing over a legal battle between two fictional countries with environmental implications since fall of 2021.

The would-be competitors from Ukraine said they know the environmental hazards of a large-scale attack. Donbas, a heavily industrialized coal-mining region on the country’s east end partly controlled by pro-Russian separatists, has been a site of conflict since 2014. As a result, the air and water there have degraded dramatically as abandoned industrial sites degrade and artillery causes critical damage to water infrastructure. The Chernobyl nuclear plant has also been the source of fears over the war’s potential environmental consequences.

“Russia’s attack on Ukraine is also an attack on the environment,” Strolbova said.

The team asked for this year’s IEMCC participants to do what they can to support Ukraine.

“These days, Ukraine employs all the methods possible to stop the war and protect its citizens,” team advisor Katryna Skichko said. “The support of the international community is especially important for us in this regard. We ask you, the students from all over the world, legal and environmental scholars and practitioners, to support Ukraine.”

They implored viewers to spread information about the war in Ukraine, participate in meetings, and support humanitarian and volunteer initiatives helping Ukrainian army, civilians, and asylum seekers.

“So, we want you to defend your position as Ukraine: courageously, clearly, and confidently,” team member Valentyna Danyliuk said.

The IEMCC kicks off Thursday, April 7 with this academic year’s final installment of the Edward and Bonnie Foreman Biodiversity Lecture Series during which Dr. Dave Pritchard will discuss the current state of the Ramsar Convention, one of the world’s oldest environmental treaties.

See the whole video below or on YouTube.

Stetson Law Experts Weigh in on Ukraine War

Four panelists participate in a virtual webinar about Russia's invasion of Ukraine. — Clockwise from top left: Stetson Law Professors Jason Palmer, Roy Balleste and Luz Nagle; Wayne State University Law School Professor Charles Brower

In a far-reaching conversation that took place Wednesday evening, international law experts did a deep dive on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, from why it’s happening to its potential lasting impacts on global stability.

Stetson Law Professor Jason Palmer moderated the virtual panel. Stetson Law Professors Roy Balleste and Luz Nagle shared insights on the war’s cybersecurity and international human rights law aspects, respectively, while Wayne State University Law School Professor Charles Brower shared historical and overarching legal perspective on the conflict.

The panelists offered thoughts on the implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, now nearing its sixth week, informed by their areas of expertise.

Why it’s happening and what it means

Among the international experts who spoke, there was no debate over why Russian President Vladimir Putin is attacking Ukraine.

“Putin truly believes that the breakup of the Soviet Union was the greatest catastrophe in the 20^th century,” Brower said. “The invasion is nothing less than designed to reassert Russia’s status as a great power […]”

Nagle said she laments how the war is shaking the foundations of international law, but says such occurrences strengthen her resolve.

“The war is an absolute attack on the foundations and core values that underpin international law, the rules and institutions created to prevent another war,” she said. “Looking at the horrors of the invasion, many doubt the worth of international law, and the work of international lawyers. And I confess: I have. But I also remember why I went to law school and why I work in the international legal arena.”

An uncertain future for Ukraine & beyond

Nagle said the conflict has displaced nearly 6.5 million people internally within Ukraine alone. Many basic needs – like food, water, and clothing – aren’t being met, and there’s a huge need for psychological help and medicine for widespread conditions like hypertension, diabetes, cancer, respiratory disease, and covid-19.

“They need a lot of humanitarian assistance,” she said.

As for the many refugees displaced outside Ukraine, human rights abuses are rampant. And though there are laws against it, the system is overwhelmed.

“We have a protocol against human trafficking. And as we expect the United Nations is very involved, Interpol is involved in trying to determine who is engaged in human trafficking,” Nagle said. “Yes the system is overwhelmed, neighboring countries are overwhelmed, but the international community is doing their best.”

As for cybersecurity, Balleste said Putin’s notorious prowess for organizing cyberattacks and far-reaching misinformation campaigns in the digital space is being met with surprisingly adept opposition.

“In this situation, he miscalculated because what has happened is that pretty much every freelance hacker in the world has taken the umbrella of Anonymous and has directed their attention to Russia, and has disrupted satellite communications, banks,” Balleste said. “Pretty much everything he’s been doing to the world, Russia’s getting in return now through Anonymous. And so he’s bogged down in cyberspace.”

Balleste added that he hopes one outcome will be “more crystallization of international cyber law for the benefit of all nations,” he said, “because the alternative would be more disruption.”

For the rest of the world, the effects could be far-reaching if Putin’s attacks on longstanding global institutions and the West itself are successful.

Brower said he has no doubt that Putin is a war criminal, but the real challenge is holding him accountable, which requires investigating and documenting his crimes, effectively establishing him as a global pariah through indictment, and, eventually, prosecution. He said prosecution may seem unlikely, but so, too, did the prosecution of WWII’s worst actors – before it ultimately happened.

“If you don’t imagine it and if you don’t plan for it, it’s never going to happen,” he said.

Stetson Law students weigh in on the crisis

At the start of the panel, leaders from Stetson Law’s Republican and Democrat student organizations shared thoughts from discussions held within their respective communities on what the U.S. response should be and why.

“It is our belief that in the weeks and months moving forward, it’s important that the U.S. doesn’t aggravate this situation any more than it needs to,” said Emily Lehman, president of the Stetson Law Republicans. “And it is our hope that as the peace talks continue, the two countries can come to an agreement.”

Lehman and Stetson Law Democrats president Elizabeth Kellar said they and their respective peers support sanctions to varying extents and oppose U.S. military involvement in the conflict. And despite the divisive political climate, the students said the matter transcends politics.

“No matter what side of the aisle you fall on, when innocent civilians being targeted and people are starving and losing their homes and families, like in Ukraine, or in Yemen, or Syria, etc. then you should care about those lives being lost,” Kellar said.

View a full-length recording of the panel discussion on Ukraine.

U.S. News Ranks Stetson Law Near Top in Key Areas

Stetson's advocacy teams bring home multiple accolades. — Stetson’s advocacy teams bring home multiple accolades.

The annual U.S. News & World Report results have been announced for 2023, and Stetson Law has once again placed at the top of its class in key areas. Yet again, the results reflect the College’s dedication to empowering its students with knowledge and skills essential for success as legal professionals.

The College remains a top destination for Trial Advocacy, tying for No. 3 with American University and South Texas College of Law and missing the No. 1 spot by a third of a point. Temple University claimed No. 1, followed by Baylor University.

Stetson Law’s perennial showing at the top of the list of the best law schools for Advocacy is a testament to the incredible dedication of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni in the classroom and on the global competition scene.

“As you can imagine, Advocacy is by nature one of the most competitive areas of the law, and we continuously assess and implement strategies to meet the challenges of this dynamic field,” said Professor Elizabeth Boals, Director of the Center for Excellence in Advocacy.

Stetson Law Professor Kirsten Davis

Often ranked among the top in the nation, Stetson Law’s celebrated Legal Writing program climbed to No. 3. Neck-and-neck with the runner-up in its class, it was well within striking distance of the top ranking for legal writing with a 0.1 point margin.

“We are thrilled to have climbed to number three in the country and to be recognized for excellence by our peers,” said Professor Kirsten Davis, Director of the Institute for the Advancement of Legal Communication. “This ranking reflects the tireless efforts of our faculty to equip our students to be great legal writers.”

And, in just three years, Stetson Law’s Dispute Resolution rank has climbed from No. 72 in 2021 to No. 22 in 2023 – a truly meteoric rise in ranking.

“Climbing 50 spots in just two years is no small feat,” said Professor Kristen Adams, Director of Dispute Resolution. “It is clearly the product of years of hard work and commitment – and we are just getting started. We continue to put in the work that will pay dividends in future years’ rankings.”

Stetson University College of Law continues to make long-term investments to elevate its national reputation. This commitment, along with dedication to excellence in skills training, positions the school well for the future.

“As an institute widely recognized in areas critical to any successful legal career, the Stetson Law community is one that puts the work in – something evident in everything we do,” said Stetson University President Christopher F. Roellke, PhD. “I’m incredibly proud of the faculty, staff, and students, and alumni mentors and coaches whose contributions helped earn us recognition in key areas – and look forward to even more success in the future.”

Stetson Law’s Advocacy boards continue to thrive, from world-class competition teams’ performance in national and international competitions to the premier competitions the College hosts. The community looks forward to the 2023 academic year, when the new Advocacy Institute – outfitted with more practice courtrooms, collaboration space, and the latest technological capabilities – will open its doors.

“We are proud of our commitment to educating ethical professionals who will leave our campuses with the legal acumen, real-world skills, and compassion they need to succeed as Stetson Lawyers,” said Stetson College of Law Dean Michèle Alexandre. “It is a mission to which we remain steadfastly dedicated.”

Dispute Resolution Board Wins National Energy Law Competition

For the first time ever, Stetson Law’s Dispute Resolution Board won South Texas University’s Energy Law Negotiation Competition. The virtual event took place March 25-26 and featured teams from 18 law schools, including University of Texas, University of North Carolina, and Emory University.

Prior to this year’s win, Stetson Law had never before advanced in this competition – let alone won it outright.

Making this victory even more remarkable was the fact that the two competitors from Stetson Law, Andrew Zacherl (3L) and Selina Nadeau (2L), were up against teams from schools that have concentrations in energy law. Nadeau, who has a concentration in environmental law, was competing for the first time.

They went into the final rounds seeded third, having won five of six ballots in the preliminary rounds, and emerged from finals as champions.

Now in its seventh year, the annual Energy Law Negotiation Competition gives participants the opportunity to practice their negotiation skills in a hypothetical setting in Houston, which is often referred to as the energy capital of the United States. The event is judged by oil and gas industry professionals from major law firms and energy companies. In recent years, many of the competition’s top-four spots went to schools from Texas, a state known for its oil and gas industry. In 2019, all four schools that placed were in Texas.

Negotiation facts were given to the 18 teams on February 25, which gave them a month to prepare.

Professor Kristen Adams, who is faculty director of Stetson Law’s Dispute Resolution Board, said the team’s success was “truly historic.”

“This was the culmination of Andrew’s distinguished work on the DR board, and a truly auspicious beginning for Selina, who was competing for Stetson for the first time,” Adams said. “Congratulations, and a special thanks to Coach Bill Greiner.”

Learn more about Stetson Law’s Dispute Resolution Board.

Campus to Career ’22: Week One Recap

From an engineer-turned-real-estate rockstar to a barrier-breaking mayor of a major Florida city, Campus to Career’s first week was packed with compelling insights from Stetson Law alumni. The sessions showcased how these high-profile grads navigated their early careers after graduation – and demonstrated that professional pathways don’t always go in a straight line.

“You don’t really choose…your profession. Sometimes it chooses you.”
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis

Here are some highlights from the week’s keynote events.

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis on Service & Community Involvement

Fort Lauderdale Mayor and Stetson Alumnus Dean Trantalis

Well before fighting homophobia in Broward County in the nineties or being elected Mayor of Fort Lauderdale in 2018, Dean Trantalis was a Boston University student inspired to major in political science by the Vietnam War and Watergate. While he didn’t go to law school right away, advocacy always called to him.

“You don’t really choose…your profession. Sometimes it chooses you,” he said. “And I guess I kind of always knew that I was going to be a lawyer.”

In his Tuesday keynote, the ’79 Stetson Law alumnus talked about fighting for LGBTQ protections in Broward County at a time when even like-minded politicians were afraid to publicly support it – and why, whether you’re advocating in a courtroom or knocking on doors, you need to put the work in.

“The first thing to do when advocating something is to know your subject matter,” he said. “Because if you don’t know your subject matter, people are going to see right through you. Make sure you know your subject matter, and make sure that you own it…And be honest in your advocacy.”

See the full keynote.

Selling Tampa’s Rena Upshaw-Frazier on Career Pathways

While her career path wasn’t one of absolute certainty, Rena Upshaw-Frazier knew one thing.

“I wanted to do something that was going to make an impact,” she said Wednesday afternoon.

Stetson Law Alumna and Selling Tampa Star Rena Upshaw Frazier

She had wanted to go into environmental science, but her father advised her against it because it wouldn’t be lucrative – so she pursued environmental engineering at University of South Florida. The Tampa native was drawn to the legal work she was exposed to – so she applied to Stetson Law and got in.

“I had a lot of people tell me engineers won’t make good lawyers,” she said. “It actually ended up being the opposite.”

She ended up at a large firm, where she fell in love with real estate while helping a colleague with extra work. It felt like a calling – so much so that she eventually got her real estate license and joined Allure, an all-female Tampa brokerage. A producer from the reality show Selling Sunset reached out to Allure about filming a similar reality show in Tampa. Upshaw-Frazier auditioned for a role and got it – but like leaving law, it was a tough decision.

“You’re just really putting yourself out there and you don’t really have a lot of control over the end product,” she said. “You film the scenes, and it gets chopped up how it gets chopped up.”

Ultimately, she “decided to just go for it and see what happened,” and became a key person on Netflix’s Selling Tampa.

If she could say anything to her law-school self, she would tell herself to take it easy.

“I’d say ‘girl, relax,’” Upshaw-Frazier said. “I would enjoy the journey a lot more.”

See the full keynote.

“Team Coy” talks career, love & passing the bar

Stetson Law Alumna Theresa Jean-Pierre Coy

When moving into private practice after working with the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s office, Stetson Law alumna Theresa Jean-Pierre Coy said she didn’t realize that having your own practice means that you take on all support roles, from IT person to administrative assistant. She realized this when her cell phone rang, and it was an angry judge on the other end asking why she had missed a hearing.

Coy is now Conviction Unit Supervisor with the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office.

The former George Edgecomb Bar Association President fielded questions Thursday evening alongside her husband, Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office Juvenile Division Chief Travis Coy, who is also a Stetson Law alum.

The two met at Stetson Law, and throughout their keynote address joked about what it’s like to have a romantic partner who’s also a colleague.

The Coys stressed relationship-building and hard work as keys to success. For example, when studying for the bar exam, Theresa Jean-Pierre Coy said she treated it like a nine-to-five job. Yet while the work is important, she also thinks it’s important to give oneself some breathing room.

“I would tell myself relax a little,” she said when asked what she would tell her younger self.

You’re going to be okay, in fact, you’re going to do better than you ever imagined.”

Travis Coy urged the students who were participating to enjoy life.

“Being a lawyer does not define who you are. First and foremost, you’re a human being,” he said. “Make sure you embrace life and that you cherish the moment and that you’re living in the moment.”

See the full keynote.

Stetson Law’s Campus to Career event continues through April 14. See the full Campus to Career event program.

Stetson Law Students Help Veterans Confront Bankruptcy

Left to right: Attorney Steven Berman, Judge Michael Williamson, Judge Mary Heston, 3L Cooper “Cade” Zimmerman, and Judge Christopher Klein.

For veterans dealing with serious money woes, it can feel like there’s no way out – especially in the wake of a challenging life event such as divorce.

Financial insolvency has even been identified as a leading cause of veteran suicides. That’s why two Stetson Law students are harnessing what they’ve learned to help members of the military take control of their finances.

The 3L students, Cooper “Cade” Zimmerman and Jade Yeban, worked with Steven Berman, a partner in the Tampa office of Shumaker Law who specializes in bankruptcy law, on an in-depth presentation to train Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) officers on bankruptcy so they can better advise service members who are facing insolvency and other serious financial problems.

Giving back to those who have served

To the students, it was an invaluable hands-on experience doing work on behalf of those who have served.

Zimmerman said a thorough bankruptcy law course he took at Stetson Law gave him a solid foundation for this project, which he said was one of the best experiences he has had at Stetson.

“I have always held our military in the highest regard – both of my grandfathers were Marines,” he said. “To have a positive impact on anyone’s life is special, but to help those who have the job of protecting the United States and our values is an extraordinary experience.”

How the program got started

While JAG officers have extensive legal training, there are no required curricula related to financial literacy. With the number of veterans experiencing insolvency and its effects on everything from everyday work to obtaining security clearances, Berman saw an opportunity to educate military legal officers on laws relating to consumer finance, bankruptcy, and potential avenues for relief.

“There are lots of options and we wanted legal officers to understand and be able to identify the issues attendant to financial distress and have the tools to refer active duty and veterans in need to competent insolvency professionals,” Berman said.

Appointed to the American Bankruptcy Institute’s Veterans Task Force in December 2020, Berman has worked to establish a pipeline of volunteers with expertise to combat bankruptcy and the far-reaching consequences it can have.

“Financial distress can be emotionally debilitating and also can affect an individual service member’s day-to-day work, especially if someone doesn’t know how to get out of a bad situation,” Berman said. “We saw the need and believe it will be impactful on a likely large unaddressed need in the legal support for our military members.”

A “fantastic” hands-on experience

Recently, Zimmerman and Berman traveled to Washington, DC to support a panel presentation by United States Bankruptcy Judges Mary Heston, Christopher Klein, and Michael Williamson. The discussion was recorded and will be available to Navy JAG officers, as will the supporting written materials. The Army and Navy have also requested the presentation, Berman said.

Zimmerman said the experience left quite an impression on him, and that he hopes to use the knowledge and skills he learned at Stetson Law to help veterans after he graduates.

“During my trip to DC for the live panel, I was able to develop relationships and have in-depth conversations with each about the ins and outs of bankruptcy law and the legal field in general,” he said. “It was truly one of the best experiences I have had at Stetson Law.”

A win-win for students and veterans

Though it’s a complicated area of the law, one that’s not particularly intuitive, Berman said the students worked to create enough written materials to support three to four hours’ worth of programming.

“The students were fantastic,” he said. “They understood the need for the project right away, and were eager to help.”

To Law Professor Theresa Radwan, who coordinates the Business Law Concentration program, the project was an absolute win-win.

“For the students, it helped them deepen their own understanding of the law while knowing that they were helping attorneys help others,” Radwan said. “In addition, they received mentoring from practitioners and judges associated with the project.”

Learn more about the work Stetson Law does for veterans through its Veterans Law Institute.

Fall ’21 Valedictorian Chase Wilsey Carries on Family Legacy

Stetson Law Fall 2021 Valedictorian Chase Wilsey

Stetson University College of Law is thrilled to announce that Chase Wilsey is valedictorian of the Fall 2021 graduating class.

The news comes as his family’s St. Petersburg firm, Fisher & Wilsey, P.A., celebrates its 60^th year in operation. While studying at Stetson law, Chase worked at the family firm to gain valuable hands-on experience in real estate transactions, estate-planning, probate, and business law.

In pursuit of his law degree, Chase became one of Stetson law’s first students to complete the new business law concentration program. In addition, Chase earned his MBA degree by participating in Stetson’s dual degree J.D./M.B.A. program offered through Stetson University’s main campus in DeLand, Florida. Prior to law school, he received a B.S. in Business Administration from University of Florida with a major in information systems.

As a 3L at Stetson Law, Chase clerked for the Honorable Edward C. LaRose of the Second District Court of Appeals. Serving nearly six million people in west-central and southwest Florida, the 2^nd DCA is one of the busiest courts in the United States. The experience was an opportunity to see judges write and issue opinions in real time – rather than interpreting them in the classroom well after they’re written. Chase even had the opportunity to write the first draft of a now-published opinion.

“Participating in Stetson’s judicial externship program was the perfect way to culminate my law school experience. I would highly recommend it to current and future law students,” he said.

As a 2L, Chase was a Senior Associate on the Stetson Law Review, where he wrote a paper on sovereign immunity, which he said he’d like to turn into a book someday.

As for the classroom experience at Stetson Law, he said Law Professor Dr. Timothy Kaye is among key faculty standouts for him.

“Kaye’s remedies course was the best class I took in law school,” Wilsey said. “Professor Kaye is absolutely brilliant. Stetson is lucky to have him, and I feel extremely privileged to have taken three of his classes.”

Chase continues to work at Fisher & Wilsey, which was cofounded by his grandfather, George Wilsey, in 1962. His father, David Wilsey, is a Stetson Law alum (J.D. ’86), as is his sister, Abby Wilsey (J.D. ’20). Chase’s father and his uncle, Steven Wilsey, are the firm’s principals. His grandfather, George, is retired but remains in an advisory role even at 92 years of age!

With a competitive spirit and a knack for understanding what it takes to do well in law school, Chase likens his approach to success at Stetson Law to running an ultramarathon.

“Law school is a massive challenge and super long grind. I wasn’t going to leave anything on the table,” he said. “You only go to law school once, and I made a pact with myself to make the absolute most of the opportunity.”

Campus to Career ’22: Keynotes, Contacts & Cool Perks

Stetson Law School’s Gulfport, Florida campus

When learning how to navigate the transition between law school and professional life, the best teachers are those who transformed their Stetson Law education into exciting careers.

That’s why Campus to Career 2022, also known as Stetson Law’s Professional Development Conference, should pique the interest of any 1L, 2L or 3L. Spanning from March 22 through April 14, it features virtual workshops, breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and more. The event kicks off with keynote addresses from some of Stetson Law’s most high-profile alumni, including Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis and Rena Upshaw-Frazier, star of the Netflix series Selling Tampa.

Organizers and speakers alike say they look forward to showing students what it looks like to successfully go from life as a law student to the day-to-day rigors (and, frankly, challenges) of a career that will likely look a lot different from days spent immersed in learning.

“I’m excited to return (virtually) to Stetson Law to participate in this year’s Campus to Career Conference,” said Mayor Trantalis, who is also Fort Lauderdale’s first openly gay mayor.

What to expect

Trantalis’s hour-long keynote launches the event Tuesday, March 22 at 11:45 a.m. Service will be the theme of his speech.

Fort Lauderdale Mayor and Stetson Law alum Dean Trantalis

“During my time at Stetson, I became equipped with many of the necessary skills needed to successfully achieve a career in law,” Trantalis said. “Today, as the founder of my own firm and the two-term mayor of the city of Fort Lauderdale, there’s much more that I’ve learned since my graduation that I look forward to sharing with my fellow soon-to-be alumni.”

Over the course of the event, students can gain insights from Stetson Law faculty, staff, alumni, and other community members on how to cultivate a host of competencies that will help them build and sustain their careers – whether or not they choose to become legal practitioners. This includes demonstrating resilience (handling setbacks), cultural humility (understanding the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion), time management (how not to over-extend), professional identity (social media dos and don’ts), and wellness (managing stress).

A series of career community panels will also give students critical insights into what it is like to practice criminal, elder, and other types of law from professionals who operate in those spaces every day.

A ”springboard” to success

In past years, the Campus to Career has been so meaningful, it has inspired students to help organize it.

“Looking back, Campus to Career was the 1L springboard that has led me into my final semester,” said 3L Joseph Kim, co-chair of the 2022 Campus to Career Conference. “As someone who continues to incorporate the knowledge they gained attending as a 1L and serving as a 2L Student Fellow, I highly encourage you to attend this year’s conference.”

Attendees who meet certain criteria will be eligible for a host of fun door prizes, from Target gift cards to a reserved parking spot for the 2022 Fall semester.

For more information, including schedules, speaker bios, and door prize eligibility, See the Campus to Career program guide.

New Course Brings Stetson Law to USF St. Pete

Professor Kirsten Davis gestures during a lecture to a class — Professor Kirsten Davis speaks to USF St. Pete undergraduate students.

Stetson Law and University of South Florida St. Petersburg have some things in common: revered faculty, beautiful grounds, and a vibrant learning environment. Now, something else connects the two: a new partnership that has brought Stetson Law faculty to the USF St. Pete campus to teach law.

At the helm of the inaugural course is Stetson Law Professor Dr. Kirsten Davis, who was selected for the role by Stetson Law Dean Michèle Alexandre. The course, “Text, Tweet, Take to the Street: Dissent and the First Amendment,” aims to explore dissent and how it relates to free speech. Students learn about landmark cases involving the First Amendment, what types of speech are protected and what are not, and how decades-old precedents still apply in the digital age.

“In all areas of life, we are dealing with what dissent looks like. We see it on television, in our neighborhoods, on Twitter and Facebook,” said Davis, the inaugural Judy Genshaft Honors College Visiting Professor of Law. “For any citizen, understanding how the First Amendment fits with that discourse is really important.”

Creatively adapted for undergraduates

Davis, who is Director of Stetson Law’s Institute for the Advancement of Legal Communication, finds creative ways to teach First Amendment law to a lay audience. The class incorporates puzzles and art sessions that help non-law students more easily grasp often-complex legal language and processes.

“I’ve taken what I know about teaching law school and adapted it for what I hope is a fun and interesting course for outstanding undergraduate students, no matter their major,” she said. “I think our favorite in-class activity has been making art as a way to review key concepts of the course.”

She is planning to bring her colleague, William Reece Smith, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Law Kristen Adams, to the classroom for a session that connects law and poetry.

A professor surrounded by her students — Stetson Law Professor Kirsten Davis is surrounded by undergraduate students from the course she teaches at USF St. Pete.

In addition to bringing together students from all majors, from biology to political science, the course can help them decide if law school is right for them.

“The class will help students decide whether or not they want to attend law school. Even if it’s not for them, now they’ll know,” said Thomas Smith, USF’s associate dean of the Judy Genshaft Honors College and a professor of political science.

The experience has strengthened USF St. Pete junior Alivia Kelly’s resolve to attend law school – at Stetson, in particular. The psychology major has enjoyed studying psychological concepts’ role in shaping First Amendment law.

“I am definitely looking at Stetson for law school,” she said. “I have experienced firsthand being a disabled woman in the U.S., and my identity motivates my interests. I would love to explore the complexities of law across cultures and mediums that have never been fully integrated into the legal sphere before.”

A student at the back of the room sits at a laptop while a professor gives a lecture — Stetson Law Professor Kirsten Davis speaks to a classroom at USF St. Pete.

A multifaceted partnership

The USF-Stetson Law partnership also includes a course taught to environmental science majors by Stetson Law Foreman Biodiversity Fellow Katherine Platt and Stetson Law 3L Lauren Beames.

The program allows environmental law students to earn credit through teaching such courses at USF St. Pete. Law students and fellows like Pratt collaborate on curriculum suited to their classes.

“This is really a great immersion experience,” Pratt said. “There really is no better way to understand a concept than to teach it to someone else.”

As part of the Stetson Law-USF St. Pete agreement, undergraduate honors students can start their first year of law school while enrolled in their final undergraduate year. There is also a direct-admission program for students whose GPA and LSAT scores meet a certain standard, which guarantees admission to Stetson Law as well as access to scholarship funds.

Passion for Justice Lands Stetson Law Alumna White House Role

Stetson Alumna Hannah Ibanez stands with the US Capitol in the background — Stetson Law Alumna Hannah Ibanez, J.D. ’16

Even in her earliest memories, Hannah Raissa Ibañez, J.D. ’16, was always passionate about standing up for others.

It is what drove her to pursue legal education, work in the Pinellas County Public Defender’s Office, advocate for the homeless in Los Angeles and, recently, join the White House’s Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board thanks to a presidential nomination.

“I remember always being really fired up,” she said. “I could always sense when there was a power dynamic that was unfair. I think I always felt like a fighter, and I’ve always identified as a defender.”

Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Hannah Ibañez moved to Miami with her family as a young child and attended Simmons University in Boston, where, as an undergraduate, she majored in philosophy and political science with a minor in women’s and gender studies.

“There was just something about knowing how to run a courtroom and operating in that space that called to me.”

“The sharp edge of litigation”

Upon graduating, she said, law school was calling. As she toured campuses, including Harvard, Duke, and Brooklyn Law School, it was Stetson Law that really stood out to her.

Why?

She saw the Trial Team in action, and the confidence the fledgling lawyers exuded as they argued their cases to the real-world courtroom experience it gave students, what she witnessed thoroughly impressed her.

“I was absolutely sold,” she said. “There was just something about knowing how to run a courtroom and operating in that space that called to me.”

An experiential learner, she said she knew she wanted to be at the “sharp end of litigation.”

“It felt more real; it felt like an education that would stick with me and mold me,” she added.

The experience remains valuable to her to this day, whether it is instinctively standing the instant the judge walks into the courtroom or understanding the subtle cues that can influence the outcome of a day in court.

Active from the outset

Once she enrolled in Stetson Law’s J.D. program with a Social Justice Advocacy Concentration, faculty members who interacted with her recognized her passion and her drive from her early days on campus forward.

“Ms. Ibañez was in Stetson’s Honors Program, a program that allows top students to engage in individualized scholarship that will be helpful to them in later years,” said Professor Ellen Podgor. “From her initial classroom comments in criminal law to this later class it was clear she would excel in social justice advocacy.”

She held leadership positions in the National Organization for Women, in which she helped to organize a performance of The Vagina Monologues and was also active in the Lambda Legal Society. She completed two directed research projects as a student in the Social Justice Advocacy Concentration. One, which was centered on homelessness, included an innovative combination of a survey instrument and traditional scholarship that culminated in a thoughtful multi-media presentation. The other focused on motions and other materials attorneys could use to represent transgender clients in criminal cases. Through her participation in the Homeless Advocacy Externship, she demonstrated a deep commitment to advocacy on behalf of persons experiencing homelessness.

“Hannah brought such joy and power to all of her work and was a valuable mentor to her peers – something we witnessed more than once,” said Professor Ann Piccard.

Advocating for the underserved

She brought that joy and power to the pro bono clinic she enrolled in with the Pinellas County Public Defender’s Office, where she was offered a job upon graduation. The work was as heartbreaking as it was rewarding.

“It was absolutely amazing and horrifying at the same time,” she said. “There’s never a dull day.”

While working in the public defender’s office, she noticed how students participating in its clinic wanted to stay on after it ended, so she established an additional pro bono program that allows them to do so.

Clients the office took on were often homeless, mentally ill, or some combination thereof, which really hit home for Ibañez the need to focus on the root causes that can lead to a lifetime of legal challenges for so many. The lack of stable, affordable housing is a key factor, she said, which is why her current role as senior staff attorney on the Tenant Defense Project for Inner City Law Center, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing legal services to the city’s most vulnerable residents at no charge. Here, she defends low-income tenants and families, people with disabilities, veterans facing homelessness, people living with HIV/AIDS, immigrants, and others.

An “unbelievable” opportunity

The organization does plenty of policy work as well, which is how she got connected to the U.S. Access Board; a colleague had forwarded her information to a member of U.S. Congress who was tasked with providing recommendations to fill federal vacancies. After an 18-month process involving interviews and other steps, she was on the shortlist – and elated to be there.

“I find it unbelievable,” she said.

The board aims to ensure all federal facilities comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, such as buildings, vehicles, and telecommunications equipment. Currently, they meet several times a year for three-day sessions.

Ibañez said she hopes her story conveys to students aspiring to fight on behalf of the most vulnerable among us that they can find a pathway to effectively doing so at Stetson Law, where the community will welcome their passion for making a difference through advocacy.

“There’s a place for you at Stetson,” she said.

43rd National Conference on Law & Higher Ed Welcomes Attendees In-Person

Professor Peter Lake speaks at a podium at the higher education conference — Stetson Law Professor Peter Lake

Many Stetson Law alumni probably remember Professor Peter Lake as their torts teacher. Over the decades, though, his expertise in higher education law has put him at the helm of one of the most important conferences for professionals working at colleges and universities.

In March of 2022, the 43^rd Annual National Conference on Law & Higher Education very much felt like a homecoming. The event took place at the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach. The weather was glorious, and attendees were reconnecting with one another after years of not being able to meet in person due to the pandemic. The event’s 2020 edition, in fact, was held just days before travel was shut down worldwide in efforts to stop the spread of Covid-19. Nearly 200 people, including students and speakers, attended.

“I believe that the people in this room are the people that are going to be the change agents.”
Stetson Law Professor Peter Lake

“To me this is a huge family reunion,” Lake, who is the Charles A. Dana Chair and Director of the Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law & Policy at Stetson Law, said in his opening remarks. “I can’t tell you how thrilled my staff and I are to come back and host you.”

Preparing for the “edupocalypse”

Naturally, the pandemic and other current events that directly affect higher education were at the center of conversation at the event, which ran from March 2-March 7, from campus safety and student mental health to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

In talking about the higher education’s economic, political, and cultural challenges, Lake referred to the current state of affairs as the “edupocalypse,” telling those gathered that this is a unique, transformative point in time for higher ed. It’s a time when educators’ role as “keepers of the flame of truth” is being challenged thanks to the media climate, he said, when litigation has arisen in the wake of Covid-19 mitigation policies, and higher education is being criticized for everything from diversity efforts to rising tuition costs. In the face of these challenges, Lake said he is optimistic that higher education leaders like those in the room will succeed in overcoming them.

Law Professors Peter Lake and Kristen Adams were among the amused audience members during a Saturday Keynote at the 43rd Annual Law & Higher Ed Conference.

“I believe in this industry and I believe that we will meet whatever challenges come ahead,” he said. “I believe that the people in this room are the people that are going to be the change agents.”

A gathering of thought leaders

Attendees comprised a mix of industry professionals from a broad range of university departments, including public safety, Title IX, student affairs, university leadership, and, of course, legal professionals. Among keynote speakers were author Jules Coleman, whose talk was titled “The Uncertain Future of Higher Education is Here Now” (Coleman was also the 2022 William Reece Smith Distinguished Lecturer at Stetson Law’s Annual Inns of Court Event in February) and John Dunkle, senior advisor at the Jed Foundation, whose presentation was titled “College Student Mental Health: The Need for Bold Action to Unravel a ‘Gordian Knot’ for Higher Education.”

As in previous years, the gathering aimed to bring together thought leaders with the aim of developing policies to ensure success for colleges and universities. Sometimes, conversations that have taken place at the event have led directly to federal law reform. The theme in 2022 was “The Great Strategic Reclamation of Higher Education.”

“It is our mission to enhance higher education, to make our institutions stronger and most importantly, to make sure that we’re educating students in as powerful a way as possible,” said Stetson University Provost Noel Painter, whose remarks kicked off the event. “This conference and Peter’s leadership of this conference is exactly aligned with the mission of this institution.”

Learn more about the Annual Conference on Law & Higher Education.

BLSA Trial Team Advances to Quarterfinals in Regional Competition

Members of Stetson’s Black Law Students Association, from left to right: Andrea Waters, Alyssa Fleming, Tala El-Ghali and Logan Jackson

Late February brought yet another successful competition to Stetson Law’s talented roster of student advocates.

The Stetson Black Law Students Association Trial Team made it all the way to the quarterfinals at the Constance Baker Motley Trial Team Competition. The competition took place at the Southern Regional Black Law Students Association (SRBLSA) Convention in Atlanta, GA, from February 24-27, 2022.

The team consisted of four Stetson BLSA members: Logan Jackson (2L), Andrea Waters (2L), Alyssa Flemming (3L), and Tala El-Ghali (3L). The BLSA team was put together by BLSA President Deja Gordon and coached by Stetson BLSA alumni Willengy Ramos (’14) and Forest Sutton (’20).

“Being President of Stetson’s BLSA at the first in-person SRBLSA convention in two years was monumental,” Gordon said.

Gordon added that it was an honor to assemble the team of advocates, who worked diligently ahead of the event.

“These students worked for weeks to prepare for this competition with the full support of the advocacy center,” she said. “They represented Stetson well with all of the professionalism and competence that we hold ourselves to as Stetson advocates. Watching the organizing and advocating we did to have this team compete pay off was rewarding. We will definitely continue advocating for this team as BLSA students.”

Stetson BALSA’s visibility and involvement went beyond going far in this important competition.

At the conclusion of the competition and accompanying convention, Gordon was able to nominate two BLSA students to the Southern Regional BLSA Board: Logan Jackson as secretary and Blake Radford as treasurer.