Professor Kirsten K. Davis has been appointed by the new president of The Florida Bar, Mike Tanner, to serve on a newly created statewide Special Committee for the Review of Professionalism in Florida.
The Florida Bar, through its Board of Governors, approved and created this Committee to develop specific recommendations to the Board and to The Florida Supreme Court for: 1) any necessary changes to the definition of professionalism or to the current professionalism standards; 2) improvements in how and when professionalism is taught during the course of a lawyer’s career; and 3) improvements to how professionalism standards are enforced, including greater emphasis on the use of the local professionalism panels.
When Tanner was sworn in earlier this month, he said the committee will be, “a complete top to bottom review of the professionalism” in Florida, according to The Florida Bar News.
“We’re going to look at how we teach it, how we define it, when we teach it, how we enforce it, how we promote it, what its relationship is to mental health and wellness,” he said, with the goal of creating “suggestions to the court for improvements in these areas.”
Davis has devoted much of her career to the topics of attorney ethics and professionalism. In addition to being the director of Stetson Law’s Institute for the Advancement of Legal Communication, she teaches courses on professional responsibility. She also served on The Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism for six years, including as chair from 2019-2020.
“Questions about what professionalism means – what the standards should be and how those standards should be enforced – is a question that is being explored by state bar organizations and state supreme courts all around the country,” Davis said. “The work to revisit and refine the meaning of professionalism is important work. The practice community’s sense of professionalism is meaningful not only to licensed lawyers but also to law students in forming their professional identities.”
The Florida Bar is the governing organization of the more than 100,000 lawyers licensed to practice law in the state. It works to ensure the highest standards of legal professionalism and protects the public by prosecuting unethical attorneys and preventing the unlicensed practice of law.
The Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association (SLAA) presented awards on June 10, 2021, to seven individuals who have made a positive impact in the community and supported Stetson University College of Law.
SLAA has honored alumni accomplishments with awards for more than 25 years. The ceremony typically takes place at the Stetson Law Alumni Reception at the Florida Bar Convention but was virtual again this year because of the pandemic. The 2021 award recipients are The Hon. Pamela A.M. Campbell, Donald Smith, Jeffery A. Smith, Clinton Paris, Dr. Paul Levine and Mrs. Susan Levine, and Kevin Iurato.
Ben Willard Award
Pamela “Pam” A.M. Campbell
The Hon. Pamela “Pam” A.M. Campbell, J.D. ’89, is this year’s recipient of the Ben Willard Award, which recognizes alumni who expend extra effort to prevail for the benefit of the citizens of Florida. The award also recognizes an individual whose humanitarian achievements have brought distinction to themselves and the College of Law.
Judge Campbell practiced law in St. Petersburg for 17 years prior to her appointment to the bench. She was “AV” rated by Martindale Hubbell for high ethical standards. The emphasis of her law practice was health care law, probate and guardianship law, with several high-profile cases. Prior to becoming an attorney, she had 14 years of experience in the legislative arena working in an administrative role in the Florida House of Representatives, United States Senate, and later as a political consultant with a national governmental affairs firm.
Campbell was appointed to serve as a Circuit Court Judge in 2006 by Gov. Jeb Bush. She has served in the Felony Criminal Division, Family Division, Civil Division and most recently began in the Probate Division in St. Petersburg, Fla., and has presided over more than 40 criminal jury trials and 90 civil jury trials.
She is an active member of First United Methodist Church of St. Petersburg, former chair of Operation PAR, and former vice chair of the Florida Board of Medicine. For her service to the community, she has received the American Board of Trial Advocates, Florida Jurist of the Year 2018; American Board of Trial Advocates, Tampa Bay Chapter, recognized for commitment to civility and professionalism (2018); William Castagna Award for Judicial Excellence by Masterson Inn (2015); St. Petersburg Bar Judicial Appreciation Award (2014); Heroes Among Us Award by the St. Petersburg Bar Foundation (2006); Richard T. Earle, Jr. Professionalism Award by Masterson Inn of Court (2003); and the Professionalism Award presented by the St. Petersburg Bar Association (2003).
“This is quite an honor to be selected, and I really appreciate it,” Campbell said during the June 10 Zoom ceremony.
She took the opportunity to highlight the legacy of Ben Willard, who was a Stetson alumnus who served in World War I, two terms in the Florida Legislature, and more than 28 years as a Criminal Court judge in Dade County. He was known for being protective of Stetson lawyers who came before him, and Campbell said she values continuing that tradition, working with more than 100 Stetson Law interns during her tenure.
“I love being connected to Stetson in that way!”
Distinguished Alumnus Award
Donald Smith
The Distinguished Alumnus Award is given to alumni who are recognized as being outstanding in their chosen profession, as well as for service to humanity that has brought honor to themselves and the College of Law. This year’s recipient is Donald “Don” Smith, J.D. ’78.
Mr. Smith is a partner with the Law Firm of Smith, Tozian, Daniel and Davis, P.A. In addition to his illustrious career as a litigator, he has served as a board member of the Boys & Girls Club for most of his professional career. Recently, in partnership with the local Club and the Pinellas Community Foundation, he established The Don Smith Scholarship in Honor of Brian Smith at the College of Law. The scholarship will be awarded to either a club member or someone who has volunteered or worked for the Club and who plans to attend the College of Law. The scholarship is being endowed at the $50,000 level.
“This award is really about all of the people that have helped me along this road,” Smith said, as well as the “club kids” at the Boys & Girls Club.
Smith said in his years working with them, he has found them to be incredibly intelligent and of great character – all they need is a little assistance. He counts himself fortunate to play a small part in that and appreciates the collaboration of the organizations involved in bring this scholarship to fruition, as well as the support of his wife and son.
Paul M. May Meritorious Service Award
Jeffery A. Smith
Jeffery A. Smith, J.D. ’73, received this year’s Paul M. May Meritorious Service Award for showing continued support for the College of Law through the contribution of both time and gifts.
In addition to Mr. Smith’s legal career as a State Attorney and his private criminal law practice, he and his wife Tricia have been exceptionally generous in their giving to the College of Law. The couple have pledged $500,000 in support of the Advocacy Center and established the Jeffery A. and Patricia F. Smith Scholarship Endowment. He has indicated that he is committed to contributing $1 million in support of his scholarship.
“I am most flattered and honored by receiving this award,” Smith said, adding that next to his family, Stetson was the most important thing that happened to him in his life. He would not be where he is or achieved what he has today if not for his Stetson education. It was a scholarship that made that education possible, so he feels an obligation to give back.
Outstanding Alumni Representative Award
Clinton “Clint” Paris
The Outstanding Alumni Representative Award is designed to recognize dedication and service to the Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association through involvement in local alumni activities. Clinton “Clint” Paris, J.D./M.B.A. ’00, is this year’s recipient.
Prior to launching the Law Office of Clinton Paris, P.A., Mr. Paris practiced law in the Tampa law offices of Annis, Mitchell, Cockey, Edwards and Roehn, P.A.; Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, LLP; Gray Robinson, P.A.; and served as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Tampa. While in law school, he was a member of Stetson’s nationally ranked Moot Court Board, the Black Law Student Association, interned with the Hon. Mary S. Scriven, United States District Court for the Middle District Court of Florida, and received Stetson’s William F. Blews Award for Pro Bono Service.
Paris earned a master’s degree in Business from the Stetson University College of Business, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of South Florida. Prior to becoming a lawyer, he was a claim specialist with State Farm Insurance where he handled property, automobile casualty, and bodily injury claims.
He has been nominated for his lead role in establishing and securing donations to fund the Professor Dorothea Beane Scholarship and for his work planning the inaugural Black Law Student Alumni Reunion.
“I came to Stetson full of dreams and ambitions, and Stetson gave me the opportunity to pursue such endeavors,” he said, adding he wants to give other lawyers those same opportunities.
“I look forward to continuing my work with Stetson.”
Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Paul Levine and Mrs. Susan Levine
Dr. Paul Levine and Mrs. Susan Levine received this year’s Distinguished Service Award, which is presented to non-alumni of the College of Law in recognition of their significant, meritorious, and continuing contributions to support the College of Law.
Dr. and Mrs. Levine established the Marc L. Levine Award in 2009 and have funded it annually since then. The award was established to honor their son’s (Marc) accomplishments while at Stetson and to honor graduating J.D. students who, like their son, demonstrated significant growth as a person and professional during their time at the COL and who emerged as a respected campus leader.
While they were unable to attend the ceremony, in their statement they thanked Stetson for nurturing their son’s leadership skills and helping him become a respected member of the legal community.
President’s Award
Kevin Iurato
The President’s Award is presented to the outgoing president of the SLAA in recognition of their term of service. Kevin Iurato, J.D. ’00, was a dedicated leader during a tumultuous year.
“It was an honor and pleasure to serve as president of the SLAA,” Iurato said.
He handed the reigns to incoming SLAA president, Mitch Schermer, J.D.’15.
Additionally, alumni who have been members of the Florida Bar for 50 years were recognized for their dedication and service during the ceremony.
Cheers went up in the Sebring Horseshoe courtyard on June 2 as students, faculty and staff at Stetson Law kicked off Pride Month 2021 and made school history with the inaugural raising of the Progress Pride Flag.
“This flag really represents Stetson’s commitment to not only its students, but the entire LGBTQ+ community as we continue to fight for our… just right to be alive,” said Edson Abadia Jr., a 3L and president of Stetson Lambda Legal Society, which organized the event.
The new Progress Pride Flag represents even greater inclusivity and the advancements the LGBTQ community has made in recent years. It features additional stripes of color: the white stripe is to remember people who have died from HIV; the pink and blue stripes represent the transgender community; and the black and grown stripes represent people of color and their efforts to move forward LGBTQ rights, Abadia explained.
Jen Rex, left, and Edson Abadia Jr. with the Progress Pride Flag.
The crowd was small to ensure it complied with Safer Stetson COVID-19 policies, but the joy and excitement were palpable as the sun shone and a breezed picked up, setting the flags flying.
“It’s actually the first time I’ve ever been a part of an institution that had a flag raising ceremony for the month of Pride, and so I think that speaks not only to my school, but also to our country and the progression that we’re making, and it means a lot,” said Jake Erdman, a 3L.
Jen Rex, a 3L and vice present of Lambda Legal, agreed the event was a significant milestone for the school that sent a powerful message to students.
“For me that’s really important because my identity as part of the LGBTQ community is one of the reasons I came to Stetson,” Rex said. “I knew that it’d be a very accepting place, and I want to work to help support that community and to do legal work in that field, so I think that it’s really important to be somewhere that supports that and that I feel like I’m a part of the community here.”
The Progress Pride Flag will remain in the courtyard through the end of June as Stetson University College of Law honors and supports all members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Pride Awards
Joann Grages Burnett
Lambda Legal Society continued the celebration with an evening event to bestow awards and discuss the latest LGBTQ events and legal news.
This year the organization launched new Pride Awards to recognize people who do great things for the LGBTQ community at Stetson Law and beyond. This year’s winners were Joann Grages Burnett, Edson Abadia Jr., and Nathan Bruemmer.
Burnett, associate director of Career & Professional Development at Stetson Law, was chosen for her assistance with developing Lambda events, as well as her ongoing support for LGBTQ students as they find their professional place beyond law school. Abadia was praised for being the driving force to revive Lambda Legal and expanding its community outreach. Bruemmer was recognized for his steadfast support of Stetson Law and being an outspoken leader in the community at large.
St. Pete PrideFest
Nathan Bruemmer
Bruemmer, a 2017 Stetson Law alumnus, is president and interim executive of St. Pete PrideFest, the largest Pride event in Florida, attracting more than 265,000 attendees with an economic impact of more than $67 million. He said this year’s event will span four weeks with themed festivals with limited attendance. The smaller gatherings will give people a chance to focus on the stories that make Pride so great. The themes include Pride OUTside, Arts + Qulture, and Taste of PrideFest, as well as more family-friendly events to celebrate all the different ways people create and define their families. See all the event details at StPetePride.org.
Celebrating victories and a look to the battle ahead
Joseph Morrissey
Law Professor Joseph Morrissey discussed various court cases and legislation from the past year, as well as upcoming decisions, that have impacted the LGBTQ community. For example, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, in June last year extended Title VII protections against employment discrimination on the basis of sex to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
“That was huge,” he said.
Recent federal policy changes include the new Biden Administration executive order to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and the rescindment of the ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. The Florida Commission on Human Rights also affirmed it would protect members of the LGBTQ community from employment discrimination, as well as housing discrimination under the Florida Fair Housing Act.
“So there’s all sorts of reason to be hopeful and excited about the current environment,” Morrisey said.
However, there has been conservative backlash to LGBTQIA victories, he added, and the worst of them target transgender people. Since beginning of 2021, there have been 80 state initiatives that would discriminate against transgender people, including prohibitions on transgender youth from participating in sports and having access to healthcare. These are thinly veiled attempts at discrimination that should not make it into law and those that do should be challenged, Morrissey said.
In November 2020, the Supreme Court heard Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, and its decision is due any day. The case could allow private agencies that receive taxpayer-funding to provide government services — such as foster care providers, food banks, homeless shelters, and more — to deny services to people who are LGBTQ, Jewish, Muslim, or Mormon. Morrissey said it is uncertain how the Court may rule on the case given the new conservative supermajority.
Law students, as future advocates, must understand the full effect of how court decisions and federal policies impact all levels of society so they can help take up these battles, ensure these voices are heard, and continue the victories, he said.
Other News
Lambda Legal Society is planning a new student Mentorship Program to provide support for incoming law students. Staff, faculty members and other students are welcome to participate, Abadia said. Contact him at [email protected] for more information.
Lavendar Law, the world’s conference and career fair for LGBTQ students, will be held on July 28-30, 2021, with the job fair from 2-6 p.m. on July 30. Seth Rosen, director of Development for the organization, said they will have more than 165 recruiters from law firms, corporations, nonprofits and government agencies.
Representatives from four higher education institutions who collectively serve 36,000 students in St. Petersburg, Florida are joining together to create a consortium focused on dismantling racial hierarchies.
After working for months to create a shared vision and reaching out to community and campus stakeholders, their efforts have been recognized by the American Association of Colleges and Universities as one of 78 institutions (and the only consortium) across the nation selected to participate in a four-day Summer Institute to learn about the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) framework and develop an action plan. The consortium includes Eckerd College, Stetson University College of Law, St. Petersburg College (SPC) and the University of South Florida (USF) St. Petersburg campus.
The Association of American Colleges and Universities has been partnering with higher education institutions since 2017 to prepare the next generation of strategic leaders to break down racial hierarchies through the TRHT framework developed by the Kellogg Foundation. TRHT Campus Centers implement action plans with the aim of moving toward the transformative goal of erasing structural barriers to equal treatment and opportunity on campuses, in communities and for the nation around the pillars of the TRHT framework: narrative change, racial healing and relationship building, separation, law and economy.
Each institution of the St. Petersburg consortium will send three members to the TRHT Summer Institute that will be held virtually from June 22-25, where they will participate in capacity-building workshops. At the end of the institute, the group will present its action plan.
Some of the initial goals the representatives hope to develop further include how the consortium will:
Play a pivotal role in racial healing and transformation in St. Petersburg by presenting a collective truth to build a collective future;
Engage faculty on incorporating issues of race into curricula and providing more truthful narratives about racial history;
Develop community seminars related to racial justice from a national, state and local perspective and partnering with local media;
Create student opportunities with a racial justice component with community organizations; and
Engage in legislative and community advocacy around issues that have been identified by community organizations as key to racial progress.
The idea for the consortium originated in 2020, when USF’s St. Petersburg campus and community leaders in St. Petersburg and Pinellas County convened a task force to explore how to connect efforts to address inequalities that exist in the region. Task force members met monthly to discuss current initiatives, as well as gaps that might present opportunities for collaboration.
Through their discussions, task force members identified the TRHT framework as a beneficial tool that could help strengthen each campus’ commitment to community and inclusion.
Each institution had unique circumstances and reasons for wanting to engage in this work.
USF announced many initiatives in 2020 to foster anti-racism, access, equity, cultural inclusivity and cultural intelligence, and its St. Petersburg campus initiated the exploration of the consortium concept as a way to strengthen its commitment to the city and region in the areas of social and racial justice.
“I am very excited to work alongside others to create a campus community, city and county that eliminates racial inequalities, becomes a model for educating the community around issues of social justice and social action, and ensures that all USF St. Petersburg campus faculty, staff and students understand, appreciate and live the ideals of an inclusive community,” said Martin Tadlock, regional chancellor of USF’s St. Petersburg campus.
Meanwhile, Eckerd College is at an inflection point. Founded in 1958, the small, national liberal arts college recently welcomed its fifth president whose focus on the future of the institution also includes a deeper look at its relationship with the surrounding community.
“When we first learned of the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Centers and their framework from our colleagues at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus, we were awed at the streamlined approach to a subject we have deeply considered in our five-year strategic planning efforts,”said Robbyn Hopewell, director of media and public relations at Eckerd College. “Eckerd College joined the consortium to attend the Institute and learn out how to turn our current programs addressing racial justice into a resource for our whole community.”
Professor Judith Scully
Stetson University College of Law joined the consortium with the intention of expanding the work of the Florida Law Schools’ Consortium for Racial Justice (FLSCRJ), as well as broadening community collaborations and sharing its expertise around advocacy issues particularly as it relates to social and racial justice. Judith Scully, co-founder of Stetson’s Social Justice Advocacy program and co-chair of the FLSCRJ, hopes to provide law students with legal pro bono and community service opportunities with community organizations that are working on issues related to racial justice and the law, including issues regarding economics, policing, housing, environmental justice and/or public education.
“A TRHT Center could also provide training for our students and the community on how to have difficult conversations about race, provide opportunities for us to learn about the legal racial history of St. Petersburg and to connect our legislative advocacy work as part of the Florida Law School Consortium on Racial Justice to community advocacy,” Scully added.
St. Petersburg College’s goal is to strategically align current diversity, equity and inclusion practices with other local higher education institutions.
“SPC is committed to serving as a leader, convener and a catalyst for positive change and our partnership with the TRHT center will connect and enhance resources that cultivate healing and learning,” said Tashika Griffith, provost for the SPC Downtown and Midtown Center. “The establishment of a TRHT Center will assist with ensuring all stakeholders have an opportunity to thrive in an environment that fosters inclusive growth,” she added.
While each institution has been making positive steps to identify and address gaps in equity and elevate minority voices, the TRHT framework presented a way for each institution to streamline a shared process and unify fragmented strategies across campuses, Michelle Madden said, USF St. Petersburg’s campus diversity officer.
“The consortium provides the opportunity to do this work more intentionally and deeply both internally among our students, faculty and staff and externally in the community to further the work of racial healing and equity transformation,” she added.
Outside of the four higher education institutions, the consortium has received support from community members and organizations, such as the Foundation for a Health St. Petersburg, which has provided a local planning grant for the consortium.
“Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg supports the work of the consortium and believes the implementation of the TRHT model will transform longstanding institutionalized systems rooted in racism,” said Carl Lavender, chief equity officer for Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg. “The prospective framework for discovering truths about racial harm, jointly working to heal resulting trauma and supporting the role of higher education to uplift the narrative and voices of Black, indigenous and people of color will yield multiple pathways to collectively manifest race equity within the consortium and community at-large.”
To learn more about the TRHT framework and the summer institute, visit The Association of American Colleges and Universities website.
Stetson Law Associate Professor Elizabeth Berenguer has published a new book aimed at helping students on Law Review, new professors embarking on the scholarly writing process, and experienced professors frustrated with scholarship.
“The Legal Scholars Guidebook,” a companion for seminar or other paper-based courses, demystifies academic legal writing by providing concrete advice on topic selection, research strategies, and analytical frameworks.
The book features:
Chapter Brainstorms that contain questions guiding entry into stages of the research and writing process;
Squelch the Impostor tips that include advice to manage stress inherent at each stage of the research and writing process;
Specific assignments to methodically guide the scholar through each stage; and
Examples, guides, and checklists that provide samples to help the scholar understand expectations at each stage.
“The legal profession and academia are hierarchical and elitist institutions,” Berenguer explained. “With this book, I have endeavored to reveal much of the mystery that shrouds the scholarly writing process so that people who are new to the field can understand expectations and successfully produce scholarly work.”
Budding scholars will find it a reassuring guide through a demanding process, and experienced scholars will find it a source of encouragement. Berenguer was motivated to write the book because there was a lack of good textbooks to teach students how to write a scholarly paper. First year legal writing programs are geared much more toward legal analysis for practice, not scholarship, and books that existed before provided an incomplete overview of the process.
“They gave a lot of information about what to do, but no information about how to do it. My book gives the how to do it part,” she said.
Jamie R. Abrams, a professor at the University of Louisville – Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, reviewed the book for the Journal of Legal Education and highlighted another important benefit: by addressing the concepts of inclusivity, accessibility and imposter syndrome head on, “this guidebook might guide us all to a more inclusive and inviting place uplifting new scholarly voices.”
“For readers of this book in modern political, economic, and social times, it might be a springboard to deeper conversations about the chasms between the communities that feel like they belong in legal scholarship and those that do not,” Abrams wrote. “It might call for us all to strengthen the intentionality of our mentoring of students of color, nontraditional students, LGBTQ students, and women students. There has never been a better moment for us all to revisit how we produce and define ‘good’ scholarship, the breadth of the scholarly voices we reproduce and consume, and the entrenched assumptions and hierarchies that shape our scholarly practices.”
Berenguer joined the faculty at Stetson Law in August 2020 as an associate professor of law. She began teaching law in 2008 and has taught a variety of courses including legal research and writing, advanced legal writing, pretrial litigation, transactional drafting, appellate advocacy, criminal law, and foundations of legal scholarship.
Stetson University College of Law was named the 2021 ABA Competitions Champion! The award is given to the law school that earned the most points through team achievements and participation in the ABA Law Student Division’s four competitions – Arbitration, Negotiation, Client Counseling, and the National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC).
Brooke Bowman
“We are incredibly proud, not just of the fact that Stetson has won, but how we won,” said Brooke Bowman, professor of law and director of Moot Court Board. “Not only was this victory a true Moot Court-Dispute Resolution collaboration, but every single one of Stetson’s eligible teams contributed points toward this victory, from our Arbitration and Negotiation teams in the fall semester to our National Appellate Advocacy and Client Counseling teams in the spring.”
Stetson Law won the inaugural ABA Competitions Champion honors in 2018, the first year the ABA started tracking law schools’ performance in the four practical skills competitions. This year Stetson broke Texas Tech University School of Law’s two-year reign to regain the crown.
Stetson may not have placed first in any of the four competitions this year, but the teams’ overall showing garnered them enough points to hold off Texas Tech. Stetson made it to the finals of the Client Counseling Competition, having won the regionals. Stetson scored two regional championships in both the Arbitration and NAAC competitions and notched a regional semifinalist in Negotiation.
Kristen Adams
“This win belongs, not just to the Moot Court and Dispute Resolution Board members who competed in each of these competitions (and their coaches), but also to every single student who stepped in to help – whether it was by providing excellent feedback during a practice, scrimmaging with the team, or providing support and encouragement to a teammate,” said Kristen Adams, professor of law and director of Dispute Resolution Board.
On the Dispute Resolution front, Stetson’s Arbitration team contributed four regional semifinalists; the Negotiation team contributed four regional co-champions who advanced to Nationals; and the Client Counseling team contributed four regional semifinalists, two regional champions, and two national semifinalists. On the Moot Court front, in a Stetson Moot Court first, the College of Law had co-champions advancing to Nationals and one of the teams also won the regional Best Brief Award.
“What this award really symbolizes is consistency and teamwork, which are attributes Stetson greatly values in its advocates,” Bowman said.
The 2021 ABA Competitions top 10 this year were:
Stetson University College of Law
Texas Tech University School of Law
Fordham University School of Law
Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law
University of Oklahoma College of Law
South Texas College of Law Houston
William and Mary Law School
Michigan State University College of Law
Campbell University – Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law
Brooklyn Law School
This was the first year that the entirety of the ABA Law Student Division’s practical skills competitions were held virtually.
About the rankings
The title of Competitions Champion is awarded annually to the law school that tallies the most points through team achievements and participation in the ABA Law Student Division’s four practical skills competitions. Ranking criteria and the point totals for the top teams can be found here.
The Competitions Champion award was created to recognize law schools that go above and beyond to help prepare their students for practice. Success in these competitions illustrate each school’s commitment to providing a well-rounded curriculum and preparing students to become highly skilled lawyers. ABA competitions are an important part of the hands-on learning experiences available to students at these exceptional law schools.
“Our four competitions offer students an amazing opportunity to hone essential lawyering skills before they enter practice,” said Connie S. Smothermon, Competitions Committee Co-Chair, Director of Competitions & Externships, University of Oklahoma College of Law. “Through consistent participation and success in ABA competitions, these law schools display especially well-rounded practical skills training programs. We are thrilled to recognize these schools through the Competitions Championship,”
Judges for the competitions included volunteer attorneys and sitting members of the bench.
Stetson Law’s current overall competition victory tally:
5 World (International) 79 National Championships 97 Regional Championships 52 State Championships 60 Brief Awards 174 Best Oralist/Best Advocate Awards 6 Professionalism Awards 2 National Competition Awards
Celine Rodriguez selected as inaugural KnowBe4 Cybersecurity Law Scholarship recipient
Celine Rodriguez
KnowBe4, the provider of the world’s largest security awareness training and simulated phishing platform, announced it has awarded Stetson Law student Celine Rodriguez with its inaugural Cybersecurity Law Scholarship for $5,000.
Criteria for the scholarship is merit-based on a number of factors, including: a class rank in the top 25% of their class or a minimum GPA of 3.25 GPA; a strong extracurricular resume; and an undergraduate degree in a technical field and/or enrollment in Stetson University College of Law’s (SUCOL’s) Cybersecurity Law Program or related courses. The scholarship is open to both full-time and part-time students enrolled at SUCOL.
“We are pleased to have selected our very first, deserving recipient of the KnowBe4 Cybersecurity Law Scholarship,” said Alicia Dietzen, Stetson Law alumna and general counsel for KnowBe4. “Given the growing importance of our industry, investing in the next generation of legal professionals – and increasing awareness of the cybersecurity field – is paramount to KnowBe4. Partnerships like these truly show SUCOL’s dedication to being at the forefront of emerging areas of the law and supporting the future of the legal profession.”
Rodriguez is currently a candidate for her Juris Doctor at Stetson University College of Law. She is a certified privacy compliance consultant and holds the CIPM and CIPP/US certifications.
“I am honored to be a Knowbe4 scholarship recipient,” said Rodriguez. “KnowBe4’s support helps me to attend Stetson University College of Law without additional financial stress. Receiving this scholarship brings me one step closer to my career aspirations in privacy and cybersecurity law. It inspires me to pursue additional cybersecurity certifications and classes as I continue to advance in my studies.”
In 2020, KnowBe4 made a $250,000 donation to SUCOL for scholarships and to create the Cybersecurity Law Program Fund within the new Business Law Concentration. For more information on the KnowBe4 Cybersecurity Law Scholarship, email [email protected].
About KnowBe4 KnowBe4, the provider of the world’s largest security awareness training and simulated phishing platform, is used by more than 37,000 organizations around the globe. Founded by IT and data security specialist, Stu Sjouwerman, KnowBe4 helps organizations address the human element of security by raising awareness about ransomware, CEO fraud, and other social engineering tactics through a new-school approach to awareness training on security. Kevin Mitnick, an internationally recognized cybersecurity specialist and KnowBe4’s Chief Hacking Officer, helped design the KnowBe4 training based on his well-documented social engineering tactics. Tens of thousands of organizations rely on KnowBe4 to mobilize their end users as their last line of defense.
Stetson University College of Law announced this year’s faculty award winners and the new Leroy Highbaugh, Sr. Chair recipient for 2021-2023 during a year-end celebration ceremony on May 11, 2021.
Leroy Highbaugh, Sr. Chair
Professor Joseph Morrissey has been appointed as the Leroy Highbaugh, Sr. Chair for the period of Fall 2021 to Spring 2023. This appointment is an endowed rotating chair that allows the recipient to devote two years of full-time research to scholarship.
“I am so grateful and honored to have been awarded the Leroy Highbaugh, Sr. Chair,” Morrissey said.
He plans to devote the time to publishing a book on surrogacy, entitled Surrogacy: Building Families by Design.
“I proposed writing this book because surrogacy is, quite simply, transformative,” he said. “It changed our lives. My husband and I became parents of two beautiful boys with the help of a wonderful woman who was our surrogate. We will be forever indebted to her. We were also assisted by an incredibly supportive array of professionals who helped us navigate our way through the process. As such, we know that surrogacy can help people achieve their dream of building a family. My hope is that this book will have universal appeal to professionals and anyone who is considering or who is interested in surrogacy.”
Morrisey is a member of the Business Law Concentration faculty who teaches Contracts, Constitutional Law, Business Entities, Securities Regulation, International Sales & Arbitration, and The Documents of the Deal. Beyond his personal experience with surrogacy, Morrisey explained that surrogacy is at the intersection of contract law and constitutional law. His book will be geared toward professionals and academics from either field but will also provide intended parents, surrogates and egg donors with detailed information about the legal risks involved and the contracts that need to be structured to minimize that risk.
Homer & Dolly Hand Award for Excellence in Faculty Research
This award was established by Stetson College of Law alumna Dolly Hand and her husband, Homer, to applaud faculty members who are not only dedicated teachers, but who also have notable achievements in scholarship or creative work in their areas of expertise and who have made a difference in their local or larger communities. This year’s winner is Professor Andrew Appleby.
In addition to overseeing the launch of the new Stetson Tax Innovators Exchange (S.T.I.X.), Appleby is regularly published in law journals and reviews, as well as quoted in various legal and tax-related publications, such as Law360 and TaxNotes State, for his expertise. In the fall, he presented at the Northeastern States Tax Officials Association (NESTOA) Annual Conference.
The Dickerson-Brown Award for Excellence in Faculty Scholarship
Professor Jason Palmer received this year’s Dickerson-Brown Award for Excellence in Faculty Scholarship. The honor is historically bestowed on a person who has published a book in the past two years, or other multiple, outstanding works of scholarship produced over a two-year period and has thus contributed significantly to the enhancement of the academic reputation of the College of Law.
Palmer not only spearheads Stetson Law’s Annual Sign Language Interpreter Legal Training Workshop, he is writing two books: Reparations in Domestic and International Mass Claims Processes, and International Litigation and Arbitration – Practice and Planning. He also had two articles recently accepted for publication – “Emotional Intelligence and Homophobia” in the Wake Forest Law Review and “A Separation of Powers Analysis of Forum Non Conveniens Adequate Available Forum” in St. John’s Law Review.
The Excellence in Teaching Award
This award recognizes a full-time professor, of any rank, who has made outstanding contributions in teaching students inside and outside the classroom, and by example. Professors Jamie Fox and Becky Morgan were named this year’s award recipients. Fox has been with Stetson Law since 2000 and teaches in the areas of contract law, American legal history and poverty law. Morgan, former director of the Center for Excellence in Elder Law, has been with Stetson since 1985, and her courses include Trusts and Estates, Intro to Aging & the Law, Elder Law Seminar, and LL.M. Law & Aging.
GULFPORT, Fla. – Applications are now open for the new summer program aimed at training underrepresented teenagers to advocate for themselves and others. The weeklong course is hosted by Stetson University College of Law, in partnership with Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg.
The Youth Civic Engagement Program will run from July 19-24, 2021, and applications are available at: stetson.edu/law/youth-program. The deadline to apply is May 31, 2021. All student participants in the summer program will receive a financial stipend to facilitate their participation.
The course is designed for Pinellas County teenagers, between the ages of 15-17, considered underrepresented because of race, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic status, or school performance. A focus group of students helped identify curriculum topics, which could include:
Self and Society
Social Justice
Gender Identity
Sexual Orientation
Poverty Law
Race and the Law
Human Rights
Civil Rights
Criminal Justice System
Social Media and Society
While the class will be virtual this year due to the pandemic, it will still be highly interactive and feature Stetson Law faculty and students, as well as local judges and attorney volunteers. The summer session will serve as a pilot program for what officials plan to be a four-year effort.
“Youth civic engagement training is crucial at this time. Offering a program like this is one of the most valuable contributions philanthropic organizations and educational institutions such as Healthy St. Pete and Stetson Law can provide to the community,” said Stetson Law Dean Michèle Alexandre. “Stetson Law has longstanding expertise in teaching students to think critically and advocate for vulnerable groups. We believe that these types of programs can create a positive ripple effect for the participants, their families, schools and communities.”
Stetson Law officials recognized that, during the last 20 years, civics education and social action programming have decreased nationally. Students have little, if any, opportunity at the high school level to access the knowledge and tools they need to be advocates.
Randy Russell
“There is a latent power in youth that is often overlooked. Racism takes a tremendous toll on our society and youth now see that in pronounced ways,” said Randy Russell, Chief Executive Officer at the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg. “By pursuing deeper understanding of their personal identities and their role in a society, it becomes easier to envision how to become change makers striving for race equity in the community and beyond.”
About Stetson University College of Law
Stetson University College of Law, Florida’s first law school, has prepared lawyers and leaders since 1900. Today, Stetson leads the nation in blending legal doctrine with practical training, evidenced by its top-ranked programs in advocacy and legal writing. Through its academically rigorous curriculum and commitment to social responsibility, Stetson produces lawyers who are ethical advocates ready to succeed in the legal profession.
About Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg
The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg is a private foundation serving the residents of South Pinellas County. Its goal is to improve population health by advancing racial and health equity by working at the county level with countywide systems, such as the school district, health department, and transportation system. The Foundation also works with more than 100 nonprofits and has invested over $21 million in the community over the last three years.
Graduates during the 4:30 p.m. ceremony celebrate with family and friends.
On Saturday, May 1, 2021, Stetson University College of Law celebrated four commencement ceremonies recognizing graduates from the December 2020 and May/August 2021 Classes.
Four separate events held outdoors in the Plaza Mayor Courtyard of the Gulfport campus allowed for limited attendance to follow CDC guidelines on physical distancing. Other safety protocols included a face mask requirement for all attendees and wellness screenings prior to entering campus. Despite those changes, the ceremonies featured most other traditions, including a live bagpiper leading the procession and placement of the ceremonial mace.
Edwin Cameron
South African judge and human rights lawyer, Edwin Cameron, delivered the commencement address via prerecorded video from Johannesburg. He shared his very personal journey with the law and discrimination in South Africa, as he dedicated his career to social justice issues, particularly for LGBTI equality and to destroy the stigma and unjust discrimination for those living with HIV/AIDs. Cameron noted the law can be a double-edged sword, used as an instrument of oppression to strip people of their rights and freedoms. Or, it can be used to secure rights, protect freedoms and afford dignity.
“As you enter the legal world today as bright, willing and engaged young lawyers, my message to you is double,” Cameron said. “First, use the law for good. And second, and more importantly, never lose faith in the capacity of the law to do justice. Use the law to defend, to vindicate, and to fight for the good. On this path, you will not only be useful to many others, but you will also find meaning, value and inspiration in your professional life as a lawyer.”
A student with a scales of justice mask.
Though he and his fellow students are just starting their careers, Student Bar Association President Corey Roberts said they had already learned something about adversity – as well as adaptability and achievement – during their unconventional final year.
“We all endured and made it through all of the challenges,” he said.
Roberts encouraged his classmates to write their own stories, do the right thing, enjoy the journey, and learn from their mistakes. With those guiding principles, everything else will fall into place.
This group of students has already shown a proclivity to “do the right thing,” logging 25,000 hours of community service during their law school years. Those donning blue cords during the ceremony were recipients of the Blews Award for pro bono service, denoting they had far exceeded the required number of hours, continuing to serve their communities and society.
Both Dean Michèle Alexandre and Stetson University President Dr. Christopher Roellke spoke during the event. Their speeches, along with the complete address from Justice Cameron, can be viewed in the recordings below.
Graduating Class Stats
December 2020 Graduates
Total – 28
J.D. – 20 (including seven from the part-time program)
LL.M. in Advocacy – 2
LL.M. in Elder Law – 2
LL.M. in International Law – 3
M.Jur. in Healthcare Compliance – 1
May/August 2021 Intended Graduates
Total – 255
J.D. – 243 (including 17 from the part-time program, 12 who received J.D./MBA degrees, and two who received J.D./Grado)
LL.M. in Advocacy – 1
LL.M. in Elder Law – 4
LL.M. in International Law – 3
M.Jur. in Healthcare Compliance – 4
Graduation messages from Commencement Speakers
*Those who did not appear during the live events.
Maureen Breakiron-Evans, Chair, Stetson University Board of Trustees
Greg Coleman, Chair, Stetson College of Law Board of Overseers
Kevin Iurato, President, Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association
Corey Roberts, Stetson Law ’21 and Outgoing Student Bar Association President
Recordings of Commencement Ceremonies
8:00 a.m. Ceremony
10:45 a.m. Ceremony
1:30 p.m. Ceremony
4:15 p.m. Ceremony
Commencement Photo Gallery
View all of the Commencement photos on our Zenfolio website.
Stetson University College of Law provided on-campus COVID-19 vaccinations to students, faculty and staff for the first time on Thursday, April 29, 2021.
Professor Darryl Wilson gets a vaccine.
While many staff and faculty members had already received vaccines at locations throughout the community as Florida continued to expand eligibility and availability, students quickly filled most of the on-campus appointments.
Courtney Valtman, a 1L, said having the vaccine available on campus made it convenient and saved her the time of having to research other alternative options. She described the shot as a “quick pinch” and worth it for the peace of mind.
“It’s a great way to get people feeling safe about coming back on campus next semester,” she said.
Stetson University and the College of Law have been working on such efforts for 13 months, since the arrival of the novel coronavirus. The College of Law coordinated with the Pinellas County Department of Health and Inspire Diagnostics to make 102 doses of the Pfizer vaccine available to members of the Stetson Law community. The required second dose will be distributed on May 20.
Theresa Pulley-Radwan
“Our goal is to facilitate vaccination options for members of our community,” said Theresa Pulley-Radwan, transitional business administrator, professor of law, and co-chair of the Safer Campus Task Force. “Vaccinations will be one measure helping us to return to more in-person interactions over the next academic year.”
Officials opened appointments to immediate family members of students, faculty and staff to ensure all doses were utilized, a move many praised. Sharon Bilsborough, an administrator in the Academic Success and Bar Preparation Services department, was already fully vaccinated herself but made sure to nab appointments for her husband and son. She said seeing the vaccine being administered on campus might help ease fears for those who are hesitant – or remind those who have been too busy at the end of the semester to make time for it.
Information about new local vaccine options can be found on Safer Stetson’s COVID-19 Vaccination website. Also on that site is a form and instructions for reporting your vaccination status.
“We encourage everyone to report if they have been vaccinated,” Pulley-Radwan said. “Knowing campus-wide vaccination numbers will help in planning for future semesters.”
Stetson University’s COVID-19 vaccine statement:
At this time, COVID-19 vaccines are not mandatory for our population. Vaccine availability is still a nationwide concern, and the vaccines are authorized through FDA emergency use only. We will continue to review guidance from agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American College Health Association and the Florida Department of Health on this important matter to help in our future decisions on mandating vaccines for different groups, such as our residential population. Currently, COVID-19 vaccinations are highly recommended for all Stetson University and Stetson University College of Law community members.
Attendees participate in a breakout session during the 2018 EATS Conference.
Stetson University College of Law will host its annual Educating Advocacy Teachers (EATS) Conference June 14-16, 2021.
This year’s EATS conference will be virtual because of the COVID-19 risks; however, it will still feature the same dynamic and collaborative experience attendees have come to expect from the event, which Stetson Law has hosted for more than a decade.
The unique conference invites educators from around the country to share their experiences, while facilitating the exploration of new teaching techniques and technology in the specialized area of trial advocacy. This year’s conference is composed of various panels, workshops, and breakout sessions that promote small group discussion and interaction based on trending topics identified by the national trial advocacy community.
Sessions at this year’s conference will be led by a stellar lineup of advocacy experts from around the country and will include:
Integrating Advocacy Skills into the Doctrinal Curriculum
Moving Forward: Online v. In-Person Competitions
Identifying & Handling Race, Gender & Other Prejudices in Cases
Creative Exercises in Storytelling
EATS is also a celebration of achievement in advocacy teaching. Stetson will recognize the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Teaching Advocacy, the Edward D. Ohlbaum Professionalism Award, and the first annual Advocacy Writing Competition Award winner.
Check out the entire list of speakers and full schedule for Educating Advocacy Teachers by visiting our website. We are offering an early bird discount for those who sign up by April 30.
