The 2018-2019 results are in, and once again Stetson University College of Law ranks No. 1 nationally in trial competition performance. This most recent recognition comes in addition to the more than 20 years Stetson has been recognized as No. 1 in trial advocacy according to the U.S. News & World Report.
The Trial Competition Performance Ranking (TCPR) from Fordham University School of Law is a points-based system that objectively ranks student trial teams in interscholastic law school trial competitions. It measures success at national and regional competition levels.
All TCPR points are allocated based on the competition result data compiled by Faulkner Law School at http://www.trialteamcentral.org/, and Fordham University School of Law used the data to create a three-year analysis of the top 25 performing law schools. The TCPR tracks points for the current academic year, as well as provides a historical ranking based on the accumulation of points beginning with 2016.
For the current academic year, Stetson ranks No. 1 with 21 points,
followed by Loyola University School of Law with 17 points and UCLA with 15
points. For the 2016-2019 period, Stetson tops the chart with 43 points, outpacing
its closest competition by 14 points. Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School
of Law comes in second for the period with 29 points, followed by Fordham
University School of Law with 26 points.
“While we appreciate this recognition and the achievements of our
students, our core mission will always be about the invaluable training our
students receive,” said Julia Metts, Director of Trial Programs and Professor of Practice at Stetson. “The
trophies are nice, the wins are encouraging, but the difference we make in the
lives of others will forever be our purpose!”
This national ranking comes on the heels of Stetson’s victory at
the Chester
Bedell Mock Trial Competition earlier this year. It marked the 23rd
time in 37 years a Stetson team claimed the prize. A second Stetson team made it to the
semi-final round.
Stetson’s program in trial advocacy is nationally ranked No. 1 by U.S.
News & World Report (2020). To learn more about the advocacy program,
visit stetson.edu/law/advocacy.
Volunteers from AARP Tampa Bay helped local seniors sign up for the Do Not Call Registry and other services to help block junk mail during the Consumer Protection Fair at Stetson.
“There is no rule book to retiring or getting old,” said Marilyn Izor, a retired nurse from St. Petersburg.
The 70-year-old attended a Consumer Protection Fair on Sept. 11, 2019, at Stetson University College of Law. The school hosted the event in partnership with AARP Tampa Bay as part of AARP’s National Day of Service.
Izor said she
left the event armed with plenty of notes and great information to help her on the
“journey of getting old.”
Attendees had
the opportunity to shred sensitive documents and consult expert speakers on
consumer protection issues, as well as probate, power of attorney and other
important topics. AARP employees helped
them sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry and various ways to opt out
of junk mail. Stetson law students assisted with legal technology training,
including how to spot dangerous email attachments and suspicious web links.
“You can be
really smart and still get caught, so you need to stay informed of the latest
tricks,” said Jeff Johnson, state director for AARP.
The
organization hosts multiple service events all around the state, each with a
different theme. In the Panhandle, for example, they worked on Hurricane
Michael relief. In Gulfport, the partnership with Stetson made perfect sense,
given the school’s well-known Center for Excellence in Elder Law and strong
advocacy programs.
Stetson Professor Rebecca C. Morgan introduces St. Petersburg Police Detective Brian Kronz during the Consumer Protection Fair on Sept. 11, 2019, at Stetson University College of Law.
Stay informed
Detective
Brian Kronz with the St. Petersburg Police Department was one of the event
speakers. A sobering fact from his law enforcement experience: 90 percent of
the time when seniors are a victim of theft, it was perpetrated by someone in a
position of trust. Home health aides and unscrupulous family members are common
culprits.
“Identity
theft happens every two seconds,” he said, adding that Florida has the largest
number of identity theft victims in the nation.
Identity theft is just one of many common crimes committed against the elderly. You can read more about the most popular scams and how to avoid them on the AARP website, but key red flags for exploitation include: unusual bank account activity; missing checks, credit cards, valuables or important documents; an unusual change in beneficiaries; or a new “best friend” suddenly appearing, Kronz said.
Seniors can protect themselves by selecting someone with integrity to act as their power of attorney, always speaking with a trusted advisor before making any kind of financial decision, shredding personal documents and mail, regularly checking their credit report via AnnualCreditReport.com, scrutinizing all financial statements, and securing valuable possessions. Kronz also encouraged all seniors to feel free to call their local law enforcement agency if they ever feel unsure about a situation, person or otherwise threatened.
Stop running from aging and make a plan
Stetson
alumna Stephanie Edwards, of Edwards Elder Law in St. Petersburg, discussed
types of long-term care, from home health to assisted living to skilled nursing
facilities, and how to pay for it. Too many people refuse to think about the
possibility of needing care and fail to plan.
“Fate likes
chaos, and fate likes crisis,” she said.
Consider
these numbers:
Companion care for a few hours during
the day can range $18 per hour and up;
Assisted living facilities can cost $2,500
to $4,000 per month;
Memory care facilities (when the need
for physical care is limited but because of dementia or Alzheimer’s, more
supervision is needed) can run $3,500 to $5,500 per month; and
Skilled nursing homes can range from
$8,000 to $12,000 per month.
Seniors
without a plan for long-term care could find themselves facing out-of-pocket
expenses that their retirement nest egg doesn’t stretch far enough to cover. Payment
options include:
Ensuring have you have enough cash savings set aside;
Buying long-term care insurance (though fewer companies are offering it these days, and it can be expensive); or
Utilizing Medicare or Medicaid when the time comes.
Many people
find they fall between making too much for qualify for Medicaid, but they don’t
have enough in savings to pay for private care, Edwards said. The VA and other
government programs have strict rules regarding how to protect your financial
assets while still qualifying for services. An experienced attorney can help
you navigate these programs and plan for the future.
The Consumer Protection Fair at Stetson University College of Law drew about 50 seniors from the Tampa Bay community, as well as representatives from Pinellas County Government, Bay Area Legal Services, and the Attorney General’s Office.
Get comfortable with uncomfortable conversations
Stetson alumnus
Will Lucius, director of Special Needs Trust at Raymond James, agreed that most
people are more concerned about what happens to their assets after death and
fail to plan for care they may need while still alive. That includes not only
funds, but a legal plan that identifies someone to make financial and health
care decisions for you should you become unable to do so.
Power of
Attorney for finances generally grants authority to an agent to act on your
behalf for financial decisions. It is important to select someone trustworthy
and ethical, not just default to your oldest child, for example, especially if
he or she has a history of bad financial decisions.
“Financial
Power of Attorney is a very good tool to have,” Lucius said, adding an
important caveat: “It really can be a license to steal if it’s in the wrong
hands.”
People who
don’t have a valid durable power of attorney and become unable to make their
financial health care decisions could find a court-appointed guardian or
conservator charged with making their financial and health care decisions. Other
options include trusts and joint ownership. An attorney who specializes in
estate planning can help you identify and plan for your future needs. The worst
alternative is having no plan at all, he said.
Be wary of
premade online forms granting Power of Attorney or other legal rights, as they
may not be right for your particular needs and need to be signed and witness
properly. A licensed attorney should always review such documents to ensure
they are valid. Wills, advanced health care directives, and Power of Attorney
documents should be kept in a secure place, but you should also be sure a
trusted family member knows where they can be found when the time comes.
“Be sure to
discuss your plans with your loved ones so they know your wishes,” he said.
A student on Stetson’s Trial Team questioned the “witness” (a.k.a. Professor Julia Metts) during a mock trial as part of the event.
Don’t be afraid to report suspicious activity
To round out
the day, members of Stetson’s prestigious Trial Team conducted a mock trial for
the audience that simulated a common scam on the elderly.
The scenario: a direct mailing
company owner was on trial for mail fraud. He designed, printed and distributed
a flier informing recipients they had won a free car. In reality, when people
dialed the number, they were coerced into divulging their personal information
and then swindled for money.
The questions posed by the
simulated court proceedings: Was the mailing company owner at fault? Was he
part of a greater scheme? Or should only the people behind the scam be held
accountable?
Interestingly,
event attendees acting as the jury found the company owner not guilty. They
placed blame with the faceless people who perpetrated the scam. But as Stetson
law professors Robert Flowers and Julie Metts pointed out, while the company
owner may not have been directly responsible for people getting swindled, he
played a role. Reporting his involvement to law enforcement gives them one more
piece of the puzzle, one more clue to be able to track down the real guilty
parties. Not only that, but it helps law enforcement and legal officials create
a database of information that could help solve future crimes.
The lesson for seniors: Even if
your individual case is not solved, the information from it may lead to arrests
and prosecution in the future, so don’t hesitate to report the information to
law enforcement, no matter how small or embarrassing it may seem.
Stetson Advocacy is everywhere, and most recently it was the
Virgin Islands!
At the end of July, Professors Roberta Flowers and Julia Metts traveled to the Caribbean for hands on Stetson advocacy lectures, demonstrations, and interactive presentations for members of the Virgin Islands Bar Association.
The multi-day training session was actually several years in
the making thanks to hurricane delays and other hiccups, but it was well worth
the wait, said VIBA President Chivonne Thomas.
“Stetson is a friend of the Virgin Islands Bar Association,
and we have fostered a great relationship,” she said. “They truly made the
effort to learn about the law in the VI and assist in helping our practitioners
manage the ever-changing body of law.”
Customized training was key
Thomas wanted to bring real trial training to the members of
her organization. She and her board
spent countless hours on conference calls with the team at Stetson to fine tune
the training and develop a program that met the unique needs of the VIBA.
“Our primary goals were to provide our practitioners with
feedback in real time and to grow the advocacy skills for attorneys of all
experience levels, especially our young lawyers,” she said. “Given the shortage
of practitioners, our young attorneys are often thrown into the courtroom
sooner than their stateside counterparts, and we wanted to give them tools that
they could utilize to strengthen their advocacy.”
Metts explained that Stetson Law appreciates every
opportunity to train advocates in every place where justice matters and skills
are needed. The upshot of all the hard work and planning meant attorneys with
no experience joined attorneys with 40+ years’ experience to “learn by doing”
and participate in trial skills-based training.
“The results were phenomenal!”
Prof. Julia Metts
Thomas said nearly 60 people attended the seminar, and they are
looking forward to further training opportunities with Stetson.
The 2020 Professional Development
Conference: Campus to Career will
take place on Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, and the Conference Planning Committee is now accepting program proposals.
Campus to Career is an award-winning professional development conference that is primarily for first-year law students but is open to all students. It meets students where they are, professionally and personally, and is timed to occur at the beginning of a full-time student’s second semester when they have finished the difficult business of academically transitioning to law school are now at a place where they can transition professionally to the law school experience.
The Planning Committee is seeking proposals
for 60 or 70-minute Competency-Centered Break-Out Sessions from Stetson
University College of Law full-time faculty, adjunct faculty, staff, alumni,
and members of our legal community. Up to 15 concurrent sessions will be
selected.
The 2020 Campus to Career Conference
will focus on the following competencies
Resilience
Time Management
Professional Identity
Development
Decision-making
Planning
Civility
Self-assessment
Mentoring
Wellness
Cultural Proficiency
The Committee welcomes proposals that focus on each
of the above competencies but has identified several focused topics that
reflect specific needs on our campus at this time. We encourage proposals that would
address the below themes, all of which align with the framework of the above
competencies:
Using social media in a professional manner
Helping students who “fell into law school” identify their
professional goals
Providing students with perspective on their first semester (it
doesn’t define them or their future)
Forming an authentic professional identity
The priority deadline for proposal
submission is Friday, September 27, 2019. Additional information, including the proposal
portal can be found at www.stetson.edu/law/pdcrfp. If you have any questions, please
contact [email protected] or call 727-562-7303.
Kirsten K. Davis, J.D., Ph.D., Professor of Law and Director of the Institute for the Advancement of Legal Communication, has been selected as Chair of the Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism for 2019-20.
The Committee’s work advances civility and professionalism in the practice of law and works closely with the Bar’s Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism.
“I’m excited and honored to be working this year to support
the professionalism of lawyers in Florida,” said Davis, whose expertise is in
legal communication, rhetoric, and ethics.
Stetson University College of Law Professor Luz E. Nagle will spend the fall semester in the Canary Islands of Spain, teaching and conducting research at Universidad de La Laguna in Tenerife as a Fulbright U.S. Senior Scholar in international law.
“Selection as a Fulbright Senior Scholar is a highly competitive process,” Professor Nagle wrote via email from her office abroad. “The award came as a wonderful surprise. I am grateful, humbled, and honored for the opportunity to expand my knowledge and friendships in this wonderful culture and to be allowed to observe and participate in the training of future lawyers in a legal system different from our own.”
Professor Nagle will teach and lecture on international law topics and conduct research on trade-based money laundering while on the Faculty of Law (Facultad de Derecho) of the Universidad de La Laguna in Tenerife.
“My research interest
in trade-based money laundering is well-suited to the Canary Islands, which is
an historic trade crossroads between Europe, Africa, and the Americas and has
a vibrant free-trade port zone in Santa Cruz de Tenerife,” Professor Nagle
wrote. “I intend to engage with Faculty at the Universidad de La Laguna
who represent a multi-disciplinary approach to combating transborder and
financial crimes, and hopefully develop opportunities for advanced legal
studies between our two universities. Of course, I am also excited to
experience the lifestyle and natural beauty of the Canary Islands.”
Tenerife is the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, an archipelago off the coast of northwestern Africa.
Nagle joins elite group
Professor Nagle is one
of more than 800 U.S. citizens who will teach, conduct research, and/or provide
expertise abroad for the 2019-2020 academic year through the Fulbright U.S.
Scholar Program. Fulbright winners are selected for their academic and
professional achievement, as well as record of service and demonstrated
leadership in their respective fields.
Fulbright alumni have
achieved distinction in many fields, including 59 who have been awarded the
Nobel Prize, 84 who have received Pulitzer Prizes, and 37 who have served as a
head of state or government.
The Fulbright Program
is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. It
operates in 160 countries and is funded through an annual appropriation from
U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State, as well as participating
governments, host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world.
J. William Fulbright,
a late U.S. senator from Arkansas, introduced legislation establishing the program
in 1946. Since then, it has given more than 390,000 students, scholars,
teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds and fields the
opportunity to study, teach and conduct research abroad.
Stetson University College of Law’s Gulfport and Tampa campuses will remain closed through Wednesday, Sept. 4, based on guidance from the National Weather Service, Gov. Ron DeSantis, and our own safety officers. We will reopen on Thursday, Sept. 5, and all classes and activities will resume then.
We will continue to monitor the situation and make additional announcements as needed.
Hurricane Dorian Update – Friday, August 30
Stetson University College of Law’s Gulfport and Tampa campuses will be closing at 5 p.m. Friday, August 30, 2019. The campuses will remain closed through Tuesday, September 3, 2019, based on the track of Hurricane Dorian and its potential impact on the Tampa Bay area.
Safety of students and staff remains our highest
priority. Stetson University College of Law is not designated as a shelter
for individuals or pets. As such, we have notified students living in on-campus
dorms to be prepared to evacuate should power outages or other emergency
conditions require it. Staff from our Student Affairs/International Programs will
be working with students to ensure they have a plan.
In the case of a mandatory evacuation, students and staff have been advised not return to campus until they are notified. All students and staff have been encouraged to download the Ready Pinellas App and refer to Pinellas County Emergency Management, local media, and our own internal alert system for updates.
Additional information and updates will be posted online as they become available on the Stetson University College of Law website at www.stetson.edu/law, the official Stetson Law Facebook page (facebook.com/StetsonLaw) and the official Stetson Law Twitter feed (twitter.com/StetsonLaw or follow @stetsonlaw).
Based
in Tallahassee, the nonprofit organization helps obtain freedom for innocent
prisoners through investigating cases, obtaining DNA testing and advocating for
their release.
Since
2003, the Innocence Project of Florida has assisted with the release of 20
people who served a total of more than 440 years in prison for crimes they did
not commit.
“I’m honored to play a role in an organization
doing such noble work,” said Podgor, whose area of expertise is criminal law
and is a former deputy prosecutor and defense attorney.
SLAA has been honoring alumni accomplishments and
presenting them with awards for more than 25 years.
Outstanding Alumni
Representative Award
Stetson Law alumnus Hugo de Beaubien is the recipient of
the Outstanding Alumni Representative Award. He was recognized for his
dedication and service to the SLAA, commitment to the Central Florida alumni
chapter and encouraging other alumni to participate in the group’s activities.
Beaubien also established the DSK Law Book Award, which is presented annually
to the Stetson Law student who has the highest grade in contracts.
“I’m honored to receive the 2019 Outstanding Alumni
Representative Award,” said Beaubien. “Stetson Law has produced a number of
outstanding lawyers. I have always felt that alumni should support and give
back to Stetson Law as they are able to do so for the great education that we
all received.”
Beaubien is the founding partner of DSK Law in Orlando
and has remained connected to Stetson Law throughout his law career and been
involved with the college’s local alumni chapter. His efforts have been an
integral part of the alumni group’s continuous growth.
Distinguished Alumnus
Award
Pinellas County Sheriff and Stetson Law alumnus Bob
Gualtieri has been honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award. The accolade
recognizes alumni who have been outstanding in their chosen profession and brought
honor to the individual and Stetson Law. The award also acknowledges the
recipient’s dedication and service to humanity, which fosters Stetson Law’s
ideals.
“I have been the Pinellas County Sheriff for the past
eight years and during that time, I have worked to uphold the rule of law and
protect individual rights while reducing crime in the county and ensuring
effective public safety,” said Gualtieri. “Receiving the Distinguished Alumnus
Award is a humbling honor, especially because of the many other Stetson Law
graduates who have achieved so much during their law careers.”
Paul M. May
Meritorious Service Award
Stetson Law alumnus Prineet Sharma has been recognized
for his utmost dedication and support of Stetson Law and the SLAA with the Paul
M. May Meritorious Service Award.
Sharma is the founding partner of Sharma Eminent Domain
Lawyers in Winter Garden. He is a member of the Veterans Law Institute’s advisory board, and
along with his wife Shamila Sharma, who is also a Stetson Law alumna, has
established the Sharma Family Veterans Endowed Scholarship.
“I’m very honored and humbled to receive the Paul M. May
Meritorious Service Award,” said Sharma. “Supporting veteran scholarships allows
me to give back to those who have given so much for us to enjoy our country’s
freedoms. If anyone deserves recognition, then it’s the brave men and women and
their families who serve so honorably to protect us.”
Ben Willard Award
As a fourth-generation Floridian, Stetson Law alumna Pam
Bondi was elected twice to serve as Florida’s Attorney General and currently
chairs Ballard Partners’ corporate regulatory practice. The SLAA acknowledged her
accomplishments with the Ben Willard Award. The recognition honors alumni who
have expended extra efforts to prevail for the benefit of Florida’s citizens,
and whose humanitarian achievements have brought distinction to themselves and
Stetson Law.
“I’m beyond humbled and do not feel deserving of this
great honor because so many Stetson Law graduates do so much for Florida and
our country,” said Bondi. “I was a career prosecutor and became Attorney
General to help people. My Stetson Law professors had a tremendous impact on my
career goals and I learned the value of giving back and have tried to make a
small impact on the world.”
Bondi tackled dozens of state and national initiatives,
including filing comprehensive state litigation regarding the nation-wide
opioid crisis as Florida’s Attorney General. She also played a leading role in
achieving the National Mortgage Settlement, which is the largest consumer
financial protection settlement in the United States’ history and ultimately
resulted in $56 billion in relief nationally.
In an extraordinary victory for Florida, Bondi sued
British Petroleum (BP) and other responsible parties in the Deepwater Horizon
oil spill case and settled for more than $2 billion in economic relief for
Florida alone.
During her tenure as Florida’s Attorney General, Bondi worked
aggressively to shut down pill mills, combat opioid abuse, ban synthetic drugs,
end human trafficking, test previously unprocessed sexual assault kits, develop
a school safety app to prevent school shootings and recovered more than $1
billion in consumer protection, antitrust and false claims matters.
Stetson University College of Law third-year student Emilia L. Soliman was recently named a Ms. JD Fellow. She is the third Stetson Law student to receive this honor.
“The
Ms. JD Fellowship is a wonderful mentorship program that will allow me to
express myself and join a community of professionals who will guide me through
the issues that women face in the law profession,” said Soliman. “This
fellowship also will provide me with the support that I will need to be
successful in the workplace after law school and give me a chance to create an
incredible network and village with amazing women in the legal field.”
Fellows
will be writing a blog entry on the Ms. JD Fellowship website and work either
on a group project with other fellows or an individual project at their law
school.
Soliman
may be writing a blog about her experience as a young mom in law school along
with the difficulties and challenges a mother faces as a full-time law student.
She is currently researching topics for either an individual or group project
as part of her fellowship.
Soliman
has aspired to become an attorney ever since she was a child. She observed her uncle
at his law firm after school, which sparked her passion for making a global
difference with a law career.
She
received Bachelor of Arts degrees in international and global studies and
political science and government from the University of South Florida and her
Master’s degree in Latin American and Caribbean studies at Florida
International University.
Soliman
is pursuing a career in international and immigration law after she graduates
from Stetson Law next year. While at Stetson Law, she has been a member of Phi
Alpha Delta, the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Tampa Hispanic Bar
Association and the Stetson Law student publication Journal of International Aging Law & Policy and treasurer of
the International Law Society.
International
law and immigration are important to Soliman because she is an immigrant who
left Honduras with her family at a young age. She wants to give back and help
other immigrants in similar situations.
“I
have a multifaceted perspective and deeper understanding on a variety of global
issues,” said Soliman. “I want to affect social change through laws and advance
human rights throughout the world.”
“We are
honored to be recognized by the American Bar Association and presented with the
E. Smythe Gambrell Professionalism Award,” said Joann Grages Burnett, Esq., Campus to Career co-chair and associate director of
career and professional development. “Receiving this award is a tremendous
honor and we are thrilled to be included among so many other wonderful
programs.”
Joann Grages Burnett, Esq.
“At Stetson
Law, we are committed to preparing students for professional success, no matter
which path they choose and are delighted that the work of our planning
committee is valued,” said Burnett. “We are proud of what we do and are excited
about continuing to grow and expand “Campus and Career.”
The
prestigious distinction is renowned in the law community.
“The E.
Smythe Gambrell Professionalism Award is a longstanding and well-regarded
award,” said Kirsten K. Davis,
Ph.D., Campus to Career
faculty co-chair and interim assistant dean for student affairs. “Stetson Law has
been a leader in legal professionalism education and receiving the award is
great feedback that we are providing professional development opportunities
that are meaningful to our partners at the bar and on the bench.”
Kirsten K. Davis, Ph.D.
The one-day
conference, now in its third year, is planned and organized by a standing
committee of staff, faculty and students. The team, which includes the Office of Career and
Professional Development,
plans and operates the conference annually, and works across campus disciplines
to include ideas and expertise from everyone, including Stetson Law alumni and
members of the law community at large.
The
conference is geared towards the professional development of first-year law
students, but is open to all students and prepares participants for success by
introducing and strengthening their knowledge and skills through programs
focused on key professional development and professional identity competencies,
which included resilience, time management, professionalism, decision-making,
planning, civility, self-assessment, mentoring and wellness this past year.
Last February, the “Professional Development Conference: Campus to Career” was held at Stetson Law’s Gulfport campus and included keynote speakers who provided insight about their student-to-professional journey, breakout sessions that offered guidance on a variety of topics, including self-advocacy, teamwork, financial and time management and mentoring and a networking reception.
The $3,500
award, which was established in 1991, is named after E. Smythe Gambrell who was
a former American Bar Association (ABA) and American Bar Foundation president
during the 1950s.
The award is
administered by the American Bar Association (ABA) Standing Committee on
Professionalism and supported by the E. Smythe Gambrell Fund for
Professionalism. The award recognizes the nation’s exemplary, innovative and
ongoing professionalism programs in law schools, bar associations, courts and
other legal organizations that ensure integrity and dedication to the legal
profession and public.
The accolade
will make a difference during next year’s professional development conference.
“The award
funds will directly support the “Professional Development Conference: Campus to
Career” in 2020 and other professional development innovations,” said Burnett.
“The committee is already in planning mode and this award will help ensure 2020
is the best year yet.”
The E. Smythe Gambrell Professionalism Awards will be presented during the
American Bar Association’s 2019 Annual Meeting at the San Francisco Marriott
Marquis in San Francisco, California on Friday, Aug. 9, 2019.
The American
Bar Association’s (ABA) Young Lawyers Division (YLD) annually recognizes 40 ABA
young lawyer members who exemplify a broad range of high achievement,
innovation, vision, leadership and legal and community service with its On the
Rise award.
The ABA YLD
provides new lawyers with tools for success, skillset development resources and
networking opportunities.
The accolade
recognizes young lawyers who are shining brightly in their law careers.
“I have had
the opportunity to work with some of the most committed, talented, diverse and
innovative young lawyers from across the country while serving in the American
Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division,” said Burnett, who is a Stetson Law
alumna. “I’m deeply appreciative to my award nominator Shayda Le and honored to
be included in this group of amazing lawyers and leaders.”
Award
eligibility includes being an ABA member in good standing, a licensed attorney
in the United States or one of its territories and at least 36 years old or
younger during the nomination year.
At Stetson
Law, Burnett specializes in employer readiness for students and alumni and
oversees postgraduate judicial clerkship initiatives within the Office of Career and
Professional Development. She
serves as the co-chair for Stetson Law’s award-winning “Professional
Development Conference: Campus to Career” and ABA’s YLD member resources director, where she
leads the division’s professional development and wellness initiatives.
Prior to providing
law students with career and professional development opportunities, Burnett
was an assistant public defender for the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida and
handled misdemeanor, juvenile and felony cases.
For Burnett,
the award is a prominent recognition.
“This award
is very special to me,” said Burnett. “As someone who uses her law degree in a
unique way at Stetson Law, it is incredibly rewarding to be recognized among so
many wonderful young lawyers who I truly respect and admire.”
“I’m grateful
for the opportunity to serve in the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers
Division and thankful that Stetson Law has supported my involvement with such
enthusiasm,” said Burnett. “The Young Lawyers Division has afforded me with so many
wonderful opportunities and this award is simply the icing on the cake.”
Award
honorees will receive national recognition in ABA print publications and online
and on social media and will be recognized at the YLD awards breakfast during
the ABA’s 2019 Annual Meeting at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis in San
Francisco, California on Saturday, Aug. 10.
