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Modeling the U.N. of the future: two Stetson Law students participate in intergenerational community-building at Edward M. Kennedy Institute

Khai Su and Riya Khan worked together to present during the model U.N. session. — Kai Su and Riya Khan worked together to present during the model U.N. session.

Two Stetson University College of Law students participated in a model intergenerational U.N. session on April 8 about global issues related to aging. Stetson students Riya Khan, a student in the LL.M. program, and Kai Su, a first-year J.D. student, joined the session at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston via Skype.

A group of more than 30 people including senior citizens and high school students partnered to represent three NGOs for human rights, transportation and housing and 16 different countries around the world on the issue of aging.

“It’s important to get younger people involved early on,” said Khan, who wants to work for the U.N. or a similar organization after graduating from Stetson in May.

Khan and Su shared ideas on how countries should address their aging populations, using the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing as a guide. Adopted by the Second World Assembly on Ageing in 2002, the Madrid Plan is a comprehensive action plan for building an intergenerational society.

“I did a model U.N. program in high school,” Su shared. “This was a different approach, matching high school students with older people.”

Session participants worked together to write resolutions requesting healthcare, housing and education for seniors and an end to gender discrimination and exploitation in third world countries. Khan and Su addressed questions about how to address human rights issues impacting older women in the Middle East, whether governments or NGOs should create or implement human rights policies, and whether all countries should sign the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The intergenerational U.N. initiative is the brainchild of Kathi Bailey, director of the Yarmouth Senior Center. The seniors involved in the program stay active and have an opportunity to interact with young people to develop solutions to worldwide issues. The town of Yarmouth is an age-friendly community and a member of the World Health Organization.

“We were fortunate to meet Professor Morgan and JR Swanegan at the American Society on Aging Conference in Chicago in March of 2017 and begin our collaborative journey,” said Bailey. Professor Rebecca Morgan co-directs the Center for Excellence in Elder Law with Professor Roberta Flowers. Swanegan is assistant dean for international programs at Stetson.

“The Stetson University student participation allowed us to introduce a Human Rights NGO through Skype technology as a demonstration of intergenerational and international participation in community building for a lifespan as we explored the topic of aging,” said Bailey. “We now have a new mechanism to reach out in communities where the traditional model U.N. did not exist and we have put aging on the traditional model U.N. committee map.”

Watch a video of the session below:

Students in International Business Transactions visit the Port of Tampa

(L-R): Sebastian Martinez, Charles Brady, Chloe Wells, Tobias Wetzel, Franziska Kues, Lukas Wienke, Roxane Olivier, Anna Liedl, Bansari Amin, Professor Luz Nagle.

Professor Luz Nagle recently visited the Port of Tampa with students in her International Business Transactions class to observe delivery of goods firsthand.

“This was a unique opportunity for our foreign students to see how what we are learning in class is applied to industry and commerce,” said Professor Nagle.

Students visited the port with the professor, saw the forklifts used to move the goods that impact risks and responsibilities, and toured the facilities by boat.

The class discussed matters concerning the shipment of goods, including the duties and obligations of sellers and buyers to a contract of sale relating to the delivery of tangible goods sold overseas, as well as the roles and responsibilities of maritime carriers.

Stetson students win awards in three categories at international moot court competition in Hong Kong

(L-R): Front row: Kara Rogers, Reshma Pharsi, Vanessa Denk. Back row: E. Alan Brock, Associate Dean Stephanie Vaughan, Bart Kubiak, Dale Tan. Photo courtesy E. Alan Brock.

Stetson University College of Law students won honorable mention awards in three categories, for claimant’s memorandum, respondent’s memorandum and oralist, at the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot (East) Competition held March 27-April 2 in Hong Kong.

Stetson’s team of E. Alan Brock, Vanessa Denk, Bart Kubiak, Taofikat Ninalowo, Reshma Pharsi, Kara Rogers and Ayodale (Dale) Tan was one of the only U.S. law school teams, including Harvard, that received awards in every category.

(L-R): Reshma Pharsi, Dale Tan, Dean Stephanie Vaughan, Kara Rogers, Professor Kristen Adams, Bart Kubiak, Vanessa Denk. — (L-R): Reshma Pharsi, Dale Tan, Associate Dean Stephanie Vaughan, Kara Rogers, Professor Kristen Adams, Bart Kubiak, Vanessa Denk in Hong Kong.

“The VIS competition is a gathering of the world’s most talented teams, contributing their writing and oral argument skills to a complex problem,” said Tan, who won the honorable mention best oralist award and was recently elected as Stetson’s next Student Bar Association president. “Along the way, lifelong friendships are made, skills are enhanced, and advocacy skills are brought to a higher level. It is truly the experience of a lifetime.”

More than 400 oralists from 125 teams from around the world competed.

Stetson Professor of Law Kristen Adams, Associate Dean Stephanie Vaughan J.D. ’91, and Alexander Zesch J.D.’13 helped prepare the team.

“The competition is almost indescribable as it brings diverse cultures from around the globe together not only to compete, but to shine a light on how the rule of law transcends strife and differences,” said Associate Dean Vaughan. “It is quite remarkable, and makes me hopeful for the future.”

Also at the awards ceremony, Stetson’s annual International Environmental Moot Court competition, now in its 21st year, was recognized among the three great international competitions for law students.

Legal and business professionals: Network in Cuba with Stetson program June 28-July 2

Stetson University College of Law invites legal and business professionals from across the U.S. to join a destination Continuing Legal Education program in Havana, Cuba, June 28-July 2.

Program attendees network with legal industry professionals while exploring Cuban culture and learning about the legal system and business communities in Cuba.

The destination CLE, “Explore Cuban Legal Systems in Havana,” includes an all-inclusive package with airfare, airport transportation, an interpreter, accommodations, meals, Cuban visa, U.S. taxes, Cuban health insurance and CLE credits.

Guided door-to-door excursions to historic sights including the Hemingway house, Finca Vigía, are included with the package.

Stetson University launched its first short faculty-led program to Cuba in January of 2014. Stetson law school started its study abroad program in Cuba the following year, and launched a CLE program in Cuba in 2016.

“Florida in general and Tampa in particular have natural cultural, historic and business ties in Cuba. If the political winds shift towards a more open society, those historical relationships will be renewed and invigorated and new ones built,” said Richard A. Harrison B.A. ’83, J.D. ’86, attorney with Richard A. Harrison, P.A., who traveled with Stetson’s CLE program last year.

“As a child of the Cold War era, I wanted to see the country and meet the people for myself,” said Harrison. “As a lawyer, I wanted to hear about the Cuban legal system from Cuban attorneys and law professors. It was a remarkable trip all around and I’ll be going back.”

To learn more about the CLE, or to register, visit stetson.edu/destinationcuba.

Student presents with judge at Tampa Bay Lawyers Guild’s Law Day

(L-R): Judge Edward C. LaRose, Mary Gantert and Dean Kent of Trenam Law. Photo courtesy Jesuit High School.

Second-year Stetson Law student Mary Gantert recently joined Judge Edward C. LaRose to address Jesuit High School students in Tampa on the topic of the Fourteenth Amendment during the annual Tampa Bay Lawyers Guild’s Law Day on March 30.

In addition to explaining the Fourteenth Amendment, Gantert and Judge LaRose answered general law questions, questions about law school, and discussed balancing law school and real life, balancing practice and real life, and how to plan for law school.

“It’s a wonderful program, and I’m so glad I got to participate,” said Gantert, who works twice weekly for Judge LaRose at the Second District Court of Appeal.

Through the externship, Gantert is assigned specific cases, and reads and summarizes the records and the parties’ briefs from the lower courts to help prepare the judges for oral arguments.

When parties waive their oral arguments, Gantert has an opportunity to research and write memorandum on the law suggesting answers to the issue the parties are arguing. Then, when the panel of three judges gather at the “oral arguments waived” panel, Gantert presents to the judges on the issue and what she believes the answer to the issue should be.

“It is incredible to present before the judges. At first it was a little nerve-wracking, but the judges are very encouraging. It’s an amazing feeling to know that I am helping to shape the law every day.”

Gantert applied to the clinics and externships program through Stetson Law this semester. She worked with Professor Lance Long, who helped her decide on the best match.

“I was placed with Judge LaRose and he has been an incredible mentor,” said Gantert.

Nationally recognized defense attorney Cristina C. Arguedas receives 2017 White Collar Criminal Defense Award from NACDL and Stetson Law

Cris Arguedas received the White Collar Criminal Defense Advocacy Award at Stetson. — Cristina Arguedas (left) received the White Collar Criminal Defense Award from NACDL president Barry J. Pollack (right) at Stetson.

On Saturday, March 18, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and Stetson University College of Law presented Cristina C. Arguedas with the 2017 White Collar Criminal Defense Award. Ms. Arguedas received her award during NACDL’s White Collar Criminal Defense College at Stetson Law in Gulfport, Florida. NACDL and Stetson co-present the award annually to individuals who have made a profound impact on the field of white collar criminal defense advocacy.

Cristina Arguedas, this year's White Collar Criminal Defense Award winner, spoke at Stetson. — Cristina Arguedas, this year’s White Collar Criminal Defense Award winner, spoke at Stetson.

Ms. Arguedas is a nationally recognized criminal defense attorney specializing in complex white collar cases, such as public corruption, securities fraud, and environmental crimes, as well as sensational murders. Throughout her career, she has defended both celebrity and low-profile clients. In 1995, Ms. Arguedas served on O.J. Simpson’s “Dream Team,” where she was tasked to determine whether Simpson should testify in court by putting him through a grueling mock cross-examination. California Lawyer named Ms. Arguedas as the lawyer other lawyers would hire if they got arrested. In 2000, she was elected as a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. And in 2010, Ms. Arguedas was inducted into the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame of the Litigation Section of the State Bar of California (an honor shared by only 20 other attorneys in the state). In addition to numerous other awards, she has also been named one of the 50 most influential women lawyers in the United States by The National Law Journal and one of the five most promising women lawyers in the country by Time.

In 2016, Ms. Arguedas served as lead counsel in one of the most significant federal criminal cases of the year – the more than a billion-dollar criminal case of United States v. FedEx Corp. Accused of intentionally shipping illegal internet prescriptions, FedEx was charged with criminal distribution of controlled substances, conspiracy, and money laundering, among others. In a cautionary tale for overreaching prosecutors, not only did Ms. Arguedas and her team secure the dismissal of the criminal case against FedEx, but in doing so the court “conclude[d] that the defendants are factually innocent.” Ms. Arguedas and her colleagues discussed the case in a 2016 episode (episode 49) of NACDL’s podcast series, “The Criminal Docket.”

“We are honored to present this year’s White Collar Criminal Defense Award to Cris Arguedas,” said NACDL President Barry J. Pollack, who presented the award. “Ms. Arguedas is a fearless advocate who never shies away from a difficult case and wins an extraordinary number of them. Ms. Arguedas is what every law student and every lawyer aspires to be. She is a consummate professional and a master of her craft. Ms. Arguedas embodies what this award is all about – recognition of an attorney who has made a profound impact on the field of white collar criminal defense advocacy. ”

Ms. Arguedas earned her J.D. summa cum laude from Rutgers Law School in 1979.

The NACDL White Collar Criminal Defense College at Stetson, March 16-19, is an educational “boot-camp” program for legal practitioners from across the country wishing to gain key advocacy skills and learn substantive white collar law from masters in the field.

Media Contacts:
Ezra Dunkle-Polier, NACDL Public Affairs & Communications Assistant

(202) 465-7656 or [email protected].

Brandi Palmer, Communications Office, Stetson University College of Law

(727) 562-7381 or [email protected].

Up close with Cuba: Students and professor travel to Havana during Spring Break

Professor Jason Palmer traveled with the Stetson Law students to Cuba to complete a course during Spring Break. Photo courtesy Professor Palmer. — Students, professors and administrators visited author Ernest Hemingway’s favorite fishing village. (L-R): First row – Caridad Acosta (FAMU), Professor Deleso Alford (FAMU). Second row – Francisco Lopez (Stetson), Jason Birdsong (FAMU), Kristen Overstreet (Stetson), Professor Jason Palmer (Stetson), Ashley Fields (Stetson), Kelley Parks (Stetson), Aman Dhaliwal (Stetson), JR Swanegan (Stetson), Troy Lewis (Stetson). Third row – Kristen Nasser (Stetson), Erin Domaracki (Stetson). Back row – Anthony Nunnally (Stetson), Cali Crisler (Stetson), Erica Ramos (Stetson). Photo courtesy Professor Palmer.

Eleven second and third-year Stetson Law students recently spent their Spring Break studying abroad in Cuba.

Professor Jason Palmer’s one-credit Cuban Legal System and Society class met once per week during the spring semester, culminating in a five-day, four-night trip to Havana, Cuba, from March 5-9.

Stetson students visited Cuba for Spring Break. Photo by Francisco Lopez.

“Traveling to Cuba for five days was an amazing culmination to our eight weeks of classroom learning regarding Cuban law, culture, and society,” said Professor Palmer. “Speaking directly with Cuban lawyers about their civil, family and criminal law practices and immersing ourselves in the culture and history of Cuba sharply focused for the entire Stetson group the similarities and differences in our legal systems and cultural identities.”

The course introduced Stetson law students to the history of the Cuban legal system and society as well as the current legal system in Cuba. Students learned about Cuban laws, US-Cuba policy, Cuban society and current legal issues related to Cuba.

“The study abroad program eliminated the distance created by the U.S. Embargo on Cuba and allowed me to see the lives, culture, and viewpoints of the Cuban people up close,” said third-year Stetson Law student Francisco Lopez, who traveled to Cuba as part of Professor Palmer’s class.

Stetson launched the study abroad program in Cuba during Spring Break in 2015.

Stetson no. 1 Trial Advocacy, no. 4 Legal Writing in U.S. News

U.S. News & World Report has ranked Stetson University College of Law no. 1 in Trial Advocacy for the 19th time in 23 years. Stetson ranked fourth in the nation for Legal Writing and has consistently ranked among the top six legal writing programs since the inception of the Legal Writing rankings.

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

“At Stetson, we are dedicated to teaching the key skills lawyers need as advocates and communicators,” said Stetson University President Wendy B. Libby, Ph.D. “Stetson alumni bear the distinction of graduating from a law school that is nationally recognized for its advocacy and legal writing programs.”

“We are proud to again be recognized for our consistent value as a leader in advocacy and legal writing education,” said Stetson Dean and Professor of Law Christopher Pietruszkiewicz. “At Stetson, student advocates learn effective advocacy and communication skills by working with an internationally renowned faculty in state-of-the-art teaching courtrooms.”

“The Stetson Educational Experience ensures that the next generation of Stetson lawyers have the ability to advocate, to speak on behalf of others,” said Charles H. Rose III, Professor of Excellence in Trial Advocacy and Director of the Center for Excellence in Advocacy at Stetson. “They learn to do so with a level of competency, compassion and professionalism – protecting the rights of all of us with every client they serve.”

“We are devoted to teaching and studying legal communication at Stetson,” said Kirsten K. Davis, Ph.D., Stetson’s director of the Institute for the Advancement of Legal Communication. “We are honored that our peers recognized Stetson for this work.”

Stetson is also listed among the Most Diverse Law Schools in the U.S. Its part-time law school program ranks no. 24. Stetson is also listed among the top 100 law schools.

More information about Stetson’s distinguished top national programs is available online at www.law.stetson.edu/advocacy and www.law.stetson.edu/academics/lrw.

For more information on the U.S. News 2018 “Best Grad Schools” visit www.usnews.com/grad.

Women in the Law: Student Natalie Yello

(L-R): Irene Mo from Michigan State University and Natalie Yello discussing being a first-generation law student at the conference.

Ms. J.D. Fellows with Ms. JD President Raychelle Tasher (bottom left corner in black suit and purple shirt) and Fellowship Coordinator Maleaha Brown.

Third-year student Natalie Yello recently presented a brief segment at the Ms. JD’s Ninth Annual Conference on Women in the Law in Chicago, Illinois, on March 2-3.

Natalie Yello at the Ms. JD PROPEL Conference in Chicago.

Yello co-presented with Irene Mo, a third-year law student from Michigan State University, on what it’s like to be a first-generation law student and shared tips with other law students.

Kelly Jo MacArthur, vice president and associate general counsel for Amazon, and Lia Moeser, Amazon’s corporate counsel, provided the conference keynote address.

The conference on Promoting Retention, Opportunity, Partnership, Excellence, and Leadership also featured awards for women in the profession which included, among others, Lieutenant General Flora Darpino, the 39th Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Army and the first woman to hold that position its in 242 year history.

Yello is associate justice of the Moot Court Board at Stetson, editor-in-chief of the Journal of International Aging, Law & Policy, and a member of the board of governors for the Young Lawyers Division Law Student Division. Last year, Yello became the first Stetson student to be awarded a fellowship by Ms. JD. The competitive fellowship was only awarded to 15 law students from around the country.

Stetson Trial Team wins regional, advances to American Association for Justice national competition in April

Stetson University College of Law’s Trial Team won the regional qualifying round of the American Association for Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition March 9-12 in Miami, Florida. Stetson students head to the national AAJ competition in Cleveland, Ohio, in April.

(L-R): Ethan Dunn, Chris Hallett, Amara Benitez, Christian Romaguera, two competition officials, Joseph Sise, Colby Connell, Kaitlyn Dugas and Haley Coet. — (L-R): Ethan Dunn, Christopher Hallett, Amara Benitez, Christian Romaguera, with two competition officials (center), Joseph Sise, Colby Connell, Kaitlyn Dugas and Haley Coet.

Stetson sent two teams of students to the regional competition in Miami who both advanced to the final round, beating all the other law schools to compete against each other.

Stetson’s team of Amara Benitez, Ethan Dunn, Christopher Hallett and Christian Romaguera beat the other Stetson team of Haley Coet, Colby Connell, Kaitlyn Dugas and Joseph Sise in the final round of the AAJ regional.

“I watched the Stetson students encourage, challenge, and educate one another over the course of this competition,” said Professor of Excellence in Trial Advocacy Charles Rose III, who traveled with the teams. “This was truly a win for both teams.”

Stetson’s Center for Excellence in Advocacy Assistant Director Erika McArdle J.D. ’12 and Patrick McArdle J.D. ’12 co-coached the teams.

To learn more about advocacy at Stetson visit www.stetson.edu/law/advocacy.

Stetson named co-champions at the Boston regional of the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition

Stetson University College of Law students were named co-champions at the Boston Regional of the American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition on March 4.

Stetson law students Felicia Kitzmiller and Taylor Ryan won one of the final rounds of the competition as well as the second best brief and will advance to the national finals of the competition in April. A second team from Stetson of Anne Boyle, Evan Dix and Jeff Keller were co-finalists, and Dix won the sixth best oralist award. More than 180 teams competed in the regional rounds for a chance to become one of the 24 teams advancing to the national finals. Professor Michael Allen and alumnus Jason Stearns J.D. ’08 coached the team.

Another team competing over the weekend—Anna Kirkpatrick, Diego Pestana, Ali Preston, Hoyt Prindle, and Chloe Wells—was recognized for the 10th best memorial and won three oralist awards in the Southern Regional of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition on March 4, in New Orleans. Stetson Law alumni Caitlein Jammo J.D. ’13 and Bradley Muhs J.D. ’14 coached the Jessup team.

The winter 2017 issue of the National Jurist magazine recently listed Stetson University College of Law’s moot court among the best 20 programs in the U.S. during this decade. To learn more about advocacy at Stetson visit www.stetson.edu/law/advocacy.

Chasing Down Madison Brown J.D. ‘16

By Brandi Palmer

“I never thought I was going to do anything in entertainment,” Madison Brown J.D. ’16 said as she prepared to travel to film two episodes of her new television program.

In one episode, Brown tries her hand at making desserts like the pros. Photo courtesy Madison Brown.

As a law student at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida, Brown was focused on corporate law and business when the opportunity to play a role in a movie presented itself. Brown said that she spent many weekends during law school flying to Tennessee, the filming location for the movie, “Where the Fast Lane Ends.” A month after graduating from Stetson law school last year, Brown was shooting the pilot for her own program, “Chasing Down Madison Brown.”

“Now, it’s my full-time job,” said Brown. “It’s all day, every day, even weekends calling, scheduling and shooting.”

Brown said her law school studies paid off in negotiating the contract for the show, which she owns and hosts.

“It’s very exciting. I get to travel all over the country,” said Brown. The show is a travel adventure show that follows Brown to locations across the U.S., from Toby Keith’s restaurant and horse race farm in Oklahoma to a zoo in Naples.

Brown explained that she is no stranger to travel or adventure. The 25–year-old grew up following her father Mark Miller, musician with the Sawyer Brown band, around the country on tour.

“You never know where I’ll be,” said Brown of the new 26-episode program premiering on RSV-TV on March 7.

“Chasing Down Madison Brown” will air Tuesday nights at 9:30 p.m. EST. Watch online on RFD-TV: http://www.rfdtv.com/story/34626078/chasing-down-madison-brown#.WL1bzxiZN-U.