News Archives - Page 65 of 138

Dr. Kevin Quashie presents Social Justice Lecture

Dr. Kevin Quashie, a cultural studies and theory professor at Smith College, presented the Social Justice Lecture “Quiet, Justice, Love” on Oct. 15 on the Gulfport campus of Stetson University College of Law.

Dr. Quashie’s lecture explored how the idea of quiet can impact characterizations of African-American culture, often linked with the idea of resistance and the yearning for justice.

Dr. Quashie is the author of several books, most recently, The Sovereignty of Quiet: Beyond Resistance in Black Culture.

Stetson’s Social Justice Lecture Series, grounded in Stetson’s values, serves as a platform for discussion around personal and social responsibility, and as a catalyst for participants to effect change throughout the world.

The free event was open to the public.

NOAA Fisheries biologist speaks at Stetson

Dr. John Carlson, a research fishery biologist with the National Marine Fisheries Service’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center in Panama City, Fla., presented the Edward and Bonnie Foreman Biodiversity Lecture on Oct. 8 at Stetson Law in Gulfport. Dr. Carlson discussed challenges in implementing regulations to help the endangered smalltooth sawfish species recover.

Dr. Carlson has been a leader with the Smalltooth Sawfish Recovery Team since 2006. He is also the scientific chair of the Shark Memorandum of Understanding under the Convention on Migratory Species as well as the regional vice chair of the IUCN-Shark Specialist Group.

Stetson’s Edward and Bonnie Foreman Biodiversity Lecture Series brings leading experts to campus to speak on a range of environmental topics. The lecture series is co-sponsored by Stetson’s Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy and is free and open to the public.

Visit the Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy at Stetson to learn more.

Christie Letarte: Serving the public interest through education and the law

by Alexandria Nicodemi, 2L

Spring 2013 alumna Christie Letarte is a staff attorney for the Florida Senate Committee on Education. Her career combines her passion for education and the law.

https://soundcloud.com/stetsonlaw/christie-letarte-education-and-the-law

“I knew in some capacity that I wanted to be in public interest,” said Christie. “My undergraduate school [College of the Holy Cross] had a mission statement that was about being men and women for others and that stuck with me. I took it to heart. I wanted to do something that would allow me to give back.”

Christie’s interest in attending law school began when Stetson Law professor Peter Lake spoke at the University of Connecticut where Christie was completing a graduate degree in higher education and student affairs. She said Professor Lake inspired her to focus on an educational law career with a public interest concentration.

While at Stetson Law, Christie was involved with the Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy. She took professor Robert Bickel’s Civil Rights Movement course and interned with the General Counsel at the University of South Florida. After taking the bar, Christie said Stetson’s Career Development office informed her of an opening with the Florida Senate Committee on Education.

Christie explained that her job is dynamic, characterized by the legislative session calendar. During the 60-day session, bills are drafted, reviewed and eventually passed into law.

“The office is never static,” said Christie.

The committee encourages public involvement in the state education system, providing information and facts on current issues in order for senators to make informed decisions. The education bills Christie works with range from administering classroom supply assistance programs to the renaming of collegiate institutions. The beginning of the year is marked by monthly committee meetings in anticipation of the upcoming legislative session, when bills are created and Christie’s focus shifts to the technical issues behind each bill.

“When bills first come through our office, we analyze them for some technical, and possibly constitutional issues and what the financial impact may be,” Christie said.

In the summer, Christie said that her office follows up on the implementation of the bills that became law.

“There is always something new to learn, something new to look up and no matter what, I am always doing meaningful work with great people,” said Christie. “If I’m able to do that, that’s the jackpot right there.”

Students learn about the legacy of the 1964 Civil Rights Act

A group of approximately 150 law students learned about the legacy of the 1964 Civil Rights Act during a presentation on Oct. 1 at Stetson University College of Law’s Gulfport campus.

Students listen to Professor Emanuel's presentation on civil rights on Oct. 1 in Gulfport. — Students listen to Professor Emanuel’s presentation on civil rights on Oct. 1 in Gulfport. Photo by Jenna Kelly.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Anne Emanuel, Professor Emerita of Georgia State University College of Law and author of Elbert Parr Tuttle: Chief Jurist of the Civil Rights Revolution, presented on “Judicial Leadership & The Struggle To Enforce Civil Rights.”

Professor Emanuel discussed her experiences clerking for 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Chief Judge Elbert Parr Tuttle when he implemented cutting-edge civil rights legislation during the 1970s.

“The 5th Circuit heard virtually every case that made the Brown v. Board mandate for equality a reality in the Deep South,” said student Scott Tolliver. Tolliver is the president of the American Constitution Society at Stetson Law. He helped coordinate the presentation with Professor Robert Bickel, who teaches courses on constitutional law and the civil rights movement at Stetson.

Professor Emanuel challenged the Stetson Law students in the audience to recognize their roles as leaders who have the power to improve peoples’ lives by ensuring individual rights and liberties, genuine equality, access to justice, democracy and the rule of law.

Stetson’s Jewish Law Student Association, Education Law Association, Black Law Students Association, Student Wellness Society, Equal Justice Works, and the Social Justice Advocacy Concentration sponsored the presentation along with the American Constitution Society.

Panel features Florida Bar president Greg Coleman

A panel of five distinguished lawyers and leaders talked with Stetson Law students about “Balancing Life and the Law” on Oct. 6 in Gulfport.

Stetson Law students gathered to hear a panel discuss balancing life and the law.

Approximately 90 students attended the presentation on balancing a successful career with a personal life featuring Florida Bar President Greg Coleman B.B.A.’85, J.D ’89 .; Carlton Fields Jorden Burt shareholder Fentrice Driskoll; appellate Judge Edward C. LaRose; Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division immediate past-president Melanie Griffin; and Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors member Zack Zuroweste J.D./M.B.A.’06.

The panelists explored what a typical day in the life of a lawyer looks like, described ways to maximize efficiency on the job to carve out more time with friends and family, and urged the students to stay focused on achieving and maintaining balance throughout their professional careers.

Stetson’s Biodiversity Lecture focuses on Sargasso Sea conservation

Kate Killerlain Morrison kicked off the fall 2014 Edward and Bonnie Foreman Biodiversity Lecture Series at Stetson on Oct. 2. Morrison is deputy executive secretary for the Sargasso Sea Commission, a partnership effort led by the Government of Bermuda to protect the Sargasso Sea.

The Sargasso Sea Commission was established to encourage and facilitate voluntary collaboration on Sargasso Sea conservation efforts.

The Commission was established after the Hamilton Declaration on Collaboration for the Conservation of the Sargasso Sea was signed on March 11 by the governments of the Azores, Bermuda, Monaco, the U.K. and the U.S.

Morrison spoke on the importance of building strong international ties to achieve success.

Stetson’s Biodiversity Lecture Series brings leading experts to campus to speak on a range of environmental topics directly impacting the state.

Professor Royal C. Gardner directs the Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy at Stetson.

Stetson University and USF Health form first-of-a-kind partnership to help veterans

Contact:
Brandi Palmer, Stetson Law Communications, 727-562-7381
Anne DeLotto Baier, USF Health Communications, 813-974-3303

Stetson University College of Law and the University of South Florida are joining forces to help Florida veterans through supportive clinical services, collaborative student training and joint research. The collaboration will help veterans negotiate an often complex system so that they may secure disability benefits to which they are entitled.

This partnership is believed to be the first of its kind pairing students and faculty from a law school and an academic health center to help serve veterans.

“Our goal is to serve Florida’s veteran population by helping them secure the benefits they have rightfully earned from the Department of Veterans Affairs while providing an integrated, interdisciplinary learning opportunity for our law students as they gain practical, legal experience in working directly with clients and professionals in other disciplines,” said Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz, dean of Stetson University College of Law. Pietruszkiewicz has championed veterans programs at Stetson Law by expanding the law school’s Veterans Law Institute and Veterans Advocacy Clinic.

Associate Dean and Professor of Law Michael Allen directs Stetson’s Veterans Law Institute, and Professor Stacey-Rae Simcox was recently selected to lead the Veterans Advocacy Clinic.

The new program will assist veterans in proving entitlement to disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs and help the V.A. make more accurate decisions on complicated medical claims. It will also team law students with medical, nursing, public health, pharmacy, and physical therapy students to enhance learning and practice in health care and legal services – a compelling need for providing services to veterans in our communities.

Graduate students at Stetson’s law school and USF Health’s colleges will work together to augment and streamline the process of serving their veteran clients and patients. Stetson’s Veterans Advocacy Clinic faculty and students will coordinate medical and related clinical case reviews and analyses with USF Health faculty and students where appropriate. This is expected to be especially important in strengthening and refining diagnoses for certain physical and behavioral health issues and facilitating efficient and effective processing of benefit applications and appeals.

Stetson Law students and USF Health students will teach each other about the practical skills and knowledge associated with legal and clinical standards and processes required for disability eligibility and successful receipt of benefits. Legal and health care advocacy will come together to improve access to, quality of and receipt of benefits.

“This new partnership with Stetson is another example of USF’s commitment to helping veterans successfully reintegrate into civilian life when they leave the military,” said Charles Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine. “The multidisciplinary collaboration will give our students the opportunity to learn from one another while serving Florida’s veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much in service to our country.”

Stetson’s work in the area of veterans clinics is nationally acclaimed, and USF has been distinguished as one of the nation’s leading veteran-friendly universities.

To learn more about the Veterans Advocacy Clinic at Stetson, visit www.stetson.edu/law/veterans.

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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 our academically rigorous curriculum and commitment to social responsibility, Stetson lawyers are ethical advocates ready to succeed in the legal profession.

About USF Health
USF Health’s mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; and the USF Physician’s Group. USF Health is an integral part of the University of South Florida, a high-impact, global research university dedicated to student success. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu.

Happy to Help: Student Elder Law Advocate Erica Munz

Second-year law student Erica Munz (née Murburg) came to Stetson University with a specific goal in mind: to prepare people for the inevitable by creating and finalizing their estate plans.

“People can either have a say in the matter, or they can roll over and just let chaos and confusion happen to them and their loved ones when they become ill or pass on,” said Erica.

Six years ago, tragedy struck when Erica’s brother Norman Michael Murburg (Ehren) died suddenly during a Green Beret land-navigation training exercise. A young man and candidate for Special Forces, Ehren had not prepared for an untimely death. Consequently, the still-grieving Murburg family became entangled in the loose ends of a difficult, un-planned, and unnecessary intestate probate estate.

“I would like to save other people from going through or putting their family through what my family and I experienced,” said Erica, who said she came to Stetson Law to learn everything she could about estate planning.

Erica’s background includes working as a trial clerk for the 6th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, and as a legal assistant at her father’s disability law firm. During her studies at Stetson, Erica became fascinated with the field of elder law, which encompasses estate and family law issues. She began volunteering with a student-run art program called Maturity in the Masterpiece, providing monthly art therapy to the residents of a local retirement and rehabilitation facility.

“I learn best by doing,” said Erica, who volunteers by painting and spending time with residents at the Boca Ciega Center in Gulfport. “I learned that I love helping and working with the elderly,” said Erica, who plans to work in the areas of elder law, estate planning and probate when she graduates from Stetson in 2016.

Erica is an Elder Law Concentration Certificate candidate at Stetson. She joined Stetson’s Journal of International Aging, Law & Policy as a student editor, is a student member of the Thomas E. Penick, Jr. Elder Law American Inn of Court, and this summer she served as a judicial intern with the 13th Judicial Circuit Court in a Stetson elder law internship focusing on guardianships. Most recently, Erica was elected president of the Stetson Law student organization, the Elder Law Society.

The Dade City, Florida, native credits much of her desire to help others to her family. Her brother’s tragedy inspired her to be an advocate for people preparing for the inevitable.

Describing her passion for advocacy work, Erica explained, “I am passionate about practicing law because I am passionate about helping people. Helping other people makes me happy.”

Erica said she believes that, “It doesn’t matter what your age is, if you have someone or something important you would be leaving behind, you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to plan for a world without you in it. No one likes to confront his or her mortality, but it is such an important and natural part of life. Death is a reality we all face. When you appreciate how precious life is, it really gives you perspective.”

Medical marijuana is topic of event, debate at Stetson

Medical marijuana is the topic of two upcoming events: a continuing education program and a public debate at Stetson University College of Law in October.

Oct. 10 in Tampa: A full-day educational event for health care professionals and lawyers about medical marijuana is scheduled for Oct. 10, 8:15 a.m.-4 p.m., at Stetson’s Tampa Law Center, 1700 N. Tampa St. To learn more, and to register, visit Stetson Law.

The event, “Charlotte’s Tangled Web-Considerations for How Doctors and Lawyers Might Avoid the Legal Entanglements of Medical Marijuana in Florida,” will explain what lawyers and health care practitioners need to know about the legalization of medical marijuana to better serve their clients and patients. The Center for Excellence in Elder Law at Stetson and University of South Florida College of Medicine are co-sponsoring this event.

Oct. 23 in Gulfport: The Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative, Amendment 2 on the November ballot, is the topic of debate between former Florida Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Bell and attorney John Morgan at a free noontime event, Oct. 23, 12-1 p.m., on Stetson’s Gulfport campus, 1401 61st St. S. Seating at this free public event is limited. RSVP [email protected].

Stetson Law’s debate will educate voters on both sides of the argument for and against medical marijuana.

For directions to Stetson’s Tampa Law Center and Gulfport campuses, visit https://www.stetson.edu/law/about/home/directions.php.

Editor’s Note: Journalists, please contact Brandi Palmer in the Communications Office to confirm attendance at 727-562-7381 or [email protected].

Greenlight Pinellas debate includes community, Stetson students

Stetson University College of Law hosted a noontime debate on the Greenlight Pinellas Plan on Sept. 29 on the Gulfport campus. Dozens of students and community members attended the event in Stetson’s Great Hall.

The debate on Greenlight Pinellas drew a crowd to Stetson's Gulfport campus Sept. 29. — The debate on the Greenlight Pinellas Plan drew a crowd to Stetson’s Gulfport campus Sept. 29.

Representatives of No Tax for Tracks and Vote Yes on Greenlight debated the future of public transportation in Pinellas County.

No Tax for Tracks campaign manager Barbara Hazelden debated with Vote Yes on Greenlight campaign leader Kyle Parks of B2 Communications.

The Greenlight Pinellas Plan includes bus improvements and future passenger rail in Pinellas County. If a proposed 1% sales tax referendum passes in November, the PSTA will implement the plan.

Hazelden argued that the Greenlight Pinellas Plan could result in more traffic congestion, pointing to wait time created at intersections countywide with light rail crossing. Parks said that the Greenlight Pinellas Plan was the result of lengthy research and planning, with endorsements on both sides of the political aisle.

Stetson University College of Law professors Mark Bauer and Paul Boudreaux moderated the debate, co-sponsored by the Stetson Republicans and Environmental Law Society.

“A Stetson Law education prepares students to be advocates for their clients, and for their communities,” said Professor Bauer. “We were delighted to host a discussion on this important issue so our students can become better educated voters and citizens.”

Dean Pietruszkiewicz speaks on leadership

Dean Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz addressed the Student Leadership Development Program luncheon on Sept. 24. A capacity crowd packed the Great Hall on Stetson’s Gulfport campus to hear the dean speak on the importance of effective management in leadership.

Dean Christopher Pietruszkiewicz spoke with Stetson Law students on Sept. 24.

Dean Pietruszkiewicz spoke on the “Management Pillar” of leadership. He talked with students about his first job and first jury trial and the importance of developing the confidence to be a leader. Dean Pietruszkiewicz encouraged the Stetson Law students to become not just lawyers, but also leaders.

Dean Pietruszkiewicz holds several national leadership positions in legal education. He is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Law School Admission Council and chair of its Investment Committee and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Southeastern Association of Law Schools, where he served as president in 2005-2006. Dean Pietruszkiewicz serves as the chair of the Data Policy & Collection Committee of the American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. He serves on the Florida Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism and the Legal Education Committee of the Florida Bar Vision 2016 Commission.

Students participating in Stetson’s Leadership Development Program have an opportunity to receive credits towards a certificate of recognition at graduation. The program curriculum includes leadership luncheons, evening workshops, a weekend retreat and an essay contest. The goal of the program is to promote the development of diverse leaders in the campus community while preparing students with tools for effective citizenship, personal growth and professional success. The program is rooted in six pillars of leadership including management, communication, service, community, team building and problem solving.

The next leadership luncheons will address the “Communication Pillar” on Oct. 22 and the “Service Pillar” on Nov. 19.

Stetson’s bar passage among top in state

Stetson University College of Law graduates had a 78 percent bar passage rate on the July administration of the Florida Bar Examination, exceeding the statewide average by more than seven percent.

“We take very seriously our responsibility to help our students prepare for lives as professionals, who make a difference in our profession, our communities, our state, and beyond. We will continue to work with our students in every way to help them prepare for their professional success,” said Stetson Dean and Professor of Law Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz.

Stetson’s bar preparation program includes workshops, an essay-grading program and study plan, and bar preparation services to guide students through the process of bar admission.