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Meet Visiting Clinics Director Michael Vastine

A man in a blue plaid jacket and a salmon shirt is smiling in front of a
Visiting Director of Clinical and Experiential Education Michael Vastine

As evidenced by the college’s national reputation for preparing students to be practice-ready the day they graduate, experiential education is a cultural cornerstone at Stetson Law.

In the fall, the presence of Distinguished Visiting Director of Clinical and Experiential Education Michael Vastine will bolster the college’s efforts to foster confidence and professional development among its student body.

A nationally recognized scholar and litigator in the field of immigrant defense, Vastine joins Stetson Law from St. Thomas University College of Law (Miami), 2004-2024, where he was a tenured Professor of Law, Director of the Immigration Clinic, and Director of Clinical Education.  

Vastine will serve in the role for one year while Director of Clinical and Experiential Education Christine Cerniglia, through the college’s Highbaugh Chair program, takes time away from her teaching and administrative duties to write a course book for Professional Responsibility.

 “We are fortunate to have Michael on our campus this year to learn and grow from his experience and energy,” Cerniglia said of Vastine. 

A storied career in immigration law

Well-known in Florida’s immigration communities for his outreach, presentation on emerging topics, and significant litigation experience, Vastine has a long list of accomplishments.

He has litigated several widely cited cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals and the Florida Supreme Court and authored amicus curiae briefs on matters concerning immigrants’ legal rights before the U.S. Supreme Court, federal Circuits, and state supreme courts, and has published widely on related issues and made hundreds of conference presentations.

He has also held leadership roles at the national level of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the AILA South Florida Chapter (including as Chair), as well as the American Association of Law Schools (AALS) and the Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA). 

A graduate of Oberlin Conservatory, Vastine also holds degrees from Temple University Graduate School of Music and Georgetown Law Center.

Plans for an impactful year

Vastine said he attributes much of his success to clinical education he received early in his career. Even before law school, he held a legal position in a clinic. He went on to spend years directing a litigation-based immigration clinic, where he witnessed students routinely rising to the occasion to meet “near-impossible” expectations.

He said this experience informs his approach to leading clinical and experiential learning while at Stetson Law.

“My goal is for our clinic and externship students to access transformative experiences as they learn invaluable lessons from their clients, realize their potential as self-directed new advocates, and find the right blend in pairing authentic personal goals with fulfilling professional lives,” Vastine said.

Stetson Law Hurricane Helene Update

It will take some time for our community to fully recover from the effects of Hurricane Helene. Some of us are dealing with tremendous loss and disruption. We have gotten word that many in our community have offered support in many ways. We thank you.

We wanted to let you know that campus will open sooner than expected. We have power and AC in all buildings. We will reopen the Gulfport campus Sunday, September 29 at 8 A.M. The library and student lounge will be open.

The Tampa Law Center will open on Sunday as well, with regular hours. Please be sure to bring your ID to gain entrance.

If you need to talk with someone in these anxious and uncertain moments, please remember that students also have free immediate access to a therapist and/or mindfulness techniques through our partnership with Uwill. Uwill is Private. Secure. Confidential. Create a profile in minutes using your school email.

We wish everyone the best. 

Meet Spring 2024 Valedictorian Cameron Kubly

A photo of a man in a suit smiling and folding his arms.
Cameron Kubly ’24

When he started law school, Cameron Kubly was not exactly set on becoming class valedictorian. That changed when his grades came in.

“Once I got my first semester grades and saw that I was ranked first, I started to think that it was a real possibility and tried to keep working hard to maintain that position,” he said.

Along the way, he received the highest grade in 11 classes, served as editor-in-chief of the Stetson Law Review, worked as a federal judicial extern to the Honorable Charlene Honeywell, and acted in theatre productions such as freeFall’s God Bless You Mr. Rosewater.

For all his industriousness and spirit, he was honored with the prestigious Edward D. Foreman Most Distinguished Student Award on the eve of commencement.

Gratitude for supportive friends and family

In summer of 2024, a letter from the dean made it official: Kubly is the 2024 class valedictorian. He said he is grateful to those who supported and encouraged him to go above and beyond.

“I’m really grateful to my family—especially my wife, Emma—for supporting me through my law school journey,” Kubly said. “Also, all the friends I made at Stetson encouraged me and challenged me to accomplish this goal, and I’m thankful for them.”

He said he is also thankful for the mentorship of Professors Lance Long, Ellen Podgor, and Kristen Adams, who helped him balance his extracurricular activities and explore career options.

Adams said Kubly was a “joy to teach” and to work with on the Stetson Law Review symposium on the Virgin Islands.

“His kindness, wonderful sense of humor, and fantastic sense of perspective about both life and law school always impressed me just as much as his outstanding intellect and his hard work as both a student and an Editor in Chief,” she said. “It’s going to be really exciting to see where his journey as a lawyer takes him, because I know it’s going to be wonderful.”

Balancing it all

Amid the rigors of law school, Kubly participated in local theatrical productions like God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater and You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. Although it kept him busy, he said, the excitement of non-law-school activities helped him stay balanced.

“I think having things to look forward to outside of law school, like spending time with family and performing in theatre productions, helped me manage my time better because I knew I only had specific pockets of the day with which I could focus on school,” he said. “It was tough at times but well worth it.”

Where he is off to next 

As for his post-law-school plans, Kubly said he is going to work as a judicial law clerk for a judge at the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

“I’m looking forward to learning from the judge and improving my research and writing skills for when I do enter practice,” he said.

Alumni Association Names 2024 Award Winners

A collage of Stetson Law alumni photos
Clockwise from left: Carleton Weidemeyer ’61; Laura Gao ’16; David Persky ’88; Dr. Pradodh & Soneet Kapila

Spanning multiple generations and backgrounds, the winners of the 2024 Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association (SLAA) were honored for their diverse contributions to Stetson Law and the legal profession itself.

The awards, typically given in June of each year during the Florida Bar Association’s annual convention in Orlando, recognize alumni for a broad range of achievements as well as for going above and beyond in giving back to their alma mater.

“Coming from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and achievements the winners of the 2024 Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association awards are selected for going above and beyond with their contributions to Stetson Law School, its students, and the legal profession,” said Brittany Maxey-Fisher, president of SLAA.

A black-and-white photograph of a woman named Brittany Maxey-Fisher smiling in an office.
Alumna Brittany Maxey-Fisher became president of the Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association in June of 2023.

Here are the 2024 SLAA award winners:

Ben Willard Award: Carleton Weidemeyer JD ’61

An early advocate for Stetson Law’s now-robust Clinics and Externships program, Carleton “Woody” Weidemeyer ‘61 was honored with this year’s Ben Willard Award, which aims to recognize an individual whose work has benefited society at large.

Weidemeyer helped establish and run the first law school clinic in Florida through the Pinellas County Public Defender’s Office, which gave students the opportunity to argue cases before a judge on behalf of those who could not afford private legal counsel. One of the top students during his time at Stetson Law, Weidemeyer has remained close to his law school colleagues and has given generously to help establish a scholarship to aid students focusing on legal writing.

Distinguished Alumni Award: Ying “Laura” Gao JD ’16 (posthumously)

Honoring an alum who has had an enduring impact on the legal profession and humanity at large , the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award was posthumously given to 2016 alumna Ying “Laura” Gao.

Gao, who passed away February 28, 2024, was a beloved member of the Stetson Law community. She was a practicing attorney whose focus was elder law. A licensed pilot, she was passionate about aviation as well as sailing, SCUBA diving, and other activities.

“Laura Gao is being honored posthumously with the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award for her impact on the legal profession and Stetson Law School, particularly for her work with Asian-American Law Student Association,” Maxey-Fisher said. “Laura was also steadfast in her commitment to bar passage. As the inaugural donor to Stetson’s Bar Preparation Fund, Laura gave both her time and treasures to ensure Stetson Law Students have the necessary resources to study for and pass the bar exam.”

Paul May Meritorious Service Award: Dr. Adam Levine JD ’09

Its namesake a tribute to an alumnus who helped grow SLAA into the substantial network it is today, the Paul May Meritorious Service Award honors an individual who has been generous and consistent with their time and resources in support of the Stetson Law community. This year’s honoree, Dr. Adam Levine ’09, enrolled at Stetson Law after years working as a medical doctor. Not long after earning his J.D. a semester early and launching his private practice, Levine returned to Stetson Law to teach. Stetson Law courses include Medical Jurisprudence, Introduction to the Physical Examination and Critical Interpretation of Medical Records, Deposing Medical Experts, and Florida Medical Malpractice. He also teaches Advanced Expert Witnesses for Stetson Law’s Online LL.M. in Advocacy.

Outstanding Alumni Representative Award: David Persky JD ’88

An award recognizing alumni who excelled in their efforts to help the Stetson Law alumni community remain active and robust, this year’s Outstanding Alumni Representative honor went to an alumnus who has dedicated his career to higher education.

Persky earned his PhD in Higher Education Administration from Florida State University in 1979, and earned his J.D. from Stetson Law a decade later. While at Stetson Law, he served as president of the Student Bar Association and worked as a student admissions counselor. After serving as Assistant County Attorney in Hillsborough County, he spent two decades in leadership roles at Saint Leo University. Persky now teaches at University of Tampa and Saint Leo University as an adjunct professor.

Persky says he had a great experience at Stetson Law and that lifelong friendships grew out of his time in law school. He adds that he hopes giving back to the College of Law will help future students continue the tradition of excellence at Stetson.

Distinguished Service Award: Soneet Kapila and Dr. Prabodh Kapila.

Each year, this award goes to a non-alum who has gone above and beyond in enriching the Stetson Law community, the legal profession, and society overall. With an extensive history of philanthropy that has greatly benefited education, medical research and the arts, the Kapila’s have demonstrated a deep passion for community involvement.

Soneet Kapila is a founding member of KapilaMukamal, LLP, one of the nation’s foremost forensic and insolvency/creditors’ rights and litigation consulting practices. He is currently Acting Chairperson and immediate past-president of the American Bankruptcy Institute. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and a Distinguished Fellow of the Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors as well as a sitting trustee on the panel of U.S. Bankruptcy Trustees in the Southern District of Florida. 

His wife, Dr. Prabodh Kapila, is a retired physician who specialized in rheumatology practicing for about thirty years in Plantation, Florida.

As a director of The Kapila Family Foundation, and inspired by his wife’s spirit, Soneet Kapila helped establish The Kapila Family Foundation Scholarship Fund at Stetson, an award intended to support law education in the insolvency area and to provide scholarship assistance to  students specializing in bankruptcy law. “I am committed to the enhancement of legal education and skills in the insolvency and creditors’ rights space and creating opportunities for aspiring law student who wish to pursue a career in business reorganizations and the insolvency field,” Soneet Kapila said.

In New Children’s Book, Professor Adams Seeks to Inspire Hope

A photo collage featuring Professor Kristen Adams jogging with her dog Allie, a Vizsla, and Allie's brother Olie. Allie is pictured eating a burger and reclinging on Olie while wearing a cone to prevent her from licking her wound.
Law Professor Kristen Adams hopes her dog Allie’s perseverance will inspire others.

Every night, Allie, one of Law Professor Kristen Adams and her husband Jeff’s beloved Vizslas, jumps on the sofa for a belly rub. One night, when she wasn’t quite seven years old, Adams noticed a spot on the dog’s leg that hadn’t been there before.

“It didn’t look like anything, but it was covered in fur,” Adams said. “We took her to the vet right away.”

The vet said it was serious – and sent her to have the growth removed right away.

Perseverance against the odds

What ensued was an at-times harrowing experience with a rare cancer that twice returned and is still not technically in remission.

“We have had at least three moments as a family of absolute desperation and feeling there is no hope,” Adams said.

Shortly after the mass was removed and she underwent chemo and radiation therapy, the cancer came back. The only option was to amputate the affected leg. It was a devastating prospect for Adams, knowing Allie’s love of running.

Law Professor Kristen Adams speaks at a podium during Stetson Law's annual Honors & Awards ceremony in May 2023.
Law Professor Kristen Adams.

“I said Well, Allie Loves to run. Allie loves to zoom,” she said, sobbing, to the surgeon. “And she looked at me and she said, Oh, Allie will zoom again.”

Not long after the surgery, Adams and her husband got more bad news about Allie. The cancer had returned. But this time, the oncologist wrote a chemotherapy protocol that has since helped Allie fend off another bout with cancer.

With her original diagnosis, Allie was expected to live for six months. It has been more than three years. Adams said the experience has led the veterinary professionals who treated her to update their protocol. Their confidence that Allie would beat the odds gave Adams’s household confidence – and may give other dogs more years with their families.

Now 10 years old, Allie remains her attentive self. She “supervises” her brother Olie, also a Viszla. She savors drive-thru hamburgers after her treatments. And she zooms. “Allie is a miracle on three legs,” Adams said. “She still runs with me every morning. She’s still faster than I am.”

A story to inspire hope

Adams was inspired to write the book by her dear friend, Stetson Law Professor Emerita Candace Zierdt, whose niece is a children’s librarian. She mentioned the project to her student assistant, Taylor Simonds.

Before attending Stetson Law, Simonds had worked in the publishing industry as both an author and editor. Using those skills to help Adams, whom she sees as an important mentor to her both professionally and personally, share a story that means so much to her was “a dream.”

“This story is obviously very personal and emotional, so we worked together to conceptualize and storyboard something that could cathartically reflect her real-life love for Allie, connect with kids, and also deal with the theme of optimism and perseverance in the face of illness,” Simonds, who is now a litigation associate at the Orlando office of Akerman LLP, said. “I think the result is truly special.”

With Simonds’ editorial expertise, Adams was able to work through the challenges of being a first-time children’s book author.

“The first version I wrote was way too sad and way too much in the weeds on the medical stuff,” Adams said. “Taylor very kindly read that and said to me Professor, I think that’s the story you need to write for yourself. Let’s talk about what the children’s version might be.”

The story was visually brought to life with help from illustrator Alexandra Franzese.

Adams said her biggest hope in writing this book is that it would give others hope and encouragement despite daunting challenges.

“There is still joy ahead,” she said. “Our Allie is still Allie. She is still a goofball. She still bosses us around. She still runs the household – and we didn’t know that was going to be true on the front end when we were going into all of this.”

The law school connection

While a children’s book might not be the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of a law professor, Adams said the book’s underlying theme reflects an important part of her daily work: showing her students that they can persevere amid the most daunting challenges.

“Some of the classes I teach are really hard, and students come into the class thinking I can’t do this. I won’t be able to understand,” she said. “I always hope to inspire confidence in my students, and these doctors sure did that for us. We were able to take comfort in their confidence.”

Allie in Charge is available on Amazon.com.

Alum, Elections Commissioner Donald Palmer talks Service & Democracy

A man wearing glasses and a suit smiles in front of an American flag.
Donald Palmer ’79

Shortly after graduating from Jacksonville University, Donald Palmer ‘97 was serving as an intelligence officer in the Navy. He enjoyed the work, but kept hearing the same thing from friends, family, and colleagues: he had a way with words – just like a lawyer.

“When you’re in intelligence, you’re speaking to a lot of folks about very particular, precise things,” Palmer said. “Not only my family, but members of the military told me I should become a lawyer.”

Stetson Law was an obvious choice for Palmer, who had grown up in nearby Seminole and was working at MacDill Air Force Base. Plus, he knew of the school’s reputation as a destination for trial advocacy and thought it could help him find work as a lawyer in the military.

A career-defining education

Palmer said he remembers his time at the College of Law fondly – from the professors who were “true personalities” to the sense of community among his classmates.

“I’m sure many students would say this, but the group study sessions were something that was new to me. I very much enjoyed those interactions,” Palmer said. “It was great to have that camaraderie, that interaction.”

After law school, he served as defense counsel in the Navy as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer – and he credits his success to the advocacy skills he learned at Stetson.

“That advocacy training helped me communicate very well as counsel in the Navy, representing clients in a criminal setting,” he said. “It also helped me deal with other clients that we work with to develop trusts and estates and wills.”

A new direction: protecting democracy

Palmer’s career has since taken a different path: promoting voting rights – something for which he has long been passionate.

After retiring from the military, he enforced the nation’s voting laws like the Voting Rights Act as a trial attorney with the Voting Section in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.

As Florida’s Director of Elections, he led the state’s transition from electronic voting machines to paper-based digital voting machines prior to the 2008 presidential election, among other key initiatives.

Palmer went on to become Secretary of the Virginia State Board of Elections and served as the Commonwealth’s Chief Election Official from 2011 to 2014.

Now, Palmer facilitates the right to vote at the federal level on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. The commission, according to its website, is “an independent, bipartisan commission whose mission is to help election officials improve the administration of elections and help Americans participate in the voting process.”

It’s a role he takes very seriously.

“It’s not an ordinary job,” Palmer said. “You’re working in a special place, so you need to treat it that way. Go the extra mile. Because someone’s vote is at stake.”

Advice to students & recent alums

Palmer said he is fortunate to do what he loves – but acknowledges the time and effort it took to get him where he is today. He said the opportunity of a lifetime might not always materialize right away, but that doesn’t mean it never will.

“You may not initially get into your initial passion, but keep your dreams alive. There’s going to be an opportunity if you want, with your skillset, at some point in your career. And you should take that opportunity,” he said. “When it comes together, it works out well.”

And for those interested in working in elections law, he has this advice: go to work on election day.

“I think being a poll worker or serving in an election office will give you great insight into what it actually means to run an election and how those results are finalized,” he said. “It will give you advantages over other lawyers in the field who may not have that experience. And you get to serve your country and your neighbor in being a poll worker.”

Welcoming Shailini George, Distinguished Visiting Professor of Legal Writing

A woman with short dark hair and a black shirt smiles for the camera.
Distinguished Visiting Professor of Legal Writing Shailini George

A national leader in the legal writing space with a passion for promoting student wellness, Suffolk University Professor Shailini George will serve as Distinguishing Visiting Professor of Legal Writing for the 2024-2025 academic year at Stetson Law.

Stetson Law has consistently ranked near the top of U.S. News & World Report’s list of the best law schools for legal writing. George’s years of teaching experience in legal writing will help to bolster that reputation while strengthening ties within the legal writing community. She said she looks forward to working with other leading legal writing scholars – and to bringing new insights back with her to Boston when she returns to Suffolk.

“I know some of the legal writing faculty at Stetson and have always admired the work they do as well as the school’s excellent reputation,” she said. “I thought I could bring some of my experience to Stetson and some of my experience back to Suffolk: a win-win!”

Passion for a fundamental legal skill

Asked what got her interested in teaching others the craft of legal writing, George said the answer is simple: legal writing is a core lawyering skill. Sharing knowledge she gained from a decade of practicing law would be an opportunity to give back through mentorship.

“When I decided I wanted to teach I thought I should teach what I know best,” she said. “I had a great relationship with my legal writing professor from Boston College and I got some advice from her when I set out to teach. I try to have that same kind of personal and professional relationship with my students.”

Promoting wellness culture for students

In addition to her legal writing scholarship, George brings an extensive body of work exploring the role that mindfulness and other wellness-promoting practices can play in academic and professional success for law students. She said this work has informed how she runs her classes at Suffolk University, which she hopes to continue at Stetson through such efforts as the innovative, one-credit course she will teach called “Professional Identity and Well-Being.”

“Well-being and mindfulness are important to me and I have found that this interest resonates deeply with students and allows me to create a dynamic and supportive environment which is conducive to learning,” she said. “These principles are an essential part of me and therefore my teaching and I hope to keep incorporating them into my teaching at Stetson as well.”

Other work George has done in this space includes authoring The Law Student’s Guide to Doing Well and Being Well (Carolina Academic Press 2021), articles on distraction and the cognitive science of learning, and articles on why law students need mindfulness training. She is also a member of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being (and co-chairs its Legal Education Subcommittee), Vice President for Law Schools on the Board of Directors for the Institute for Well-Being in Law, and chair-elect of the AALS Balance and Wellbeing in Legal Education Section. (See her full bio.)

Gassman Tax LL.M. Award Given to Samuel Craig

A young man with blond hair and a blue shirt smiles at the camera.
Sam Craig ’24

Recognizing his hard work and commitment to growing his expertise in tax law, Stetson Law has named Samuel Craig the 2024 recipient of the Gassman Tax LL.M. Award.

Given annually to a graduating Stetson Law student who plans on continuing their legal education via the University of Florida’s Tax Law LL.M. program, the award allows students who have shown a clear passion for tax law while at Stetson to gain an advanced law degree in this important area while taking on a smaller financial burden in doing so.

The award is named for Alan Gassman of the Clearwater firm Gassman, Crotty & Denicolo, P.A., who earned his LL.M. in Taxation from UF in 1983 with help from subsidized housing, and his wife, Marcia Gassman, who supported him during this experience. It links a J.D. from Stetson Law, coupled with an LL.M. from UF, which is a common combination that Gassman wanted to support. Gassman hopes the award will help recipients have a positive, affordable experience similar to that which he had at UF.

Fostering exceptional tax law acumen

Craig, who worked for Gassman during law school, thanked Gassman for his mentorship – and the Gassman family for creating the opportunity for him and others to take such an important step in their legal education.

“I’m very grateful for the generosity of the Gassman family,” he said. “I was fortunate to learn and work under Mr. Gassman during my 1L year and the summer entering 2L. There, I saw his enthusiasm for the law; however, I was particularly impressed by Mr. Gassman’s philanthropy, involvement in the community, and of course his ongoing mentorship of law students and young lawyers through his practice.”

An award with a lasting impact

Craig added that this award’s value goes well beyond its monetary amount or even his own professional success; that inviting students who show promise in the field of tax law to deepen their expertise will result in transformative financial outcomes for their future clients.

“To Alan and Marcia Gassman, please know your generosity will always be remembered and deeply cherished,” Craig said, adding that he would “be remiss” is he didn’t also thank Stetson Law Professor and nationally recognized tax law expert Andrew Appleby for his mentorship.

“Professor Appleby’s expertise and guidance has been invaluable in shaping my understanding and appreciation for the law,” he said.

Learn more about the Alan & Marcia Gassman Tax LL.M. Endowed Scholarship.

Learn more about Gassman, Crotty & Denicolo, P.A.

Stetson Law Receives Significant State Funding for Veterans Legal Services 

A one-story, Mediterranean revival-inspired building, in front of which is a large sign that says "Veterans Law Institute, Stetson University College of Law."
The Veterans Law Institute is on the Stetson University College of Law campus in Gulfport, Florida.

Under the new state budget that took effect July 1, Stetson University College of Law will receive robust state support for its Veterans Law Institute and Veterans Advocacy Clinic.

The clinic, which is part of Stetson’s Veterans Law Institute, provides free legal services to veterans and their family members who are appealing decisions about their disability benefits. It also gives students an opportunity to gain legal experience while helping U.S. military veterans.

The 2024-2025 state budget, recently signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, provides $438,000 in funding that will help ensure the Veterans Law Institute and Veterans Advocacy Clinic can continue to carry out its important work.

“Service to our community is a core value at Stetson Law, and we are proud to have one of the Nation’s leading Veterans Clinics,” said Stetson Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros. “We are grateful that our state leadership recognizes the value of the Veterans Advocacy Clinic and is willing to support the transformative outcomes it can provide to those who have served our nation.”

The budget also includes a $500,000 historic preservation grant for the Hulley Tower project on Stetson’s main campus in DeLand.

Meaningful outcomes for those who have served

Stetson Law students and staff provide about 250 hours of free legal work on every client case, work that can result in increased healthcare access and financial stability for veterans and their families. The recent state funding will help ensure the Veterans Law Clinic has the capacity to continue to support veterans who seek the benefits they deserve.

“This support from the State of Florida will be immensely helpful to grow the incredible work that our students and staff do on behalf of veterans every day,” said Stacey-Rae Simcox, a Stetson Law professor and director of the Veterans Law Institute and Veterans Advocacy Clinic. “Through our work, veterans can get access to priority health care and financial help that can mean the end of housing instability for their families.”

Professor Stacey-Rae Simcox meets with students working with the Veterans Advocacy Clinic.
Professor Stacey-Rae Simcox meets with students working with the Veterans Advocacy Clinic.

Since 2014, the legal work by the Veterans Advocacy Clinic has resulted in veterans receiving about $23 million in additional future benefits, as well as $13 million in retroactive benefits.

Students who have participated in the clinic often seek opportunities to continue using their legal work to help veterans after graduation and have also returned to campus to mentor others who show promise in the area of veterans law.

“Our primary goals are to train law students to be excellent attorneys and to help our nation’s veterans. This funding will help the Veterans Law Institute increase our abilities to do both,” Simcox said. “Increasing a veteran’s access to benefits he or she has earned through service to our nation can be life-changing for both the veteran client and the student who represents the veteran.”

Students sit around a table with laptops with their heads turned toward a woman who is speaking.
Grace Paul and Victoria Tamayo spoke to students at Stetson Law’s Veterans Advocacy Clinic about pursuing careers in veterans law in March 2024.

Restoring a campus icon in DeLand

The $500,000 state grant will bolster a grassroots alumni effort to raise about $7 million to reconstruct Hulley Tower to its original 116-foot height and add a new 52-bell carillon on Stetson Law’s main campus in DeLand. The funding will also create an endowment for future maintenance. The tower, built in 1934, was damaged in the 2004 hurricane season and dismantled the following year due to safety concerns. Its base still serves as a mausoleum for the university’s second president, Lincoln Hulley, PhD, and his wife, Eloise.

Once reconstructed, the tower will symbolize the “Soul of Stetson” and serve as a memorial to three Stetson students who were killed in an avalanche in Innsbruck, Austria, in 1979.

“We are incredibly grateful for this support from the Florida Legislature and Governor DeSantis,” said Stetson President Christopher F. Roellke, PhD. “This funding will allow us to restore a treasured historic landmark in DeLand and provide our veterans with pro bono legal services from our College of Law.”

Dean Barros Elected to American Law Institute

A headshot of Dean Benjamin Barros
Dean Benjamin Barros

After a rigorous nomination and vetting process, The American Law Institute has chosen Stetson Law Dean Benjamin Barros to join its latest incoming class of members.

He is among 47 legal scholars and practitioners chosen to join the elite roster of legal professionals in 2024 (see full list) – and will now be one of numerous current and past Stetson Law faculty members elected to the ALI. The century-old nonprofit invites the nation’s top lawyers, judges, and legal scholars to use their sharp expertise to help shape documents intended to inform the creation and interpretation of laws. Thus, becoming a member of the ALI is both a prestigious affair and a challenging endeavor.

“I am honored to be elected as a member of The American Law Institute,” Barros said. “The ALI is one of our country’s most important legal institutions, and I look forward to taking part in the ALI’s continuing efforts to improve our legal system.”

More than a century of supporting American jurisprudence

Last year, the ALI celebrated the 100th anniversary of its 1923 founding. From its start, the nonprofit has promoted clarification and simplification of laws that are overly complex or ambiguous in their interpretation, which the institute says can “cause useless litigation, often make it difficult to advise persons of their rights, and create delay and expense after litigation begins.”

ALI leadership selects its projects from proposals submitted by members and others, then identifies the appropriate participants to work on them. Projects can often take years, and will result in either Model Code, Principles, or Restatements.

These documents are scholarly publications that aim to aid and inform legislatures, judges, administrative agencies, and others tasked with creating, revising, or interpreting policy. (See frequently asked questions about the ALI.)

A legacy of scholarly contributions to ALI

Barros and seven other current and emeritus faculty who currently represent Stetson Law within the ALI are nationally recognized legal scholars who are passionate about helping the American legal system serve all who live under it.

These members include Professors Kristen Adams, Rebecca Morgan, Theresa Pulley-Radwan, and Louis Virelli III, as well as Professors Emeriti Robert Bickel, Luz Nagle, and Candace Zierdt. Professor Ellen Podgor was named a Life Member of the ALI in 2022. Dean Emerita Elizabeth Moody, who passed away in May of 2023, was also a Life Member.

Learn more about the American Law Institute.

Why Stetson Law Alums Recruit from Their Alma Mater

A collection of photos featuring alumni from different generations.
When a Stetson Law alum sees their alma mater on a prospective employee’s resume, they expect good things.

Years before he launched his own firm Robson Powers ’12 suddenly found himself managing a branch of another firm’s civil litigation office. On track to become partner, Powers was building out his department and looking to hire an associate.

After he interviewed several candidates, an applicant named Kara Rogers caught his attention.

“The credentials are there, the work ethic seemed to be there,” he said.

One thing put her at the top of the list: a J.D. from Stetson Law (2017), which meant Rogers was certain to have the kind of professional foundation needed to serve well in the role.

“I know those fundamentals are there, and that’s really important,” Robson said.

A woman with red hair wearing a red top stands next to a man with glasses wearing a grey suit jacket and red tie.
Kara Rogers ’17 and Robson Powers ’12

A reputation for readiness

Within the legal profession, Stetson Law alumni are known – and often sought after – for the skills they bring to the table on day one. For Robson, an example that comes to mind is the college’s deep focus on practical skills like evidence.

“I’ve seen attorneys gear up for the most important day for their clients without a sound understanding of evidence,” he said. “Stetson is meticulous about trial advocacy and procedure, and they hone it again and again and again.”

This reputation is so strong that University of South Florida President Rhea Law, herself a 1977 graduate of Stetson Law, even mentioned it in her 2024 Commencement speech.

A woman with short hair wearing a green graduation ceremony robe and cap stands behind a podium and delivers a speech.
University of South Florida President and Stetson Law alumna Rhea Law ’77

“During my years of leading my law firm, I can always tell you that when a Stetson graduate would come to apply for a job, I knew right away that that person was well suited for the practice of law,” she said. “They were ready for the rigors that would come before them. I knew that they would be trustworthy. I knew that they would have the right kind of background.”

Since Powers made the decision to hire Rogers, the two have branched off to launch their own private practice, Powers & Rogers, PLLC in Cape Coral. The practice, which launched in April, handles business litigation, specialty and complex litigation, business formation, and more.

Powers, who participated in competitive trial advocacy as a student, said she credits her success and work ethic in large part to the mentorship she found while at Stetson Law – and the focus on studying hard until you get it right.

“I was practicing the skills I was going to need before I ever graduated law school,” she said. “You worked and you worked and you worked.”

A group of students and professors wearing formal attire smiles at the camera.
Kara Rogers ’17 (right) was on the Dispute Resolution Board during her time at Stetson Law.

Family law, family environment

Rebecca Palmer ’94 knew early on that she wanted to help people through her work – it’s why attending law school made sense to her.

Now a Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator, Palmer leads Orlando-based Rebecca L. Palmer Law Group.

A woman wearing a cap and gown smiles at the camera after a graduation ceremony. There is confetti in her hair.
Rebecca Palmer ’94

“Helping others has always been my calling – family law provided the most direct path to help people going through challenging and emotional times,” she said. “There is a tremendous reward in working with someone who’s going through a tough time and watching them come out on the other side.”

Reflecting on her time at Stetson Law, she said the practical experience she received set her up for success, including internships with the public defender’s office and with Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich (also a Stetson Law alum – she graduated in 1961 and was the only woman in her class). She also worked at Harter Secrest and Emery as well as Gunster while in law school.

Palmer has since served as an adjunct professor of Legal Ethics, Business Law, Trial Techniques, and Family Law at Stetson, the University of Central Florida, Barry University, and Southern College. She had a term as the president of the Central Florida Association of Women and has continued to stay involved – and regularly speaks and writes on salient family law topics.

When a resume from her alma mater crosses her desk, she knows she can expect good things.

“I recruit from Stetson Law because the students are prepared, curious, and hard-working,” she said. “I expect alums to demonstrate preparedness and dedication. I look for those who have researched the firm ahead of time – after all, the last thing you want to do is go in blindly and not know anything about the firm, company, or the people you are speaking with.

A shared passion for helping others

Among Palmer’s most recent hires is Lena Fucile, a 2023 Stetson Law alumna from Winter Park.

Fucile had worked at a larger firm practicing business litigation before pursuing her passion, which is family law. A boutique, woman-owned firm, Palmer Law Group seemed like a perfect fit.

A woman with blonde hair and a white suit stands next to a woman with dark hair wearing a black dress.
Left” Lena Fucile ’23; Right: Rebecca Palmer ’94

Her day-to-day work involves developing relationships with clients, attending court hearings, and settling difficult cases at mediation.

“In my current role as an Associate Family Law Attorney, helping great people go through an incredibly challenging time in their lives is quite fulfilling,” she said. “I am grateful to work with a team of wonderful women while aiding our clients.”

Recent Grad Leah Burnett Lands Immigrant Justice Corps Fellowship

A photo of a woman holding her graduation cap in front of a Banyan tree.
Stetson Law alumna Leah Burnett ’24

From an early age, Leah Burnett ’24 knew she wanted her life’s work to be advocating for social justice.

It is what led her to support underserved youth as an educator and to work with adult immigrants and refugees as part of various English literacy programs.

What she experienced only made her want to do more.

“This work opened my eyes to the challenges that immigrants in the U.S. face and the need for passionate advocates,” she said. “Although I decided to make a career change, my desire to make an impact in the lives of others is still ever-present.”

As a student at Stetson Law who was part of the Social Justice Advocacy Concentration Program, she set out to gain legal experience by working at immigration law firms that provide removal defense to those seeking immigration relief. The experience has since led to her being chosen for a prestigious fellowship with the nonprofit the Immigrant Justice Corps.

“I want to be a part of the efforts to protect the rights of vulnerable immigrants and represent their legal needs as they navigate through the challenges of the immigration system,” Burnett said.

A multi-year endeavor

Those chosen for the fellowship will put their passion and legal skills to work at nonprofit immigrant legal services providers and other community-based organizations throughout the nation over a two-year term. They will help these organizations provide free legal assistance to low-income immigrants who need help navigating legal matters related to immigration, such as removal defense and applications for those fleeing persecution.

Starting September 1, Burnett will serve as a staff attorney with Florida Legal Services’ Immigrant and Migrant Rights Project, wherein she will work on the Unaccompanied Children’s Project.

Burnett said she is thrilled to get started.

“I believe my compassion for marginalized populations will make me an asset, as well as a zealous advocate for those in need of defense,” she said.

Pressing issue, national effort

In all, the total number of incoming fellows in 2024 exceeds 130. To IJC leadership, these early-career lawyers will be part of the next generation of legal professionals working in the growing immigration law space. According to the organization, there are over 3.6 million pending cases in immigration, including those of hundreds of asylum seekers who may be deported back to a country where they face persecution and danger.

“This class will expand IJC’s reach nationwide, level the playing field, and bring relief to immigrant communities,” said Jojo Annobil, chief executive officer of IJC. “Together, our Fellows are transforming immigrant lives and advocating for a just immigration system.”

The IJC was brought about thanks to the late Judge Robert A. Katzmann of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit as well as the Robin Hood Foundation, which in 2014 incubated the organization. The IJC works to identify early-career legal professionals who show great promise in the area of immigration law, places them within organizations where they could have the most impact, and offers support like coaching and other resources in the fellows’ day-to-day work.

So far, over 400 IJC Fellows have worked on cases involving more than 100,000 low-income immigrants.

Learn more about the IJC fellowship program.