Zarama said he has always had a passion for international human rights.
“My interest in international human rights came from my professional and academic experience working in the legal analysis of international criminal issues and human rights violations,” said Zarama.
While working with the London-based program, he will assist in developing academic papers and researching key legal topics of both local and international relevance.
“I look forward to bringing the IBA’s Internship Program to my understanding of the promotion, protection and enforcement of human rights as they are applied under international standards,” said Zarama.
While at Stetson, Zarama worked as a research assistant for Professor Luz Nagle on human trafficking issues. She encouraged him to apply for the internship.
Prior to attending Stetson, Zarama studied law at the Universidad de Los Andes in Colombia. He interned there at the Human Rights Clinic and researched discrimination issues in Latin America. After he graduated from the Universidad de Los Andes, Zarama worked as a junior consultant at the International Organization for Migration conducting legal research on the transitional justice process in Colombia.
The International Bar Association is involved with cutting edge issues that impact the international legal community. The IBA plays a role in promoting the status and independence of the profession, bringing lawyers together to exchange information and discuss matters of mutual concern, and promotes human rights, commercial and economic law reform.
Alumni Wil H. Florin JD ’80 and Thomas D. Roebig Jr. JD ’86 have long been supporters of civil rights education and their mentor, Stetson University College of Law Professor Robert Bickel. Since 2006, the Tampa Bay-based Florin Roebig law firm has helped fund a unique course on Constitutional Law and the Civil Rights Movement at Stetson Law. The experiential course provides students with an opportunity to learn about social justice firsthand, traveling each summer to six cities in the south to visit historic sites, museums, institutes and veterans of the Civil Rights Movement.
On July 25, Stetson Law Professor Bickel presented Florin Roebig with a plaque for continuing to support the course at Stetson.
Stetson Law alumni Wil H. Florin JD ’80 and Thomas D. Roebig Jr. JD ’86 accepted the honor from Professor Robert Bickel, a framed article about the course the firm helps fund.
“Social justice is part of employment law,” Florin said in accepting the award. “We deal with clients with discrimination complaints at the law firm on a daily basis.”
He added that supporting social justice is a large part of their firm’s daily work in advocating for employee rights.
“All of the law students we’ve worked with who have taken this course return and say they’ve been personally affected,” Roebig said. He shared that Professor Bickel provided the inspiration he needed to focus on social justice in his legal career.
“All of us deserve common decency, dignity and fair pay,” said Roebig.
“Poverty is one of America’s great challenges,” Professor Bickel said. “When workers are treated unfairly or paid less than a living wage, it cuts to the heart of dignity. The Memphis Sanitation Worker’s Movement and Dr. King’s Poor People’s campaign remind us that our dignity as workers is a part of our dignity as people.”
Stetson Law will be offering a new concentration for law students interested in social justice advocacy starting in the fall. Stetson Law professors Bickel and Judith Scully will oversee the Social Justice Advocacy Certificate of Concentration program for J.D. students.
Professor Gardner, the director of Stetson’s Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy and an expert in environmental law and wetlands, introduced the resolution, which provides a framework to avoid, mitigate and compensate for wetland impacts around the world.
Third-year student Erin Okuno along with recent Stetson Law graduates Marcela Bonells JD ’12 and Juan Zarama LL.M. ’12 conducted research to support the resolution. The students and Professor Gardner published a Briefing Note that reviewed wetland laws and policies throughout the world. Stetson students, including exchange students from the University of Toulouse, translated the Briefing Note into Spanish and French, the other official languages of the convention.
Professor Gardner was invited to Romania as an expert of Ramsar’s Scientific and Technical Review Panel, a subsidiary body of the convention that provides guidance on wetland conservation. Stetson’s Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy works with the Ramsar Convention, and Stetson is the only law school in the world that has a memorandum of cooperation with the Ramsar Secretariat.
The draft resolution was produced in part at a Ramsar workshop that Stetson hosted at its Tampa Law Center in October of 2010, and in part at a Ramsar workshop hosted by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in the UK in July of 2011. The final resolution expresses appreciation to both Stetson and the UK government.
Caitlein Jammo, Morgan Vasigh and Erin Okuno won Best Brief at the Robert Orseck Memorial Moot Court Competition.
Stetson University College of Law students Caitlein Jammo, Erin Okuno and Morgan Vasighwon the Best Brief award on June 20 at the Robert Orseck Memorial Moot Court Competition, coordinated by the Young Lawyers Division of the Florida Bar in Orlando.
It is the third year in a row that a Stetson team has taken home this award.
Professor of Legal Skills and Moot Court Advisor Brooke Bowman and Stetson Law alumnus Larry Miccolis coached the team.
“Winning accolades for Best Brief for three years in a row reaffirms Stetson’s dedication to preparing our students to be sharp, critical thinkers inside and outside the courtroom,” said Professor Bowman.
During the two semifinal rounds, the team argued before panels of judges from Florida’s District Courts of Appeal.
The Stetson Lawyers Association presented awards to alumni and friends on June 21. Stetson University College of Law Interim Dean Royal C. Gardner introduced the new dean of Stetson Law, Christopher Pietruszkiewicz, at an evening reception during the annual Florida Bar meeting in Orlando.Visit Flickr to view photos>>
Associate Dean John Cooper, who leads Stetson Law’s international and cooperative programs, was presented with the Distinguished Service Award for his significant, meritorious and continuing contributions to the College of Law. Associate Dean Cooper, who joined the Stetson Law faculty in 1985, established study abroad programs for students in Asia, South America and Europe.
The Honorable Frederick B. Karl ’49 received a Distinguished Alumni Award, which is presented to individuals who exemplify service to the College of Law and to the legal profession. Karl, a veteran of the U.S. Army and recipient of the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart, dedicated his entire adult life to public service, serving in roles including state senator and representative, Florida’s first public counsel, and justice of the Florida Supreme Court.
Professor Rebecca Morgan ’80, the Boston Asset Management Faculty Chair in Elder Law, director of Stetson’s Center for Excellence in Elder Law, and director of Stetson’s online LL.M. in Elder Law, also received a Distinguished Alumni Award. Morgan serves as a special adviser to the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging, and has been recognized with numerous awards, including the 2003 Faculty Award on Professionalism from the Florida Supreme Court.
Board of Overseers member William Weller ’04 received the Paul M. May Meritorious Service Award in recognition of his continued support of the College of Law and its alumni association through time and gifts. Weller served as the College of Law’s executive director of operations, revising the campus master plan and overseeing design and construction.
Amy Rigdon BA ’05, JD ’08 received the Outstanding Alumni Representative Award for her dedication and service to the Stetson Lawyers Association. Rigdon is a member of the Holland & Knight law firm’s Orlando Diversity Committee, the Orange County Bar, the ABA Young Lawyers Division and the Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers. She is the Ninth Circuit representative to the Florida Bar’s Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors and a member of the Stetson Lawyers Association Advisory Council.
Judge Anthony Johnson ’80 received the Ben C. Willard Award, presented annually to alumni whose humanitarian achievements bring distinction to themselves and to the College of Law. Judge Johnson served as an Orange County judge for three decades and was a U.S. Navy officer. He founded the Legal Assistance for Warriors project to provide free legal services to active-duty military personnel deployed to hostile-fire zones.
Stetson Lawyers Association outgoing president Clinton Paris JD ’00 presented the awards to alumni and friends. Paris also introduced incoming Stetson Lawyers Association President Jenay Iurato JD/MBA ’00.
Stetson University College of Law alumnus Brian L. Tannebaum ’94 has created an award for students who excel in their first-year criminal law course. The Brian L. Tannebaum High Grade Award in Criminal Law rewards Stetson students earning the top grade in each section of their criminal law class with a financial award of $500.
To date, five Stetson Law students have received the award. Student Kacie Hohnadell described receiving the Brian L. Tannebaum High Grade Award as one of the most gratifying experiences of her law school career.
“It was very rewarding for my hard work and dedication to be recognized,” said Hohnadell. “In addition to receiving the award, I had the opportunity to have dinner and a wonderful conversation with Mr. Tannebaum. His generosity and encouragement were inspiring, and I truly enjoyed meeting him.”
On a recent visit to Stetson to speak to students, Tannebaum was asked if he would attach his name to the High Grade Award in Criminal Law.
“I went to law school to become a criminal defense lawyer,” said Tannebaum. “Through trial advocacy classes and the trial team, Stetson established my foundation.”
The award will continue to recognize rising criminal defense stars at Stetson Law through 2014.
Tannebaum is a highly respected criminal defense attorney and the immediate past-president of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is managing partner of his Miami firm, Tannebaum Weiss, PL, which recently expanded to offices in Tampa.
For more information about the Brian L. Tannebaum High Grade Award in Criminal Law or giving to Stetson, contact the College Relations Office at 727-562-7818 or [email protected].
Nicole Martingano, a third-year law student at Stetson, experienced a severe and unexpected hardship at the age of 19 that motivated her to go to law school.
Stetson Law student Nicole Martingano aspires to be a prosecutor.
In 2006, Martingano was an undergraduate student at the University of Florida in Gainesville with uncertain academic plans. On Feb. 25 of that year, Martingano’s life changed dramatically when she was hit head-on by a drunk driver.
After the accident, Martingano suffered from left-side paralysis and was in a coma for 11 days. She was hospitalized for three months and had to undergo occupational, speech and physical therapy to recover. As a result of the car accident, Martingano has a steel plate in her arm and a titanium rod in her leg.
It took a year for her to fully recover from the car accident. Martingano had problems with her long- and short-term memory, and struggled putting words together.
“How it affected my family was the hardest part of dealing with the accident,” said Martingano. “They went through more pain then I did. Physical pain is nothing compared to emotional pain.”
The doctors told Martingano that only 90 percent of her brain would revert back to normal functioning. Six years after the accident, she still struggles with her hand-eye coordination and her ability to run. She recently received a scholarship awarded to victims of sudden traumatic brain injuries.
When she was lying in the hospital bed in Gainesville, Martingano said she made a decision to deter drunk driving by speaking to her peers and by one day becoming a prosecutor.
Since the accident, Martingano has turned her near-fatal injuries into a public awareness campaign. She has spoken to thousands of students at colleges and high schools about the consequences of drunk driving.
At Stetson Law, Martingano is honing her advocacy skills as a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Board, and she has recently become a Student Ambassador at Stetson. Next spring, Martingano plans to participate in Stetson’s Prosecution Clinic.
“As an advocate, my goal is to be a prosecutor, and I’m determined to deter crimes like the one I was a victim of,” said Martingano. “More expensive fines don’t necessarily deter people from driving drunk. Having the experience deters people. Community service deters people.”
For more information on Martingano’s life-changing experience, visit her website at How to Save A Life: www.htsalife.com.
Stetson University College of Law graduate Jason L. Turner ’04 and his family have established an endowed scholarship to support students concentrating in the area of elder law. With his mother, Laura Turner, and grandmother, Maurelle Hooks, the family created the LeRoy Y. Hooks Elder Law Scholarship to honor Jason Turner’s late grandfather, a life-long professional educator who lost his life to Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Jason L. Turner '04.
The first scholarship will be awarded in the fall to a Stetson Law student who is pursuing a J.D. certificate of concentration in elder law.
“I am incredibly proud to announce a new elder law scholarship at Stetson in honor of my grandfather, LeRoy Y. Hooks,” said Turner, who is a partner in the Nashville law firm of Keller, Turner, Ruth, Andrews, Ghanem & Heller, PLLC. “Because of his tremendous courage and integrity during his life, my family has established the LeRoy Y. Hooks Elder Law Scholarship to ready future Stetson lawyers to assist the elderly in similar end-of-life issues.”
“This thoughtful gift will support scholarships for students concentrating in the much-needed area of elder law,” said Interim Dean Royal Gardner. “As our population ages, more people will need legal advocates who can assist them in matters ranging from estate planning and social security to Medicare and Medicaid issues. This scholarship reinforces Stetson’s commitment to assist students in becoming advocates who make a difference in people’s lives.”
Stetson’s Center for Excellence in Elder Law offers specialized courses, research projects, and continuing legal education. Students who focus their studies on elder law can take pursue a J.D. Certificate of Concentration in elder law or enroll in the LL.M. in Elder Law program. Stetson is also home to the Eleazer Courtroom, the first courtroom in the nation designed to be a model for accessibility for the aging and elderly. Stetson’s elder law programs are led by Professor Rebecca Morgan, who holds the Boston Asset Management Chair in Elder Law.
“We are grateful for the remarkable generosity of Jason Turner and his family,” said Professor Morgan. “This scholarship will make a significant difference for the recipient pursuing studies in the elder law curriculum.”
The institute was part of a Solo Practice Network developed by Stetson Law to assist graduating students and alumni in starting, building and sustaining successful law practices. Through the Solo Practice Network, Stetson Law supports alumni in the solo and small practice community.
Foonberg named the Solo Practice Network among major contributions from the State of Florida to the American legal system.
“Solo does not mean alone,” Foonberg said. “You are never alone. You always have other lawyers to help you, especially solos.”
Ninety Stetson Law alumni participated in the first Solo Practice Institute. Stetson Law alumni also served as mentors to Solo Practice Institute participants.
Alumnus Dr. Adam Levine, who partners in his own law practice, presented on the topic of attracting and managing clients at Stetson’s Solo Practice Institute.
“I prefer being hands-on and being able to interact with clients of my choosing,” Levine said. “I want clients to call and reach me on the phone.”
The Solo Practice Institute curriculum included instruction on the nuts-and-bolts of running a solo practice. Topics included solo practice management basics; time, billing and collections; advertising and marketing; attracting and maintaining clients; hiring, staffing and personnel management; ethics and solo practice; and research skills and resources.
A Pre-Institute Workshop focused on developing a business plan and on personal development programs including Improv Comedy for Communication Skills, a “Women in Solo Practice” panel, and an introduction to media relations.
Regular workshops and seminars, providing more depth in each subject, will be scheduled for future dates at both the Tampa Law Center and the Celebration campus of Stetson University.
For more information about the Solo Practice Institute, please visit Stetson Law online or contact Aaron Swift, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, at [email protected] or 727-562-7819.
Lt. Cmdr. Nieva M.S. Brock, who serves as staff judge advocate and ethics counselor to the director of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), will present the commencement address at Stetson University College of Law at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 12. Commencement is scheduled to take place in the courtyard on Stetson’s Gulfport campus, 1401 61st St. S.
Lt. Cmdr. Nieva M.S. Brock
A total of 317 students are scheduled to walk at Stetson’s law school commencement, including 48 part-time J.D. students, nine LL.M. in elder law students, 12 LL.M. in international law students, and 28 J.D./M.B.A. students.
Brock is an expert in the military rule of law. She has taught courses on classified information to prosecutors and defense counsel in all military services and provided training on protecting children online for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
In addition to her current role with NCIS, Brock’s distinguished military career includes serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and providing support around-the-clock to special agents working on criminal investigations around the globe.
Stetson’s Amnesty International hosted a panel discussion, “Demand Dignity Campaign: A Panel on Homeless Advocacy,” on April 10 at Stetson Law in Gulfport.
The purpose was to bring awareness to the plight of those who become homeless, and to provide students with an opportunity to learn how to help the homeless community through legal action and community activism.
Two of the panelists, Allen Parks and Gregory Rolle, were formerly homeless individuals who now serve on advocacy boards for the community. Parks works with the Pinellas County Homeless Leadership Board, and Rolle serves as the pastor of Justice Ministries for the Holistic Mission Christian Community. Also serving on the panel was Kirsten Clanton, an attorney at Southern Legal Counsel, who is also an advocate for the issue of homelessness.
“We had to find ways to get out of our situation, by selling copper wire or selling fish on the sidelines,” said Rolle. “Even with doing that, there is still a lack of dignity in the homeless community — feeling ashamed because of the shoes on our feet or because we can’t use a public restroom.”
The Demand Dignity Campaign is an international campaign to ensure that those who are homeless or in poverty have basic human rights. Some of these rights include the right to clean water and the right to access public restrooms.
Public policy is based on the premise that society wants homeless individuals to get out of poverty and be integrated back into the workforce and society, but the panel argued that local laws and ordinances often hinder the only opportunities homeless people have to get out of dire situations.
“What struck me about this discussion was the lack of concern from the community and local government officials,” said second-year law student Katherine Heffner. “As soon-to-be lawyers, I feel this issue is of integral importance and feel that we should familiarize ourselves with the plight of the homeless so that we can use our talents to help them.”
Every spring semester, the International Programs Office at Stetson University College of Law hosts a study abroad course that provides students with the opportunity to learn about the legal structure of a different country and then actually visit it in person.
This spring, the course was Rome-Select Topics/International Law, the country of interest was Italy, and I had a personal opportunity to participate. The topics covered in this course were the development of Republicanism, law and advocacy, the legal profession in ancient Rome, and its effect on modern civil law systems.
Stetson Law student Valeria Obi during a spring visit to Rome. Photo courtesy Meagan Randle.
This course was spearheaded by Stetson Law professors Marco Jimenez and Candace Zierdt. Both professors are extremely knowledgeable about the ancient legal structure of Rome and served as great resources for learning about the area.
The first half of the course was spent in the classroom at Stetson Law in Gulfport, Fla., where I learned about the development of law and advocacy from ancient Rome through modern society.
The class was heavily focused on classroom discussion. This provided an opportunity for everyone to share their opinions on course topics. Students facilitated the majority of classroom discussions.
Through these discussions, I learned all about the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, the evolution of religion in Rome, the first legal code (The Twelve Tables), Roman architecture and influential leaders of Rome.
During spring break, March 17-24, I actually had the chance to visit Rome in person and visit the places I studied about in class. Visit Flickr to view more photos>>
One of the sites I visited while in Rome was the ancient Roman Forum, which is surrounded by the ruins of other ancient government buildings. These buildings were used for centuries and were the center of Roman life. The Forum served as the venue for elections, public speeches, criminal trials and other major events that took place. My visit to the Forum was enhanced by insights from the class discussions.
Along with the Forum, I also toured the Supreme Palace of Justice, which houses the Roman Supreme Court. This building is enormous and beautifully decorated with ancient paintings. While there, I also had an opportunity to attend a hearing to see how Roman legal proceedings differ from those in the U.S.
Stetson students spent Spring Break in Rome learning about the Roman legal system. Photo courtesy Meagan Randle.
Another interesting site that I visited was the Catacombs, which served as the underground burial place for Christians in ancient Rome. The Catacombs extend for nearly 12 miles and are currently still being excavated. I got the opportunity to walk through the chilled tunnels and even saw remains in some of the plots.
I also visited Vatican City, which is the smallest independent state in the world. The Vatican is actually located in Rome where its territory consists of a walled enclave. Inside the Vatican are several museums that improved my understanding of ancient Roman art as well as the different Popes of Rome.
The Vatican is also where the Sistine Chapel is located. The Sistine Chapel served as the official residence of the Pope. I was absolutely amazed by the Renaissance architecture and paintings by very famous artists including Michelangelo.
My favorite places among those we visited were Pompeii and Herculaneum, both partially buried cities that are also still being excavated. These cities are the result of a volcanic eruption from Mount Vesuvius. What’s really fascinating about these cities is the fact that part of them is still buried under the ash and debris from the volcanic eruption. We were able to walk through these ancient cities and visualize what life used to be like for the inhabitants.
Overall, my experience in Rome was absolutely captivating and breathtaking. While I did see much of Rome, there is still so much more to see. I appreciate everything I’ve learned from the course because this once unfamiliar culture has inspired me to learn even more about it. Although next year the country selected for Stetson’s spring break abroad will be different, I would absolutely recommend this course to anyone who hasn’t had the opportunity to travel internationally.
For more information about this course or any other study abroad programs, students should contact the Office of International Programs at [email protected].
