Student Features Archives - Page 8 of 26

Students honored for pro bono service

(L-R): Stetson Law students Kelly Green, Rebecca Watts and Tamara Major were honored for their extraordinary pro bono service.

Stetson University College of Law student Rebecca Watts won the Law Student Pro Bono Award and students Tamara Major and Kelly Green received honorable mention from Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit for their commitment to creating pro bono service opportunities for students at Stetson. Watts was nominated by the Community Law Program for her extraordinary pro bono service.

The students were honored during the 2015 Sixth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Awards ceremony at the Pinellas County Justice Center on April 17. The Sixth Circuit Pro Bono Committee recognized exemplary attorneys, law firms, paralegals and law students who gave time to serve others in the community.

The awards recognized a Pinellas or West Pasco County lawyer, law firm, paralegal or law student who made significant contributions of pro bono legal services to poor individuals or to charitable organizations who provide non‐legal assistance to the poor.

Created by the Florida Supreme Court, the Sixth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee oversees pro bono service to the poor.

Stetson was the first law school in the state to require pro bono service of its students and faculty and one of the first law schools in the country to establish a pro bono service requirement for graduation. Stetson Law students donated 31,719 service hours in 2013-14.

Stetson Law has been nationally recognized for its emphasis on public interest, and is ranked #7 on the Super Lawyers list of the Top 10 Law Schools for Pro Bono Graduation Requirements.

Stetson celebrates Earth Day

Stetson University College of Law students, faculty and staff celebrated Earth Day on April 20 on the Gulfport campus. Live music accompanied gardening tips, electronics recycling, field games and exercise in the lush, Mediterranean courtyard Monday afternoon.

“The event gets better every year, ” said Professor Lance Long, who teaches research and writing and environmental advocacy at Stetson.

Watch this brief video to learn more about environmental advocacy at Stetson:

Stetson celebrated Earth Day on the Gulfport campus.

Former White House Ebola response coordinator speaks at Stetson

Ronald Klain speaks at Stetson’s commencement in May.

Former White House Ebola response coordinator Ronald A. Klain will address Stetson University College of Law commencement on May 16 in Gulfport, Florida.

Stetson’s commencement takes place at 8:30 a.m. in the courtyard on the law school’s Gulfport campus, 1401 61st St. S.

Klain was appointed Ebola response coordinator last year by President Barack Obama. He served as chief counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary and director of the Senate Democratic Leadership Committee. Klain was the chief of staff for two vice presidents, Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Al Gore, and one attorney general, Janet Reno. He served as assistant to the president during the Clinton administration. In 1994, Time Magazine named Klain one of the “50 most promising leaders in America” under the age of 40.

“When our students leave Stetson, they will have an opportunity to make a significant impact throughout their careers not only as lawyers but also as leaders in our communities and beyond,” said Stetson Law Dean Christopher Pietruszkiewicz. “Commencement speaker Ronald Klain’s notable career demonstrates the extraordinary impact that one person can have in serving as a leader in building our communities and having a voice in influencing the policies of our nation.”

Among the 243 students walking at Stetson Law’s commencement are 164 full-time and 48 part-time J.D. students, four LL.M. in advocacy students, six LL.M. in elder law students, 10 LL.M. in international law students, five J.D./Grado students, and six J.D./M.B.A. students.

Law Society of Ireland wins Stetson’s International Environmental Moot Court

The Law Society of Ireland won the 19th Annual International Environmental Moot Court Competition on April 18 at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida. Michelle Ryan of the Law Society of Ireland was named Best Oralist in the Final Round. This is the third time the Law Society of Ireland has won the competition.

The Law Society of Ireland won Stetson's International Environmental Moot Court Competition. — The Law Society of Ireland won Stetson’s International Environmental Moot Court Competition.

Thirteen teams from across the U.S., China, India, Ireland and the Philippines traveled to Stetson Law in Gulfport for the annual competition to discuss the legality of shark finning. Bradnee Chambers, the executive secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species headquartered in Bonn, Germany, served as a final round judge.

The Law Society of Ireland defeated the University of the Philippines College of Law in the final round.

The Ateneo de Manila Law School, Philippines, received the Best Memorial Award,

Sagnik Das of the National Law University, Jodhpur, India, was named Top Oralist in the Preliminary Rounds.

The University of Jammu, India, received the Spirit of Stetson Award, recognizing civility, justice and fair play.

To learn more about the International Environmental Moot Court Competition at Stetson, visit https://www.stetson.edu/law/international/iemcc/.

To download high-resolution images of this year’s teams, please visit our Zenfolio album: http://stetsonlaw.zenfolio.com/p912710035.

Stetson wins AAJ National Student Trial Advocacy Competition

Stetson University College of Law won the American Association for Justice National Student Trial Advocacy Competition on April 19. Stetson’s team of Brooke Batton Charlan, Stanton Fears, Phylicia Pearson and Kyle Ross beat George Mason University in the final round of the national competition.

Stetson's trial team L-R: They are Kyle Ross, Phylicia Pearson, Brooke Batton Charlan and Stanton Fears. — Stetson’s trial team L-R: Kyle Ross, Phylicia Pearson, Brooke Batton Charlan and Stanton Fears.

The AAJ is one of the two largest mock trial competitions in the U.S. More than 200 teams competed around the country for a chance at the championship. Fourteen teams competed in the finals, held at the City-County Building in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

“We are incredibly proud that Stetson’s students were named best in the nation in this competition,” said Associate Professor Michele Joiner, trial advocacy coordinator and trial team adviser at Stetson. “At Stetson, we are dedicated to training the whole advocate, and it is an honor to be recognized for our commitment to the fine art of trial advocacy.”

Professor Joiner and alumnus Shaun Cummings ’14 coached the Stetson team.

Robert Peirce & Associates and the American Association for Justice hosted the competition.

Stetson University College of Law has ranked number one in trial advocacy 17 times since U.S. News & World Report began rankings in 1995.

L-R: Kyle Ross, Phylicia Pearson, Brooke Batton Charlan and Stanton Fears.

Visit www.stetson.edu/law/advocacy to learn more about advocacy at Stetson.

Watch this video of the award-winning trial team practicing for the competition:

Students, librarians, volunteer for Fun in the Sun

Stetson Law students volunteered for Fun in the Sun, Gulfport’s annual springtime celebration, at the Gulfport Recreation Center on April 4. The City of Gulfport and Stetson’s Public Service Fellows co-presented this year’s event, sponsored by local businesses and associations.

The Stetson Law volunteers take a break for a photo with the trolley and Fun in the Sun in Gulfport. Photo by Brittany Brochard.

The event featured an egg hunt for children, face painting, entertainment and demonstrations. In addition to Stetson’s Public Service Fellows, the student organizations Stetson Law Democrats, Dream Defenders, Stetson Law Parents, International Law Society and Elder Law Society volunteered to help with the event. Stetson Law’s library staff also volunteered.

Federalist Society sponsors talk on marijuana and federalism

Former Colorado Assistant Solicitor Michael Francisco spoke at Stetson Law. Photo by Brittany Brochard.

The Stetson Law student Federalist Society recently sponsored a talk on March 31 by former Colorado Assistant Solicitor Michael Francisco on “Marijuana & Federalism.”

Francisco discussed the Colorado citizens ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana that passed in 2012 and the aftermath of the amendment.

Francisco explained that marijuana is still illegal under federal law and federal prosecution for possession of medical marijuana is still possible after the passage of state amendments legalizing the substance. He said that banks are not permitted to open checking accounts for marijuana businesses and attorneys are not permitted to assist marijuana businesses in committing illegal activity associated with the industry.

Francisco also discussed legal cases that have resulted from the Colorado amendment. The states of Nebraska and Oklahoma accuse Colorado’s marijuana laws of breaking federal laws and the states of Washington and Oregon have filed amicus briefs supporting Colorado. A RICO case has been filed in federal district court in Colorado against groups of people involved in marijuana businesses. He said that RICO claims have the potential to change Colorado’s marijuana laws. At the national level, Francisco discussed how the next U.S. president elected in 2016 chooses to enforce drug laws at the federal level will act as a signal to states and citizens.

Stetson Law students win Florida Bar YouTube Contest

(L-R): Elizabeth Harbaugh, Patrick Iyampillai, Daniel Kavanaugh and Colby Connell.

The Harry Latimer Center for Professionalism and the Florida Bar Standing Committee on Professionalism selected four Stetson University College of Law students as the winners of the 2015 Law Student Professionalism YouTube Contest.

Using the Florida Bar’s newly adopted Professionalism Expectations as their guide, students Colby Connell, Elizabeth Harbaugh, Patrick Iyampillai and Daniel Kavanaugh created, wrote and acted in the award-winning, two-and-a-half-minute video about the Florida Bar’s expectations of professionalism in Florida.

Harbaugh wrote the script and Connell and Iyampillai acted in the short film, narrated by Kavanaugh.

“We had a great time shooting the whole short. One of the larger study rooms on the second floor of the library was transformed into a movie studio,” said Iyampillai.

“Patrick had the great inspiration of using the queue video at an amusement park for inspiration, so we talked about some ideas with Dr. Davis and then I wrote the script,” said Harbaugh, who has a directing background.

The students first learned of the contest in Dr. Kirsten Davis’ Professional Responsibility class. The awards presentation for the video takes place on June 25 during The Florida Bar’s Annual Convention at the Boca Raton Resort and Club during Stetson’s Alumni Reception.

View the Stetson Law students’ video below:

Florida Bar hosts town hall at Stetson

The Florida Bar hosted a town hall meeting on Stetson University’s Gulfport campus on March 25 for the law school community.

Florida Bar President Gregory W. Coleman B.B.A. ’85, J.D. ’89 joined 2015 President-Elect Ramón A. Abadin and 2016 President-Elect William J. Schifino for a discussion about issues facing lawyers in Florida.

Abadin will begin serving as Florida Bar president in June of 2015.

William J. Schifino, Gregory Coleman and Ramon Abadin led a town hall discussion at Stetson. Photo by Amadu Wiltshire. — Schifino, Coleman and Abadin led a town hall discussion at Stetson. Photo by Amadu Wiltshire.

Stetson wins regional AAJ Student Trial Advocacy Competition

Stetson University College of Law’s trial team won the southeast regional of the American Association for Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

(L-R): Stanton Fears, Brooke Batton Charlan, presiding judge Farmer, Phylicia Pearson and Kyle Ross. — (L-R): Stanton Fears, Brooke Batton Charlan, Judge Gary Farmer Sr., Phylicia Pearson and Kyle Ross.

Students Brooke Batton Charlan, Stanton Fears, Phylicia Pearson and Kyle Ross won the AAJ regional on March 22 and earned the right to compete in the national competition April 16-19, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The AAJ Student Trial Advocacy Competition is one of the largest mock trial competitions in the country. This year, 224 law school teams competed in the qualifying rounds in 14 regions. Stetson’s trial team tried a products liability case.

“Stetson’s team stood out in the competition,” said Associate Professor of Legal Skills and Trial Advocacy Coordinator Michele Joiner. “Through its preparation, talent and professionalism, our team illustrated why Stetson is the best advocacy program in the country.”

A second team of Stetson students, Franklin Farago, Chad Florin, Daniel Miles and Allison Stevenson, also competed, and Stetson Law graduate Shaun Cummings ’14 and Professor Joiner coached the teams.

For more information about Stetson’s award-winning advocacy program, visit www.stetson.edu/advocacy.

Impacts of felony disenfranchisement discussed at Stetson

Desmond Meade recently completed law school at Florida International University, studied for and passed the bar exam, but is not permitted to apply to the bar.

Desmond Meade spoke with Stetson students about felony disenfranchisement. Photo by Brittany Brochard.

Meade is a former homeless man who is among the more than one million people in the state of Florida who have been convicted of a felony and lost civil rights for life.

On March 10, Meade led an afternoon talk, “Felony Disenfranchisement and the Florida Constitution,” for students at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida. Stetson’s student organization, Dream Defenders, hosted the talk.

Meade said that the majority of people who are disenfranchised are convicted of nonviolent felonies. The process of rights restoration after a felony conviction includes a lengthy waiting period after completion of a sentence and a hearing.

“Restoration of civil rights is an important part of re-entry,” Meade said. “One out of every four African-American males in the state of Florida cannot vote.”

In his current role as state director for the Faith in Florida Live Free Campaign, Meade is leading efforts to restore the civil rights of Floridians, empower and re-engage local communities, and reshape local, state and national policies.

Meade discussed a constitutional amendment petition, the Voting Restoration Amendment, sponsored by Floridians for a Fair Democracy, Inc., that would be a constitutional amendment to Article VI, § 4 of the Florida constitution. The amendment would restore civil rights to people convicted of felonies, with the exception of persons convicted of murder or a felony sexual offense, who complete all terms of their sentences including parole or probation.

Meade is also engaged in a national campaign to reduce mass incarceration, reduce gun violence in urban communities, and re-enfranchise the millions of citizens across the nation who served time and are prevented from voting.

The outgoing president of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, Meade chairs the Florida Coalition on Black Civic Participation’s Black Men’s Roundtable. He has testified before the United Nations in Geneva as well as the U.S. Congress concerning felony disfranchisement.

Panel discusses Diversity in the Workplace

Professor Joseph Morrissey moderated a panel discussion on Diversity in the Workplace on Stetson’s Gulfport campus on March 4.

(Foreground L-R): Kaminsky, Liu, Professor Morrissey, Brittany Maxey and David Brunell. — (Foreground L-R): Ramil Kaminsky, Jason Liu, Professor Joseph Morrissey, Brittany Maxey and David Brunell.

Attorneys in the region David J. Brunell ’11, Ramil Kaminsky ’13, Jason Liu and Brittany Maxey ’07 discussed their personal experiences facing challenges to an inclusive workplace.

The panel and dinner for students was sponsored by the Stetson chapter of the Student Bar Association, Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Asian American Law Student Association, International Law Society, Hispanic Bar Association, Business Law Society, Black Law Students Association, and the Lambda Legal Society.

“Discrimination comes in so many more forms than just what we put labels on,” Brunell said.

Brunell married his partner in 2013, but could not add him to his health insurance policy until 2014 because the state did not recognize the marriage.

“It’s how you conduct yourself that defuses the situation,” said Liu.

Kaminsky stressed that it is important to humble oneself. “We’re all in the legal profession together,” he said. “Sometimes you just need to educate people if they ask.”

Maxey discussed the imbalance between male and female attorney salaries in the state. “If you don’t ask, you won’t get,” said Maxey.

Brunell encouraged the students in the audience to ask questions when confronted by bias in the workplace.

“To be inclusive, you also have to include their viewpoint,” said Brunell.