UF LAW V I E W B O O K

Transcription

1 F LAW VIEWBOOK

2 Welcome The study of law should enrich the rest of your life and the lives of those you touch. The Fredric G. Levin College of Law, Florida s oldest public law school and its most prestigious, prepares students for a lifetime of legal excellence and leadership. They study among accomplished students, professors and practitioners. Graduates join an alumni network whose legacy of legal, civic and commercial leadership spans more than 100 years. CONTENTS 4 Your Future 6 Students 10 Alumni 12 Leaders 14 CONNECTION 16 Career 18 Facilities 20 resources 22 Campus 24 university of florida 26 Community 28 Curriculum alternative Dispute Resolution Business Law and Taxation Criminal Justice Environmental and Land Use Law Estates and Trusts Family Law Intellectual Property Law International and Comparative Law Public Service skills and Enrichment 41 Admissions 51 Financial Aid 2 U F L a w

3 look inside Scan the QR code with your mobile device to link to the Levin College of Law admissions site. (To download app, visit v i e w b o o k 3

4 your Future At the Levin College of Law we nurture future leaders and elite professionals for the legal world and beyond. Our mission statement explains how: Exceptional faculty, staff and students are committed to excellence in educating professionals, advancing legal scholarship, serving the public, and fostering justice. We aspire to prepare lawyers to serve their clients, the justice system, and the public with a high level of accomplishment and a commitment to the highest ideals of the legal profession. building a strong foundation You will find a stimulating intellectual environment here that nurtures who you are now and the type of professional you want to become. You will acquire the foundation you need to practice at the highest level of competency, and you will begin to tackle fundamental questions related to justice, service and the rule of law. GEORGE DAWSON, INTERIM DEAN AND PROFESSOR OF LAW 4 U F L a w

5 UF Law s lively campus and expansive, state-of-the-art facilities match excellent teaching and scholarship with exquisite value. Consistently ranked among the top 50 law schools in the nation, UF Law placed No. 24 among all public law schools and No. 49 overall by U.S. News & World Report among 203 American Bar Association-approved law schools. The Graduate Tax Program is ranked No. 1 among public schools and No. 2 overall. Environmental and Land Use Law tied for seventh among publics and is 14th overall. UF Law ranked third among the nation s law schools in the number of graduates placed in law firms sized UF Law is the third most affordable among the nation s top 50 law schools, based on American Bar Association data for tuition and fees plus annual expenses. That s one reason we say UF Law is one of the best values in legal education. internationally recognized faculty are known for excellence in teaching and scholarship. The average student evaluation of teaching for the faculty each semester is over 4.2 on a 5-point scale. UF Law offers a diverse curriculum with a broad range of opportunities for study. After the first year, more than 100 courses are available to students. it is one of only five law schools in the country to house an academic research and resource center devoted to the study of race and race relations. UF Law is the oldest public and the most prestigious law school in Florida with 20,000 dedicated, powerful and engaged Gator law alumni. UF Law s diverse and experienced faculty use leadership skills in a variety of ways to meet challenges facing legal education. v i e w b o o k 5

6 Students The first UF Law class of 38 students qualified in 1909 with at least two years of high school. Today, nearly 1,100 students come to UF Law with degrees from institutions ranging from Duke to Princeton to the University of Michigan. As students, they excel at regional, national and international competitions in tax, commercial arbitration and environmental law as well as appellate and trial advocacy. And as graduates, they outpace the rest of the state with an 88.2 percent passage rate on the July 2013 Florida Bar exam. First-rate Qualifications I am proud to be part of the University of Florida law tradition. My experience at UF Law has instilled in me the value of integrity and the importance of service to the legal and local community. CELESTE THACKER (3L), 2014 summer associate for Burr and Forman; President, The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Law Student Division; 2013 Summer Extern for Judge Scott Polodna (JD 90), 9th Judicial Circuit of Florida; Governor, The Florida Bar Law Student Division; President, Florida Association for Women Lawyers; Law College Council; Student Representative, Faculty Committee; Student Recruitment Team; spring 2013 Dean s List; Fall 2012 Book Award, Legal Writing. 6 U F L a w

7 The student body during the academic year was composed of 1,072 students, 944 of whom are J.D. students from throughout the nation. The student body consisted of 57.8 percent men and 42.2 percent women. Students enrolled at the Levin College of Law have undergraduate degrees representing more than 120 institutions, including American University, Boston College, Cornell, Davidson, Duke, Emory, George Washington University, Georgetown, New York University, Princeton, Texas A&M, University of Alabama, University of California Los Angeles, University of Chicago, University of Florida, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, University of Notre Dame, University of Texas Austin, University of Virginia, University of Wisconsin, Wake Forest, Washington University and Vanderbilt. Many students come directly from earning a bachelor s degree, although others have experience in the working world, including the fields of accounting, architecture, biomedical, business and finance, criminal justice, education, engineering, equestrian industry, film and video production, journalism, local and federal government, medicine, military, sales and marketing, software development and urban planning. v i e w b o o k 7

8 what makes UF LAW so great? One thing I ve enjoyed is that we have lots of international students. So, getting a diverse conversation experience from just interacting with my classmates and being with a group of people who are really driven to be the best they can be is a really good atmosphere for learning and growing. KENT SAUSAMAN (LL.M. 13, Taxation) I am constantly amazed when I learn about my professors and all of the things they have done. It s just incredible. But most importantly, it s just how accessible our professors are and how willing they are to help students outside of class. MARISSA FALLICA (JD 14) I was instantly drawn to the sense of community that I felt here. I instantly felt so embraced. I noticed that the faculty spend so much time and energy getting to know us and taking an interest in our success. That s what really set UF Law apart for me. LAUREN REHM (JD 13) 8 U F L a w

9 making a supreme case While here I ve had a chance to meet the entire Florida Supreme Court and engage them in in-depth conversations about the practice of law and what they expect from law students. That s not something available at every law school. WILBERT VANCOL (JD 11) Most Outstanding Advocate Just as the NCAA names its Most Outstanding Player for the annual March Madness basketball tournament, the American Bar Association names the best advocate during the annual moot court competition that brings together America s top 16 university teams. In 2011, that award went to UF Law s Wilbert Vancol (JD 11). Vancol warmed up for the competition on the UF Law campus with other members of the UF Law Moot Court Team before the entire Florida Supreme Court inside the new 98-seat Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center courtroom. Vancol s was one among many victories on the national stage by UF Law students, including UF Law Tax Moot Court team s first place finish in the national competition and the 12th national UF Law Trial Team tournament win. UF Law Students Lead the Nation The collaborative environment in the classroom and study sessions leads to national and international distinction: The International Commercial Arbitration Moot Team finished in the top eight of nearly 300 teams at the 2014 Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna, Austria. The Florida Tax Moot Court Team placed first in the 2011 and 2012 National Moot Court competitions. The Florida Trial Team was the 2011 National Champion at the National Criminal Trial Competition sponsored by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Graduates consistently outpace the rest of the state on the bar exam. Bar passage rate for first-time takers on the July 2013 Florida Bar exam was 88.2 percent. v i e w b o o k 9

10 alumni The accomplishments, involvement and support of UF Law alumni distinguish them as one of the most powerful alumni networks in the nation. Nearly 22,000 alumni have graduated since the college s founding, representing UF throughout Florida, the nation and worldwide. Among them are more American Bar Association presidents than those from any other law school in the past 30 years, dozens of state and federal judges and lawmakers, Florida governors, and nationally prominent lawyers, executives and academics. the power of the gator nation You go to law school because a law degree is one of the most powerful weapons on Earth because it gives you the power to right a wrong, and who else but a lawyer can look at an injustice and do something about it? I hope you can follow your dream. STEPHEN N. ZACK (JD 71), American Bar Association President U F L a w

11 Eugene K. Pettis (JD 85), immediate past-president of The Florida Bar, is a regular on campus, and he s not alone. ABA presidents, Florida Bar presidents, federal and state judges aren t merely produced at UF Law. They return regularly, where they interact with students and ease the transition from academics to a legal career and membership in the Gator Nation. Meet the Gator Nation Five alumni have served as American Bar Association presidents since 1973; that s more than any other law school during the same period. UF Law is fourth among public law schools (eighth overall) for the number of degrees granted to sitting federal judges as of 2014, according to Federal Judicial Center data. Eighteen Levin College of Law alumni have served on the Florida Supreme Court. Four graduates have served as governors of Florida. Hundreds more have served in the Florida Cabinet, as state senators and representatives, president of the Senate and speakers of the House. Twelve graduates became presidents of colleges and universities, including UF. Thirteen graduates have served as deans of law schools, including three who led their alma mater. Since The Florida Bar s inception in 1950, the majority of its presidents have been UF Law graduates. Four consecutive Gators lead The Florida Bar, the nation s second largest state bar. From left are Gwynne Young (JD 74), Scott Hawkins (JD 83), Eugene K. Pettis (JD 85), Executive Director John F. Jack Harkness (JD 69) and Mayanne Downs (JD 87). v i e w b o o k 11

12 Leaders UF Law alumni lead the nation as legislators, members of Congress, public servants and federal, state and county judges as well as in the private sector. And it s no coincidence that so many presidents of The Florida Bar and the American Bar Association call themselves Gators. Successful graduates give back time and money to UF Law, which improve the education for future graduates, and have built the largest law school endowment in the state and one of the biggest in the nation. They also network with and mentor current students, the next generation of leaders. the reach of the gator nation Any success I have today can be attributed directly to the opportunities my education has given me at the University of Florida. I enjoy being the only Gator on the court, and I like being around students and hearing from them about their concerns. JORGE LABARGA (JD 79), Chief Justice, Florida Supreme Court 12 U F L a w

13 photo by Getty Images Carol Browner (JD 79), former director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy, delivers a White House briefing. Strength on the Bench as the alma mater of hundreds of federal, state and county judges, UF Law takes enormous pride in the accomplishments and wisdom of its graduates on the bench. Not only do these individuals dedicate their lives in service to society, they also serve on the judging panels of trial team and moot court competitions to educate the next generation of UF lawyers in the subtleties of oral advocacy. The Jurist-In-Residence Program brings a working judge to the Levin College of Law campus for a week each year to interact with and instruct Levin College of Law students. Students gain firsthand instruction on judicial process, substantive law, trial and appellate advocacy and the day-to-day practice of law. U.S. District Judge Stephan P. Mickle (JD 70) is among those who graduated from UF Law and went on to distinguished judicial careers. The first African-American to earn a bachelor s degree from the University of Florida in 1965, he then earned his master s degree followed by a UF Law degree and would eventually become the first African-American federal judge for the Northern District of Florida. Justice Jorge Labarga (JD 79), chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court, is the latest in a long line of UF Law graduates to lead the state s judiciary. Labarga is the 16th Gator lawyer to serve as a Florida Supreme Court chief justice. Strength in Government Carol M. Browner (JD 79) was the longest serving administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and most recently served as President Barack Obama s director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy. Mark Prater (LLMT 87) engages legislation and policy as chief tax counsel for Senate Finance Committee Republicans. John H. Hankinson Jr. (JD 79) is at the heart of efforts to recover from the Gulf oil spill as executive director of the EPA s Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force. Esther Olavarria (JD 86) is deputy assistant secretary for policy in the Department of Homeland Security. Osvaldo Luis Gratacós (JD 00) is vice president, compliance advisor ombudsman for the World Bank. v i e w b o o k 13

14 CONNECTION Students benefit from interaction with distinguished alumni, who get involved in mentoring and externship programs and as guest lecturers and symposia speakers on campus. Alumni at the Levin College of Law are leaders in the legal profession, the judiciary, business, government, public service and education at state, national and international levels. Each year, these legal professionals are cited as the nation s best in publications such as The National Law Journal and Best Lawyers in America as they make their mark on society and the legal profession. the support of the gator nation At Holland & Knight we go for the best of the best. We are looking for mature, practice-ready young lawyers who can immediately deliver client services in a thoughtful way. We believe in their professionalism, and we know the values that are instilled in them at UF Law. As an alumna, I know the value of the Gator Nation. MARTHA BARNETT (JD 73), Holland & Knight senior partner and former chairwoman; past president of the American Bar Association, U F L a w

15 UF Law students at the Wilkie D. Ferguson Federal Courthouse in Miami show their Gator pride during the sixth annual Federal Court Observer Program. Senior U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck (JD 65) sponsors the program and is among many active alumni who devote time to mentoring UF Law students. The UF Law Gator Nation west 652 Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, Military 74 Southwest 419 mountain 251 midwest 536 northeast 1,029 southeast 16,764 Strong Alumni Ties while most Levin College of Law alumni practice with law firms throughout Florida and the nation, many also serve as counsel to government agencies, corporations and a wide array of public service organizations. Strong alumni ties in these areas of the law provide excellent internship, externship and clerking opportunities for UF Law students. In addition, Levin College of Law alumni play a key role in the provision of quality and affordable legal education at UF, mentoring students and sharing their areas of expertise as adjunct instructors, guest speakers, jurists-in-residence, journal advisors and as coaches for trial team. Entrepreneurship global gators 224 Argentina Bahamas Belgium Bolivia Brazil Canada Chile China Colombia Costa Rica Czech Republic Ecuador El Salvador France Georgia Germany Hungary Indonesia Israel Japan Lithuania Luxembourg Mexico Netherlands Netherlands Antilles Pakistan Peru Poland Russia Slovakia South Africa South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Thailand Trinidad & Tobago Turkey Uganda Ukraine United Kingdom Venezuela As employment data from the past few years has indicated (and you can read the latest on page 17) more than half of recent law graduates work in private law firms, many with fellow Gator grads. Of those, some entrepreneurial graduates have opened their own firms within a few years of graduation in major metropolitan areas such as New York City, while several maintain active practices in cities throughout Florida, including Gainesville. Plenty of alumni are named shareholders and partners, such as Fredric G. Levin (JD 61), UF Law s namesake; Ladd Fassett (JD 79), former chairman of the UF Law Center Association Board of Trustees; Eugene Pettis (JD 85), immediate past-president of The Florida Bar, and many other notable alumni. v i e w b o o k 15

16 CAREER Beginning in the first year of law school the Center for Career Development s professional counselors all with J.D.s and legal practice experience offer students help developing their professional identities, planning their career searches and establishing marketing techniques that will serve them throughout their careers. Representatives of law firms, judges and government offices come to UF Law in the spring and fall to interview students as summer associates and permanent employees. Resources include: Workshops on practical career skills, from polishing a résumé to working a room to handling callback interviews as well as seminars on career path exploration and becoming a successful professional. On-campus interviews with employers seeking students to fill summer associate jobs as well as full-time, permanent positions. individual counseling to formulate a career path and determine appropriate job-search strategies. Interview skills development, including mock interviews. on- and off-campus networking events to meet and learn from legal professionals from law firms, government agencies, public interest organizations, corporations, the judiciary and the military. Job search aids, career exploration materials and employment and salary data nationally and from recent graduates to help assess career options. Job search tips and news about CCD programs through the center s ListServs and newsletters, with updates in the center s weekly publication. Mentoring programs for students and recent graduates. Assistance with applying for postgraduate judicial clerkships. an online job bank listing part time and full-time positions available to students and alumni, résumé books, job search links and resources, online appointment scheduling and more. Downloadable resource materials, samples and forms. Employer Resources The Center for Career Development makes it easy for employers to interview and hire UF Law students and alumni. Employers post their hiring needs at no cost. The college brings employers including many top national law firms to campus to interview students in one of the largest on-campus recruiting programs in the Southeast. UF Law has videoconference interview facilities and participates in multiple off-campus recruiting events in cities such as Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Chicago and New York City to help students market themselves to out-of-state employers. Employer diversity initiatives also deliver information about summer associate diversity programs, employer receptions and diverse employment resources. Practical Experience Nothing strengthens a résumé like experience. UF Law helps students gain practical, hands-on skills through: The Externship Program, in which students earn academic credit, provides valuable experience in private corporations, every level 16 U F L a w

17 field work externships UF Law provides law students with practical experience and professional contacts. In the summer of 2014, a total of 227 students were placed in externships. Opportunities abound for students in the circuit s criminal, civil and federal courthouses. Hospital organizations, health care and high-tech-related firms are also on the rise in Gainesville and can serve as destinations for student externships. Students work for local, state and federal government agencies; judges in federal and state trial and appellate courts, including the Florida Supreme Court and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals; nonprofit organizations and private corporations. Students gain hands-on experience working for lawyers and judges and earning law school credit, including at such new sites as the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and the Senate Office of Legislative Counsel (both in Washington, D.C.); Stuart Weitzman, LLC (New York City); Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic (Boston); the American Medical Association (Chicago); and many more. of government, the judiciary and nonprofit organizations. Pro Bono and Community Service Projects connect law students with organizations seeking volunteers for public interest projects. Part-time or summer employment opportunities are available in law firms, businesses or as teaching or research assistants. These can be found through the Symplicity online job posting system, résumé books, on-campus Interviewing or numerous off-campus job fairs and receptions. alumni serve as mentors for students in a wide array of practice areas and geographic locations. Students represent actual clients in clinical programs under the supervision of faculty or practicing attorneys. Students can earn Florida Supreme Court certification as certified legal interns. Clinical programs include the Conservation Clinic, Criminal Clinics, the Mediation Clinic and the Virgil D. Hawkins Civil Legal Clinics Graduate Employment Sixty-six percent of the class of 2013 remained in Florida for work, which is typical of UF Law graduating classes. New York City, Atlanta and Washington, D.C., are also primary destinations for Gator law graduates. Graduates average starting salary was $64,412 and their median was $55,000. Employment Statistics As of Feb. 15, 2014, the employment rate was 82.5 percent.* EMPLOYMENT SUCCESS RATE BREAKDOWN Employed % Unemployed Start Date Deferred % Unemployed Seeking % Unemployed Not Seeking % Enrolled in Academic Program %** Total Class Size % Employment Status Unknown 3 Not Counted by NALP in calculating percentages EMPLOYMENT BY FIELD*** Academic 3.8% Business/industry 10.2% Government 26.1% Law firm (private practice) 58.3% Public Interest 1.7% *For more about UF Law graduates employment, including how each category is defined, go to: **An exceptionally large number of UF Law graduates are accepted into full-time graduate programs after earning their juris doctors. The class of 2013 s 6.84 percent of graduates who pursued this option is more than triple the 1.8 percent of graduates who did so nationally. Part of the reason for the high percentage engaged in graduate work is the attraction of the Levin College of Law s Graduate Tax program, which is ranked No. 1 among public universities. ***Due to rounding, figures do not total 100 percent. v i e w b o o k 17

18 facilities Multimillion-dollar expansions in the last decade have transformed the Levin College of Law. The new facilities include: a free-standing legal advocacy center with an expansive courtroom; a law library that is the largest in the Southeast and among the top 20 in the country; comfortable, modern classrooms equipped with advanced technology; and a ceremonial classroom for conferences, receptions and special sessions. The facilities are built around the Marcia Whitney Schott Courtyard, where students meet daily to exchange information, attend events and, most importantly, make lifelong friends and colleagues. state of the art courtroom The Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center Courtroom is the core of a $6 million, 19,500-square-foot stand-alone building, which boasts an impressive twostory grand foyer and glass entry. The courtroom serves a teaching function enhanced by large monitors overhead, phone and Internet connections, and tiered seating, which gives 98 students a clear view of the proceedings. The courtroom includes a bench for accommodating seven judges, a jury box and attorneys tables. The courtroom also features a judge s chambers and jury deliberation room. The center, which is named in honor of Martin H. Levin (JD 88), son and former colleague of Pensacola attorney and college namesake Fredric G. Levin (JD 61), places the Levin College of Law at the forefront of major law colleges providing students with sophisticated facilities and services. 18 U F L a w

19 The Florida Supreme Court judges student trial and moot court competitions in UF Law s impressive Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center courtroom. v i e w b o o k 19

20 resources Designed to blend tradition with technology, the Lawton Chiles Legal Information Center offers rare books alongside high-speed data ports and ergonomic study areas. The foyer opens to spacious rooms with leather arm chairs and views of azaleas and moss-heavy oaks. It is the largest in the Southeast and among the top 20 nationwide. Students have access to 3.5 million-plus volumes in other UF libraries and 43 million titles held by libraries throughout the world. Students can access databases that provide federal and state statutes and codes, periodicals, news articles and background materials. world class facilities The sense of community within Gainesville and the alumni network across the country are what sold me on UF Law. I feel so fortunate to call Gainesville my home for the next TWO years. LINDSEY TERCILLA (2L), Bachelor of Science in Journalism, the University of Florida (2013); legal extern in the Special Victims Unit of the 15th Judicial Circuit State Attorney s Office (Summer 2014); Student Recruitment Team ( ). 20 U F L a w

21 High-tech classrooms Lecture halls include classroom inputs for laptops, DVD players, projectors and audio. Video recording and streaming services are also available. Spessard L. Holland Law Center is a multi-purpose building that creates a warm and comfortable learning atmosphere for faculty and students with more than 80 faculty offices as well as classrooms and small lecture halls. bruton-geer Hall is a student-life hub where students visit administrative offices, chat over coffee and food in the cafeteria or study before class in lounge areas. The law library houses more than 600,000 volumes in open-stack displays. An open reserve area gives students access to course reserves and study aids. v i e w b o o k 21

22 Campus Students are exposed to an enriching intellectual environment with visits, lectures and seminars from the crème of the legal community. Students have multiple opportunities to interact with visitors, who range from U.S. Supreme Court justices, federal judges to federal regulators; Florida Supreme Court justices, American Bar Association presidents to leading scholars; successful practitioners and prominent political figures. Every year UF Law students learn the value of preparation as they stand before moot court and trial team panels made up of federal and state judges. Every semester students gain knowledge and practical skills that will propel them on their course as future leaders of the profession. a well-respected education A UF Law degree opens doors for more opportunities than I think any other degree in the Southeast region. When you have a UF Law degree, every employer recognizes and respects it because they know the caliber of the academic institution that you ve been to, and the kind of people that have been around you while you ve been earning your degree. Bryan Griffin (JD 13) 22 U F L a w

23 Students are exposed to new faces, fresh ideas, and the research and professional experiences of people who are shaping the law. v i e w b o o k 23

24 university of Florida The University of Florida is a major research university, hosting 16 colleges and 200 graduate programs, drawing students from more than 130 countries and every U.S. state. UF is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is recognized as one of the nation s leading research universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education. TOP-TIER UNIVERSITY UF attracts world-class orchestras, plays, operas, ballet performances and art exhibitions. Students also can join in numerous casual events such as barbecues, game nights and extracurricular activities running the gamut from intramural team sports and recreational clubs to outdoor activities. The university offers students health and fitness programs in spacious, clean and well-equipped facilities. The University of Florida boasts national champion sports teams that rank among the best in the nation each year. The Gator football team is the most popular and UF Law students receive priority status for tickets to each home game at The Swamp, the legendary football stadium within walking distance of the law school. Alumni networking during football tailgates and law student seating blocks combine the benefits of a big university with the intimacy of a law school. 24 U F L a w