Stetson Lawyer 2024

STETSON LAWYER AI

IS HERE.

AI & Design: About Our Cover

What you see on the cover is no printer error. It was created using generative artificial intelligence to align conceptually with the subject of our cover story. And our team was curious to see what it would look like.

The first iterations our designer created using a prompt looked a lot different from the final cover design. Key elements were off, like the finer details of our beloved tower. Getting it right required a human touch. This process parallels the way many legal professionals use AI: as an imperfect tool that can save time and resources when applied thoughtfully, but can never replace the skills and qualities that are essential to lawyering. Get the full story on page 10.

Cover Story STETSON LAWYER

AI & the Law: How Stetson Leads the Way

Learn how Stetson Law is helping define the role of generative artificial intelligence in higher education and the legal profession.

Hurricanes Helene and Milton brought devastating impacts to our region, especially Gulfport and nearby beaches. Both Stetson Law campuses were relatively unscathed, but many students were displaced or lost property, including laptops, textbooks, and even vehicles.

Support their ongoing recovery by visiting stetson.edu/law/give and selecting "College of Law Food Pantry" or "Student Emergency Fund" on the designation menu. We greatly appreciate your generosity.

Dean on the Move

I’ve had many wonderful conversations with members of the Stetson Law community, and I’ve enjoyed getting to know our alumni and what matters most to them as we build on our past success to make Stetson Law even stronger.

– Dean Barros

President Roellke, Dean Barros, Professor Royal C. Gardner, and Judge Michael C. Baggé-Hernández ’07 celebrating Stetson’s 140th Anniversary

Dean’s Welcome Reception in Bradenton

Dean Barros with Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association Advisory Board members at the Dean’s Welcome Reception in Tampa

Dean Barros, alumni, and students gather at the Spring SBA Mixer at the Tampa Museum of Art

Building Relationships With Alumni

Stetson Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros has been putting his luggage to the test! Since he started in his role in July of 2023, he has been traveling extensively to meet with alumni and other important constituencies. Whether you call it a listening tour, or making the rounds, Dean Barros has enjoyed the opportunity to do so.

Dean Barros sees his presence with alumni and friends as a critical, and fun, element of his role. Here are just some of the places he has been so far in his time at Stetson Law, with many of them already being visited more than once.

Tallahassee, FL

Tampa, FL

Gulfport, FL

Sarasota, FL

Fort Myers, FL

Naples, FL

Atlanta, GA

Jacksonville, FL

DeLand, FL

Orlando, FL

West Palm Beach, FL

Boca Raton, FL

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Miami, FL

New York, NY

Atlantic City, NJ

Washington, D.C.

Dean Barros speaks to students and alumni at the Dean’s Welcome Reception at Greenspoon Marder's New York City office.

Stetson students hosted by alum Joseph Nicolosi ’19 at Fanatics in New York with Dean Barros on career exploration trip

Dean Barros, Board of Overseers members Greg Coleman ’89 and Michael Marder ’77 at Advocacy Institute grand opening.

Stetson University 140th Anniversary Reception in Fort Lauderdale

VETERANS LAW INSTITUTE

Stetson Law Receives Significant State Funding for Veterans Legal Services

Veterans have earned medical benefits through their service to our country, and Stetson Law’s Veterans Advocacy Clinic ensures those benefits are obtained for deserving residents of our community and state. And now, thanks to a $438,000 state budget allocation that took effect July 1, 2024, the clinic can expand its reach.

Part of Stetson’s Veterans Law Institute, the Veterans Advocacy Clinic provides free legal services to veterans and their family members who are appealing decisions about their disability benefits. The funding will help ensure the clinic has the capacity to continue its important work.

“Service to our community is a core value at Stetson Law. We are proud to have one of the nation’s leading Veterans Clinics,” said Stetson Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros.

Meaningful outcomes for those who have served

Stetson Law students and staff provide about 250 hours of free legal work on every case, work that regularly results in increased healthcare access and financial stability for veterans and their families.

In 2023 The Veterans Consortium named the clinic as a recipient of its 2023 TVC Pro Bono Mission Partner Awards in recognition of its extensive work on behalf of veterans.

“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 StaceyRae 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.

– Law Professor Stacey-Rae

Simcox

WHEN STETSON STEPS IN, VETERANS WIN

Since 2014, legal work by the Veterans Advocacy Clinic has resulted in veterans receiving approximately $23 million in earned future benefits, as well as $13 million in retroactive owed benefits. Here are just some of their latest successes.

Connecting the dots no one else saw

A Marine who served in the 1980s was diagnosed with terminal bile duct cancer. He believed it was caused by toxic water from Camp Lejeune. Even the most optimistic lawyer would have found this case daunting. There was so much that had to be proven to overturn the Department of Veteran Affairs’ decision to deny benefits. But because of the hard work of tenacious students and the VLI team, in collaboration with colleagues on both Stetson campuses, justice prevailed.

By combing through military historical records, locating witnesses, and refusing to give up, our students found that the water where our client was stationed had been shipped in from Camp Lejeune.

The VA found that the brief submitted from Stetson “relayed a thorough, well documented, and scholarly discussion about the various exposures while on active duty that may have contributed to his development of the cholangiocarcinoma.” Its conclusion also stated that the veteran had exposure to carcinogenic chemicals in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune and toxic exposure at several other locations.

This veteran ultimately received several tens of thousands of dollars in benefits that the VA owed him on this claim and secured benefits for his widow.

Working

across disciplines

In this case, the clinic worked to prove a terminally ill Vietnam combat veteran was eligible for VA benefits. Law students not only relied on their legal studies but also diligently worked to learn complex medical terminology to seek justice for their client.

Students combed through medical journals and spoke with medical experts to garner evidence.

Countless hours were spent diagramming theories on whiteboards and learning how to speak the doctors’ medical language to pose questions. This enabled the students to explain theories of what led to the veteran’s illness to the doctor. The doctor, in turn, was able to write a medical opinion, which was accepted by the VA.

The Board of Veterans’ Appeals decided that this client’s cancer was service-connected and paid him $142,000. Additionally, his wife will now be entitled to widow benefits after he passes away, which was his primary concern.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION BOARD

MOOT COURT BOARD

TOP 64

Annual Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot–Vienna, Austria

TRIAL TEAM

An Exciting Time for Advocacy

Bolstering Stetson Law’s reputation as a national leader in advocacy, the college’s Advocacy Institute has seen incredible success in the year since it opened.

The Advocacy Institute Turns One

Audible gasps and exclamations are regular occurrences for visitors when they enter the Jeff and Patricia Smith Trophy Gallery in the new Advocacy Institute. The twostory, 16,000-square-foot Institute houses a portion of Stetson Law’s extensive trophy collection, a representation of decades of preparing students to be high-quality advocates in their careers. The hard work required to achieve sustained success is also evident when meandering through the building – you will often see students preparing for competitions on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons in one of six new courtrooms. The building also serves as home for the Center for Excellence in Advocacy, the Jacobs Law Clinic, and the Center for Elder Justice.

In the past year alone, the new institute provided ample practice and collaboration space for more than 50 competition teams as well as delivered a new, beautiful space for Stetson to host the National Pretrial Competition, ABA Regional Arbitration Competition, 1L Mock Trial Competition, National Tax Moot Court Competition, Region 6 Tournament of the National Trial Competition, and International Environmental Moot Court Competition.

In June of 2024, the Institute was the venue for the largest annual Stetson Educating Advocacy Teachers Conference. The signature event brought more than 30 law schools to campus for dozens of innovative panels and presentations on how to most effectively and persuasively teach the art of advocacy across all disciplines.

From left: Stetson University President Christopher Roellke, Stetson Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros, Stetson University Provost Elizabeth Skomp, past Board of Overseers Chair Gregory Coleman

FORGING NEW PATHS

Stetson Leads the Way in AI & the Legal Profession

Across campus and beyond, the Stetson Law community is buzzing with conversations about how artificial intelligence affects what law students – and legal professionals – do.

Sentiments range from skepticism to excitement. Yet all agree that AI is here to stay and it is having a transformative impact on higher education and the legal field – especially on those who teach or study law, for whom research and writing are integral.

Starting in 2025, Kristen Moore ’09, instructor in law and associate director of the Dolly and Homer Hand Law Library, will co-teach a course called Advanced Legal Research: Artificial Intelligence and Legal Research with References and Student Services Librarian Angelina Vigliotti ’22

It is one of many Stetson Law courses directly involving AI and how it relates to ethical implications and lawyering skills in a world where generative AI is ubiquitous. In spring of 2025, Stetson Business Law Review will devote its entire symposium to the topic.

New tech, swift action

Law Professor Kirsten Davis, Stetson Law’s faculty director of online legal education strategies and a nationally recognized expert in legal communication, jumped at the chance to explore AI’s implications for law schools.

As lawyers are using AI, it becomes part of our job to teach how to use it responsibly and to help our patrons, students, and faculty use it.

–

Kristen Moore ’09, instructor in law and associate director of the Dolly and Homer Hand Law Library

Realizing the likely impact generative AI was about to have on legal education – especially legal writing –Davis engaged colleagues in what became a national conversation. She began teaching her first AI & the Law class in fall of 2023. Stetson University has since named her Provost Faculty Fellow for Generative Artificial Intelligence and Higher Education. She has also been recognized by the American Bar Association and the Association of American Law Schools as a thought leader in the space. Her work has just begun.

“We are developing foundational policies to keep our community members safe with AI use,” Davis said. “We are starting training for faculty on sensible AI use in the classroom.”

A team of Stetson Law faculty is also participating with the American Association of Colleges and Universities in a year-long institute to explore ways to approach generative AI in the college’s curricula and courses, she said.

This was the moment I’ve been waiting on my whole career: the opportunity to study technology that might represent a paradigmatic shift for writing and researching the law.

– Dr. Kirsten Davis

Preparing students for a brave new world

As alumni-turned-instructors and law library staff who support students immersing themselves in legal texts, librarians Moore and Vigliotti know the Stetson Law student experience well – particularly the emphasis on ensuring students are practice-ready upon graduating. This is why they find it encouraging that the college is engaging proactivity on AI.

“As these new research tools come up, we’re thinking about when the students go into practice, whether they’re soon to be alumni or might be working for alumni,” Vigliotti said. “Stetson’s really trying to respond.”

They stress that generative AI is a tool – and not a way to evade the deep cognitive work at the heart of lawyering. Moore and Vigliotti want to invite students to see how it compares to traditional research methods – and how they can work synergistically.

“As librarians, we’re lovers of information and finding information,” Moore said. “It’s another tool to use in that process.”

An obvious challenge is determining whether an assignment turned in by a student was entirely the product of ChatGPT.

Law professors use legal writing assignments to evaluate not just communication skills, but also important underlying lawyering skills like legal reasoning. Students’ use of generative AI to write papers may change that assumption, Davis said.

“As I tell my students, ‘You need lawyer intelligence to use artificial intelligence,’” she said. “The challenge now is to know how to assess those intelligences.”

While it’s possible that a student at the graduate level would try to pass off an AI-generated paper as their own work, Vigliotti said they are aware of the consequences.

“Students know their name is attached to that work product,” Vigliotti said. “They’re not willing to jeopardize their career, their quality of work, or their integrity.”

In her own work as vice president and deputy general counsel for Turnitin, a platform that develops software to aid educators in detecting AI writing and plagiarism in student assessments, Kristen Chittenden ’10 was so fascinated by the question of how AI affects legal education that she developed a course around it, which she began teaching at Stetson Law as an adjunct in the fall of 2024.

On day one of class, she incorporates tools like ChatGPT.

Exploring the tech in an educational setting can allow students to use it in a setting where there are no consequences for a client.

As the technology – and its use in law firms, courtrooms, and beyond – evolves, Chittenden said she can see classes in the future that are fully devoted to ethics and professional responsibility in the use of AI, to AI rules and regulations, and classes that branch off into specific areas of law, like criminal law or human resources law.

In myclass, Iwant them to useAI. Iwant to see howthey’re using it because I would rather learn howthey’re thinking about it in a transparent wayandwhat their process is.

– Kristen Chittenden ’10, V.P. and deputy general counsel for Turnitin, and adjunct professor

“Educating the lawyers of tomorrow in AI and what it can do is critical,” Chittenden said. “Every law school should be thinking about a class in AI.”

How legal professionals use it

AI is now commonly used for tasks from document drafting to predictive analytics for case outcomes, said Judge Michael Baggé-Hernández ’07, who presides over Florida’s 13th Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County. Baggé-Hernández has been studying AI’s uses within the legal profession and its ethical implications.

Applied thoughtfully, it can free up lawyers’ time for duties that constitute the core of what it means to be a lawyer.

“The advent of AI in legal practice is comparable to other major technological shifts, as it allows attorneys to allocate more time to strategic decision-making and client engagement – areas that require the human touch and deep legal expertise,” Baggé-Hernández said.

Matt Hitchcock ’09, who is general counsel for the insurance company Vault, says he uses it to enhance tasks like brainstorming, rough drafts, evaluating documents, and data review and summarization.

“As an in-house attorney, you often don’t have a support staff, so having a digital assistant that can draft a letter while you do other work is very helpful,” he said.

Knowing where AI can help – and its limits – is critical.

“It would not be wise,” Chittenden said, “to let it take over the Shephardizing process completely or generate an entire document, given the tendency for hallucinations.”

The risks of reticence

While it’s still possible for lawyers to conduct research using physical law books, the reality is that tools like Westlaw, LexisNexis, and Fastcase have made this approach nearly obsolete, except for when it comes to historical research.

“It’s no longer practical – or billable – for an attorney to spend hours sifting through books when these advanced platforms can deliver precise results in a fraction of the time,” Baggé-Hernández said.

He adds that in cases of malpractice or billing disputes, expert witnesses testifying about standard practices in legal research may soon include using AI for certain tasks – just as they currently assert that a competent attorney uses tools like Westlaw or LexisNexis rather than physical books.

Those who hesitate to adopt these tools may end up at a disadvantage that could jeopardize their competitiveness in the field.

Baggé-Hernández cautions that lawyers “must balance this efficiency with ethical considerations, ensuring that AI is used as a tool to enhance, rather than replace, the critical thinking and judgment that define the legal profession.”

He recommends establishing clear policies for the use of AI that address transparency with clients about use of AI in their cases.

– Hon.

Practitioners who resist adoptingAI risk being left behind in arapidly evolving legal landscape.

Michael Baggé-Hernández ’07, Florida’s 13th Judicial Circuit

Start here: Recommended resources

Information about AI may seem nebulous, but there are trusted sources for staying current.

Professional organizations including the Florida Bar, New York Bar, and the American Bar Association (ABA) have offered guidance on AI use for legal professionals – and entities like Lexis and Westlaw also are producing timely articles on the matter.

Hitchcock and Baggé-Hernández both recommend reviewing Florida Bar’s Ethics Opinion 24-1 in particular. The ABA Model Rules concerning the duty of competence (Rule 1.1) and supervising nonlawyer assistance (Rule 5.3) also offer guidance on sound use of it.

“Lawyers must establish clear policies that include transparency with clients about the use of AI, rigorous oversight of AI-generated work, and ongoing education to stay informed about the evolving capabilities and ethical implications of AI,” Baggé-Hernández said.

2024 BOOK AWARDS

Stetson College of Law would like to thank the individuals and firms who served as sponsors during the 2023-2024 school year.

Reception, Event, and Program Sponsors

Florin|Roebig

Greenspoon Marder Johnson Pope Hale Law Gunn Appellate Practice Fowler White

Kubicki Draper Rosemarie Silva

Tampa Hispanic Bar Association Inc. Bryant R. Camareno Mohammad Mubarak Arturo R. Rios, Jr. Felix Montanez

Anne Marie M. Hankins David Moran Ferrentino & Brotz Amy Ruiz Francesca da la Grana

Banker Lopez Gassler

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Rumberger Kirk

Rissman, Barrett, Hurt, Donahue, McLain & Mangan

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Vernis & Bowling

Wicker Smith

Jacobs Law Clinic Creates Powerful Impacts, Grows in Popularity

Powered by robust support and passionate collaboration, the Dick and Joan Jacobs Public Interest Law Clinic for Democracy and the Environment launched in early 2023.

Offering students on-the-ground experience working on issues about which they care most, the clinic has become very popular as it has conducted meaningful work on behalf of a range of clients.

Even after increasing clinic capacity by hiring staff attorney and Stetson Law alumna Rachael Curran ’17, student enrollment is at capacity. Thanks to generous support from the Stetson Law community, 12 Stetson Law students served in the fall ‘23 and spring ‘24 semesters and provided free legal aid to more than two dozen clients.

“The Jacobs Law Clinic provides such a valuable resource to advocates working in the public’s interest to protect democracy and the environment,” said Law Professor Jaclyn Lopez, director of the Jacobs Law Clinic. “It has been rewarding to help our students gain critical skills and knowledge they can take with them into whatever career path they choose.”

Student Meghan Redmond ’25 said participating in the clinic has been a highlight of her law school career. She said the clinic not only gave her hands-on experience, but it put her face-to-face with decision makers.

“The clinic allowed me to work directly with a client and provide research assistance on the impact of polluting industries on our democratic processes,” Redmond said. “It has also afforded me the opportunity to witness democracy in action during a trip to Tallahassee, where classmates and I observed the Florida State Senate and House of Representatives and met with lawmakers.”

In addition to meeting with lawmakers representing Tampa Bay districts, the students sat in on sessions from the gallery where lawmakers debated legislation and toured the Capitol – including the chambers and back halls.

The growing list of clients includes conservation and public health organizations, neighborhood associations, and government accountability watchdogs. They collectively represent thousands of people throughout Florida and the United States. Students gain real-life experience doing legal work for entities like the nonprofit Tampa Bay Waterkeeper as it fights to prevent future environmentally devastating events like the Piney Point phosphogypsum spill of 2021.

“Tampa Bay Waterkeeper is extremely appreciative of Jacobs Law Clinic for the expertise, energy and guidance to navigate the legal complexities that exist in our fight to protect, improve and preserve the Tampa Bay Watershed,” said Justin Tramble, executive director of Tampa Bay Waterkeeper. “The Clinic is such a powerhouse and we are fortunate to have it right here in Tampa Bay.”

The Jacobs Clinic’s other recent successes include helping the Center for Biological Diversity secure a settlement agreement to protect Florida’s elusive ghost orchid. The Clinic has supported the Blue-Green Action Platform (BlueGAP) in its efforts to track and mitigate nitrogen pollution, filed a notice of intent to sue on behalf of a coalition fighting industrial pollution, and petitioned for administrative rulemaking to address water pollution.

Through diligent work of students and staff, the Jacobs Clinic has also created a white paper on the environmental impacts of a Supreme Court decision on wetlands, written a report on industrial pollution harming a local community, and performed an analysis of corporate giving to Floridabased political action committees.

Learn more at stetson.edu/law/Jacobs-law-clinic.

Jacobs Clinic students and staff meet with State Rep. Linda Chaney, who represents coastal Pinellas County, during a trip to Tallahassee.

Justin Tramble, executive director of Tampa Bay Waterkeeper

Stetson’s Biodiversity Law Institute Expands Its International Footprint

Thinking – and Acting – Globally

On land, in the air, or in the water, vulnerable species and the action required to protect them transcend international boundaries. So, too, does the passion of the wildlife conservation community.

This is why Stetson’s Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy stresses the importance of substantive collaboration among governments and nongovernment organizations that span the globe.

Some of the institute’s latest work involves an international agreement to protect sea turtles.

In November 2022, Stetson Law signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the InterAmerican Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles (IAC), a 16-member treaty consisting of coastal South and Central American countries, Caribbean Island nations, and the U.S. The convention promotes policies around the protection and conservation of six sea turtle species and their habitats based on the best available data and the environmental, socioeconomic, and cultural characteristics of the IAC’s parties.

With support from students and under the leadership of Law Professor and Institute Director Royal Gardner, the institute helped the IAC secretariat assess the extent to which countries are complying with treaty resolutions, such as preventing the deliberate killing of sea turtles, use of turtle excluder devices on shrimp trawl vessels, and prohibiting taking eggs from sea turtle nests.

Foreman Biodiversity Fellow Katherine Pratt presented the report virtually to IAC parties at their Eleventh Conference of the Parties, held in Ecuador in June 2024. IAC Secretary Verónica Cáceres and the IAC parties expressed their gratitude for Stetson’s contributions to efforts to protect these iconic species.

This project allowed our students to gain insight into how countries work individually and together to protect sea turtles, while at the same time assisting with regional conservation efforts.

– Law Professor and Institute for Biodiversity Law & Policy Director Royal Gardner

A green sea turtle, one of the species the IAC aims to protect

A Banner Year for Inclusive Excellence

Throughout the 2023-2024 academic year, Stetson Law’s commitment to fostering an inclusive environment for all students and employees was widely recognized and celebrated, reinforcing its role as a leader in inclusive higher education.

These recognitions not only celebrate Stetson Law’s achievements but also affirm its ongoing role and collective responsibility to advance inclusion and build a sense of belonging and connectedness within our law school community, the legal field, and beyond.

For the fourth consecutive year, Stetson Law received the HEED Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity, a national honor recognizing outstanding diversity and inclusion efforts across multiple academic and administrative areas.

These areas included Stetson’s continued co-leadership of the St. Petersburg Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Center, and the Cross-Cultural Observance Initiative that invites the law school community to engage in cross-cultural learning and awareness in celebration of the diversity throughout our campus community and as continued professional identify formation for our students. This year, Stetson University also won the HEED Award, marking its first recognition at the university-wide level for Inclusive Excellence efforts.

Stetson Law's multi-year accolades also include the continued designation as a Military Friendly and Military Spouse-Friendly institution, which we received for 20242025 at the Gold-Level rank. Through Stetson’s Veterans Law Institute and associated initiatives, Stetson has prioritized being a place where veterans feel welcome and supported in pursuing their educational goals, while also increasing legal services to military members, veterans, and their families.

In addition, Stetson Law’s commitment to LGBTQ+ communities have garnered national, regional, and local recognition, including:

• The Association of American Law Schools Section on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Issues’ 2024 LGBTQ+ Inclusive Excellence Award.

• OUT Arts & Culture (formerly the City of Gulfport LGBTQ Resource Center) awarded Stetson Law its inaugural “OUTie” Award in the Education category for its allyship and ongoing community partnership.

• The Tampa Bay Business Journal recognized Stetson Law with a Business of Pride Award for its inclusion initiatives on campus and beyond.

Through continued community engagement, we look forward to keeping our students engaged as we train future lawyers, leaders, and advocates to bring communities together.

Left to right: Stetson University Executive Officer of Institutional Inclusive Excellence Carmen Johnson ’12, Stetson Lambda Legal Society President Liam Cortez ’25, Stetson Law Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Latoya Edwards, Director for Admissions Darren Kettles, Stetson Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros, Edson Abadia ’22.

Stetson Law received the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Business of Pride award in June of 2024

MEET STETSON LAW’S NEWEST FACULTY

A big part of what makes Stetson Law so special is the faculty whose scholarship and passion for mentorship foster success for students. These new and visiting faculty are the latest to contribute to this community.

Robyn Powell, Assistant Professor of Law

In fall of 2024, Stetson Law welcomed Professor Robyn Powell back to campus as tenure-track faculty. Powell teaches professional responsibility, disability law, public health law, and other courses and is a nationally recognized expert in disability law, particularly where it intersects parental rights.

Alfredo Garcia, Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law

An eminent scholar and former dean of St. Thomas University College of Law, Garcia brings a wealth of experience as an administrator, faculty member, and legal practitioner. He joined Stetson Law as a visiting professor in fall of 2024 and teaches criminal law.

Shailini George, Distinguished Visiting Professor of Legal Writing

Suffolk University Professor Shailini George joined Stetson Law as Distinguished Visiting Professor of Legal Writing for the 2024-2025 academic year. George’s years of teaching experience in legal writing will help to bolster Stetson Law’s reputation as a national leader in legal writing. George also brings an extensive body of work exploring the role of mindfulness in student success.

Deidré Keller, Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law

Deidré A. Keller is the immediate past dean of the Florida A&M University (FAMU Law) College of Law in Orlando. She writes and speaks on the intersections of pedagogy, intellectual property, personhood theory, the Constitution, and diversifying the legal profession. She teaches contracts and intellectual property.

Nino Monea, Bruce R. Jacob Visiting Assistant Professor of Law

A 2016 Harvard Law alumnus and former editor of the Harvard Journal of Legislation, Monea’s recent work includes serving as a Judge Advocate for the U.S. Army. Prior to that, he clerked for Michigan Supreme Court Justice Mary McCormick. He teaches professional responsibility.

Jeffrey Brooks, Visiting Assistant Professor

Joining Stetson Law from Louisiana State University, Brooks is a major force behind the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, the world’s largest competition of its kind. While at Stetson Law, he will teach international law.

HIGHER ED: Leading Amid a Changing Landscape

In a climate where shifting regulations, political scrutiny, and legal obstacles create increasing challenges for higher education administrators, the industry’s thought leaders are fortunate to have a place to convene, learn, and collaborate.

That is why Stetson Law’s annual National Conference on Law & Higher Education is so important to anyone who works in the industry – from senior campus administrators to Title IX officers.

In the spring of every year, the conference takes place on Clearwater Beach, Florida – and it is as much a gathering among friends as a series of intensive learning sessions full of critical new information and insights that attendees can bring back to their home institutions.

The event’s 2025 theme is “Welcome to Compliance U. version 2.0.”

It will explore the potentially profound federal law and policy changes – particularly the Supreme Court’s Chevron and Corner Post cases – that will alter higher education compliance requirements.

Professor and Stetson’s Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law & Policy Director Peter Lake, a leading higher ed law expert, wrote a piece titled, “Management by Judiciary,” for Inside Higher Ed following Chevron that garnered the attention of college presidents, boards and administrators across the country.

“Do not be lured into thinking that this is the end of dynamic, challenging, at times inconsistent compliance mandates for higher education. Instead, higher education’s lived regulatory experiences likely will only become more complex and legalistic,” Lake wrote in the article.

Guided by leadership and center staff who care deeply about students’ success, the conference continues to be the premier destination for those who want to see students thrive amid a challenging climate.

“I want Stetson to forge new paths in higher education interdisciplinary law and policy training. For almost half a century, Stetson has been the national gold standard in such training and there has never been a time when our work is more relevant and necessary in what has become a sink-or-swim environment for higher education,” Lake said.

A New Offering for Lawyers Who Serve Elders

Tax Law Acumen Without the LL.M.

Attorneys practicing elder law know that looking out for their clients’ best interests often involves a nuanced understanding of how taxation law can affect those they represent.

While they may not all meet the wealth threshold that would necessitate sophisticated tax planning, older clients often encounter challenges that require an understanding of tax law that goes beyond the basics.

That is why Stetson Law’s Center for Elder Justice is offering a new certificate program in tax law that is designed specifically with elder law attorneys in mind –particularly those several years into their career who have not already pursued an advanced degree in tax law.

The program reflects Stetson Law’s commitment to enriching the legal profession through nimble, innovative programming to meet the needs of today’s practitioners.

“The field of elder law is full of dedicated attorneys who tirelessly advocate for clients whose legal matter often involves overlapping legal areas,” said Professor Rebecca Morgan ’80 with Stetson’s Center for Elder Justice. “It is our hope that, through programs like this, we can empower them with the knowledge they need to confidently navigate the intricacies of taxation law for their clients.”

Led by nationally renowned elder law attorneys like Hyman G. Darling and Katie Everlove-Stone ’06, the program consists of four two-week courses that are each 20 hours in length.

The courses are best suited for attorneys and financial advisors with at least three to five years of experience in the field and who do not have a Tax LL.M. degree. The courses include:

• Foundations of Tax in an Elder Law Practice

• Foundations in Gift and Estate Taxes

• Additional Issues to Be Utilized and Recognized by Practitioners

• Graduate Certificate Assessment

Though they may be taken à la carte, students who complete all four courses will be eligible to take an assessment. Upon passing the assessment, they will earn a Graduate Certificate in Tax and Elder Law from Stetson University College of Law. Scan the code for more information about the program.

Jason Turner on Giving Early & Often

Why I Give

For 2004 alumnus Jason Turner, Stetson Law isn’t just the place where he got his J.D. It’s a deeply interconnected and supportive community akin to family.

Now a successful entertainment and sports lawyer in Nashville, Tennessee, Turner has endeavored to give back to his alma mater in big ways despite a demanding schedule.

Now the Chair of the Stetson Law Board of Overseers, Turner first got involved by joining the Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association Advisory Council in 2008. He taught entertainment law as an adjunct from 2010 to 2018, after which he joined the Board of Overseers. He is Chair of The Charles A. Dana Law Center Foundation and, in addition to numerous donations, has established two scholarship awards for Stetson Law students.

It’s not just about cutting a check. It’s an investment in the future, and the return on that investment is going to be great.

– Jason Turner ’04

Turner and his energetic Miniature Schnauzers, Jasper and J.D.

Left to right: Law Professor Kelly Feeley, Turner, and Law Professor Roberta Flowers at the fall 2023 opening of the Advocacy Institute

I am a huge believer in not forgetting where I came from or about those who helped me get where I am – and Stetson was a substantial part of that.

– Jason Turner

Getting to Stetson Law

Accustomed to small classrooms all of his life, including at his undergraduate alma mater Belmont University in Nashville, Turner did not want to sit in a cavernous lecture hall with hundreds of other students.

“When I was looking at law schools, I was very intentional in trying to find continuity from what I grew up with precollege and what I experienced in college – and tried to carry that forward,” he said.

Right away, he knew Stetson Law had the close-knit atmosphere he sought.

“What stood out was the fact that professors were willing to meet with me as a prospective student,” he said. “I could tell that they had a lot of the same qualities that I had experienced at Belmont as far as taking time and caring about the students.”

While at Stetson Law, Turner was on what was then known as the Negotiation Team (now called Dispute Resolution) as well as Trial Team. He worked as a teaching assistant for Professor Peter Lake and Professor Rebecca Morgan. Though it was a challenge to balance these with classes and clerking, he said it all paid off.

“Being involved in the trial team – the best in the nation – became absolutely critical even in my first year out of law school, when I started practicing, because I felt like I was fully prepared and fully capable of walking into a courtroom and as long as I knew my case, I had the skills that were necessary to do what I needed to do. Looking back after the fact, that was unequivocally critical.”

He added that being on the negotiation team helped sharpen skills that he uses on a daily basis. “My involvement with the negotiation team and all that my coach taught us is still used, quite literally, on a daily basis in my practice. It is truly invaluable.”

Giving After Graduation

Not long after launching his legal career, Turner had an eye-opening experience helping his beloved grandfather, LeRoy Y. Hooks, manage end-of-life legal matters as he suffered from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. After conversations with Professor Morgan, director of Stetson’s Center for Elder Justice, who had become a dear friend both during and after law school, he was inspired to establish the LeRoy Y. Hooks Elder Law Scholarship to help support students pursuing careers in elder law.

“We live in a society that is rapidly aging,” he said. “There is a huge need to make sure that this population has the resources that they need.”

Since then, Turner hasn’t slowed down. He passionately supported the construction of the Advocacy Institute – and even made a gift to name a courtroom. In 2022, SLAA presented him with the Paul M. May Meritorious Service Award. In 2023, he established the Jason L. Turner Distinguished scholarship, a named award that aims to attract and retain high-performing students.

Turner said he hopes to inspire other alumni to support Stetson Law in a way that reflects their passion and the manner in which the College has shaped their lives.

Turner with his client, four-time BMI Writer of the Year Ross Copperman, whose writing and producing credits include Darius Rucker, Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, Old Dominion, Gabby Barrett and many others

Stetson Law Celebrates Spring 2024 Commencement

During a sunny morning ceremony in the Plaza Mayor Courtyard, 271 students became Stetson Law alumni.

Stetson University President Christopher Roellke asked the graduates to show kindness and empathy in all they do.

“As you grow and thrive, I challenge you to help those around you to thrive, to offer small acts of kindness and empathy to your clients, partners, institutions, and organizations,” he said.

Stetson Law Dean Benjamin Barros commended the class for its commitment to serving the community while enduring the challenges of a worldwide pandemic. The graduating class performed more than 20,000 hours of pro bono work.

“My hope is that in doing this work you experienced the joy that service can bring and will continue to seek out pro bono work not as an obligation, but as something that you desire to do,” he said.

The commencement speaker was University of South Florida President Rhea Law, who earned her J.D. from Stetson Law in 1977 and served on the University’s Board of Trustees and College of Law Board of Overseers. She reflected on her time at Stetson Law and the impact it had on her career.

“I’ve had a lot of mentors and champions in my life, but some of the greatest were the faculty and staff right here at Stetson University College of Law,” she said.

She urged the graduates to “always remember your why” as they navigate their careers – and never to back down in times of uncertainty.

“Always believe in yourself,” she said. “And when the doubts come, double down and bet on yourself.”

Stetson Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros; Stetson Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Elizabeth Skomp; Stetson University President Christopher Roellke; University of South Florida President Rhea Law, J.D. ’77; Stetson University Board of Trustees Chair Steven Alexander B.BA ’85; Law Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Jason Palmer; Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association President Brittany Maxey-Fisher, J.D. ’07

A recent Juris DOG-torate honoree

What is a Stetson Lawyer?

Any alum knows that a legal education from Stetson Law doesn’t just instill a functional understanding of how to navigate the legal system or write a contract. The Stetson Law experience demands reason, preparedness, and passion.

The characteristics a Stetson Law education imparts –and the sense of community it creates – are part of why alumni often return to teach and mentor students – and the reason they often hire other alumni to work in their firms and departments.

“In retrospect, becoming a lawyer is easy, but learning to practice law is another matter,” said Anthony Martino ’04, who is the 2024-2025 president of the Hillsborough County Bar Association (see a full profile of Martino on page 27). “I can say with certainty that my Stetson Law School education fully prepared me for the road ahead.”

Alumni hiring alumni

Years before he launched his own firm, Robson Powers ’12 was looking to hire an associate to help grow his former firm’s civil litigation office.

Among the several candidates he interviewed, an applicant named Kara Rogers ’17 caught his attention.

What put her at the top of the list: a J.D. from Stetson Law, 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 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.”

Kara Rogers ’17 and Robson Powers ‘12

This reputation is so strong that University of South Florida President Rhea Law ’77 even referred to Stetson alumni hires in her 2024 Commencement speech.

“They were ready for the rigors that would come before them,” she said. “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 March, handles business litigation, specialty and complex litigation, business formation, and more.

While a student, Rogers was part of Stetson’s Dispute Resolution Board and Vis team. She 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.”

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.

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 ’61, who was the only woman in her graduating class. Palmer also worked at Harter Secrest and Emery as well as Gunster while in law school.

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

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, family law. A boutique, woman-owned firm, Palmer Law Group seemed like a perfect fit. Her 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.”

I

recruit from Stetson Law because the students are prepared, curious, and hardworking, I expect alums to demonstrate preparedness and dedication.

– Rebecca Palmer ’94

Lena Fucile ’23 and Rebecca Palmer ‘94

Alumni Profiles in Success

In exploring what it means to be a Stetson lawyer, one has to consider the many pathways that can result from the values we share as a community – diligence, preparedness, and forward thinking. Read on to learn about recent triumphs.

Her Career Into High Gear

When Christina Unkel ’12 began refereeing soccer games as a 10-year-old, she couldn’t have known where her passion for the game and leadership skills would take her.

“I could ref two games and make $40 and have all the concession stand food you could want,” said Unkel. “I could play and practice soccer and then, on my off-days, referee. I ended up falling in love with it.”

Today, that love for what she calls “the beautiful game” has led to her becoming president of the Tampa Bay Sun, a women’s soccer team that is part of the new Division 1 United Soccer League Super League. The team debuted to much fanfare in summer of 2024.

Her role follows 15 years as a referee –including for FIFA – and sports journalist whose work has appeared on Fox Sports, CBS Sports, and Paramount+ as well as in The Atlantic

Unkel also holds an M.B.A. from Stetson University as well as a certificate of concentration in advocacy from Stetson Law. She said her education has helped

to details, and other skills applicable both in the court and on the field.

“So we speak of advocacy skills as not just being the best advocate for your client, but also understanding what role and which mask you put on,” said Unkel.

Lawyer, Doctor, Advocate Zayn Mohamed ’18

A lawyer, doctor, triathlete, and accomplished pianist, Stetson Law alumnus Ahmed-Zayn Mohamed ’18 tends to excel at whatever he does.

Born in Cairo, Egypt, Mohamed came to the U.S. with his family as a child. Now a Tampa-based patent attorney at Carlton Fields specializing in medical technology, Mohamed credits Stetson Law with helping him find his passion.

“I love the school, the family environment, the world-class professors, and the student community.”

While at Stetson, he was on the Dispute Resolution Board and part of the team that competed in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration.

With so many achievements, it is hard to imagine someone like Mohamed having time to decompress – but he says he does so through activities like swimming and piano. Early in his career, a mentor gave him two pieces of advice he took to heart. The first was to stop and smell the roses.

The second? Find ways to help others succeed.

“In anything anyone does, there’s always a way to pay it forward,” he said.

SCOTUS Fellowship a Dream Come True for

Viviana Vasiu ’18

On the heels of a prestigio us, yearlong U.S. Supreme Court fellowship, Double Hatter Viviana Vasiu B.A. ’15, J.D. ’18 said she will never forget getting sworn into the U.S. Supreme Court Bar by the Counselor to the Chief Justice – or getting to see all the oral argument sessions in action.

Over one Court term, Vasiu worked on the United States Sentencing Commission, which sets sentencing policies and practices for the federal courts. She calls it one of the best experiences of her life.

“During this year-long program, I gained insight into the inner workings of the judiciary and met some of the most brilliant and kind people I’ve ever worked with at the Supreme Court and the U.S. Sentencing Commission,” Vasiu said. “Most importantly, I’ve gained lifelong mentors, and I'll be eternally grateful for this opportunity of a lifetime and cannot wait to return as often as I can as an alumna of the program.”

Anthony Martino ’04 on Commitment to Community

A proud fourth-generation Tampa native, Anthony “Nino” Martino ’04 always knew he would dedicate his legal career to the Tampa Bay community.

That vision came to full fruition in June of 2024, when he was elected and sworn in as the president of the Hillsborough

taught me the skills necessary to be an effective advocate in the courtroom,” he said. “And, while I still at times wake up from a nightmare remembering the rule against perpetuities, that too is something that I am thankful for.”

He also serves as an officer for the Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association (TBTLA), was appointed by the Chief Judge on the 13th Judicial Circuit to chair the Professionalism Panel for Hillsborough County. He was past president of the HCBA’s Young Lawyers Division and past chair of the Florida Bar’s 13th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee.

Among his priorities as HCBA president is bringing more in-person activity back to the practice.

“Together, with the 2024-2025 Board of Directors, I plan to bring substantive hearings and other legal proceedings back to the way they started, in the courtroom,” said Martino.

magna cum laude, in 2018.

Stetson Law Alumni Updates

Kathryn Alkire ’23 serves as a Judicial Law Clerk at the Florida Supreme Court after serving as a Judicial Law Clerk for Magistrate Judge Joel Toomey at the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida in Jacksonville.

Loren R. Barron ’07 has been named Managing Partner of the Wilmington, Del. office of Kaufman Dolowich LLP, a leading national law firm. Barron joined Kaufman Dolowich in January, launching the firm’s first Delaware office in its 38-year history. Barron is a past recipient of the Mary C. Boudart Award for professional excellence for contributions to the Women and the Law Section of the Delaware State Bar Association.

Brandon K. Breslow ’16 has become the newest partner at Kynes, Markman & Felman, P.A. Breslow is a seasoned trial and appellate attorney with a nationwide practice handling appeals and litigation support in civil and criminal cases. Breslow previously served as a law clerk for United States Magistrate Judge Gary R. Jones in the Northern District of Florida.

Andrea Cunha ’07 has recently joined Foley & Lardner LLP as a partner with the firm’s corporate department and Health Care & Life Sciences Sector in the Miami office. Cunha advises on a wide variety of regulatory, compliance, transactional, and restructuring matters.

Todd Dobry ‘13 was elevated to principal at the renowned national employment law firm, Jackson Lewis P.C. at the start of this year in Jacksonville, Florida. Dobry’s legal acumen extends across state and federal litigation, arbitration, and administrative proceedings, including the defense of class actions, discrimination, hostile work environment, wage and hour, retaliation, and breach of contract claims.

Rebecca Doloski ’23 works in downtown Tampa as an associate attorney at Marshall Dennehey, P.C. Doloski represents defendants in third-party insurance defense matters concerning negligence, automobile liability, premises liability, and personal injury. Doloski is a member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, West Florida Chapter, where she serves as the organization’s secretary.

James L. Doyle ’21 is an associate attorney at Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Woodman in Winter Park, Florida. Doyle has recently been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Real Estate and is involved in professional groups such as ULI, NAIOP, and ICSC in Central Florida.

Christian Edwards ’23 has recently joined Hill Ward Henderson after serving as a Judicial Law Clerk for Magistrate Judge Joel Toomey at the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida in Jacksonville.

Raychel Garcia ’11 has joined Marshall Dennehey’s Orlando office as a shareholder. Garcia has 13 years of experience in the defense of complex, catastrophic litigation. Garcia has served as first chair in multiple trials on behalf of the world’s leading theme park and resort, an arts and crafts retailer, a national convenience store chain, and an upscale hotel franchise.

Steven Gendreau ’20 joined Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A. as an attorney in its Tort and Insurance Defense department. Gendreau was recently recognized as a Florida Super Lawyers “Rising Star” in Personal Injury Defense in 2024. Gendreau “credits my time at Stetson for providing me the tools to succeed in my career as a litigator.”

James Haliczer ’82 was recently voted into active membership as a Master Member in the George C. Young American Inn of Court. He was also recently included in the 2024 Edition of Super Lawyers in the “Personal Injury Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff” area.

Anne Marie Hankins ’23 is currently serving in a two-year clerkship with Judge Patricia Barksdale at the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida in Jacksonville.

Jeffrey D. Harvey, ’12, chief executive officer of Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida and a lieutenant colonel in the Florida Army National Guard, graduated from the Army War College in Pennsylvania on July 26.

Catherine Henry ’15 received the 36 Under 36 Professionalism Award from The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division in February of 2024. In June 2024, Henry received the Rising Star Award from the St. Petersburg Bar Association, and in July 2024, Henry received the Rising Star recognition from Super Lawyers. Henry is currently serving as the treasurer for the St. Petersburg Bar Association and the CLE Chair for the Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.

Viktoryia Johnson ’16 was recently promoted to Partner at FordHarrison, LLP. Johnson continues to serve as a member of the Executive Council of the Florida Bar, Labor & Employment Law Section, and as the Editor of The Checkoff, the Florida Bar, Labor & Employment Section’s quarterly publication.

Wilnar Julimiste ’06 currently serves as the 64th president of the South

Palm Beach County Bar Association, where she has the distinction of being the first Black president to service in the role. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Broward Education Foundation as well as the Palm Beach County Legal Aid Society.

Judges Josheph LeDonne ’12 and Katherine Miller ’06 were appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to the bench in the Volusia County Court in late 2023 and began their terms in January 2024.

Jounice Nealy-Brown ’16 was recently sworn in as president of the St. Petersburg Bar Association. Visit stetson.edu/law/jbrown to hear her speak about her Stetson Law experience.

Woodrow Pollack ’06 has been named Co-Chair at Shutts & Bowen LLP Intellectual Property Practice Group. Pollack is Board Certified in Intellectual Property Law by The Florida Bar. Pollack focuses his

practice on litigating complex patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret disputes in state and federal courts as well as patent validity issues before the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Pollack also counsels’ clients extensively in developing patent and trademark portfolios.

Lindsay Polston Rehberg ’11 was selected in December 2022 by the Supreme Court of Georgia to serve as the Reporter of Decisions for the state’s appellate courts. Rehberg started her appellate career as an intern in the Clerk’s Office of the Supreme Court of Georgia in 2010. After graduating in 2011, Rehberg worked in the Clerk’s Office until transitioning to the Reporter’s Office in 2016.

David Sampedro ’95 His practice at Panter, Panter & Sampedro in Miami primarily focuses on wrongful deaths, catastrophic injuries, automobile negligence, medical malpractice, premises liability, negligent security, and product liability. Sampedro is currently a board-certified AV® Preeminent™ civil trial attorney.

Stetson Law Alumni Updates

Mark Sawicki ’23 has recently furthered his legal education with a Master of Laws from Stetson College of Law after obtaining his Juris Doctor degree from Nova Southeastern University. Sawicki began his legal career with a focus on family and marital law, extending his services to assisted reproductive technology in recent years.

Richard B. Schwamm ’91 is a senior partner in the Orlando office of Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm (HPS). With over 30 years of experience, Schwamm has dedicated his professional life to serving clients all over the State of Florida.

Scott B. Silverberg ’21 was recently listed in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the practice areas of

Elder Law and Trusts and Estates. Silverberg is the immediate past president of the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and a member of the National Board of Directors of NAELA. Scott serves as vice-chair of the Practice Management Committee of the Elder Law and Special Needs Section Executive Committee. Silverberg earned an LL.M. in Elder Law and is the only attorney in New York who holds this degree.

Tammy Briant Spratling ’06 is the chief executive officer at Community Tampa Bay, a nonprofit

organization that empowers inclusive leaders through crosscultural interaction and dialogue to work towards a community free from all forms of discrimination. Spratling is known as an expert facilitator, mediator and educator.

Kelley Thompson ’19 is clerking for the Honorable Charles R. Wilson on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, a term that began in September 2024.

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

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 Allie 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. They took her to the vet right away. The vet immediately sent her to surgery.

Perseverance against the odds

Sho rtly after the mass was removed and she underwent therapies, the cancer came back. The only option was to amputate the affected leg – a devastating prospect for Adams, knowing Allie’s love of running.

“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.'" When the cancer returned, the oncologist wrote a chemotherapy protocol that has since helped Allie fend off another bout with cancer.

When first diagnosed, Allie was expected to live for six months. More than three years later, Allie remains her attentive self –and she still gets to zoom.“She still runs with me every morning,” Adams said. “She’s still faster than I am.”

A story to inspire hope

A friend suggested she write a children’s book about the experience. Adams’ student assistant, Taylor Simonds ’23, who had worked in publishing, was thrilled to help. The story was visually brought to life with help from illustrator Alexandra Franzese.

Adams said she hopes the story will give others encouragement despite daunting challenges. “Our Allie is still Allie,” she said. "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. 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.

Adams chronicles her beloved dog Allie’s battle with cancer.

Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association Names

These recipients are honored for their contributions to Stetson Law and the legal profession.

Ben Willard Award

Carleton Weidemeyer ’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 recognizes 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 let students argue cases before judges. A top student during his time at Stetson Law, Weidemeyer has remained close to his law school colleagues and given generously to help establish a scholarship to aid students focusing on legal writing.

Distinguished Alumni Award

Ying

“Laura” Gao ’16

(Posthumously)

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

“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 the Asian-American Law Student Association,” MaxeyFisher said, adding that she was the inaugural donor to Stetson’s Bar Preparation Fund.

Soneet Kapila and Dr. Prabodh Kapila

The Distinguished Service Award honors a non-alum who works to enrich the Stetson Law community and beyond, and the 2024 awardee is noted philanthropist Soneet Kapila, a founding member of KapilaMukamal, LLP, a leading forensic and insolvency/creditors’ rights and litigation firm.

As a director of The Kapila Family Foundation, and inspired by his wife, retired physician Prabodh Kapila, Soneet Kapila helped establish The Kapila Family Foundation Scholarship Fund at Stetson, an award intended to support students specializing in bankruptcy law.

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.

– Brittany Maxey-Fisher ’07, President of SLAA

Distinguished Service Award

Names 2024 Award Winners

Paul May Meritorious Service Award

Dr. Adam Levine ’09

Named for 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.

Levine enrolled at Stetson Law after years working as a medical doctor. After earning his J.D. and launching his practice, Levine returned to Stetson Law to teach. His courses include Medical Jurisprudence, Florida Medical Malpractice, and others. He also teaches Advanced Expert Witnesses for Stetson Law’s Online LL.M. in Advocacy.

Outstanding Alumni Representative Award

David Persky ’88

The 2024 Outstanding Alumni Representative Award honors someone who has dedicated his or her career to higher education.

Persky earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Florida State University in 1979 and his J.D. from Stetson Law a decade later. While there, he was president of the Student Bar Association and an admissions counselor. After serving as Assistant County Attorney in Hillsborough County, he served in leadership roles at Saint Leo University.

Persky says he had a great experience at Stetson Law and hopes giving back to the College of Law will help future students continue the tradition of excellence at Stetson.

We are grateful for the leadership and contributions of the 20232024 and 2024-2025 board members listed below.

PRESIDENT

Brittany Maxey-Fisher, J.D. ’07

VICE PRESIDENT

Howard Williams, J.D. ’12

SECRETARY

Danielle Weaver-Rogers, J.D. ’13

MEMBERS

Keith Appleby, J.D./M.B.A. ’04

The Hon. Michael BaggéHernández, J.D. ’07

Chelsea Benes,J.D. ’15

Blaze Bowers, J.D. ’21

Alexis Dion Deveaux, J.D. ’20

Katelyn Ferry, J.D. ’12

Adriana Foreman, J.D. ’17

Diriki Geuka, J.D. ’17

Alexander Howell, J.D. ’17

Alexandria Hunter, J.D. ’15

Aleksandra (Aleks) Jagiella, J.D./M.B.A. ’04

Daniel Kavanaugh, J.D. ’16

Frank Leung, J.D./M.B.A. ’13

Kayla Richmond Miller, J.D./M.B.A ’13

Alexandria (Alex) Nicodemi, J.D. ’16

Valeria Obi, J.D. ’13

James Ross, J.D. ’08

Aaron Saoud, J.D. ’11

Erin Tilton, J.D. ’13

Ciara Willis, J.D. ’16

Dick Jacobs ’67: A Force of Nature

A champion of the College of Law, alumnus Richard O. “Dick” Jacobs ’67, passed away August 26, 2023.

As a Stetson Law Board of Overseers member, he helped with the land-planning process for the Dolly & Homer Hand Law Library. He was generous in his support of opportunities for students of environmental law.

Jacobs met Joanie Swanson while attending University of Wisconsin. The two married and traveled the world.

At 33, he enrolled at Stetson Law, where he was a top student.

He and Joan created the Dick and Joan Jacobs’ Environmental Law Externship Fund to support experiential learning for environmental law students. In 2020, he helped launch Stetson’s Environmental Tax Policy Writing Competition. His vision endures with the Dick and Joan Jacobs Clinic for Democracy and the Environment, which invites students to work on important causes.

“We just can’t keep repeating the past,” he said when the clinic launched. “That’s why you go to law school – to be a difference maker.”

Dean Emerita Lizabeth A. Moody: Trailblazer

Former Dean Lizabeth A. Moody passed away in May of 2023 and will be forever cherished as a transformative figure.

The school’s first female dean, Moody championed advocacy education initiatives, was critical in the planning of and fundraising for the Dolly & Homer Hand Law Library, and supported growth in Stetson’s part-time, international, and elder law programs.

Creating a Lasting

Born in Tennessee, Moody knew she wanted to study law early in life. She was one of seven women out of her Yale Law 1959 graduating class.

As dean, she helped plan and fundraise for what is now the Dolly & Homer Hand Law Library. Her friend, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, spoke at its opening ceremony.

Stetson Law will continue to celebrate her legacy. Many of her awards are on display in the Dean Lizbeth A. Moody Seminar Room in the Hand Law Library.

Judge Raphael Steinhardt ’63: Supporting Veterans

Known for his generosity and passion for helping fellow veterans, Judge Raphael Steinhardt passed away on January 4, 2023. His legacy is interwoven with the college’s identity.

The South Florida native earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Miami. After a tour of duty in the Army, he enrolled at Stetson Law. He was elected as a county court judge and took office in 1991 and was twice reelected.

Judge Steinhardt served multiple terms on the University Board of Trustees and the College of Law Board of Overseers – more than 25 years in total – and was an Overseer Emeritus.

He supported the first Veterans Law Institute facility, which opened in 2012, and renovation of its current facility, which opened in 2018. He made a generous gift to an endowed scholarship supporting veterans as well as VLI activities. The building is named in his honor.

Judge Steinhardt also donated generously to the law library, to restore artwork on campus, and to endow several scholarships and awards.

An American flag was flown over the Veterans Law Institute at his request until his passing, when it was gifted to his family in his honor.

Legacy with Stetson Law

These individuals are remembered for their significant contributions to the college.

S. Sammy Cacciatore ’66: Benefactor, Mentor, Friend

Remembered as a voice for the voiceless and for his enduring support of the College of Law, S. “Sammy” Cacciatore passed away on November 22, 2023.

The Double Hatter’s career focused on personal injury and wrongful death. Cacciatore served Stetson in a variety of ways, including on the Stetson University Board of Trustees and as a member of the Board of Overseers at Stetson Law.

Co-chair of the college’s first major development initiative, the Cornerstone Campaign, he also established and endowed the Cacciatore Scholarship for the Protection of the Rights of Individuals.

“He upheld the principles of fairness and integrity, even in the face of overwhelming odds, and he practiced with integrity, empathy, dedication, and professionalism,” said his son, Sammy Michael Cacciatore, a Double Hatter who earned his B.A. in 1990 and J.D. in 1995.

Hon.

Dolly Hand LL.B. ’49, ’08: Pioneering Spirit

On January 6, 2024, the Stetson community lost a legend, Frances “Dolly” Hand. She and her husband Homer Hand are remembered for their generous support of Stetson University.

Dolly earned her B.A. from Stetson before attending Stetson Law. The only woman in her graduating class, Dolly was the youngest student to obtain a Stetson Law degree at the time.

She met Homer Hand in 1950 and the two married four years later. They helped fund hundreds of grants to professors and supported more than 70 scholarships for students since 1989.

Dolly was elected to Stetson University’s Board of Trustees in 1994 and named Trustee Emerita in 2012. The Hands made a principal gift towards the construction of the law library – which Stetson Law named in their honor in 2010.

“The greatest honor I have received on this day is to look up on that wall and see my name next to Homer’s,” she said at the library’s 2010 naming ceremony. “For that is the way it has always been and that is the way it will always be …. Homer and Dolly, side by side.”

Bonnie Foreman B.A. ’67: A Deep Love for Education, Environment, and Ed

A passionate supporter of education whose contributions reverberate throughout the Stetson Law community, Bonnie Foreman passed away on January 2, 2023.

Foreman recognized how Stetson Law prepared her husband Edward for a brilliant legal career – and gave generously to ensure countless others had the opportunity to become successful legal professionals.

As an undergraduate attending Stetson, she met Edward Foreman B.A. ’67, J.D. ‘71 at a Hatter Festival on the university’s DeLand campus.

When Ed passed away in 2004, Bonnie memorialized her husband with the Edward D. Foreman most distinguished student award. She served on the University Board of Trustees and the College of Law Board of Overseers; her passion for Stetson earned her the titles of Overseer Emerita and Trustee Emerita.

She also helped establish the Edward and Bonnie Foreman Biodiversity Lecture Series, which hosts notable environmental law and science experts to campus for compelling discussions.

Her legacy gift through her estate plans ensures the Foreman Award, Foreman Lecture Series, and Foreman Scholarship will live on in perpetuity.

Recognizing Our Esteemed Leadership

The College of Law is grateful for its valued Board of Overseers and Board of Trustees. Their service and support are greatly appreciated.

Board of Overseers

Lori Y. Baggett

Clearwater, FL

PODS Enterprises, LLC

J.D., Stetson University ’02

Gregory W. Coleman

West Palm Beach, FL

Critton Luttier and Coleman, LLP

B.B.A., Stetson University ’85

J.D., Stetson University ’89

Michael P. Connelly

Malvern, PA

B.A., Stetson University ’93

J.D., Stetson University ’96

Grace E. Dunlap

Tampa, FL

Bryant Miller Olive, P.A.

J.D., Stetson University ’86

Wil H. Florin

Palm Harbor, FL

Florin Roebig

J.D., Stetson University ’80

Tracy Raffles Gunn Tampa, FL

Gunn Appellate Practice, P.A.

J.D., Stetson University ’93

Thomas S. Harmon Tampa, FL

Harmon Parker, P.A.

J.D., Stetson University ’95

Hon. Tangela Hopkins Barrie

Decatur, GA

Superior Court of DeKalb County

J.D., Stetson University ’97

Jenay E. Iurato

Tampa, FL

Iurato Law Firm

M.B.A., Stetson University ’00

J.D., Stetson University ’00

Charles S. Liberis, Jr. Pensacola, FL

Liberis Law Firm, P.A.

B.S., Stetson University

J.D., Stetson University ’67

Joshua Magidson Clearwater, FL

Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen, P.A.

J.D., Stetson University ’80

Michael E. Marder

Orlando, FL

Greenspoon Marder Law

J.D., Stetson University ’77

Timothy P. McFadden

St. Petersburg, FL

Retired

J.D., Stetson University ’90

Robert G. Riegel Jr.

Jacksonville, FL

Lippes Mathias, LLP

B.A., Stetson University ’78

J.D., Stetson University ’81

Amy R. Rigdon

Washington, DC

Latham & Watkins, LLP

B.A., Stetson University ’05

J.D., Stetson University ’08

Arturo R. Rios

St. Petersburg, FL

Arturo Rios, P.A.

J.D., Stetson University ’06

Jeffery A. Smith

Inverness, FL

Retired Assistant State Attorney 5th Circuit

J.D., Stetson University ’73

Scott Stevenson

New York, NY

Palisade Insurance Partners

J.D., Stetson University ’12

Jason L. Turner

Nashville, TN

Chair of the Board

Keller Turner Andrews & Ghanem, PLLC

J.D., Stetson University ’04

Aaron Watson

Pensacola, FL

The Watson Law Firm

J.D., Stetson University ’09

Roger W. Yoerges

Alexandria, VA

Capital Talent Agency, LLC

J.D., Stetson University ’85

Ex-Officio Members

Dr. Christopher F. Roellke DeLand, FL

President of Stetson University

D. Benjamin Barros Gulfport, FL

Dean & Professor of Law at Stetson University

Brittany Maxey-Fisher

St. Petersburg, FL

President, Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association

Maxey Law Offices

J.D., Stetson University ’ 07

Faculty Liaison

Linda Anderson Gulfport, FL

Professor of Law at Stetson University

Emeritus

William F. Blews

St. Petersburg, FL

J.D., Stetson University ’ 66

Robert “Robin” E. Doyle Jr. Naples, FL

Doyle Conflict Resolution, Inc. J.D., Stetson University ’75

Adelaide G. Few Tampa, FL J.D., Stetson University ’ 85

Thomas D. Graves St. Petersburg, FL Claire, Graves & Reischmann, P.A. LL.B., Stetson University ’ 60

Mark E. Haranzo New York, NY

Holland & Knight J.D., Stetson University ’ 85

Benjamin H. Hill, IV Tampa, FL

Hill Ward Henderson J.D., Stetson University ’ 97

Michael C. Maher Orlando, Florida

The Maher Law Firm, P.A. J.D., Stetson University ’ 65

Hon. Peggy A. Quince Tallahassee, FL

LL.D., (Hon.) Stetson University ’99

Marsha G. Rydberg Tampa, FL

J.D., Stetson University ’76

Christian D. Searcy Sr. West Palm Beach, FL

Searcy, Denney, Scarola, Barnhart & Shipley, P.A.

J.D., Stetson University ’73

Leslie Reicin Stein Tampa, FL

J.D., Stetson University ’76

Matthew A. Towery Atlanta, GA

J.D., Stetson University ’87

Gary R. Trombley

Trombley & Hanes

J.D., Stetson University ’73

William H. Weller Tierra Verde, FL

J.D., Stetson University ’04

Robert G. Wellon Atlanta, GA

J.D., Stetson University ’74

In Memory Of

S. Sammy Cacciatore

B.A., Stetson University

J.D., Stetson University ’ 66

James C. Smith

Tallahassee, FL

Southern Strategy Group

J.D., Stetson University ’ 67

Honorary Members

Hon. Susan C. Bucklew Tampa, FL

United States District Court

J.D., Stetson University ’77

Hon. Carol W. Hunstein

Atlanta, GA

Supreme Court of Georgia

J.D., Stetson University ‘76

Hon. Elizabeth A. Kovachevich Tampa, FL

United States Courthouse

J.D., Stetson University ’ 61

Richard J. McKay Flowery Branch, GA

Atlanta Falcons

J.D., Stetson University ’ 84

Law Alumni On Board Of Trustees

Michael T. Davis

Board Secretary

B.A. ’05 (Political Science), J.D. ‘08

Attorney: Kuehne Davis Law, P.A. Miami, FL

Katherine Cobb

B.A. ’81 (English), J.D. ‘83 President, Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy

Gregory Coleman

B.B.A. ’85 (Finance), J.D. ’89 Partner – Critton, Luttier & Coleman, LLP

Palm Beach, FL

Lila A. Jaber

B.A. ’88 (Political Science), J.D. ‘90 LilaJaber Consulting Tallahassee, FL

Joshua Magidson

J.D. ’80

Attorney/Shareholder, MacFarlane, Ferguson & McMullen, P.A. Clearwater, FL

Luis (Lu) Prats

B.A. ’78 (political science), J.D. ’81 Attorney, Carlton Fields St. Petersburg, FL

Amy Rigdon

B.A. ’05 (French and Religious Studies), J.D. ’08

Attorney/Partner, Latham & Watkins LLP Washington, DC

Jeffrey (Jeff) A. Smith

J.D. ’73 Inverness, FL

Jason L. Turner

J.D. ’04

Attorney/Partner Keller Turner Andrews & Ghanem, PLLC Nashville, TN

William J. Voges

B.B.A. ’77, J.D. ’81

Chairman of the Board Root Company Ormond Beach, FL

A Hatter Heyday

DELAND CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS

It has been an amazing time for the Stetson University community. In 2023, the university marked 140 years since its founding – and the celebration continued in 2024! In the sports world, the men's basketball team made it to NCAA March Madness. And the newly-formed undergraduate Moot Court team placed second in a key regional tournament. We are excited for all of the good things in store for the coming year!

Pictured above: For the first time in Stetson University’s history, the Hatters basketball team made it all the way to the NCAA’s March Madness tournament after beating Austin Peay State University in the 2024 Atlantic Sun (ASUN) Men’s Basketball Championship. They weren’t the only ones to go far – the women’s tennis team won its second ASUN championship title in three years, and Hatters Baseball also made it to the NCAA Regional Tournament in 2024.

Last year, Stetson University celebrated its 140th anniversary with a series of events on its DeLand campus and beyond. Collaborating with College of Law officials, Stetson invited alumni to commemorate this milestone at receptions throughout the state, including Tampa and Jacksonville.

In fall of 2023, Stetson's undergraduate Moot Court Team, in just its second year of existence, placed second in the American Moot Court Association’s Atlantic Regionals Tournament. Stetson Law Dean Benjamin Barros hopes to work more closely with this program – and with the College of Arts and Sciences at large.

Stetson Centurion Sales Team Named National Champions at ‘World Cup of Sales’

Stetson’s Moot Court Team winners (from left): Camilo Arado Lilleslatten, Tristyn Rampersad; professor Sven Smith, PhD J.D.; Colin Snyder; and Tejal Ram

A Look Ahead: Thriving in 2025 & Beyond

As you’ve read in these pages, amazing things have been happening at Stetson Law. The excitement continues in 2025 and beyond with innovative programming, global connections, and more.

“The College of Law is incredibly strong, and we are poised to become even stronger in the coming years … In addition to our J.D. program – which will always be our priority – I hope we can grow in innovative and exciting ways in the coming years.”

– Dean Barros

College of Law & University Events

2024

October 25–28, Stetson University Homecoming in DeLand

November 21, Washington, DC Alumni Reception

November 21–22 , Stetson Law Supreme Court Bar Swearing-In Ceremony

December 10, Alumni Open House

2025

January 1, 125th Anniversary Celebration – all year long

January 7–11, Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Conference & San Francisco Alumni Reception

February 22 , Scholarship Banquet

March 5–10, National Conference on Higher Education Law & Policy

March 12–13, 2025 Giving Challenge, Convention & Reception

March 13, SBA Mixer at Florida Aquarium

March 29, Hillsborough County Bar Association 5k at Tampa Law Center

April 5, Admitted Students Day

May 16, Honors & Awards Ceremony

May 17, Commencement

June 25-29, FL Bar Convention & Reception

Events subject to change.

New Initiatives Include:

“Badging” opportunities

Stetson Law now offers professional education programs that allow lawyers to deepen their knowledge in areas of law most relevant to their profession without having to enroll in a degree program. See an example of badging on page 19.

Growing our international footprint

By forging relationships on multiple continents, Stetson Law hopes to increase enrollment in its International LL.M. (General Studies) program.

Making Stetson Law more residential

Stetson Law is exploring ways to increase the amount of housing available to our students. Having more students live on campus will enhance the relationship richness of a Stetson Law education.

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Development & Alumni Engagement