THE HENRY LATIMER CENTER FOR PROFESSIONALISM ANNUAL LAW SCHOOL PROFESSIONALISM REPORT DUE: MARCH 1, 2015
Law School: Stetson University College of Law
Dean: Christopher Pietruszkiewicz
Completed By: Professor Judith Scully, the William Reece Smith Jr. Distinguished Professor of Law
A. ORIENTATION
1. Please describe how professionalism is implemented in the new student orientation. Is an
oath of professionalism administered during new student orientation? If so, please provide the
text.
During Orientation a lecture on professionalism is presented to the students and the students recite the
Oath of Admission to The Florida Bar.
For complete text see:
http://www.floridabar.org/tfb/TFBProfess.nsf/basic+view/04E9EB581538255A85256B2F006CCD7D
2. Does the law school have a written definition of professionalism? If so, please provide and
list where it is published.
Part I of the Stetson University College of Law's Code of Student Professionalism and Conduct
is published on our website at the following address:
http ://ww" .stetson .edu/law/poI icies/hom e/medi a/code-of-student -profession a!ism-and-conduct-pdf.pd f.
In relevant part the Code states:
"As responsible members of the community, Stetson University College of Law students
are expected to maintain the highest ideals of academic and social conduct .... Students are also
expected to respect the views and personal dignity of other members of the College of Law
community. In addition, students should learn about the expectations that will be required of
them when they become lawyers. The Codes of Professional Responsibility published by each
state's bar association, including the Rules of Professional Conduct of The Florida Bar, describe
these expectations. Students are encouraged to consult these codes for guidance."
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B. CURRICULUM
3. How is professionalism integrated in your required, elective and doctrinal courses? Please
list the courses with a description and include the name of the faculty member that teaches
the course that incorporates professionalism.
In our required courses, many professors emphasize that the classroom is a simulated courtroom and
consequently, timeliness, civility, competence and a respect for diversity will be expected.
Starting in many of the first year courses and continuing throughout the curriculum, students are
requested to play the role of a judge or a lawyer in various classroom exercises and are introduced to
the basic documents involved in civil and crimina/litigation. Students are also often asked to prepare
oral arguments for pretrial motions such as motions to suppress and motions to dismiss. As a law
school with a national reputation for trial advocacy and legal writing and research, many of our
required, elective and doctrinal courses tend to provide several opportunities to prepare our students
for both oral and written advocacy.
In our first year Legal Research & Writing (LR&W) courses, several professor use the Model Rules of
Professional Responsibility to discuss the responsibilities, reputation and respect that is required of
lawyers and law students.
The ethical responsibilities of writing, arguing facts without overstating the
case, misrepresenting and/or distorting the meaning of legal opinions are issues that are discussed
throughout the semester.
One LR&W Professor, Professor Kirsten Davis, distributes to all of her
students the Professionalism Handbook published by the Florida Bar Henry Latimer Center for
Professionalism. Professor Davis also requires her students to keep track of their time each week
thereby teaching them about the ethics of accurate billing. Other Professors teaching Professional
Responsibility assign lL students an attorney that they must interview and determine the practitioner's
philosophy of lawyering.
Our second semester LR&W courses gear students towards developing expertise in particular areas of
the law such as Social Justice Advocacy, Environmental Litigation, International Law and Elder Law. And
we offer upper level writing courses that provide students with several opportunities to improve and
perfect their written advocacy.
Ethics training is included in all twelve of the Clinic Opportunities available at Stetson. These clinics
include the Prosecution Clinic, the Federal Defender Clinic, the Public Defender Clinic, the Local
Government Clinic, the Child Advocacy Clinic, the Elder Law Clinic, the Civil Legal Services, the Innocence
Initiative Clinic, the Veteran's Advocacy Clinic and the Immigration Clinic.
In every clinic, students learn
several of the following basic lawyering skills--- client interviewing, managing emails, keeping an
organized calendar, problem solving, conflict resolution, research, writing, oral advocacy, client centered
analysis and how to investigate a case. Through these experiences students begin to shape their
professional identities.
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Similar skill building experiences are afforded to the students who participate in our Internship
opportunities. These Internships include Judicial internships; a Homeless Advocacy Internship; Federal,
State & Municipal Internships; as well as placements with agencies specializing in Family Law, Elder
Law, Caribbean Law, Bankruptcy, Consumer Law, Environmental Law, Equal Employment Opportunity
Law and Intellectual Property.
Orientation sessions for our clinics and internships also include issues related to office etiquette,
diligence and requesting explicit instructions from supervisors in order to ensure that our students'
clients are zealously represented.
Over 350 of our students per year are provided professional experiential opportunities through our
clinics and internships. Many of our students are Certified Legal Interns (CLI) and are therefore
qualified to appear in court.
In all of our clinics and internships, students receive feedback from supervising faculty members on
their ethical duties to perform diligently with a standard of excellence.
The Supervisors of our Clinics
also receive annual ethics training that ultimately benefits our students.
Cultural competence is also taught in many of our Clinics and Internships as well as in our upper level
classes. For example, in our Homeless Advocacy Internship (taught by Professor Kristen Adams),
students deal with many clients that have mental health issues. They are taught how to communicate
with a client who has mental health challenges and how not to internalize their client's challenges so
that they can zealously represent them. As a result of the stress that is inherent in this type of
representation students are also required to report on their work-life balance issues. In our Poverty
and the Law class (taught by Professor James Fox), students are asked to consider the challenges faced
by their clients who are living at or below the poverty level. Specifically, for two weeks students in the
Poverty Law class are requested to live on a budget at poverty level so that they can experience first­
hand what challenges their clients face on a daily basis. In our Race and the Law Seminar (taught by
Professor Judith Scully) students examine racial inequality in the United States and are required to
consider their cultural competence in representing nonwhite clients in civil rights and criminal defense
cases.
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In addition to the traditional Professional Responsibility, LR& W, Trial Advocacy and Pre Trial
courses, Stetson University College of Law offers specialized courses that incomorate
professionalism, including the following:
LAW 3159 BUSINESS ETHICS (Professor Cynthia Batt)
This course explores the evolving notion of professionalism and the role of the lawyer in the
context of business settings. The course focuses on the importance of ethical reasoning and
awareness (beyond the Standards of Professional Responsibility) as well as philosophy of law.
LAW 3393 ETHICS AND THE PRACTICE OF CRIMINAL LAW (Professor Bobbi
Flowers)
This distance learning class addresses the unique ethical issues faced by prosecuting attorneys as
well as criminal defense attorneys. Topics include, among others, the prosecutor's duty to act as a
minister of justice, perjury, confidentiality, use of the media, and the attorney/client privilege.
Pre-requisites: Criminal Law and Professional Responsibility.
LAW 3194 COMMUNICATIONS & LEADERSHIP SKILLS (Professor Linda Anderson)
This course focuses on understanding the roles and responsibilities of group and individual
leadership. It facilitates the development of multiple approaches to inspiring, influencing, and
guiding others. Students will learn how to recognize the impact of one's actions and behaviors on
others. Students will identify, discuss and demonstrate effective and ethical communication skills
appropriate to diverse leadership situations and will access resources for their own leadership
development. The tension between effective leadership and competent lawyering is explored.
Issues regarding how do you ethically persuade a judge to change the law and how do you
develop respect for clients and colleagues are also discussed.
LAW 3145 ARBITRATION (taught by various adjuncts)
This course covers arbitration and related forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution and the
relevant rules on ethics and professional responsibility. In addition, students are involved in a
variety of practical exercises.
LAW 3115 INTRO TO AGING AND THE LAW (Professor Becky Morgan)
This course is a survey of the variety of issues of law and ethics that face elderly people and their
families. This course serves as the introductory course for those students interested in elder law.
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LAW 3761 NEGOTIATION AND MEDIATION (taught by Professor James Sheehan and
various adjuncts)
This course covers negotiation and mediation, and related forms of Alternative Dispute
Resolution as well as relevant rules on ethics and professional responsibility. The course also
involves students in a wide variety of practical exercises.
LAW 3902 TAX POLICY SEMINAR (taught by Dean Chris Pietruszkiewicz)
This seminar examines tax policy considerations including the historical context of the income
tax system, the implications of a progressive tax rate structure, and the role of the taxes in
advancing social policy. The course explores efforts at achieving reform and simplification of the
tax code as well as the professional ethics of tax practice.
LAW 3288 DEPOSITIONS (Professor Charlie Rose)
This course is designed to teach students the what, the how and the why of depositions practice.
It will include fundamental review and discussion of the relevant rules of professional
responsibility, civil procedure and discovery. Students perform case analysis on a file and also
take and defend depositions.
LAW 3289 DEPOSITIONS-DEPOSING MEDICAL EXPERTS (Co-Taught by Adjunct
Professor Levine and Adjunct Ted Karatinos)
This course reviews the Federal and Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, Evidence and Professional
Responsibility Rules related to expert witnesses and provides students with effective, practical
tools for deposing such witnesses. Students are provided with actual medical records and expert
reports and are asked to evaluate these background materials in preparation for conducting and
evaluating medical expert depositions.
LAW 3946 WHITE COLLAR ADVOCACY (Professor Ellen Podgor)
This course covers pretrial and trial techniques in the handling of a white collar case. Students
prepare court documents used in white collar cases and learn the basic trial skills for handling a
white collar criminal case.
LAW 3696. ADVANCED LEGAL WRITING: WRITING FOR THE JUDICIARY
(Professor Jason Palmer)
This course examines the decision-making process ofjudges in an appellate environment, with
emphasis on issues such as the standard of review at the appellate level, the role of stare decisis,
and the use of concurrent and dissenting opinions. Students are taught the basic skills needed to
optimally perform as a judicial clerk. They write majority and dissenting opinions using real
cases and court records. Throughout the semester, Judicial clerks and Judges talk with the
students about their experiences and expectations.
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LAW 3683. LAW, LITERATURE & FILM SEMINAR
This seminar considers legal, ethical, and jurisprudential aspects of literature and film, with a
particular focus on crime and the social response to crime.
LAW 3685. LAW PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
This course is offered to present the practical aspects of organizing a law practice. The course
provides insight into the management of a law firm, in both theory and practice, and provides the
student with the rationale behind the procedures and systems they will be asked to adhere to as a
professional.
There is also an Elder Law Ethics seminar for our Elder Law LLM students.
4. List and describe any workshops, symposiums, conferences, or seminars that are or
have recently been offered that promote professionalism.
WHITE COLLAR ADVOCACY CRIMINAL DEFENSE COLLEGE
In conjunction with the NACDL, Stetson offers students a unique opportunity to be in class with
work with over sixty practicing attorneys as they learn about white collar advocacy. Two hours
of this program are focused on ethics. Consequently, attorneys participating in this program can
earn CLE ethic credits.
EDUCATING ADVOCATES CONFERENCE
This conference is hosted by Professor Charlie Rose, the Director for the Center for Excellence
in Advocacy. Several students interact with and perform trial skills for attorneys and professors
who are learning how to critique trial skills.
LEGENOARYLAWYJ~RS
.PROFESSIONALISM SEMINAR: WHAT 1)0 YOU WANT
YOUR LEGACY TO BE? (February 27, 2015)
fn conjunction with the St. Petersburg Bar Foundation, Stetson hosts a 4 hour conference that
focuses on civility, the legal professional's reputation in the community, and enhancing our
credibility as lawyers.
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LINKEDIN PROGRAM (June 20, 2014)
Linkedin expert and attorney Rick Fernandez presented on the value of this social media
platform, including professionalism considerations, content development, the importance of
accuracy and timeliness, completeness, and image value.
MBTI WORKSHOPS (September 17, 18, 20, 23, 2014)
The Myers Briggs Type Indicator is a useful tool for understanding oneself and others. The
instrument and feedback on selections were made available in a series of workshops facilitated
and led by expert Dr. Kim Gilbey. In the course of providing the workshops, Dr. Gilbey
provided additional training to professional staff in the Student Life, Career Development, and
Bar Services departments, preparing the certified individuals to more effectively assist students
with the use of the assessment tool and the value offered.
FLORIDA BAR YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION LAW STUDENT DIVISION (October 3, 2014)
Students had the opportunity to view a panel discussion with Greg Coleman, Melanie Griffin,
Zack Zuroweste, and Judge LaRose on professionalism topics, including balancing life with law
practice.
DIPLOMAT IN RESIDENCE WORKSHOP AND INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS (October 7, 2014)
Students had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with Diplomat in Residence, Mr. Ed Lo
following a workshop to offer advice, feedback, and best practices to students interested in
careers with the Department of State.
INTERVIEWING SKILLS PRESENTATION (October 16, 2014)
Student members of the Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law (RPPTL) society learned were
provided a primer on effective interviewing preparation, techniques, and skills ahead of the
Florida Bar's RPPTL section meeting and practice interview event.
STATE ATTORNEY AND PUBLIC DEFENDER PANEL (October 20, 2014)
Assistant State Attorneys and Assistant Public Defenders from the surrounding circuits gathered
to discuss their careers and offer advice to students who were seeking those careers. This
included building your reputation, resume, and the skills and competencies desired by these
offices.
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JUDICIAL CLERKSHIP PANEL (October 27, 2014)
A panel of current and former judicial law clerks, and Federal Magistrate Judge Anthony Porcelli
discussed best practices for obtaining a judicial clerkship and how students can maximize the
value of their experiences.
LUNCH WITH PRESIDENT/CEO OF THE ATLANTA FALCONS (October 31, 2014)
Stetson Alum Rich McKay shared stories, lessons, and insight on building a winning team,
leadership, and tbe value of a law degree.
INCLUSION SUMMIT: DEVELOPING CULTURAL COMPETENCE (February 6, 2015)
All students were invited to view a live-stream of this day-long summit where we convened
leaders from firms, companies, and nonprofits to share best practices on inclusion and cultural
competence. The Inclusion Summit was designed to help attendees develop new and effective
habits, view our differences as the strengths they are, and harness the power of diversity through
inclusion. Leaders from a cross-section of student organizations also participated in tbe live
Summit. Those organizations included: BLSA, LAMBDA, the Florida Association for Women
Lawyers at Stetson, Jewish Law Student Association, Christian Law Society, Labor and
Employment Law Association, Student Bar Association Diversity Committee, Hispanic Bar
Association, International Law Society, and Stetson Ambassadors
5. What additional resources or programs are offered to students regarding
professionalism?
As the number one ranked school in trial advocacy, Stetson Law School through our Center for
Excellence in Trial Advocacy offers students several opportunities to participate in trial and
appellate as well as alternative dispute resolution competitions. Over 85 students per year
participate in the extensive mooting process associated with preparation for these competitions.
Most students who participate in these activities will be exposed to over 36 judges and attorneys.
Hundreds of practicing attorneys and judges participate in mooting our students and preparing
them for final competitions. One-on-one coaching regarding professionalism and ethics often
takes place during this process. We take pride in placing "winning" competitions in tbe context
of professionalism, urging our students to control their competitive spirits by focusing on the
ethical rules of our profession. In this context, students are taught what to do as well as what not
to do as a legal professional. Students also learn how to manage colleague conflict and to be a
productive member of a team. They are urged to consider how making moral decisions in the
context of competition shapes their professional identities.
Each year, Stetson sends members of our advocacy team to participate in the Professional
Responsibility trial competition that focuses on the attorney discipline system.
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In addition to advocacy team opportunities, Stetson offers the following professionalism
programs:
Inns of Court Placements. The College of Law pays the membership fees for and places over
50 students in approximately 10 local Inns of Courts, including the first Elder Law Inns of Court
in the nation.
Inns of Court Banquet and William Reece Smith Jr. Distinguished Lecture. This annual
event brings together students, judges, and members of the Tampa Bay American Inns of Court
chapters to hear from a distinguished lecturer. Students are placed at tables with practitioners
and judges to allow them to interact with esteemed members of the legal profession. The 2014
lecture focused on improving the public defender system and serving indigent clients with
dignity. Jonathan Rapping, the founder and director of Gideon's Promise was our keynote
speaker.
Leadership Development Program. Each year approximately I 00-150 students participate in
our ten hour leadership development certificate program. In this workshop students learn about
problem solving, team building, community relations, communication, management and
community service. Additionally, approximately 20-40 students participate in the 5 hour
Leadership Retreat held each March. Being civic minded, valuing difference and being self­
aware are some of the values that are taught during this process.
Values/Constitution Day. The progran1, now in its third year at Stetson. educates local high
school students about the individual liberties guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. This year's
Constitution Day program was held in conjunction vvith Values Day at Stetson University, which
celebrates the university's core values of intellectual devdopment, personal growth and global
citizenship.
Institute for Advancement of Legal Communications. The Institute for Advancement of
Legal Communications offers a free workshop consisting often sessions per year in which
students chosen from a competitive application process develop advanced listening skills,
nonverbal communication, cultural competency and business writing skills essential to zealous
advocacy.
Professional Development Conferences for Students. Through a travel fund, Stetson provides
stipends to approximately 25 students per year to attend professional development conferences,
interviews and events.
Etiquette Dinner. Stetson hosted an etiquette dinner to teach students networking skills and
appropriate etiquette during an evening dinner.
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6. How does the law school utilize the handbooks that are offered bi-annually to law
students from the Center for Professionalism and the Standing Committee on
Professionalism that contains the rules that regulate the Florida Bar?
The handbooks are available for distribution through the Faculty Support Office. One of our
Professional Responsibility professors (Professor Kirsten Davis) distributes the handbook to her
class of I Ls.
C. PUBLICATIONS
7. List any articles, newsletters, or publications that your faculty or students have
written or have been recognized in relating to professionalism.
(1) Batey,
Robert, "Teaching Criminal Law: Integrating Professional Responsibility,"
4 University of Denver Criminal Law Review 131 (2014).
(2) Roberta K. Flowers, Robeti K. & H. Amos Goodall Jr., "In Fear of Suits: The
Attorney's Role in Financial Exploitation," National Academy of Elder Law
Attorneys' Journal, Volume 10, No.2 (Fall2014).
(3) Podgor, EllenS., "White Collar Crime, Federal Criminal Law, and Business
Pedagogy," 11 Ohio St. J. Crim. L. 751 (2014).
(4) Jacob, Bruce, "The Gideon Trials", 99 Iowa L. Rev. 2059 (2014).
(5) Batt, Cynthia, "The Practice Continuum: Integrating Experiential Education into the
Curriculum", 7 Elon L. Rev._ (forthcoming 2015)- discusses practice readiness
and competence in law school graduates.
D. INTRA AND EXTRACURRICULAR STUDENT ACTIVITIES
8. Please list and describe any student intra and/or extracurricular activities that have
promoted or integrated professionalism.
At Stetson, we require our students to perform 60 hours of mandatory pro bono work in order to
be eligible for graduation. It is our hope that this requirement will instill in our student a lifetime
commitment to pro bono legal work. To help our students fulfill their mandatory pro bono
requirements the following opportunities are made available to them:
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Wills for the Greatest Generation Pro Bono Project-- 30 students/semester participate
in our pro bono effort to create Wills for WWII, Korean War and Vietnam Veterans
Probate Judges College- 5-7 students /semester assist the college with pro bono
research projects
DOJ Elder Justice Act- 5-7 students/semester assist DOJ lawyers with pro bono
research projects
Innocence Pro Bono Initiative- Between 5 and 15 students each semester assist local
pro bono attorneys in representing individuals claiming wrongful conviction.
Juvenile Expunction Pro Bono Project- 15 students engaged in a project with pro
bono attorneys to provide juveniles with assistance in expunging their records. These
students also provided legislative analysis to a local nonprofit organization on the ways in
which the Florida expunction laws could be improved.
Street Law Pro Bono Project- 30 law students have conducted over 40 workshops in
local middle schools this year. The workshops focus on the constitutional rights of
juveniles in the legal system and require law students to diligently prepare lectures and
activities for their young mentees.
Veterans Advocacy- several pro bono opportunities are made available to our students
through our Veterans Advocacy Center.
9. Please list and describe any mentoring programs available to students through local
attorneys, judges, faculty or other students.
Students in our Social Justice Advocacy Concentration Program and our Elder Law
Program are assigned mentors to help guide them in professional development in their chosen
fields.
Bruce Jacob Criminal Appellate Inn of Court
The Jacob Inn of Court has a mentoring program in which student members of the Inn are
matched with more senior Inn members for mentoring purposes.
Florida Association for Women Lawyers at Stetson (FAWLS) Speed Mentoring event­
September 23, 2014
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FA WLS members are assigned an attorney/Judge mentor for the year from Hillsborough
Association for Women Lawyers (HA WL) and the Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Association
for Women Lawyers (PF AWL)
Federal Bar Association-Tampa Bay Chapter
Student Members may request an attorney mentor.
Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division-Law Student Division
The Florida Bar YLD Law Student Division Mentoring Program provides educational,
networking, and mentorship opportunities to Florida law students with attorneys both locally and
across the state. Program participants have the opportunity to attend events and activities, such as
depositions, trials, negotiations, mediations, and local bar events with participating attorneys,
which give the student first-hand knowledge of the legal field. This year, nearly 400 students
participated in the Mentoring Program with 65 of those students being from Stetson.
Additionally the Real Property Student Organization and the Black Law Students Association
have informal attorney mentor programs. And our Student Life Ambassador Program provides
mentors to I L students.
E. AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
10. Please list and describe the qualifications for any awards received by faculty or
students regarding professionalism in the last year.
Following are the awards given at graduation each year:
Edward D. Foreman- Most Distinguished Student Award recognizes a student who
has demonstrated a passion for the legal profession and a commitment to serve the family
of humankind, and who can be characterized as the best all-around student.
Carol R. Samuels Unsung Hero Student Leadership Award recognizes the graduate
who demonstrated an ability to foster leadership throughout his or her time at Stetson in
an unassuming (behind the scenes) context.
Daniel N. Burton Against All Odds Award recognizes a graduating student who has
overcome significant obstacles before or during law school, but despite these obstacles,
and potentially long odds, has successfully completed the requirements for the JD degree.
The recipient of this award must have demonstrated the highest levels of ethics and
professionalism during his or her time at Stetson and must be willing to help others who
are facing or have faced similar obstacles.
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Dean's Award is presented each semester by the dean to students, faculty and staff for
extraordinary service to Stetson University College of Law.
E Harris Drew Memorial Award was established to recognize a student's dedication to
the law and an ability to express thoughts orally and in writing.
Marc L. Levine Award recognizes a graduating J.D. student who has demonstrated
significant growth as a professional during his or her time at the College of Law, and who
emerged as a respected campus leader
Marin G. Martin Award for Legal Ethics Award was established to recognize a
student who has written the best paper in the field of legal ethics.
Michael P. Allen Award for Excellence and Professionalism Award is presented
annually to a member of the graduating class who combines the qualities of academic
achievement, skill in both oral and written advocacy, professionalism and civility.
National Order of Scribes is an honorary organization to recognize graduating law
students who excel in legal vvTiting. Each year, Stetson nominates up to five nominees
for induction into the Order. Each student should have demonstrated the highest levels of
professionalism and should be an outstanding legal writer.
Paul Barnard Award for Clinic Excellence Award was created to honor graduating
students for their performance in representing indigent clients while enrolled in the Public
Defender Clinic.
The Public Interest Award honors students based upon their dedication to and
involvement in public interest activities at Stetson.
Public Service Fellows Recognition Award recognizes student's exceptional
participation in the Public Service Fellows program. Recipients of this award are
honored for their dedicated service to their law school and community, as well as for their
commitment to future public service and pro-bono activity during their professional
career.
The Raphael Steinhardt Award recognizes students based on his or her character,
leadership, and service to the community.
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The Suzanne Armstrong Memorial Award is presented to a student who in the view of
the LR& W department, has demonstrated excellence in the areas oflegal writing,
research, and drafting and who has also exhibited high levels of professional conduct
during his or her tenure at the College of Law.
The Stephanie Vaughan Excellence in Advocacy Award is presented to a student who
embodies tireless commitment to excellence in advocacy, in and out of the classroom.
The Thomas E. Pennick Jr Award for Community Service Award recognizes a
student who has the spirit and commitment of a true community servant and who has
volunteered extensively for the good of the community, specifically for those who are
less fortunate.
This next list details professionalism awards (beyond those recognized at graduation)
both given and received by Stetson Law, and its students, faculty and staff in 2014-2015:
•
Trial team wins professionalism award at 2014 National Voir Dire Tournament (plus the championship) http://www.stetson.edu/law/news/index. php/20 14/04/07/stetson­
students-win-national-voir-dire-tournament •
Student Anisha Patel won best oralist at 2014 Mercer Legal Ethics and Professionalism Moot Court Competition: http:/I www. stetson.ed u/1 aw/ announcements/congratulations-to-the-mercer-leap-moot­
court-team/ •
Student life director and adjunct professor Tammy Briant named Outstanding Professional in Graduate and Professional Student Services by NASP A: http://wvvw. stetson.edu/law/news/index. php/20 14/ 12/12/stetsons-student-life-director­
honored •
William Eleazer receives Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Teaching Advocacy: http :1/www.stetson.edu/law/newsiindex.php/20 14/0 1/28/william­
eleazer-selected-for-stetsons-1 ifetime-achievement -award-for -excellence-in-teaching­
advocacy •
Florida Bar YLD Law Student Division chapter awarded 2014 outstanding chapter: http://www.stetson.edu/law/news/index.php/20 14/07/01 /stetson-university­
named-best-student-chapter-by-florida-bar •
ABA Law Student Division Chapter presented bronze keys for greatest raw membership and most improved membership for 2015: 14
http://www.stetson.edu/law/news/index.php/20 15/02/18/stetson-awarded-bronze-key­
aba-law-student-division-meeting
•
Ranked #7 in the nation by Super Lawyers for pro bono graduation requirements:
http://www. stetson. edu/1 aw/news/index. php/2 0 14/12/22/stetson-among-nations-best-law­
schools-pro-bono
•
Recognized as "Military Friendly School," awarded to 16% of higher education
institutions in the country for helping military students to succeed:
http://www.stetson.edu/law/news/index.php/20 15/01/ 13/stetson-named-military-friendly­
school/
•
Ranked #1 in trial advocacy and #6 in legal writing by U.S. News
•
Bob Dillinger recognized with Wm. Reece Smith Jr. Public Service Award:
http://www .stetson .ed u/law/news/index. php/20 15/0 1/2 9I stetson-presents-bob-dill inger­
public-service-award
•
Stetson establishing its inaugural Edward D. Ohlbaum Professionalism Award to
honor an individual (within advocacy education, not limited to Stetson) whose life and
practice display sterling character and unquestioned integrity, coupled with ongoing
dedication to the highest standards of the legal profession and the rule of law:
http://www.stetson.edu/law/conferences/eats/
•
Facilitator Award for educators who are proactive about safety and risk
management, developing organizational environments that are reasonably safe,
educationally relevant, and developmentally sound:
http://www.stetson.edu/law/conferences/highered/home/facilitator-awards-national­
conference.php
F. ADDITIONAL EFFORTS AND COMMENTS
11. Please describe any faculty committees tasked with professionalism initiatives.
The Diversity Committee at Stetson University College of Law has collaborated to
sponsor programs to encourage and support diversity and inclusion both on our campus
as well as at the businesses in our community. Such programs include: a presentation on
changing demographics, a symposium on inclusivity in teaching, an inclusivity summit
for business organizations, and support for the SBA's Diversity Week.
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The Strategic Plan Implementation Committee is exploring ways a unifying theme of
Leadership might allow us to more accurately articulate the emphasis we place on
professionalism - both skills and values in our courses and extra-curricular activities. We
hope this will lead to an increase in the explicit inculcation of professionalism into all
aspects of a Stetson legal education. For example, the Committee has been mapping out
career pathways for our students, organizing the classes, clinics and internships, pro bono
opportunities, student organizations, and faculty mentors by field, aiding students in
seeing how they might best pursue their goal of being a public interest lawyer, an
environmental lawyer, and so on.
12. Indicate whether your law school has a designated dean or faculty member assigned
with professionalism responsibilities, provide their name, and contact information.
The William Reece Smith Jr, Distinguished Professor of Professionalism and Public Service.
Stetson has a rotating distinguished faculty position dedicated to promoting professionalism in
the student body. The current professor occupying this chair is Professor Judith Scully. Her
contact info is as follows: Phone number 727-560-7019. Email jscully@law.stetson.edu.
13. Please provide any additional information relating to professionalism efforts that are taking
place at your law school, including Inns of Court, local voluntary bar associations or other
organizations.
Inns of court and voluntary bar association information related to professionalism has already
been addressed in this report in Questions #4, 5 and 9 above.
Several programs sponsored by the Offices of Student Life and Career Development are
designed to ensure our students and graduates are equipped with the essential elements of
professionalism as outlined by the Florida Bar: character, competence, civility, and commitment.
In addition, our Career Development Office has built standardized reference materials and
programming on the best way to accomplish unique career goals. The cornerstone of their
curriculum is the Career Development ToolKit, which walks students through four key stages of
Career Development: Planning, Publishing, Presentation and Production, and Progress.
Similarly, the Office of Student Life develops comprehensive programs and facilitates student
organization programming designed to present these key elements to students in a variety of
formats and venues throughout the entire law school experience, beginning with Orientation.
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The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) - Offered throughout the semester. Members of
the Office of Career Development. Academic Success. Bar Preparation. and Student Life are
certified in the administration and verification of the MBTI. a personality assessment tool
designed to uncover ones natural personality preferences that helps answer the questions: Where
do I focus my attention? How do I take in Information? How do I make decision? And how do I
deal with the outside world? By working with students individually, in classrooms, and on
advocacy teams, we help them discover their natural preferences for communication and assist in
demonstrating how others may have different preferences. This understanding allows for a more
productive and cohesive work environment, which can reduce misunderstandings, and improve
productivity and professionalism.
14. Please describe the efforts used to promote the Law Faculty/Administrator Professionalism
Award, Group Professionalism Award, and the Law Student Essay Contest for 2015.
Our Associate Dean for Faculty, Susan Rozelle, announces the awards to faculty, staff, and students. The
Law Student Essay Contest for 2015 also was advertised on the school webpage and on the physical
bulletin board listing student writing competitions.
Please submit to:
Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism
The Florida Bar
651 East Jefferson Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300
E-mail: cfp@flabar.org
Due on or before: March 1, 2015
Date:
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