The Florida International University College of Law is proud to announce a $10,000 gift to name the jury box in the large courtroom in Rafael Diaz-Balart Hall.

The contribution was made by Abraham S. Ovadia ’09 through the Seats of Justice Campaign. The large courtroom is the venue where future FIU legal professionals learn and train. Mr. Ovadia’s gift will help support students and is an example of the success and generosity of our graduates.

Since graduating FIU law, Mr. Ovadia founded Florida PIP Law Firm, P.A., which represents clients statewide in the areas of PIP claims, personal injury, and traffic citations.

We are excited to announce that the application for the new LL.M. program for foreign attorneys has gone live!  To start your application follow this link: https://llm.lsac.org/LOGIN/Access.aspx

The LL.M. is a post-graduate course in law for lawyers who have completed their first law degree in another country.  It is composed of 24 credits and is based entirely on coursework that runs one academic year from August to May.  It does not have subject specialties, and the courses taken by LL.M. students are determined on an individual basis.

It is a residential program.  LL.M. students live in Miami, go to class with students from the United States, study in the library, and experience daily life on and off the campus.  The FIU LL.M. graduate has studied law in the United States in English and knows not only the content of United States law but also the daily life and culture of the country from personal experience.

We welcome your application!  For more information about the LL.M. program, please check out the website at www.law.fiu.edu/llm.  Contact the Office of International and Graduate Studies for any questions at lawllm@fiu.edu.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Maria D. Garcia ’08, was recently named to the inaugural class of Fellows for the Florida Bar’s Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Leadership Academy

What area of practice are you in?

I graduated from FIU Law in 2008. I focus my practice on health care law, as well as international matters and business litigation. I represent a variety of health care providers, including physicians, group practices, hospitals and other specialty facilities, in both regulatory and litigation issues. I also address commercial litigation matters for various local businesses in our community.

Tell us about the award?

The Florida Bar’s Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Leadership Academy just chose its inaugural class of Academy Fellows. The Leadership Academy is a year-long, multi-session training program designed to assist lawyers from across the State of Florida in becoming better leaders within our profession and our communities. There were over 300 applications from attorneys throughout the state to join the inaugural class of Academy Fellows.

Academy Fellows follow a curriculum tailored to enhance our professional development, knowledge base and experience, including attending Florida Bar events and special educational programs. For example, past presidents of the Florida Bar share their experiences and participate in interactive sessions with Academy Fellows. As Academy Fellows, we are given the opportunity to learn more about the inner workings of the Florida Bar and our role in the legal profession, while enhancing our personal leadership skills. The Academy’s Mission is to identify, nurture and inspire effective leadership within the Bar and the legal community. The year-long program will conclude with graduation at the 2014 Florida Bar Convention in Orlando, Florida.

What does an award like this mean for you professionally?

Becoming a member of the inaugural class of Academy Fellows has been a great honor and opportunity for me personally and professionally. It has given me the chance to meet amazing attorneys and leaders throughout the State of Florida and to share ideas and goals with each other. As an Academy Fellow, I have also gained access to well prepared and sophisticated leadership development programming which has helped me grow as an attorney and active community leader. The lessons and ideas which I have been exposed to, thus far, truly have been enjoyable and beneficial to my growth as a person.  The opportunity to collaborate which such great people, while having the time to individually reflect and set goals, has been priceless.

How did your experience at FIU Law prepare you for your career?

FIU Law is where it all began. FIU Law has given me life-long friends and relationships and a highly respected law degree. The excellent professors and administration always put forth their best efforts in instructing me as a student and guiding me into our profession. FIU Law is a place where students count and each person’s individual goals and needs are addressed. Now, as an alumna, I hope and strive to always give back to FIU Law because without this school, I would not be where I am today.

What advice do you have for students interested in a similar career path?

The best advice is to always work hard and to always set goals for your career and life. Those two elements, with a little bit of luck, are unstoppable.  Equally important, you should value the relationships that you build with others and strive to give back to those around you.

FIU’s Colleges of Education and Law host Math & Civics Summer Academy at Miami Northwestern High School

Sponsored by a small grant from the Miami Foundation, the Algebra Project (AP) and the Colleges of Education & Law operated a six-week Math & Civics summer academy for upcoming tenth grade students at Miami Northwestern High School.

Monday through Thursday, students at Miami Northwestern engaged in learning mathematics by working with Dr. Bob Moses, President of the Algebra Project, and Rose Pierre, graduate of the College of Education’s math education Master’s program, along with six Young People’s Project (YPP) college math literacy workers.

The high school students were also coached in group process by the college’s Urban Education graduate student, Danielle McLaughlin.  College of Education professors, Maria Lovett and Joan Wynne, and FIU graduate, Gina Greenidge, also participated in visits to homes and other efforts to recruit new students into the newly forming 9^th grade AP cohort program.

In addition as a part of that program, students, sponsored by Michelle Mason, Sr. Associate Dean of the College of Law (COL), came to the COL each Friday and learned the rudiments of Civic Engagement.

On their first Friday, Law Professor and former Judge Phyllis Kotey, engaged students in conversations about the Constitution and immersed students in Moot Court trials where students studied a case involving Fourth Amendment rights, alternated playing the roles of Judge, Prosecutor, and Defense Attorney and argued those positions.

The following week, students came again to the COL, and led by Global Learning Coordinator, Eric Feldman, learned the principles of democratic dialogue.  During the day’s opening discussion, Feldman invited students to exchange ideas about the current media outlets available to them to discuss civic issues: social media, for example, and whether these formats foster thoughtful and productive conversation about public problems.  Students learned how personal values influence civic participation, and engaged in activities exploring how their own values influence their decisions.  Using an abridged version of a National Issues Forum, the students also participated in “deliberative dialogues,” developed by the Kettering Foundation.

In July, students, led by the Young People’s Project college math literacy workers, participated in team building activities and conversations about the work of the Algebra Project and its roots in the leadership model of the Southern Freedom Movement.

They also engaged in leadership development and team building activities led by Franklin McCune and his lead team from the Center for Leadership & Service.  Through rigorous activities involving mental and physical challenges, students learned to work together as a team to creatively develop strategies for racing against time to complete tasks.

Students will continue throughout the summer and school year to engage in professional development activities to grow as an academic team, as leaders in civic action and as teachers of mathematics to younger children in Liberty City.  This program has created a broad coalition of partners interested in broadening the opportunities for academic growth of disenfranchised youth:  The Algebra Project; FIU Colleges of Education & Law; Miami Northwestern High School; FIU Office of Engagement; FIU Office of Global Learning; FIU Student Affairs and the Young People’s Project.

Article originally published by FIU College of Education. Read more.

Prof. Fingerhut to host Tuesday Times Roundtable on Lessons Learned from Zimmerman Trial

Prof. H. Scott Fingerhut will host Almost Just: Lessons Learned from the Zimmerman Trial on Tuesday, Sept. 10th at 12:30 in the Graham Center, Room 150. Free lunch will be provided, no RSVP required.

Florida International University College of Law’s Community Externship Program is hosting a Pro Bono Week to coincide with the American Bar Association’s National Pro Bono Celebration from Monday, October 21, 2013 through Saturday, October 26, 2013.

In an effort to show our appreciation for all of your time and energy devoted to our FIU Law family, we would like to extend an invitation for you to join us on Monday, October 21, 2013 for an Attorney Appreciation Reception from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. in the College of Law Atrium. Please R.S.V.P. to Jessica Michelle Ciminero at jciminer@fiu.edu by October 12th if you will be in attendance.

We would also like to extend a token of our gratitude to you by offering a Free Ethics CLE, “Teaching From Practice: The Changing Role of the Law in a Multi- and Social Media Society and the Duty to Learn, to Know, to Do,” on Tuesday, October 22, 2013 from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the College of Law, RDB 1009.  Please see the attached program overview and outline detailing the event as well as the registration form.

To culminate our Pro Bono Week we will be hosting a Community Legal Fair in areas of Family & Education Law, Health Law & Policy, and Immigration & Human Rights Law on Saturday, October 26, 2013 from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Miami Rescue Mission (159 NW 1st Court, Miami, FL 33127).  We would love to share with our current law students the opportunity to help our community providing pro bono services in conjunction with alumni involvement.  Please R.S.V.P. to Jessica Michelle Ciminero at jciminer@fiu.edu by October 14th if you will be joining us for this event.

For any additional information, please visit the ABA’s Celebrate Pro Bono website for our event information at: http://www.probono.net/celebrateprobono/events/event.492604-Florida_International_University_College_of_Law_Pro_Bono_Week.

FIU College of Law is one of the nation’s most outstanding law schools, according to The Princeton Review and is featured in the 2014 edition of “The Best 169 Law Schools.”  FIU College of Law is one of 63 schools in the book (about 37% of the 169 profiled) that appear on one or more of the book’s ranking lists. It is number three on the list for “Best Environment for Minority Students” and number four on the list for “Most Diverse Faculty.”

On Saturday, November 9, the College of Law welcomes U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, service academies candidates and their guests and families. For directions and parking information.

Open House for Prospective Law Students

Get a glimpse inside FIU Law on Wednesday, November 27 from  1 – 4 p.m.  Learn how to apply, what schloarship opportunities are available and meet our esteemed faculty and staff.

For more information, contact 305.348.8006 or email lawadmit@fiu.edu

FIU College of Law
11200 SW 8th Street – RDB 1005
Miami, FL 33199
 

FIU Law announces a certificate in Intellectual Property Law. The certificate is available to FIU Law JD or LLM degree-seeking students. As a growing area of practice, Intellectual Property Law is relevant to global business and trade, and intersects with several other fields, including human rights, public health, and global development. Students will learn about patent law, copyright law, trade secret law, trademark law, and more.

The Intellectual Property certificate is designed for students who desire to enhance their training in Intellectual Property laws and will better prepare them to deal with the legal issues that arise in the ever-growing entertainment, media, and technology industries. In order to obtain the certificate, students must satisfy certain criteria.

“This highly specialized certificate will both enhance a student’s knowledge of Intellectual Property, and provide them with an edge within the profession,” stated Dean R. Alexander Acosta.

For information about the certificate click here.

Enhance your law school studies in one of the world’s most beautiful countries by taking part in FIU Law’s Summer Abroad Program in Sevilla, Spain. Only 50 spots available – apply today! Complete and return the application by April 30, 2014. Application for non FIU study abroad programs.

See you Sevilla!

The Board of Advocates presents the 11^thAnnual Intramural Appellate Advocacy Moot Court Competition Final Round on Thursday, February 13, 2014 at 5 p.m. The competition will be held at the College of Law in the large courtroom with a reception to follow. The final round judges include: Judge Julio Fuentes, of the United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit; and Judge Morris Arnold, of the United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit; and Judge Marcia G. Cooke, of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

See more events here.

Jacob (Jake) Manaloor has joined FIU College of Law and will serve as Director of Development.  Mr. Manaloor is a 2003 graduate of the Indiana University (IU) McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Prior to joining FIU Law, he worked for both Indiana University and Purdue University in grant management and administration as well as in the areas of donor/alumni development (including annual giving, class campaigns, major gifts and special donor projects). He earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resource Management and International Studies from the IU Kelley School of Business in 2000.

Mr. Manaloor brings significant experience in state, federal, corporate and foundation giving and has solicited, cultivated and managed numerous grants and individual donor gifts. While at the IU McKinney School of Law, he administered a five year $4.2 million USAID grant which allowed the school to take their LLM degree program to Egypt.

Mr. Manaloor will direct FIU Law’s annual giving campaign, special and major gifts, corporate and foundation grant solicitation all while working in close partnership with the Alumni Association and FIU’s Advancement Office.

FIU Law’s two-person taxation team, made up of fourth-year law student and team captain Alex Martini and recent graduate Sam Gonas took home second place in the 13th Annual Law Student Tax Challenge presented by the ABA Section of Taxation. Eighty-eight teams entered the J.D. division of the competition which began with a written component back in November 2013. From there, six teams advanced to the oral rounds which were held on January 24 in Phoenix, Arizona.

The multi-month competition provided the team with extensive hands-on training in tax law. ”It was a great experience to meet and receive feedback from some of the top tax attorneys in the country, including IRS Chief Counsel officials, Tax Court judges, and practitioners and we take pride in the fact that we were able to bring home the first award that FIU has ever received in this competition,” Martini commented.

The challenge is an alternative to traditional moot court competitions. The Law Student Tax Challenge requires that two-person teams solve a cutting-edge and complex business problem that might arise in everyday tax practice. The competition offers law students the opportunity to showcase their knowledge in a real-world setting and gain valuable exposure to the tax law community. For Sam Gonas, sparking interest in tax law was part of the appeal of the competition. “It was a wonderful experience competing against so many quality opponents from around the country. I’m grateful for the support of Professors Gabilondo and Rickard and it is my hope that future FIU law students will take advantage of their support and represent FIU in the upcoming years,” he stated.

The FIU Law team was among other finalists who came from law schools which have more established tax programs. Despite being the first team from FIU Law to represent the College at the competition, Martini and Gonas proved that there is a bright future for students interested in tax law at FIU Law!

Photo from left to right: Sam Gonas and Alex Martini.

On February 1 – 2, 2014, FIU Law students, Kelly Moras (2L), Lauren Amore (3L), Ivette Delgado (3L) and Dana Simon (3L) competed in the Susan J. Ferrell Intercultural Human Rights Moot Court Competition which was held at St. Thomas University School of Law. The competition simulates a court proceeding where teams represent both sides of the argument, prepare written pleadings with respect to a fictional problem of international human rights law and policy, and present their arguments in an oral argument before the International Court of Justice. Issues included cybercrime, aggression and human trafficking pursuant to international law. Congratulations to Kelly Moras who was awarded Second Best Oralist and Dana Simon who received Second Runner-up Best Oralist.

As part of the Faculty Workshop series, FIU Law welcomed Dean Daniel Rodriguez from Northwestern Law for the first-ever Decanal lecture. Watch the presentation here.

FIU Law hosted Dean Daniel Rodriguez from Northwestern University for its first-ever Decanal Lecture on Legal Education. Watch it here.

MIAMI (March 11, 2014) - For the first time in Florida International University College of Law’s (FIU Law) 12 year history, it has been ranked in the top 100 in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools rankings.

The rankings reflect the success of FIU Law’s students, graduates and faculty. FIU Law ranked 55^th in the nation (3rd in Florida) for the selectivity of its incoming students and 56^th in the nation (2^nd in Florida) for the success of its graduates in finding jobs. FIU Law’s national reputation among law deans, judges and lawyers also increased. FIU Law’s overall ranking was 100 among all law schools in the nation. This is the fourth year in a row that FIU Law ascends in the rankings.

“This is a great achievement, and only possible because of the caliber of our students, graduates and faculty,” said FIU Law Dean R. Alexander Acosta. “Our consistent rise in the rankings and ascension into the top 100 reflects our efforts to provide our students a rigorous academic program, to expose them to learning opportunities in Miami’s global legal market, and to offer a diverse and exceptional faculty that challenges and inspires.”

Acosta said that rank is one way to evaluate a law school, but there are other factors that make FIU Law exceptional.

“The diversity among our faculty and within the student body, our location in Miami – the gateway to an international legal market – and our affordability, make FIU Law an outstanding option for prospective students,” Acosta said.

On Saturday, March 15, 2014 the Haitian Lawyers Association (HLA) recognized three individuals with ties to FIU Law. During their 16^th annual Scholarship Gala, alumna Fritznie Jarbath ’11 was recognized as HLA’s incoming president; Professor Ediberto Roman was honored for his impact on immigration reform; and for his academic achievements, second-year FIU Law student Guybert “Jimmy” Paul, received one of four scholarships. Congratulations, to the honorees!

The Haitian Lawyers Association (HLA) is a non-profit membership organization whose mission is to promote excellence, professionalism, equality and diversity in the legal profession and among our members and to facilitate the administration of justice while striving to protect and promote the general welfare of the Haitian-American community and other minority residents in the South Florida area.

On Friday, March 21, 2014, FIU Law hosted a discussion with Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Joe Garcia and several groups and organizations whose focus is on equal rights for immigrants and immigration reform.