St. Thomas Law and Catholic Legal Services Host Pro Se Asylum Clinic

On Friday December 18, St. Thomas Law co-hosted a Pro Se Asylum Clinic with Catholic Legal Services. The clinic and event, spearheaded by St. Thomas Law professor Lauren Gilbert, helped 16 Central American young women and men, most of them still teenagers, with their asylum applications. These asylum-seekers would not have had legal assistance otherwise. Eleven applications were completed that day and given to the applicants to be sent out, with several other children identified as eligible for additional relief.

The attorneys and staff from Catholic Legal Services provided a meaningful experience and excellent supervision to our student volunteers and provided them with an inspiring and effective mini-course in assisting asylum seekers with their applications. Our law students worked directly with asylum-seekers putting together their applications in teams with more experienced students and attorneys.

"Special thanks go to Professor Gilbert for undertaking this labor of love and organizing," stated law school Associate Dean Cece Dykas. "It was her dedication and commitment that made this possible. It was quite an undertaking. It truly is the season of giving."

In speaking of the event, Professor Gilbert stated that it was another example of why St. Thomas Law and Catholic Legal Services are both such special places. 

"The lawyers and staff of Catholic Legal Services, as always, provided an inspiring example of what it means to be committed advocates and effective attorneys while our students, many of them immigrants themselves, demonstrated great empathy for the young people they served that day while honing their legal skills in interviewing, counseling, storytelling, developing winnable asylum claims and identifying other possible forms of relief."

Alumni Spotlight: Judge Michaelle Gonzalez-Paulson

Judge Michaelle Gonzalez-Paulson '01

St. Thomas Law 2001 graduate, Judge Michaelle Gonzalez-Paulson, was recently profiled by the Daily Business Review. The profile recounts Judge Gonzalez-Paulson's history with domestic violence and how those experiences guided her decision to attend law school.

"I realized at that time how difficult it was to afford an attorney, and I didn't qualify for legal aid either," she stated. "I think that experience is something that made me realize that I wanted to go to law school, that I wanted to be in public service, and I wanted to be able to help those who could otherwise not have access to justice."

True to her goals, she worked as a certified legal intern with Dade Legal Aid during law school, working for them, full-time, after graduation. She eventually started a private practice where she hadled family law including divorce and domestic violence cases.

She was elected to the bench in 2010 and noted that being a judge was something she wanted not only as a career but as a part of her life. Her judicial career started in the civil division, however she now presides over cases that, once again, brings her into contact with victims and perpetrators of domestic violence.

Read the full profile here.

St. Thomas Law Students Receive Scholarship Awards at FAWL Judicial Event

On December 4, 2015, the Florida Association of Women Lawyers (FAWL) held their 33rd Annual Judicial Reception and Scholarship Award event.

St. Thomas Law University School of Law is proud to announce that two of our law students were among this year's scholarship recipients.

3L Brittnay Wittnebel

Brittnay Wittnebel was awarded the Alexandra Bach Lagos Scholarship. A third-year law student, Brittnay founded The Youth Unite - a non-profit aimed at preventing bullying in middle school. Youth Unite provides mentors to victims of bullying and aims builds confidence in teenagers through a substance free concert series, educational DVDs, healthy cooking classes and music therapy programs. Brittnay is also the Online Editor of the St. Thomas Law Review. Brittnay plans on practicing appellate law.

1L Greeny Valbuena

Our other scholarship recipient was first-year law student Greeny Valbuena.  She received the Lara Bueso Bach Scholarship.  Greeny is passionate about LGBT equality and is a 1L representative for the Lambda Law Society, an organization focused on spreading awareness of LGBT-related issues while advancing professional development of its members.  Greeny also serves as a community mentor for women who have been victims of sexual abuse or those struggling with their sexual orientation.  After law school Greeny plans to practice as a civil right attorney.




St. Thomas Law salutes these students who manage to not only excel academically, but also give of themselves towards the improvement of their communities.

Professors Gilbert and Narine Present at Workshop on Guatemalan Development

Professor Marcia Narine

Professor Lauren Gilbert

On December 4, 2015,  St. Thomas Law professors Marcia Narine and Lauren Gilbert spoke at the one-day Workshop, From Extraction to Emancipation: Re-imagining Development for Guatemala. 

The workshop, held at the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California, was part of a larger project to use Guatemala as a case study on corporate social responsibility and sustainable development. 

In July 2015, Professor Narine was part of a small delegation of law professors, lawyers and law students from the United States and Canada who traveled to Guatemala to study how these issues played out on the ground. Professor Narine gave the opening address, Corporate Social Responsibility in Guatemala: A Framework. Her presentation framed the entire workshop, which focused on whether it was possible to achieve sustainable development in Guatemala through greater corporate social responsibility (CSR). Professor Narine looked at the role that CSR has played in achieving legal and social legitimacy for foreign investors. Using Guatemala as a case study, she demonstrated how CSR Reports, which are distributed to stakeholders, may not reflect the actual situation on the ground. 

Professor Gilbert's gave the final presentation on Gender Violence as a Tool of Power and Control in the Northern Triangle, focusing on the roots of the refugee crisis in Central America, the role of Truth Commissions in confronting impunity, and the role that gender has played in the subordination of ethnic groups by the Guatemalan State. Professor Narine's and Professor Gilbert's  papers are part of a larger book project, which will bear the title of the workshop.

Professor Amy Ronner Delivers Keynote Address at Conference on Juvenile Justice

St. Thomas Law professor Amy Ronner was the keynote speaker at the conference at the University of Miami School of Law on the topic of “Therapeutic Jurisprudence and Juvenile Justice” the conference is co-sponsored by the Miami-Community Based Care Alliance. 

Professor Amy Ronner

During her address, Professor Ronner' gave background on therapeutic jurisprudence, its core philosophy and its objectives. She introduced attendees to what she and the late Professor Bruce Winick coined the "three Vs" - Voice, Validation, and Voluntary participation.

Professor Ronner posited the question: "how can the legal system effectuate positive, therapeutic results?" 

She explained the stages of the therapeutic process beginning with individuals experiencing a sense of "voice" or an opportunity to tell their story to a decision-maker. A by-product of "voice" is "validation," which occurs when participants in the process feel that they have been genuinely listened to, heard, and taken seriously. Consequently, when litigants emerge from a proceeding with that sense of "voice" and "validation," they tend to be more satisfied and accepting of the outcome. Voice and validation thus foster a sense of "voluntary participation" - - which occurs when individuals experience the proceedings as less coercive.

"In general, human beings thrive when they have a sense of choice and feel that they are making, or at least participating in, their own decisions," stated Professor Ronner, "Participants in such a process tend to be more inclined to accept responsibility for their own conduct, take charge, and change."

Amy D. Ronner has taught at St. Thomas University School of Law since 1992. In 2002-03, she was a Visiting Professor of Law at the University of Miami School of Law. With a background and several degrees in Creative Writing and English Language and Literature, she also has taught English as a Teaching Fellow at the University of Michigan and as a Lecturer at the University of Miami. A prolific author, she has published several books as well as articles in the Columbia Human Rights Law Review; the Harvard Women's Law Journal; the Yale Journal of Law and Feminism; and the Arizona, Buffalo, California Western, and U.C. Davis Law Reviews, among others.

A popular presenter, she has spoken at numerous conferences all across the United States, as well as in The Netherlands and Portugal. At St. Thomas University School of Law, Professor Ronner has been active in many ways, including service as Faculty Advisor to the Moot Court Board and membership on the Academic Standing, Curriculum, Library, and Promotion and Tenure Committees; currently, she teaches Property.

St. Thomas Law Graduate - First Colombian-American Judge Elected in Florida

Judge Diana Gonzalez-W'hyte '03 Highlighted in Daily Business Review Judiciary Profile

Judge Diana Gonzalez-Whyte, a 2003 St. Thomas Law graduate, was recently profiled in the Daily Business Review. The profile not only gave insight into the pathway that led her to becoming a county court judge, but also her courtroom style and expectations.

Judge Diana Gonzalez-Whyte '03

Elected to the bench in 2012, Judge Diana Gonzalez-Whyte was the first Colombian- American judge elected in Florida. This accomplishment is the culmination of Judge Gonzalez-Whyt'e lifelong desire to pursue a legal career after facing discrimination as a child.

After graduating from St. Thomas Law, she clerked for a civil litigation firm, and then joined the Miami-Dade Public Defenders Office - a time that she described as "amazing years." The time with the public defenders office also allowed her to set her sites on serving in a judicial role.

Read the Daily Business Review profile in its entirety here.

St. Thomas Law and Lynn University Launch Accelerated Law Degree Program

New academic collaboration enables students to obtain bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor in six years

St. Thomas University School of Law and Lynn University have signed a new articulation agreement that will allow qualified students to earn their law degree in six years - as compared to seven years if completed in the traditional way. Students will complete three undergraduate years at Lynn University before matriculating into St. Thomas Law for a three-year juris doctor program.

The agreement was formalized at a signing ceremony held at Lynn University on Thursday, November 19, 2015. The ceremony was attended by officials from both institutions including President of St. Thomas University, Monsignor Franklyn Casale; President of Lynn University, Dr. Kevin Ross; Dean of St. Thomas University School of Law, Alfredo Garcia; Lynn University’s Vice President for Academic Affairs, Gregg Cox, as well as other administrators, students and alumni from each school.

 “We are happy to partner with our friends at Lynn in establishing this 3+3 program,” stated Monsignor Casale.  “We recognize and value the global experience that Lynn students receive as undergraduates and, through this partnership, give Lynn students the opportunity to continue that global experience at St. Thomas University School of Law, which is consistently recognized each year as one of the most diverse law schools in the country.  Upon graduation from St. Thomas Law, the 3+3 students will join our thousands of graduates around the world who are leaders in their respective communities.”

Standing L-R: Anthony Marino, St. Thomas Law 2nd year student; Peter Kelly; Jessica Fonseca Nader; Cecile Dykas;  Karline Lee '09; Bill Smith, Jr., former Mayor of Boca Raton; Mark Wolff, St. Thomas Law Professor; 

Seated L-R: Dr. Gregg Cox, Lynn University VP for Academic Affairs; Msgr. Franklyn Casale; Dr. Kevin Ross, President, Lynn University; St. Thomas Law's Dean Alfredo Garcia

The accelerated law degree will result in significant savings for students who are faced with ever-increasing education costs.

“Our partnership with St. Thomas Law provides access to a legal education at a more affordable price,” said President Ross. “Lynn students enrolled in the program can save up to one year of tuition—approximately $46,000—and will have access to scholarships.”

St. Thomas Law will automatically award a $5,000 scholarship annually to any Lynn student who is part of the program. Additionally, a student who completes his or her first year at St. Thomas Law and is ranked in the top 25 percent of the class is eligible to receive a merit scholarship ranging from $5,000 to $33,000.

“We are delighted to forge this partnership with Lynn University and look forward to its growth and development in the future,” stated St. Thomas Law’s Dean Garcia.

Thursday’s signing marks the second such agreement that St. Thomas Law has executed in 2016. Earlier this year, a 3+3 articulation agreement was signed between St. Thomas Law and Miami Dade College.  Through partnerships such as these, St. Thomas Law continues to expand opportunities for students to earn law degrees, advance economically, and be part of successful academic and legal communities.

The Honorable Judge Peter Palermo Dies at Age 97

South Florida legal pioneer and retired Senior Magistrate Judge, Peter Palermo, died on Friday, November 13. He was 97.

Judge Palermo was a generous supporter of St. Thomas Law's Peter Palermo Program; putting into action his belief that today's youth have to become engaged citizens through knowledge of civics and the law.

The Palermo Program at St. Thomas University has evolved into a community partnership with students in the Miami Carol City Senior High School Legal and Public Affairs Magnet Program, with the goal of inspiring and educating the future generation of civic-minded leaders.

Through his generosity, St. Thomas Law established the Palermo Scholarship, and the St. Thomas Law student chapter of the Federal Bar Association is also named in his honor.

Judge Palermo consistently gave his time and talents to St. Thomas Law," recalled Dean Alfredo Garcia. "He played an integral role and served as a role model for our community. We mourn his death and celebrate his immeasurable contribution to his country."

Judge Peter Palermo (front and center) pictured with students from Carol City High School's Legal and Public Affairs Magnet Program

Judge Palermo was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1918. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1941 and was drafted into and served in the United States Army during World War II. He rose through the military ranks and was awarded six battle stars and the Bronze Star for his valiant service.

Judge Palermo served as mayor of West Miami from 1947 to 1953 while attending law school. Upon graduation, he served as an Assistant State Attorney and eventually entered private practice. In 1971, he was one of two judges to be sworn in as the first United States Magistrates in the nation. Palermo was the longest-serving magistrate in the United States, serving for over 40 years.

St. Thomas Law's Mock Trial Team Dominates at FJA Mock Trial Competition - Recognized for Distinguished Advocacy

The 2015 Florida Justice Association (FJA) Honorable E. Earle Zehmer Memorial Mock Trial Competition took place from November 13-15, 2015, in Orlando, Florida.  The competition, which was held at the Orange County Courthouse, had teams representing each Florida law school. 

Students Roxana Gonzalez, Cassandra Ward, Tayron Lopez, and Emma Berrios competed against the University of Florida and University of Miami in the preliminary rounds and demonstrated superior advocacy and professionalism, earning the praise of all the judges and jurors.

The finalist team, consisting of Katie Joyce, Angelica Rice, Maria Catala and Nataly Gutierrez, competed against Nova Southeastern University and Florida State University in the preliminary rounds. Ms. Gutierrez received one of the distinguished awards for best advocate in the competition.

St. Thomas Law's  2015 Florida Justice Association Mock Trial Competition Team. From left to right 

Nataly Gutierrez, Katie Joyce, Angelica Rice, Maria Catala, Tayron Lopez, Emma Berrios, Roxana Gonzalez, Cassandra Ward.

After St. Thomas Law swept the preliminary rounds, Mrs. Catala and Ms. Gutierrez competed against Florida International University in the semifinal round. After sweeping all the ballots, Ms. Joyce and Ms. Rice advocated for St. Thomas Law against Stetson University in the final which was extremely competitive and required a tie-breaker to determine the overall winner. St. Thomas received second place.  Congratulations to our trial team students. 

"We are proud of our Mock Trial Team, whose dedication, skills, and work-ethic exemplify the spirit of our school," stated law school dean Al Garcia.

The St. Thomas Law team was coached by Assistant State Attorney, Julian Catala, St. Thomas alumnus, Daniel Garza, and Faculty Advisor, Michael Mayer.

These results are a testament to superior advocacy, hard work, dedication and commitment displayed by our students, coaches, and trial program.

St. Thomas Law Intellectual Property & Cyberlaw Society at Sixth Annual Patently Impossible Competition

Once again, the St. Thomas University School of Law Intellectual Property & Cyberlaw Society (IPCLS) had a strong presence at the Patently Impossible Project competition on November 5, 2015 at the Bakehouse Art Complex in Wynwood. 

Patently Impossible is an annual fundraising event run by Dade Legal Aid, in which teams race to complete assembly of a machine. Teams were supplied with a box of parts, tools, and a patent. This year, competitors rushed to assemble a wind-powered racecar or “Fan Powered Do Dangle Apparatus.” Over 250 judges, intellectual property attorneys, brand owners, corporate counsel, and engineers attended or participated in the popular fundraising and networking event.
As in previous years, St. Thomas had a strong and vocal presence. This year, over 30 students volunteered to participate in up to 10 teams. A change in the event’s venue to a smaller location, however, limited each organization to only one team. Participating for St. Thomas IPCLS were Eudinio Perez, 2L, Marc Rapaport, 2L, Patricia Pena, 1L, and Michal Amedia, 1L, who all worked together to build the car. Many of their classmates were present to cheer on their friends, including IPCLS President Alexandra Valdes and e-Board member Stephen Koch, along with faculty advisor Professor Nathenson. Also present were IPCLS members Andrea Arauz, Maria Fonseca Chavarro, Anastasiya Sack, and Vianca Canet.

Patently Impossible provides St. Thomas Law students with the opportunity to network with South Florida’s community of intellectual property and entertainment attorneys. Among those attorneys were numerous St. Thomas alums, including Ashley Juchawski and Diana Acevedo, both of Dade Legal Aid’s Venture Law project, as well as Steven Paulson of Dade Legal Aid. Many other alums were present, including former IPCLS member Kevin Cudlipp along with Paola Visbal. Notably, Kevin Cudlipp was not just an alumnus participant, but also a past victor of Patently Impossible, which he won along with several classmates when he was a student at St. Thomas Law. Further thanks are due to Dade Legal Aid Executor Director Karen Ladis and Jaime Vining of Friedland Vining, both of whom were instrumental in helping St. Thomas students to participate.

St. Thomas Law's 11th Annual Human Rights Symposium

On Friday, November 13th, the St. Thomas Law community welcomed a panel of esteemed, internationally-known law makers and human-rights advocates for a timely symposium, titled The Power of A Voice: Re-writing Policy and Implementing Changes Through Protest Movements.

Professor Siegfried Wiessner welcomes Panelists and Guests

The panel included Florida State Senator, Dwight Bullard, Missouri State Senator Jamilah Nasheed, St. Thomas Law LL.M. student and Venezuelan attorney Rafael Dominguez, Sarah Hager, who serves as the chair of the Southern Africa Co-Group Researchers Amnesty International USA, Lisa Maya Knauer, Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Massachusetts, and Brian Fonseca, Director, Institute for Public Policy & Citizenship Studies at FIU's School of International & Public Affairs.

Panelists: From left to right: State Senator, Dwight Bullard; Missouri State Senator Jamilah Nasheed; St. Thomas Law LL.M. student and Venezuelan attorney Rafael Dominguez; Sarah Hager, Chair of the Southern Africa Co-Group Researchers Amnesty International USA; Lisa Maya Knauer, Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Massachusetts; and Brian Fonseca, Director of the Institute for Public Policy & Citizenship Studies at FIU's School of International & Public Affairs.

The discussion centered around the history, causes and effectiveness of protest movements. Panelists recounted their personal experiences with protests, discussed the fundamental right of citizens to protest, gave international perspectives on the right to protest and resist, and explored the root causes of protests in the international community.

Attendees included community activists, law students, and attorneys. The symposium, organized by the St. Thomas Law Intercultural and Human Rights Law Review, is in its 11th year.

Members of the Intercultural Human Rights Law Review and panelists.

Symposium Committee Members
Laura Pereira
Amy Francis
William Johnson
Christine Soto
Jessica Smith
Amal Uthman
Belkys Yzquierdo
Carmela Cavo
Evelyn Rosen
Arisnelvys Gonzalez
Nichole Griffith
Danny Telcy-Louis
Regilucia Smith

2015-2016 Editorial Board Members

Co-Editors in Chief:
Erica Behm
Donald Morehead

Managing Editor:
Amy Francis

Executive Editors:
Evan Phoenix
Joanna Kallinosis
Maria Florencia Cornu Laport
Marina Rakopyan

Symposium Editor:
Astrid Lopez

Student Articles Editor:
Gwendolyn Richards

Faculty Advisors
Professor Roza Pati
Professor Siegfried Wiessner

Professor Keith Rizzardi's Scholarship Cited in Recent Judicial Opinion

St. Thomas Law professor, Keith Rizzardi's scholarship was recently used and cited in a legal opinion.

In a November 4, 2015 opinion related to Florida’s public records law, 15th Judicial Circuit Judge Richard L. Oftedal quoted and cited Professor Rizzardi’s recent article, Sunburned: How Misuse of the Public Records Laws Creates an Overburdened, More Expensive, and Less Transparent Government, 44 Stetson L. Rev. 425, 436 (2015).

Judge Oftedal called it “a thorough analysis of the problems facing local governments.”  

Professor Rizzardi has also been invited to discuss his scholarship with the Florida League of Cities at their Public Records Forum in Orlando on December 8, 2015. 

St. Thomas Law Alumnus Selected as Finalist for Most Effective Lawyer Recognition Award

St. Thomas University School of Law proudly salutes alumnus Armando Hernandez, Esq. for his selection as a finalist for the Daily Business Review's "Most Effective Lawyer" award. His nomination is in the practice area of Products Liability. 

Armando Hernandez '10 

Mr. Hernandez, who graduated Magna Cum Laude from St. Thomas Law in 2010, is an associate at Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell. He practices not only in the areas of product liability, but also in casualty defense, commercial litigation, and admiralty/maritime law matters.

In his products liability practice, he defends manufacturers and distributors of personal watercrafts, boats, boat engines, automobiles, motocycles, golf carts, and other products.

Honorees will be recognized at a luncheon in Miami on December 4, 2015.

St. Thomas Law's Entertainment & Sports Law Society (ESLS) Hosts Symposium

Attorney-Student symposium and networking event a great success due to joint efforts of Entertainment & Sports Law Society (ESLS) and Intellectual Property & Cyberlaw Society (IPCLS)

Keynote Speaker: Herman Russomanno 

The St. Thomas Law Entertainment & Sports Law Society Symposium took place on October 24, 2015 in the university's Convocation Hall.  The well-attended symposium, which was sponsored by the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law Section of The Florida Bar, featured three panels comprised of some of the most prominent entertainment, sports, and intellectual property attorneys in the country.  Long-time St. Thomas Law supporter, law professor and attorney Herman Russomanno gave the keynote address, and spoke about professionalism issues in sports and entertainment law.

• Speaking on the Entertainment Law panel was St. Thomas Law alum Pierre Hachar, along with Matt Buser, Leon Margules, and Richard Wolfe, with Marc Stollman as the moderator.  They discussed whether arbitration in entertainment industry disputes is preferable to going to court, and how to get out of a recording contract.  
• The Intellectual Property panel featured Richard Rappaport, Kimberly Kolback, and Jaime Vining.   They used the audience to craft a lively fact pattern involving a zombie movie and a book.  The panel discussed copyright, trademark, and other issues involved in the film industry.  During this discussion, students play the roles of director, producer, writer, and attorney; making for a highly interactive learning experience.
• The final panel focused on Sports Law and was moderated by St. Thomas Law students Tanner Lakey (2L) and Samuel Spina (2L).  Panel members Darren Heitner, Johnny Williams, Steve Werier, and Samuel Sortisio discussed  NFL agent issues and the effect of the FanDuel/DraftKings fantasy leagues on the sporting industry.

Pictured from left to right: Samuel Sortisio, Esq. (general counsel for the Florida Panthers), 

Steven Werier, Esq. (general counsel for the Florida Panthers), Darren Heitner (general counsel for the Florida Panthers), Johnny Williams, 

and St. Thomas Law's Sam Spina and Tanner Lakey

      

      The interaction and attendee participation was a very positive aspect of the event, with guests, panelists and students stating that the symposium was a great success.  

Special thanks to St. Thomas Law's society Presidents Travis Tillery (ESLS) and Alexandra Valdes (IPCLS), as well as Vice Presidents Samuel Spina (ESLS/Entertainment), Tanner Lakey (ESLS/Sports) and Vice President Stephen Koch (IPCLS).  

Faculty advisors Professor Marcia Narine (ESLS), Professor Ira Steven Nathenson (IPCLS), and Outreach Coordinator/Career Counselor Lourdes Fernandez played an integral role in the success of the event,  as did ESLS President Alejandro Fernandez-Lovo, who put the symposium into motion last Spring.  

The symposium was followed by a networking reception for attorneys and students.   

    Law student Sam Spaina, Richard Wolfe, Esq., Marc Stollman, Esq., Pierre Hachar, Esq., 

Matthew Buser, Esq., Leon Margules, Esq. and Tanner Lakey (2L)

Pictured form left to right:  Alexandra Valdes (2L and President of IP & Cyberlaw), Stephen Koch (2L and Vice President of IP & Cyberlaw), Tanner Lakey (2L and Vice President of Sports-Entertainment and Sports Law Society), Samuel Spina (2L and Vice President of Entertainment), Travis Tillery (3L and President of Entertainment and Sports Law Society).

St. Thomas Law Students Participate in Transformative Internship Experiences at the United Nations and Florida Supreme Court

One of the hallmarks of the legal education at St. Thomas University School of Law is the out-of-classroom experience. St. Thomas Law is committed to training students to be effective and ethical advocates by providing opportunities for them to gain invaluable real-world perspectives that cannot be achieved in the traditional classroom environment.

The Supreme Court of Florida and the United Nations in New York are two of the most transformative learning experiences and St. Thomas Law was, once again, proud to send a number of our third-year students into these life-changing internships.

3L St. Thomas Law Student, Oscar Quintero (standing far right) along with
 Florida Supreme Court Justices and other interns

This past April, third-year student Oscar Quintero secured a highly sought-after internship with the Florida Supreme Court. His daily duties included writing memorandums of jurisdiction, and providing recommendations to the Justices as to whether they should accept a case for written argument.

"The internship provided me with a view into the inner workings of the Florida Supreme Court, an opportunity from which any attorney would benefit," reported Mr. Quintero. "The best part about the experience is that it provided me valuable insight and marketable skills."
A key benefit of the Supreme Court internship is to have interns practice law in the State's capital, having them work as a law clerk to all of the justices and conducting legal research.  

"While they are at court, students see both the Judicial and Attorney disciplinary hearings," explained Cece Dykas, St. Thomas Law's Associate Dean and Clinical Program Director. "They work for Justices who have committed their lives to public service and they see the importance of being a leader."

Erica Behm at the Florida Supreme Court Building.

Erica Behm, also a third-year student, is currently interning at the Florida Supreme Court and states that the process has pushed her to expand her boundaries and explore career opportunities that she had not considered before.

"The best part of this opportunity is getting to explore different legal fields." stated Ms. Behm. "I have seen cases of all types, including criminal appeals, pro se motions, and civil cases.  It’s a truly unique opportunity to venture out into the professional legal community at the highest levels, and I would not trade this experience for the world."

United Nations Trusteeship Chambers

That statement echoes the sentiments of Denise Calle, a third-year St. Thomas Law student who, along with fellow law student Gregg Rock, is interning at the United Nations in New York. Ms. Calle describes her experience as a "once in a lifetime opportunity." She  is currently placed at the Mission of the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, where she serves as an Advisor of the Holy See to the General Assembly's Third Committee. The Holy See is a delegation independent from the Vatican, who represents his holiness, Pope Francis directly.  She has had the opportunity to attend meetings at the General Assembly and Security Council where Heads of States addressed the international community in the context of their perspective on national and foreign policy and was present for President Barack Obama's address to the UN regarding the Iran Nuclear Deal.

St. Thomas Law UN Interns, Gregg Rock and Denise Calle
at the General Assembly in New York

"I'm extremely grateful for having the opportunity to work at the UN," stated Ms. Calle. "I have witnessed the Pope and a handful of presidents from other nations address issues of human dignity, poverty, displacement of peoples and armed conflicts."
St. Thomas Law professor Mark Wolff, who directs the Pax Romano UN internship, notes that the internship program at the United Nations is intended to develop leaders for a new global paradigm based on justice, peace and sustainability.


Together our students, professors and the practitioners who supervise and guide our students during their internship placements create unique, inclusive experiences that prepare our graduates for successful, enriching legal careers.

St. Thomas Law's Pro Bono Day with the Miami River Commission

In recognition of the American Bar Association’s Pro Bono Week which runs from October 25-31, a group of St. Thomas Law students planted fruits and vegetables and maintained a community garden for the residents of Miami-Dade County Affordable Elderly Housing in Little Havana. 

“Pro bono service helps students connect the concepts they learn in the law school classroom with their role as members of the local community," stated St. Thomas Law's Public Service Career Counselor Robert Jack. "Students learn that taking time from their busy schedules to give back brings both fulfillment and perspective to their legal studies.”

Law students Jeanne Leconte, Daniel Zarnowski, Michael Jones, Erica Behm, Gwen Richards, 
Diego Machado, Yohania Santana and S. St. Thomas Public Interest Career counselor Robert Jack

Students also cleaned up the building’s shoreline on the Miami River. Law students Jeanne Leconte, Daniel Zarnowski, Erica Behm, Gwen Richards, Diego Machado, Michael Jones, Yohania Santana, along with friends and family joined Public Interest Career Counselor Robert Jack in Saturday afternoon’s community service event.

"I signed up to attend the Pro Bono Day river cleanup and gardening event because it seemed like a fun activity and a great way to get outside," stated third-year law student Erica Behm.  "I was surprised, however, to see that even something that seems so unrelated to legal work can spark so much discussion and can teach me about legal issues in the community."

Participants also spoke about the awareness raised about the scarcity of affordable housing for the elderly in Miami and prompted discussions about the possibility of that housing being taken away.

For the past seven years, the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service has succeeded in creating an annual national spotlight on pro bono activities. This year the event was organized in keeping with the St. Thomas Law mission of community engagement and service.

St. Thomas Law has also been nationally recognized for its pro-bono graduation requirement which ranked among the top ten in the nation according to SuperLawyers Magazine.

St. Thomas Law Ranked Top Ten Nationally for Most Diverse Faculty and Best Environment for Minority Students

The 2016 edition of The Princeton Review - Best 173 Law Schools has been released and St. Thomas University School of Law has maintained its Top 10 national ranking for having the “Best Environment for Minority Students.” St. Thomas Law is the only Florida law school to be ranked in this category and now has added a new, Top 10 ranking - "Most Diverse Faculty."




The survey ranked St. Thomas University School of Law as one of the best institutions to earn a law school degree based on student’s high regard for our academics and Princeton Review’s assessment of institutional data that is collected from the schools. They solicited the opinions of 19,700 students attending these law schools who reported on their experiences at their schools on an 80-question student survey.

The “Best Environment for Minority Students” ranking is based on the percentage of the student body that is from underrepresented minorities and student assessment of whether students receive equal treatment by fellow students and faculty, regardless of ethnicity.

The “Most Diverse Faculty” ranking is based on the percentage of the law school’s faculty that is from a minority group and the student assessment of whether the faculty is made up of a broadly diverse group of individuals.

Based in Miami, Florida, St. Thomas Law has continually attracted a diverse student population and is a highly-regarded, student-centered law school where diversity is cherished, a commitment to human rights and international law flourishes, and the Catholic heritage of social justice enhances the education of all faiths.

“The recognition is consistent with our mission: to provide opportunities to those groups that have been and continue to be underrepresented in the legal profession,” stated Dean of St. Thomas University School of Law, Alfredo Garcia. “We adhere and live up to our mission and values in our continuing quest for excellence.”

The Princeton Review is an education services company known for its college rankings and line of 150 books published by Random House. It is not affiliated with Princeton University.

Top South Florida LGBT Advocate Visits St. Thomas Law

This week, St. Thomas Law's Lambda Law Society welcomed Attorney Elizabeth Schwartz to address students and faculty on the legal issues concerning the LGBT community. She began with an introduction on entering the public interest sphere and then honed in on some LGBT issues that many of the attendees noted that they were not aware of.  

President of the Lambda Law Society, Evan Phoenix, described the presentation as informative, engaging and witty.  Stated Phoenix: "I found her therapeutic justice approach to advocacy inspirational."

Pictured: Evan Phoenix, Austin Bodnar (3L), Elizabeth Schwartz, Professor Amy Ronner, 

Andres Santiago (3L), Gwen Richards (3L).

"Elizabeth is a truly inspiring individual and a beacon for not just the LGBT community, but the entire public interest community." stated law student Gwendolyn Richards. "She encouraged us to follow our moral compasses and assured us that if we work from our hearts, we will find a career."

Ms. Schwartz is one of Miami's best known advocates for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.While her South Beach-based firm equally works with straight and gay clients in matters of family law, estate planning and probate, she has made a name for herself representing the LGBT community, with a focus on family formation (adoption, insemination, surrogacy). 

Elizabeth is currently serving as pro bono counsel on the pending case challenging Florida's marriage ban brought by the National Center for Lesbian Rights on behalf of six same-sex couples seeking the right to marry and the Equality Florida Institute. 

Leaders for Life: St. Thomas Law Alumni Lead Local Bar Associations

The desire of legal practitioners to expand their scope of responsibility and influence outside of their practice areas often leads them to difference-making opportunities for outreach and leadership.

St. Thomas Law graduates have been successfully expanding their scope of influence by being elected and appointed to leadership positions in influential, local and national bar associations.

Oliver Ruiz '01

Oliver Ruiz III '01 is the president-elect of the South Florida Chapter of the Federal Bar Association (FBA). Mr. Ruiz follows in the footsteps of another St. Thomas Law graduate, Brett Barfield '99.

Mr. Ruiz is a trademark and litigation attorney and a partner at Malloy & Malloy, P.L. located in Miami. While a student at St. Thomas Law, Oliver served as a board member of the Moot Court Board and was president of the Student Bar Association (SBA). Mr. Ruiz is admitted to practice law in Florida and North Carolina as well as in the United State District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

The South Florida Chapter of the FBA is one of the largest chapters in the country. The FBA represents the Federal legal profession and has more than 15,000 members. The FBA monitors and often advocates on federal issues that impact the practice of federal lawyers and the courts; it keeps its members abreast of current federal issues; provides opportunities for scholarship and education to the profession; provides opportunities for judges and attorneys to professionally and socially interact; and promotes high standards of professional competence.

Andres J. Correa '10

Jorge Fors '11

Andres Correa '10 and Jorge L. Fors, Jr. '11, were simultaneously installed as president and president-elect, respectively, of the Coral Gables Bar Association on September 19, 2015.  

Mr. Correa is a trial attorney and founding partner at Jaramillo Correa & Martinez, and focuses on first party property damage claims against insurance companies, personal injury, premises liability and wrongful death claims and motor vehicle accidents. 

Mr. Fors is an associate attorney at FORS Attorneys at Law in Coral Gables, Florida.  While a student at St. Thomas Law, he served as a Judicial Intern for Justice Peggy A. Quince at the Florida Supreme Court, as well as for Judge Victoria Platzer in the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida, General Jurisdiction Division. He also was a member of the law school's Moot Court and Mock Trial teams.


The mission of the Coral Gables Bar Association is to promote the exchange of ideas and information, the observance of the highest professional and ethical standards, the education of members on relevant issues in the legal profession.

These three alumni are continuing the tradition of St.Thomas Law graduates who seek and excel in leadership roles and live by the motto "Leaders Have the Courage and Compassion to Make a Difference."

International Anti-Human Trafficking Conference Held at St. Thomas Law

Jaco Booyens: Filmmaker and activist 

On Friday, September 18, St. Thomas University School of Law welcomed leaders and advocates from local, national and international legal communities and social entities for a substantive and timely anti-human trafficking conference. The conference, now in its fourth year and presented by the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA), sought to highlight the growing problem of human trafficking, identify domestic and international legal frameworks,  and address the challenges that lie ahead in the fight to end human trafficking.

The keynote speaker was Jaco Booyens, director of 8 Days, a film inspired by actual events that tells the story of the harrowing journey of a sixteen year old girl who was forced into the world of sex trafficking. 

Booyens also recounted the emotive story of his family's experience with human trafficking. His sister, a recording artist in South Africa at the time, was trafficked for six years by her record label. The process of her rescue and recovery led him to anti-trafficking activism. He now travels the world and advocates for stronger laws and harsher penalties not only for traffickers but also for other players that benefit from the trade, i.e. "Johns" or "buyers."  He passionately shared his experience meeting victims and perpetrators of human trafficking and expressed his frustration at the lack of public discourse against human trafficking in the higher echelons of local and federal government. 

Conference panelist, Norma Ramos, Esq. pointedly spoke about the links between prostitution and sex trafficking including her own efforts to change the practice of sex slaves being labeled by the term "prostitute." She spoke out against the legalization of prostitution in some states and called it the world's oldest form of oppression.  Ramos applauded the signing of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act that creates a new funding stream to finance services for U.S. trafficking victims. According to the U.S Congress, up to $30 million of the funding will come from $5,000 fines on perpetrators of crimes ranging from human trafficking to child pornography. The legislation also redefines federal law to clarify that sex buyers of children and human trafficking victims can be prosecuted as traffickers.

The domestic and international legal framework of protections and corresponding jurisprudence against human trafficking was outlined by St. Thomas Law professor, Dr. Roza Pati. Dr. Pati is one of the pioneer experts in the field of human trafficking in the United States, and an internationally recognized scholar.   She is also director of the Human Trafficking Academy at St. Thomas Law, a program designed to conduct research and education in the field of human trafficking. In particular, it offers specialized training and technical assistance to law enforcement, lawyers, healthcare providers, teachers, students, religious institutions and the community at large on issues relating to the crime of trafficking in persons. Her presentation added the essential international perspective to the conference and brought to light the continuing efforts to create laws that are transnational since human trafficking is itself a transnational crime. 

Dr. Roza Pati: Professor and Director of the Human Trafficking Academy at St. Thomas Law

Other panelists included Eleventh Circuit Court Judges, Maria I. Sampedro-Iglesia (Juvenile Division) and Rosa C. Figarola (Family Division) who discussed human trafficking evidentiary issues, myths and facts, how to identify a victim, and the correlation to domestic violence.  The attendees also heard from Dr. Ivon Mesa and Dr. Kateriina Rosenblatt representing Miami-Dade County. They  discussed the Services for Victims of Human Trafficking Grant awarded to Miami-Dade County Community Action and Human Services Department. The county will use the $400,000 award to provide coordinated advocacy services to victims of human trafficking. 

Elba Lumbi, a St.Thomas Law graduate and immigration attorney with Revilla Law Firm, P.A., spoke on immigration relief available to human trafficking victims. The T Non-immigrant Status (T Visa) that is set aside for those who are or have been victims of human trafficking, protects victims of human trafficking and allows them to remain in the United States to assist in an investigation or prosecution of human traffickers.  She also noted that even though the federal government limits the number of those visas that are granted annually, the quota is very rarely ever met.  

Lourdes Fernandez: Board member at
The Porch Light and St. Thomas Law
Career Counselor/Outreach Coordinator

A turning point of the conference was the story told by Dr. Rosenblatt, a St. Thomas Law alumna and herself a victim of human trafficking. Her book, Stolen, tells her story. It recounts a less-than-desirable childhood, being deceptively befriended by an older woman, and these circumstances leading her to drug-addiction and being a sex slave by the age of thirteen.  Her story brought home the reality that sex trafficking is not a foreign concept that happens in the back streets of third world countries, but an epidemic in our own backyards.  

The proceedings were made all the more substantive by two additional presentations: one by St. Thomas Law's Outreach Coordinator & Career Counselor, Lourdes Fernandez. Mrs. Fernandez is a board member of The Porch Light; a non-governmental, faith-based non-profit that serves as a safe home for girls who have been victims of sex trafficking. They provide shelter, counseling, and a place to begin a new life.  The other presentation was by Sherry Thompson Giordano of PACE Center for Girls. PACE provides girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy. It provides social services, academics and a focus on the future. These two organizations show the difference that can be made when girls are given a safe, place, educational opportunities and a second chance.