Summer 2007: Miami Students Find Great Summer Jobs
Find below a sampling of where Miami law students worked during the summer of 2007. While by no means a complete list, it does reflect a solid range of positions gained by Miami's law students. Note: e-mail addresses are listed for law students who are willing to be contacted by prospective students to answer any questions they may have about their summer jobs or experiences at UM Law.
Government/Public Interest
Law Firms
Judicial Clerkships
Corporate/Miscellaneous
Government/Public Interest
Name: Miriam Bamberger
Email: mb1654@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: family law and public interest
State from: New Jersey
Undergrad: George Washington University
Employer: National Center for Victims of Crime
City/State: Washington, DC
Job Description: Tracked state and federal legislation relating to crime victims; attended congressional hearings and meetings on pending legislation to brief Public Policy Director; participated in NCVC 2007 National Conference on Capitol Hill.
Name: Tyler S. Benson
Email: t.benson@umiami.edu
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
State from: Pennsylvania
Undergrad: University of Miami/Music Business & Entertainment Industries
Employer: Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County Inc.: Juvenile Advocacy Project
City/State: West Palm Beach, Florida
Name: Chris Black
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Criminal
State from: Virginia
Undergrad: Virginia Tech
Employer: State Attorney's Office (County Court)
City/State: Miami, FL
Job Description: In court: Handling calendar calls, motion arguments, misdemeanor bench trials. Out of court I did clerical busy work, and listening to under-trained attorneys.
Name: Chris Brochyus
Email: cbrochyu@gmail.com
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
State: New York/Florida
Undergrad: Tulane/Latin American Studies
Employer: Eleventh Circuit Public Defender's Office
City/State: Miami, Florida
Job Description: Assigned to a division or group of attorney's and assisted them in every area of client representation.
Name: Christina Cicconi
Email: christina.cicconi@gmail.com
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
State from: Pennsylvania
Undergrad: Boston University, Journalism
Employer: Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania
City/State: Harrisburg, PA
Name: Michael Conway
Email: calvin1400@aol.com
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
State from: California
Undergrad: University of Colorado/Political Science
Employer: Boulder County Attorney's office
City/State: Boulder, Colorado
Job Description: I worked on a jail suicide case for the better part of the summer.
Name: Gregory D'Incelli
Email: gdincelli@gmail.com
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Litigation
State from: New York
Undergrad: Dartmouth
Employer: Kings County District Attorneys Office
City/State: Brooklyn, NY
Job Description: Assist ADAs, draft appellate briefs, attend trial, conduct arraignments.
Name: Joanna Doerfel
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Criminal Prosecution
Civil Litigation
State from: Oklahoma
Undergrad: University of Louisville - B.A. Psychology
Employer: Florida Supreme Court
City/State: Tallahassee, Florida
Job Description: Drafted jurisdictional memoranda. I completed legislative intent and jurisdictional meetings and attended oral arguments.
Name: Mitchell Feld
Email: mitchell.feld@gmail.com
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Criminal Litigation
State from: New Jersey
Undergrad: Economics & Business
Employer: Council for Children's Rights
City/State: Charlotte, NC
Job Description: Represented juveniles in criminal court and mental health court.
Name: Tiffany Finger
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Criminal Prosecution; Entertainment Law
State from: FL
Undergrad: U of IL, Advertising
Employer: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives
City/State: Chicago, IL
Name: Ryan Florio
Email: rf9109@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Litigation, Health, Environmental
State from: Illinois
Undergrad: Northwestern University
Employer: Atlanta Legal Aid Society
City/State: Atlanta, GA
Name: Berit Griffin
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
State from: Florida
Undergrad: Boston University/ International Relations and French
Employer: Federal Public Defender - Southern District of Florida
City/State: Miami, Florida
Job Description: legal research and writing on various federal civil and criminal issues for use at hearings and in appellate briefs, attended hearings, client interviews, witness interviews and trials.
Name: Tracy Jimenez
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: family law, criminal law
State from: Michigan
Undergrad: Michigan State University/Political Science Pre-law & Journalism
Employer: Miami-Dade Public Defender
City/State: Miami, FL
Job Description: Internship through the Litigation Skills Program, criminal trial work.
Name: Stephanie Kaplan
Email: sk4031@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: litigation
State from: Florida
Undergrad: University of Florida
Employer: Public Defender
City/State: Miami, FL
Name: Kafi D. Kennedy Swanson
Email: kk0030@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Corporate
State from: New Jersey
Undergrad: Florida A&M University/Marketing
Grad school: Florida A&M University/Marketing & Finance
Employer: Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office
City/State: Miami, Florida
Job Description: Reviewed files and prepared plea sheets based on the files. I second chaired a jury trial, researched various issues for motions before the court, and presented motions for continuance. I conducted victim and witness interviews, and called calendar in front of numerous judges. Learned to operate the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS)
Name: Shabnam Khalili
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Civil Rights, Entertainment Law, Environmental Law
State from: Virginia
Undergrad: Old Dominion University
Employer: Miami-Dade County Legal Aid Society
City/State: Miami, FL
Job Description: Conducted interviews with clients, legal research, and drafted motions and other court documents necessary for trial.
Name: David J. Lubitz
Email: D.Lubitz@Umiami.edu
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
State from: Florida
Undergrad: Florida Atlantic University
Employer: The School Board of Broward County Attorney's Office
City/State: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Name: Jarrod Martin
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Commercial Litigation
State from: California
Undergrad: History
Employer: Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office
City/State: Pomona, California
Job Description: Assisted in the drafting of various legal documents, including use immunity memos. I observed Felony, misdemeanor trials and hearings.
Name: Jessica Melia
Email: jessica.melia@gmail.com
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: labor and employment law, immigration, international law
State from: New York
Undergrad: Wesleyan University
Employer: Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center
City/State: Miami, FL
Job Description: Worked on immigration claims for clients detained by the Department of Homeland Security. Client base was mainly women. Cases included asylum, deportation proceedings, special immigration claims for victims of domestic violence.
Name: Aziz Nekoukar
Email: an6631@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Family law, sports & entertainment law.
State from: New Jersey
Undergrad: Political Science
Employer: U.S. Attorney's Office, Department of Justice
City/State: Newark, N.J.
Job Description: Responded to 2255 habeas petitions; drafted argument sections for briefs for the Third Circuit; participated in witness interviews
Name: Gina Nitting
Email: gnitting@msn.com
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Criminal Law
State from: NJ
Undergrad: Montclair State University
Employer: Department of Justice, Criminal Antitrust Division
City/State: Philadelphia, PA
Name: Oleg Otten
Email: oo9516@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: International Law, Immigration, Corporate, Constitutional Law
Undergrad: Methodist University/ Finance, Marketing
Employer: Miami-Dade County State Attorney's Office
City/State: Miami, FL
Job Description: Research legal issues regarding interrogations and admissibility of confessions, drafting memos, observing trials, etc.
Name: Lindsay Ropchock
Email: ln7067@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Criminal law, art & entertainment law, corporate law
State from: Pennsylvania
Undergrad: Indiana University of PA
Employer: Florida Department of Children and Families
City/State: Miami, FL
Job Description: I worked as a CLI. Initially I helped with hearings and trials, but I spent the end of the summer and into the fall semester focusing on a media case, preparing attorneys for trial. This includes writing questions for witnesses, opening and closing statements, response to motion to dismiss, other motions and responses, etc.
Name: Janine Schwerter
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Criminal or Litigation
State from: California
Undergrad: UCLA
Employer: Orange County District Attorney's Office
City/State: Santa Ana, CA
Job Description: I drafted memos and motions as well as attended trials, hearings and strategy sessions.
Name: Corinne Seibert
Email: cs1939@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Public Interest, Immigration, Labor & Employment
State from: Connecticut
Undergrad: Trinity College (Hartford)
Employer: United States Attorney's Office
City/State: Hartford, CT
Job Description: Drafted motions, briefs, and memoranda in both civil and criminal matters, including an appellate brief filed in the Second Circuit. I made motions before magistrate and district court judges on behalf of the government. I also aided Assistant U.S. Attorneys in warrant preparation, plea agreements, and client communication.
Name: Michael Strocko
Email: strocko@gmail.com
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Entertainment Law
State from: Delaware
Undergrad: NYU / Marketing & Organizational Behavior
Employer: Manhattan Legal Services
City/State: New York, NY
Job Description: Worked in the HIV Unit out of the Harlem Office. Cases ranged from naturalization applications to housing issues to bankruptcy.
Name: Lisa Taormina
Email: taormina.lisa@gmail.com
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: criminal, family, labor and employment
State from: Michigan
Undergrad: Michigan State/Marketing
Employer: Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office
City/State: Miami, FL
Job Description: Legal research, drafted motions, trial preparation, attended court on a daily basis, met with victims, met with witnesses before trial.
Name: Laura Tsai
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Criminal law, Animal law
State from: Ohio
Undergrad: University of Miami/ Criminology
Grad school: MA Criminal Justice/ Kent State University
Employer: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
City/State: Norfolk, VA
Job Description: Drafted a criminal complaint, researched federal and state laws, assisted investigations, wrote letters to various companies and government agencies, performed research and drafted memos for the attorneys.
Name: Mac VerStandig
Email: mac.verstandig@gmail.com
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: various
State from: Maryland
Undergrad: University of Wisconsin - Madison / Rhetoric
Employer: Office of the Attorney General of Maryland
City/State: Baltimore, MD
Job Description: Law Clerk to the Attorney General of Maryland
Name: Jessica Vossekuil
Email: jessie.vossekuil@gmail.com
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: sports
State from: Virginia
Undergrad: University of Virginia/ History
Employer: National Republican Congressional Committee
City/State: Washington, DC
Name: Nicole Walsh
Email: nw5660@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Litigation
State from: FL
Undergrad: University of Central Florida
Employer: Legal Services of Greater Miami
City/State: Miami, FL
Job Description: Client intake, research and writing.
Name: Maisie Wong
Email: mw4161@law.students.miami.edu
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Intellectual Property, Real Estate, Ethics, and Criminal Law
State from: Hawaii
Undergrad: Univ. of Pennsylvania/Communications and Asian & Middle Eastern Studies
Employer: Split Summer: Miami Dade Public Defender's Office and the Law Firm Uryas International
City/State: Miami, Florida and Spain/Hong Kong
Name: Christina Zuccaro
Email: cz1452@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
State from: Michigan
Undergrad: Michigan State University
Employer: Miami-Dade County Health Dept- Legal Division
City/State: Doral, FL
Job Description: Managed the Environmental Law Program, dealing specifically with pool and septic tank cases. I assisted in the drafting of administrative complaints, motions for final order by default, petitions for enforcement and responses to initial orders. I also researched and drafted legal memoranda on a variety of matters including the Sanitary Nuisance Act, the Mobile Home Act and Inspection Warrants.
Law Firms
Name: Todd Allison
Email: ta6506@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Litigation, Appellate Practice, Civil Rights, Education, Immigration
State from: Oregon
Undergrad: University of New Mexico/Dual Major: English/Political Science
Employer: Split summer: 1) Quarles & Brady 2) Friday, Eldredge & Clark
City/State: 1) Phoenix, AZ 2) Little Rock, AR
Job Description: Researched and wrote memorandum of law; drafted various motions and court documents; concentrated on the areas of employment/labor, civil litigation, education law, and immigration.
Name: Evan Appell
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Real Estate
State from: New York
Undergrad: University of Florida
Employer: Gray Robinson
City/State: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Name: Michael Ason
Email: mlason@mac.com
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Real Estate Law, Commercial Law
State from: Florida
Undergrad: Florida International University / Political Science
Employer: Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
City/State: Miami, FL
Job Description: Intern/Clerk for Commercial Real Estate Firm.
Name: Arya Attari
Email: arya3879@aol.com
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
State from: Florida
Undergrad: University of Miami
Employer: Wicker Smith O'Hara McCoy & Ford
City/State: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Job Description: Drafted memoranda, motions, answers, complaints, deposition summaries, court house runs to file documents, view documents, researched legal issues, and consulted with partners.
Name: Courtney Ryane Berman
Email: ryane004@aol.com
Class of: December 2007
Program: JD
State from: FL
Undergrad: UM
Grad school: UM (MBA)
Employer: Greenberg Traurig
City/State: Miami, FL
Name: Lindsay Berman
Email: LB4405@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2008
Legal Interest: Criminal law
State from: Michigan
Undergrad: Eastern Michigan University
Employer: Robert Reiff, P.A.
City/State: Miami, Florida
Job Description: Drafting motions, conducting legal research, assisting in trial preparation, conducting witness interviews, writing supplement to Mr. Reiff's book, etc.
Name: Aaron Blumberg
Email: ablumbe@gmail.com
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Corporate, Immigration
State from: MA
Undergrad: Emory / Political Science
Employer: Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy
City/State: Coral Gables, FL
Name: Chris Bonifay
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Entertainment law, Intellectual Property, Corporate Law
State: Georgia
Undergrad: Georgia State University / Finance
Grad school: N/A
Employer: Ziglaw
City/State: Miami, FL
Job Description: Research, drafting and revising various entertainment agreements, corporate work for entertainment entities, and a broad range of other transactional entertainment related matters.
Name: Mila Borenstein
Email: mb5708@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: International, Corporate
State from: Florida
Undergrad: Spanish and Comparative Area Studies
Employer: Hogan & Hartson
City/State: Miami, Florida
Job Description: Did research, worked on contracts, operating agreements, wrote memos and other projects required by the attorneys.
Name: Marco Britt
Email: marco_britt@hotmail.com
Class of: December 2008
Program: JD/LL.M. Taxation
Legal Interest: International Corporate Tax Policy
State from: FLORIDA
Undergrad: University of Florida
Grad school: University of Florida
Employer: Akerman Senterfitt
City/State: Miami, FL.
Name: Ben Carroll
Email: bencarrollgwu@gmail.com
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Litigation
State from: Massachusetts
Undergrad: The George Washington University
Employer: Weinberg, Wheeler, Hudgins, Gunn and Dial, LLP
City/State: Miami, FL
Job Description: Legal research; draft legal memoranda, motions; attend and summarize depositions, hearings.
Name: Stephanie Chaissan
Email: stephanie.chaissan@gmail.com
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: condominium law, real estate law, litigation
State from: New York
Undergrad: criminal justice
Employer: Siegfried Rivera Lerner De La Torre & Sobel, P.A.
City/State: Coral Gables, FL
Name: Megan Connor
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Litigation
State from: Virginia
Undergrad: Boston University/Communications
Employer: Moore & Lee, LLP
City/State: McLean, VA
Job Description: Researched various legal issues in construction and government contract law.
Name: Ajit Dang
Email: ad7180@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Intellectual Property
State from: Texas
Undergrad: Stetson University / Computer Science
Employer: Split Summer: Baker Botts in Dallas, TX and Fish & Richardson in Atlanta, GA
City/State: Dallas, TX/Atlanta, GA
Job Description: Patent litigation & prosecution at Baker and patent litigation in Atlanta.
Name: Jordan Davis
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: immigration, family
State from: Florida
Undergrad: University of Florida/ Sociology
Employer: Weiss, Alden & Polo
City/State: Miami, Florida
Name: Edbert
Email: es1760@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
State from: OK
Undergrad: Vanderbilt/ Economics and Engineering
Employer: Diaz Padron Associates
City/State: Miami, FL
Name: Miriann "Mirs" Guazzini
Email: miriann.guazzini@gmail.com
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Civil Litigation
State from: Florida
Undergrad: Duke University; History and African & African American Studies Double Major; Spanish Minor
Employer: Arnstein & Lehr, LLP
City/State: Miami, FL
Job Description: Clerked in the civil litigation department of the oldest Chicago firm's office in Miami. Wrote motions, attended depositions, attended judicial hearings and researched complex legal issues.
Name: Joshua Harris
Email: harrisjoshua@bellsouth.net
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
State from: Georgia
Undergrad: Tennessee State University
Employer: Kenny Nachwalter, P.A.
City/State: Miami, Florida
Name: Thaddeus Inge
Email: thadinge@hotmail.com
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Litigation; Government Relations
State from: Alabama
Undergrad: Georgetown University / Government
Employer: Split Summer: Whatley, Drake, & Kallas and Christian & Small
City/State: Birmingham, Alabama
Job Description: Mainly consisted of research projects at Whatley; at Christian & Small, I did a number of research projects, attended depositions and court, participated in a number of social activities. It was a six-week program at the beginning of the summer.
Name: Brad Johnson
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Patent Law
State from: Texas
Undergrad: Computer Science
Employer: Fish and Richardson, PC; Baker Botts, LLP
Job Description: Summer Associate.
Name: Michelle Holmes Johnson
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Litigation
State from: CT
Undergrad: Vanderbilt University / Anthropology & Spanish
Employer: White & Case LLP
City/State: Miami, FL
Name: Erin Kippe
Email: erin.kippe@gmail.com
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Family Law and Child Advocacy
State from: Michigan
Undergrad: University of Michigan, Psychology and Crime & Justice
Employer: Cynthia J. Dienstag, P.A.
City/State: Miami, Florida
Job Description: Worked closely with attorneys in the area of Family Law. Drafted and filed petitions, motions, affidavits, requests for production, interrogatories, and orders, and agreements; engaged in regular and frequent communication with clients; researched and prepared factual and legal memoranda, participated in informal and formal discovery; reviewed documents, and participated in mediations and depositions.
Name: Cristina Linares
Email: CL8795@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Maritime
State from: Florida
Undergrad: University Of Miami
Employer: McIntosh, Sawran, Peltz and Cartaya, P.A.
City/State: Miami, FL
Job Description: Did everything from summaries of depositions to sitting in on hearings. I would draft motions and memos almost on a daily basis.
Name: Jeremy Killpack
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Corporate, Commercial Real Estate, Other Transactional
State from: Utah
Undergrad: Brigham Young University
Employer: Akerman Senterfitt
City/State: Orlando, Florida
Job Description: Took assignments relating to various practice areas; including commercial litigation, administrative defense, corporate, commercial real estate.
Name: Jessica Klein
Email: jk7214@law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Real Estate, Entertainment, Intellectual Property
State from: Pennsylvania
Undergrad: FSU Political Science/Sociology
Employer: Law Offices of George M. Tavares, Jr, Esq.
City/State: Miami Beach, FL
Job Description: Legal Research, contact w/clients, office duties. Focus on entertainment law, as related to the music industry in specific.
Name: Tim Kolaya
Email: kolaya@gmail.com
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Litigation - Construction Law and Real Estate Law
State from: New Jersey
Undergrad: University of Miami / Civil Engineering
Grad school: Georgia Tech / Master of Science in Civil Engineering
Employer: Greenberg Traurig
City/State: Miami, Florida
Name: Dan Krawiec
Email: daniel.krawiec@gmail.com
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Litigation
State from: Michigan
Undergrad: University of Michigan
Employer: Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
City/State: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Job Description: Large amounts of research and writing; opportunity to attend mediations, trials, etc.
Name: Jordan Maglich
Email: jm6220@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD/MBA
Legal Interest: Corporate Finance Litigation
State from: Florida
Undergrad: Business Administration/Political Science
Employer: Cooney, Mattson, Lance, Blackburn, Richards, O'Connor
City/State: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Job Description: Assisted with and wrote legal documents for a busy insurance defense litigation firm.
Name: Katherine Mikel
Class of: December 2007
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Family Law
State from: DC
Undergrad: UF
Employer: Contreras Jonasz & Camacho
City/State: Coral Gables, FL
Name: Nancy Millar
Email: nm7300@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Public Legal Interest; international; women's rights.
State from: Pennsylvania
Undergrad: Syracuse University / Journalism
Employer: Bredhoff & Kaiser, PLLC
City/State: Washington, D.C.
Job Description: I did research and writing for progressive law firm that represents labor unions.
Name: Mark Moon
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
State from: Michigan
Undergrad: Michigan State University
Grad school: Harvard University/M.Ed.
Employer: Split Summer: Hogan & Hartson LLP & Astigarraga Davis
City/State: Miami, FL
Name: Sheena Murray
Email: Sheenam22@aol.com
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Civil litigation, personal injury
State from: North Carolina
Undergrad: University of Florida
Employer: Tannebaum Weiss
City/State: Miami, FL
Job Description: I worked for Jennifer Ator, a labor and employment attorney who specializes in employment tort actions, both plaintiff and defense. I managed the discovery process on many cases, writing requests for production, interrogatories, and related motions.
Name: Michael Newman
Email: MN7696@law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2008
Legal Interest: Corporate and Securities; Merger and Acquisitions
State from: Florida
Undergrad: Emory University/Political Science and Philosophy
Employer: Greenberg Traurig
City/State: Miami, Florida
Job Description: I was given the opportunity to select work from different departments in order to determine what work I was most Legal Interested in. By the end of the summer, I was getting work exclusively from the corporate department.
Name: Katrina Nixon
Email: kwnixon@gmail.com
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Litigation; Corporate
State from: Virginia/DC
Undergrad: Univ. of Mary Washington/Business Administration
Employer: Conroy, Simberg, Ganon, Krevans, Abel, Lurvey, Morrow & Schefer, P.A.
City/State: Hollywood, FL
Job Description: Performed a variety of defense litigation-related legal research assignments, specifically in the fields of general liability and workers' compensation; accompanied attorneys to mediations, depositions, trials and other related events; drafted motions and pleadings; received well-rounded exposure to all aspects of liability defense litigation and an opportunity to perform work for all of the practice groups in the firm.
Name: Robin Organek
Email: robyne15@aol.com
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD/MBA
Legal Interest: litigation
State from: New York
Undergrad: Emory
Employer: Shutts and Bowen
City/State: Miami, Florida
Job Description: Research and drafted memos, drafted discovery requests
Name: Wade Orr
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Intellectual Property/Patent
State from: Tennessee
Undergrad: Univ. of Tennessee
Employer: Luedeka, Neely & Graham, P.C.
City/State: Knoxville, TN
Name: Yolanda Paschal
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Products litigation, Complex Business Litigation
State from: Florida
Undergrad: University of Miami
Employer: Carlton Fields, P.A.
Name: Michelle Pelletier
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: International law, immigration
State from: Florida
Undergrad: International Business, Spanish
Employer: Andrew J. Gerson
City/State: Miami, FL
Job Description: I worked for a sole practitioner - criminal defense attorney. I learned a lot about the criminal system and the steps to be taken. My duties ranged from filing motions at the court house to answering the telephone at the office. It was a great experience!
Name: Carolina Pelleya
Email: zetacaro@yahoo.com
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Real Estate, Land Use & Zoning
State from: Florida
Undergrad: University of Florida
Employer: Broad & Cassel
City/State: Miami, FL
Job Description: Researched and wrote memoranda of law on virtually every area of law and attended closings and depositions.
Name: Alex Prieto
Email: ap0368@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2009
Legal Interest: Real Estate (Condo. and Commercial); Criminal
State from: Florida
Undergrad: UMiami/Criminology
Employer: Greenberg Traurig, PA
City/State: Miami, FL
Job Description: Prepared Closing Documents for extensive commercial property acquisitions and dispositions; Conducted Condominium purchase closings; Reviewed Leases and Service contracts; Prepared Contract timetables; Prepared post-closing Binders; Prepared Tenant Estoppel Certificates and SNDAs; Research and Memos on Issues of law relating to Real Estate Commercial transactions.
Name: Cyrus Rieck
Email: cr3234@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Civil Procedure, Evidence, Litigation
State from: New Jersey
Undergrad: Tulane/International Relations
Employer: McDermott Will & Emery
City/State: Miami, Fl
Job Description: Research and draft legal memoranda
Name: Ryan C. Roberts
Class of: May 2009
Legal Interest: Sports Law, Corporate Law, Medical Malpractice
State from: Ohio
Undergrad: Indiana University / Sports Marketing
Employer: Reminger & Reminger
City/State: Cleveland, OH
Job Description: Conducted research/drafted memos pursuant to questions from Attorneys. Motions were drafted by me using prior research to be filed with the court. I occasionally had to file court documents with various courts in Cleveland and the surrounding area.
Name: Caroline Sand
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD/MBA
Legal Interest: Business
State from: Massachusetts
Undergrad: Tufts University
Grad school: MBA
Employer: Champion & Associates, P.C.
City/State: Roxbury, Massachusetts
Job Description: Drafted memoranda, motions, pleadings, researched pertinent legal issues for pending cases, observed court proceedings.
Name: Tarah Seabre
Email: Tarah19@aol.com
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Constitution, Lobbying, U.S. Attorney, Special Agent FBI
State from: New York
Undergrad: Dowling College--History
Employer: Orshan, Lithman, Seiden
City/State: Coral Gables, FL
Job Description: Organizing discovery documents, drafting closed memos to in-house counsel, communicating with clients, preparing documents, drafting letters, etc.
Name: Marquista A. Shipman
Email: mshipman@mycingular.blackberry.net
Class of: May 2008
Legal Interest: Capital Finance & Real Estate
State from: Florida
Undergrad: Emory University/Political Science and Economics
Employer: Hunton & WIlliams
City/State: Miami, FL
Name: Randi Spector
Email: rs4632@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Intellectual Property
State from: Florida
Undergrad: The George Washington University/Fine Arts with a Concentration in Interior Design and Art History
Employer: Lott & Friedland
City/State: Miami, Florida
Name: Joshua Steirman
Email: joshsteirman@yahoo.com
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD/MBA
Legal Interest: Maritime, Finance, Corporate Formation and Transactions, Tax & Estate Planning
State from: Vermont
Undergrad: University of Richmond
Grad school: University of Miami (MBA)
Employer: Perry & Neblett, P.A.
City/State: Coconut Grove, FL
Job Description: participate in all areas of admiralty practice: yacht transactions offshore and in the U.S., formation of corporate entities, maritime injury suits involving cruise lines and cargo, salvage claims, plaintiff's insurance claims.
Name: Joanna Villegas
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: International Law, Tax Law, Personal Injury Law
State from: Florida
Undergrad: Georgetown University/B.S. in Foreign Service
Employer: Izquierdo & Perez, P.L.
City/State: Coral Gables, Florida
Job Description: Conduct Legal Research, Answer Pleadings, Conduct Discovery, etc.
Name: Rahim West
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Securities
State from: GA
Undergrad: Mathematics/Economics
Employer: Hinshaw and Culbertson
City/State: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Name: Heidi Wilson
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Corporate Law
State from: Pennsylvania
Undergrad: University of Miami School of Business
Grad school: none
Employer: James Fishman, PA
City/State: Pinecrest, FL
Job Description: law clerk at an insurance defense firm. Drafting motions and pleadings, general office work, contacting the court, clients, and opposing counsel, setting trial and hearing dates, etc.
Name: Josh Wintle
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Intellectual Property Litigation
State from: Florida
Undergrad: Univ. of Florida / B.S. DIS
Grad school: Univ. of Florida / M.S. DIS
Employer: Panter, Panter & Sampedro
City/State: Miami FL
Job Description: research case law, observe depos, write memos, conduct pre-pleading research and investigation, draft complaints, motions and (rarely) appellate briefs, summarize depo transcripts, assist in preparation for trial (prepare trial exhibits, opening statements, theme/theory of case, etc.)
Name: Maisie Wong
Email: mw4161@law.students.miami.edu
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Intellectual Property, Real Estate, Ethics, and Criminal Law
State from: Hawaii
Undergrad: Univ. of Pennsylvania/Communications and Asian & Middle Eastern Studies
Employer: Split Summer: Law firm Uryas International; Miami Dade Public Defender's Office
City/State: Spain/Hong Kong; Miami, Florida
Name: Lauren Zerbinopoulos
Email: laurenz31@hotmail.com
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
State from: Maine
Undergrad: University of New Hampshire/ Business Administration
Employer: Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
City/State: Miami, FL
Judicial Clerkships
Name: Devon Bennett-Ward
Email: DBennettWard@hotmail.com
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Real Estate; Insurance law
State from: Florida
Undergrad: University of Miami/Political Science & Journalism
Employer: 15th Judicial Circuit- West Palm Beach Main Court House
City/State: West Palm Beach, Florida
Job Description: Researching special assignments for judges, reviewing merits of appeals and writing appeal memoranda suggesting legal rulings, analyzing the merits of several post-conviction motions and adoption proceedings.
Name: Jordana Dobski-Cohen
Email: jd5743@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Family, Criminal, Public Interest, Real Estate
State from: Born in Canada; Grew up in Florida
Undergrad: McGill University/ International Development Studies, History, Religious Studies
Employer: Hon. Judge Jeffery Levenson; 17th Cir. Ct.- Criminal Division
City/State: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Name: Christian Fong
Email: christian.e.fong@gmail.com
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Area of Interest: Entertainment
State from: FL
Undergrad: University of Florida/Criminology
Employer: Judge Robert A. Mark, U.S. Bankruptcy Court
City/State: Miami, FL
Job Description: Sitting in court, chambers and the library observing and writing memos for Judge Mark. I worked intimately alongside Judge Mark and his law clerk as well as another intern from the University of Miami.
Name: Kevin Gaunt
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: bankruptcy, internet, technology
State from: NC
Undergrad: Davidson College, English
Employer: Judge Cristol, Bankruptcy Court
City/State: Miami, Fl
Name: Alissa Gazze
Email: ag8378@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Business/Corporate transactions
State from: PA
Undergrad: Penn State
Employer: The Honorable Myron T. Steele, Chief Justice of Supreme Court, Delaware
City/State: Dover, DE
Job Description: Researched and wrote legal memorandums on a variety of civil and criminal issues.
Name: Samantha Hamilton
Class of: May 2008
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Criminal Law, Federal Practice
State from: Connecticut
Undergrad: Boston University/Political Science
Employer: United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
City/State: Bridgeport, Connecticut
Job Description: Researched and drafted orders and opinions on various issues of federal law. I also participated in extensive courtroom and mediation observation.
Name: Lori Kearns
Email: lk8281@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
State from: PA
Undergrad: Penn State/political science and history
Employer: Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida
City/State: Miami, FL
Job Description: Observed daily proceedings in state civil court, drafted memos for the Judge on points of law in a variety of cases
Name: Joe Nascimento
Email: j.nascimento@umiami.edu
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Criminal Law
State from: Florida
Undergrad: University of Florida/Political Science
Employer: Judge Mily Rodriguez-Powell
City/State: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Job Description: Judge Powell allowed me to sit on the bench next to her throughout the daily morning calendar, trials and other hearings. Judge Powell also took time throughout the day to explain the rationale behind her rulings and point on good and bad lawyer techniques. finally, I was able to work with Judge Powell's staff attorney in drafting memos and orders.
Name: Jennifer Seidman
Email: j.seidman@umiami.edu
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
State from: Ohio
Undergrad: UVA/Religious Studies major, Spanish minor
Employer: US Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Florida
City/State: Miami, FL
Job Description: I also worked for a solo practitioner researching and drafting an appeal for the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.
Name: Karen Shafrir
Email: KEShafrir@gmail.com
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Litigation
State from: MA
Undergrad: Cornell University
Employer: The Honorable Kenneth Ryskamp, Federal Judge
City/State: West Palm Beach, FL
Job Description: Worked with a judge in the Southern District. Drafted orders, observed oral arguments. There was also extensive research and writing.
Name: Kyle Warfield
Email: kw4355@students.law.miami.edu
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Sports, Entertainment, Real Estate, Finance
State from: Michigan
Undergrad: University of Michigan - Ann Arbor/Sociology, African American Studies
Employer: United States District Court, Southern District of Florida - The Hon. Stephen T. Brown
City/State: Miami, FL
Job Description: Researched and drafted orders on civil and maritime issues such as subject matter jurisdiction, interrogatories used for discovery and jury demands. I attended status conferences, suppression hearings, summary judgment hearings, criminal arraignments and bond hearings.
Corporate/Miscellaneous
Name: Melissa Exposito
Class of: May 20090
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Entertainment Law, Real Estate Law, and Family Law.
State from: Florida
Undergrad: University of Miami / Public Relations & Marketing
Employer: Universal Music Latin America
City/State: Miami Beach, FL
Job Description: Worked directly with the Business & Legal Affairs manager on new artist agreements, licensing deals, amendments, profit share agreements, and other miscellaneous legal matters pertaining to the label's talent.
Name: Elizabeth Gonzalez
Email: e.gonzalez2@umiami.edu
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Corporate, Real Estate, Tax
State from: Florida
Undergrad: University of Miami / Accounting
Gradschool: University of Miami / MBA
Employer: Citibank, N.A.
City/State: Miami, FL
Job Description: Worked with the attorneys of the Latin American General Counsel's office in Miami.
Name: J. Dylan King
Email: j.dylan.king@gmail
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Employment, Commercial, Business
State from: Kansas
Undergrad: University of Kansas, BS in Business Admin.
Employer: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Legal Department
City/State: Bentonville, AR at Wal-Mart HQ
Job Description: Legal Intern for world's largest company. I advised the business on a variety of legal issues relating to labor and employment issues and helped manage the firm's class action litigation.
Name: Christopher Matthews
Class of: December 2007
Email: cgmatth8@gmail.com
Program: JD/MBA
Interest: International Law
State: Florida
Undergrad: Emory University, BA Econ, Music
Grad school: MBA, Finance (May 2008)
Employer: Assurant Solutions
City/State: Miami, FL
Job Description: Researched and drafted memoranda on laws in the United States and European countries governing service contract providers and insurers. Specific assignments have included determining individual state record keeping requirements, financial responsibility requirements, and licensing and registration requirements for service contract providers, as well as determining whether service contracts are regulated as insurance or non-insurance.
Name: Jane Muir
Email: jwmuir@gmail.com
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Area of Interest: Litigation, Trusts and Estates, Commercial Law
State from: Florida
Undergrad: University of Florida, Political Science/Art History
Description: Summer abroad, Miami Law School Mediterranean Experience
Name: Marc Narotsky
Email: m.narotsky@umiami.edu
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD
Legal Interest: Real Estate/Business
State from: New York
Undergrad: Brandeis University/Politics
Employer: Kenneth Fisher Real Estate Management and Construction
City/State: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Job Description: Worked in the management of residential and commercial properties.
Name: India Turkell
Email: iturkell@gmail.com
Class of: May 2009
Program: JD/MBA
Legal Interest: corporate, mergers and acquisitions, transactional law
State from: Florida
Undergrad: Political Science/International Affairs
Employer: Insurance for Students, Inc.
City/State: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
