Miami Law News Headlines: May 2012

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Professor Laurence Rose To Receive Prestigious American Bar Association Award

(Posted: 05-30-12) The American Bar Association's Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section has chosen University of Miami Law Professor Laurence M. Rose, a former Vice Dean of the law school and now Director of its Litigation Skills Program, for the most distinguished award it gives to law professors. Professor Rose, who joins a list of eminent recipients from years past, will be presented with the Robert B. McKay Law Professor Award at the ABA's annual meeting in Chicago in August.

Mike Pieciak Is Campaign Manager For Vermont Attorney General

(Posted: 05-29-12) Michael S. Pieciak, a native of Brattleboro, Vt., who graduated from the University of Miami School of Law in 2009, has been appointed campaign manager for Vermont Attorney General William H. Sorrell, who is seeking an eighth term in office.

Miami Law Community Honors One of Its Own

(Posted: 05-25-12) Members of Miami's legal community – including faculty and staff from the University of Miami School of Law – gathered Friday to bid farewell to Georgina Rivera de Alfonsin, the 86-year-old mother of Georgina A. Angones, the law school's Assistant Dean for Alumni and Development. Mrs. Alfonsin died on Wednesday.

Federal Appeals Court Grants Claim Argued by Miami Law Student in Deportation Case

(Posted: 05-24-12) A panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit issued a precedential ruling this week that granted one of two claims in the case of a Sudanese client of the University of Miami's Immigration Clinic.

Miami Law to Host Bankruptcy Workshop

(Posted: 05-22-12) In partnership with the Bankruptcy Bar of the Southern District of Florida and the Put Something Back Pro Bono Program, Miami Law will hold the 22nd Annual Bankruptcy Skills Workshop on June 8.

Lawyers Urged to 'Strut Their Stuff' in Miami Law's First Closing Argument Competition

(Posted: 05-21-12) The University of Miami School of Law is preparing to host the First Annual Legal Eagle Closing Competition on June 30.

Miami Law's Legal Outreach Programs Prompt Leadership Award From Legal Services of Greater Miami

(Posted: 05-18-12) The University of Miami School of Law's legal and community outreach programs – particularly its highly successful Legal Corps – were at the center of Legal Services of Greater Miami's third annual "Heart of Giving" event on Thursday evening.

New Graduate Tyler Kirk Defied Odds, Surmounted "Elephant on Chest"

(Posted: 05-18-12) James "Tyler" Kirk, who graduated from Miami Law last week with the Class of 2012, wrote the following remarks for his fellow graduates. William P. VanderWyden, Assistant Dean for Professional Development, said Kirk's speech was one of several finalists for the Student Address at the Commencement ceremony on May 12:

U.S. Circuit Judge Adalberto José Jordán Jr., JD '87, Addresses 2012 Graduates on Profession's Ethical Dilemmas

(Posted: 05-18-12) In a speech to the spring 2012 graduating class of the University of Miami School of Law, Judge Adalberto Jose Jordán Jr., who presides over the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, said the law profession is "a noble one, but sometimes you wouldn't know it from seeing how lawyers are perceived."

Commencement Remarks by Nykeah L. Cohen, JD '12, and Miami Law Dean Patricia D. White

(Posted: 05-16-12) Nykeah L. Cohen was selected to give the 2012 Commencement Student Address, held at the Bank United Center on May 12, by a committee comprised of her fellow law students, faculty and administrators.

International Moot Court Program Completes Another Powerful Year

(Posted: 05-10-12) During the academic year now coming to an end, 32 students in the University of Miami School of Law's International Moot Court Program took part in eight competitions around the world. They argued hypothetical cases in places such as Germany, the Netherlands, South Africa and Spain.

Justin Wales to Embark on Career That's 'Relevant to People'

(Posted: 05-09-12) For Justin Wales, the future looks rosy. After graduating from a stellar career at Miami Law, he will begin working as an associate at the Russo Appellate Firm in Miami.

Distinguished Graduate Tyler Kirk Gets a Helping Paw

(Posted: 05-09-12) One of the attendees at this week's Miami Law graduation ceremony rarely missed a class in all his time at law school – but usually slept through them. Sometimes, he would make unsolicited comments during lectures, punctuated by mid-dream snorts.

Alumni Profile: Adam Smith JD '97

(Posted: 05-08-12) When Adam Smith, J.D. '97, has his head in the clouds, he is actually hard at work. As chief legal officer of Terremark Worldwide, he is responsible for managing the day-to-day legal affairs of a company that provides information technology around the globe. When he speaks about cloud computing, network access points and collocation, he sounds more like a computer science engineer than a lawyer.

Alumni Profile: Collettie J. Bien JD '86

(Posted: 05-08-12) Col. Lettie J. Bien (Ret), J.D. '86, has surmounted numerous obstacles in her military and civilian careers, but one of her biggest challenges is condensing her resume. She has been told more than once that she should write a book about her life. Another piece of advice she ignored, fortunately, came from her high school career counselor. "She told me to forget about going to college and consider trade school," Bien recalled. "Trade school at that time was cosmetology."

Chair of Miami-Dade Commission for Women is Miami Law Alumna Michelle D. Lucking

(Posted: 05-08-12) Michelle Dunaj Lucking, who graduated magna cum laude from Miami Law in 1988, has been elected Chair of the Miami-Dade County Commission for Women.

Florida Supreme Court Adopts Recommendations By Miami Law Students

(Posted: 05-07-12) In a recent opinion regarding children's appearances in dependency court proceedings, the Florida Supreme Court adopted parts of a proposed amendment to the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure that was written by two law students from the University of Miami.

Commencement: Quinshawna Landon, About to Graduate From Miami Law, Finds Learning a 'Joy'

(Posted: 05-02-12) Quinshawna Landon knew she wanted to be a lawyer "from birth," she says. "My mom said I came out of the womb arguing." Growing up in Harlem, "there was a lot of going to church, doing choir and singing all over the place," but heavenly anthems were not what propelled Landon toward an accomplished education. It was her grandmother, Lizzie Mae Landon.

Alumni Profile: Mark Tobin, J.D. '85

(Posted: 05-02-12) While some lawyers enjoy sipping a glass of wine at the end of a long day, Mark Tobin, B.B.A. '85, J.D. '88, goes one step further. He actually makes the wine. A seasoned attorney in all matters of eminent domain, Tobin is also the owner of a Long Island vineyard.

Public Defender Carlos J. Martinez, JD '90, to Receive Kiwanis Freedom Award

(Posted: 05-02-12) The Coral Gables Latin Kiwanis Club plans to honor Miami-Dade Public Defender Carlos J. Martinez, who graduated from Miami Law in 1990, with the organization's highest award at its annual Freedom Awards Gala on May 19. Martinez will receive the Freedom Award for "public service, dedication and commitment to the neediest members of the community," according to Aquiles Solano, Director of the Kiwanis Club of Coral Gables.