Center for Ethics and Public Service

Founded in 1996, the Center for Ethics and Public Service (“CEPS”) has educated and inspired more than 1,250 law students to serve communities as citizen lawyers. Its key programs are the Historic Black Church Program and the Environmental Justice Clinic ("EJC"). The EJC provides rights education, interdisciplinary research, public policy resources, and advocacy and transactional assistance to low- and moderate-income communities discriminated against by public and private actors in the contexts of the built and natural environment across the fields of civil rights, environmental protection, poverty law, and public health.

CEPS observes three guiding principles: interdisciplinary collaboration, public-private partnership, and student mentoring and leadership training. Staffed by Law School and University student fellows and interns under the direction of Law School and University faculty, the Center operates educational and advocacy programs in the fields of civil rights, poverty, and environmental law.

In the News

Dunbar toxic sludge lawsuit gets a jury trial date
Fort Myers toxic sludge neighbors have their first day in court
Decision to hear Fort Myers residents' toxic sludge case is in judge's hands
Fort Myers files motion to dismiss claims of toxic sludge neighbors
Environmental Racism Research, Activism Wins Student 2018 MCCJ Silver Medallion
Friends of Everglades - Marjorie Stoneman Douglas' Organization – Bestowed Hoeveler Award
Dunbar property owners sue City of Fort Myers to clean up toxic sludge dump
Fort Myers mayor wants toxic city dump cleaned up as lawsuit looms
Test results from sludge site raise eyebrows, prompt more testing
A legend on Miami’s federal bench, Judge William Hoeveler dies at 95
Toxic sludge addressed at Dunbar town hall
Homeowner: Re-fi denied due to city sludge site
Miami Sued for Dumping Cancer-Causing Toxic Ash on Segregated Neighborhood

Programs & Projects

Environmental Justice Clinic
Historic Black Church Program
Oral History & Documentary Film Project
Social Enterprise Clinic (not offered in 2018- 2019)

Center Initiatives

LEGAL PROFESSION ROUNDTABLES
Students and faculty present legal ethics and professionalism colloquia on the legal services industry (e.g., for-profit, nonprofit,  government, and in-house) and related ancillary industries (e.g., accounting, banking, and insurance) in collaboration with leading local, state, national, and international members of the academic, bar, and bench communities.

Legal Malpractice and Professional Liability Roundtables
"The Third Annual Legal Malpractice and Professional Liability Roundtable featured the best and brightest from our Florida law firms, including Colson Hicks Eidson, Kenny Nachwalter, Hill Ward Henderson, and Klein Glasser Park & Lowe," said CEPS Director Anthony Alfieri. "The panels addressed issues at the core of the attorney-client relationship – formation, scope of representation, withdrawal, and termination – and sparked lively debate among the more than forty participants. Because of the continuing importance of these issues to the Florida bar and bench, the Center for Ethics and Public Service will be convening Legal Profession Roundtables throughout the upcoming 2018-2019 academic year."

Leadership Roundtables
The Center for Ethics and Public Service invites leaders in the community to have lunch with our Environmental Justice Clinic students. 
2017-2018
Nina Stillman Mandel
Lindsey Lazopoulos Friedman, Allison Freidin, and Christopher Lomax

William M. Hoeveler Award Roundtable
The prestigious prize celebrates ethics, leadership and public service in the legal profession. See stories of past recipients:
Friends of Everglades - Marjorie Stoneman Douglas' Organization – Bestowed Hoeveler Award
George Knox, JD '83, Honored
Miami Law Retains Hold on Affections of Florida Supreme Court Justice Fred Lewis, JD '72, Recipient of Hoeveler Award
State Attorney Fernández Rundle to Receive Hoeveler Award

Lawyers in Leadership Award Roundtable
The Center for Ethics and Public Service honors leaders in the community with this award which recognizes leading members of the Florida bar and bench who are distinguished by their dedication to public citizenship and leadership. See stories/list of past recipients:
2017 Recipient: Monica Vigues-Pitan, J.D. '03
2016 Recipient: Charles Elsesser
2015 Recipient: Judge Darrin P. Gayles
2014 Recipient: Elizabeth Schwartz
“Miami Law’s Patricia Redmond to Receive the Lawyers in Leadership Award”
“Carlos Martinez Honored with Lawyers in Leadership Award “
“Miami Law Honors Centorino with Lawyers in Leadership Award”

Alumni: Where They Are Now and Testimonials

"The Center's Historic Black Church Program provided me with the opportunity to help challenge the displacement of low income communities of color, and I carry that experience with me into my current work as a housing attorney at Legal Services."
Nejla Calvo, Esq.
Staff Attorney (Tenant's Rights Unit), Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc.

"I owe a great part of my professional success and career satisfaction to the CEPS, as the hands-on clinical experience proved to be an invaluable step in securing my first job out of UM Law and has made giving back to the community a priority in my professional life."
Daniel M. Whyte
Senior Director of Business and Legal Affairs, Claro Video, Inc.

"Through my involvement with the Center for Ethics & Public Service, I learned the importance of public service and mentoring and gained a broader perspective and more balanced viewpoint. I think that I am more compassionate and well-rounded lawyer because of my participation."
Christina Pacheco
Assistant Attorney General, Florida Office of the Attorney General

"I stay grounded by continuing to service on the CEPS Advisory Board and outside counsel for Greater St. Paul AME, supporting all the great work the students are doing."
D. Porpoise Evans
Partner, Perlman, Bajandas, Yevoli & Albrights

"As for the Center, it was one of the highlights of my law school experience. It revealed the impact that this profession can have when a group of talented, motivated, and genuinely good people offer their time and talents to the community. This lesson has stayed with me and affected my pro bono efforts throughout my career."
Ron Tomassi
Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig LLp

"CEPS gave me an opportunity to explore legal employment first-hand and hear about the experiences of others. This was BEYOND valuable, in terms of deciding which path of public service would be best for me, and I am forever grateful!" 
Rob Collins
Education & Outreach Coordinator
Housing Opportunities Project for Excellence

"The Center was the ONLY part of my entire law school experience, with the exception of the LitSkills course, that gave me real life experience and the opportunity to work with (and deal with) real clients, with real issures that we could actually help. The Center was definitely a contributor to my confidence and ability to practice immediately after law school."
Jennifer C. Pratt
Pratt Law

"CEPS taught me how to make my practice more client-oriented, appreciate and develop diverse teams, and support social jusitce work by partnering with local organizations and the organizers that make them run and carry out the vision of the people.": 
Quinn Smith
Managing Partner, GST LLP

"My experience at CEPS highlighted the various legal career paths available within the public sector, and the importance of individual public service in creating the change we wish to see in the world." 
Monik Williams
Federal Attorney
Department of Health & Human Services

"The Center does great work and is a wonderful way for students to learn while helping others." 
Patrick R. Sullivan
Partner, Lubell Rosen

Interdisciplinary Partners

Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy
     Kenneth Broad
     Director, Abess Center; Professor, Marine Ecosystems and Society, RSMAS

     Andee L. Holzman
     Assistant Director, Abess Center

     Gina Maranto
     Senior Lecturer, Co-Director, Ecosystem Science and Policy
     Graduate Program Coordinator, Environmental Science and Policy    

Miller School of Medicine (UMMSM) MD/MPH
     Roderick K. King, M.D., M.P.H.
     Director, Miller School of Medicine’s M.D./M.P.H. Program, Assistant Dean for Public Health
     Education

School of Education and Human Development
     Dina Birman
     Professor, Educational and Psychological Studies Director, Community Well-Being Ph.D. Program
     (CWB) Editor in Chief, International Journal of Intercultural Relations

     Scot Evans
     Associate Professor, Director of major in Human and Social Development

     Guerda Nicolas
     Professor, Educational and Psychological Studies

     Ashmeet Oberoi
     Clinical Assistant Professor and Director, Community and Social Change Master’s Program

     Ed Trickett
     Visiting Professor and Community Well-Being Scholar

     Laura Kohn-Wood
     Chair and Professor, Educational and Psychological Studies

School of Communication

     Jyotika Ramaprasad
     Professor, School of Communication

Publications

Awards

For More Information

Contact CEPS
See CEPS Staff