Founded in 1996, the Center for Ethics and Public Service (CEPS) is a law school-housed ethics education, experiential skills training, and community engagement program devoted to the values of ethical judgment, professional responsibility, and public service in law and society. The CEPS mission is to educate law students to serve their communities as citizen lawyers.
History
CEPS has served as an incubator and an accelerator for numerous public service campaigns and initiatives, including clinics, colloquia, interdisciplinary programs, oral histories and documentary films, student reading groups, and summer educational-outreach programs.
Programs
Black Church Program
A community outreach initiative in South Florida, partnering with faith-based groups to advocate for civil rights and social justice. Key projects include campaigns for equitable transit, fair housing, environmental cleanup, voting rights, and youth education in historically marginalized neighborhoods.
Addressing housing and health challenges in underserved communities of color in Florida, combining civil rights advocacy and grassroots organizing with university resources to promote social justice in education, health, housing, and more.
This program includes both CLE-oriented practice seminars and student-centered leadership workshops in cooperation with Florida bar associations, federal and state courts, law firms, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
Preserving the cultural history of low-income communities of color in South Florida through oral history archives and documentaries. In partnership with Ransom Everglades High School, the project has produced five films since 2010, covering topics like Coconut Grove Village West, public school segregation, and environmental injustice in Miami.
Program faculty, staff, and students collaborate with the Florida bar and bench; anti-poverty, civil rights, environmental, and public health organizations; civic and faith-based groups, nonprofit corporations, and neighborhood associations; and schools across the University of Miami.
Upcoming events:
10/29/26: Hoeveler Award Ceremony honoring Judge Kathleen M. Williams (Register)
11/3/26: Roundtable Discussion: "Pathways to the Bench: Breaking Historical Barriers" (Register)
Community Impact
Since 1996, CEPS faculty and staff have trained more than 1,432 graduate and undergraduate fellows and interns, and collaborated with more than 51,000 civic leaders in ethics and professionalism programs as well as anti-poverty, civil rights, environmental justice, and public health campaigns. CEPS faculty also have been widely cited in law journals and in the media.
"CEPS was one of the biggest highlights of my law school experience. It challenged my ideas of justice and how the legal field fits into the fight for a more just world -- lessons I carry with me in my work every single day."
—Ben Brooks, Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office
"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 carried that experience with me into my work as a housing attorney at Legal Services of Greater Miami."
—Nejla Calvo, Director of Contract Management & Compliance, Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County
"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, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, TelevisaUnivision
"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, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Florida Office of the Attorney General
"I stay grounded by continuing to serve on the CEPS Advisory Board and as outside counsel for Greater St. Paul AME, supporting all the great work the students are doing."
"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, Partner, León Cosgrove Jiménez 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, Community Engagement Manager, The Miami Foundation
"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 issues 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, Managing Partner, PraDa Law
"CEPS taught me how to make my practice more client-oriented, appreciate and develop diverse teams, and support social justice 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
"The Center does great work and is a wonderful way for students to learn while helping others."
—Patrick R. Sullivan, Partner, Lubell Rosen
“I worked alongside fellow students to advocate for fair and affordable housing in Coconut Grove Village West, focusing on the disparate impact of displacement. As a Miami native, contributing to my community while receiving the support of CEPS’s generous donors has been especially meaningful. My time as a Peter Palermo Fellow at CEPS deeply shaped my commitment to social justice, empowering me to advocate for equity throughout my legal career.”
—Valerie Caso-Veras, Associate Attorney, Law Office of Alexander Alvarez, P.A.
“Being a CEPS Peter Palermo Fellow was one of the most enriching experiences of my law school journey. Through the fellowship, I was able to contribute to important community initiatives, refine my professional skills, and grow as an aspiring attorney, all while reinforcing my commitment to using the law as a tool for justice and change.”
—Taimaisú Ferrer Sin, Associate Attorney, Greenberg Traurig
"My position with CEPS as a Steven Chaykin Fellow was an invaluable opportunity to work at the intersection of law and social justice. My fellowship shaped me into a more effective advocate throughout my three years of law school and supported my goal of becoming an attorney committed to promoting equity and justice.”
—Emma Page, Associate Attorney, Zumpano Patricios
"Few opportunities are comparable to my experience as the William M. Hoeveler Fellow in the CEPS Legal Profession Program. The Center creates such a unique educational practice-oriented environment for its fellows and is a laboratory for leadership development and professional growth."
—Omarley Spence, Associate Attorney, Venable LLP
“Being a Hunton Andrews Kurth Fellow greatly enhanced my law school experience and work with CEPS by providing invaluable resources, mentorship, and a broader legal perspective on public service. Engaging with community members and examining the health impacts of housing displacement broadened my experience in public health.”
—Niara Williams, Corporate Counsel, eMed
“My experience in the CEPS Legal Profession Program required me to keep a pulse on trends within the legal space while also allowing me to approach challenges creatively, fostering meaningful engagement with the Miami legal community. I worked alongside fellow students to cultivate programming and initiatives that I hope have made a positive impact on the UM Law student body. My experience as a David Catsman Fellow at CEPS has reinforced my dedication to bridging law and community, equipping me to create meaningful change both during law school and beyond.”
—Minah Malik
"My time as a David Catsman Fellow transformed my commitment to social justice on both a structural and personal level. From advocating for fair housing in Coconut Grove Village West, to examining the impacts of displacement, to working on voting rights initiatives, I've seen firsthand the power of community-lawyering in promoting equity and accountability. The mentorship I've received has been immeasurable, and the trust of our community partners strengthened my resolve to continue this work beyond graduation."
—Angela Nguyen Pope
“My experience as the William M. Hoeveler Fellow in the CEPS Community Equity Lab was one of my most transformative experiences in connecting classroom learning with real-world practice from my very first year of law school. Few opportunities have allowed me to learn from brilliant minds and visionary community lawyers who have shaped my understanding of what it means to be a lawyer. Engaging in this meaningful work has been incredibly motivating and has solidified my commitment to use the law as a force for positive change.”
—Emma Rice
"At the Center, I have been able to apply legal concepts learned in the classroom to serve the needs of the community in meaningful ways. As a Hunton Andrews Kurth Fellow, I have gained real-world experience analyzing complicated issues such as fair housing and public health at the federal, state, and local level."
