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.
For 28 years, CEPS has served as an incubator and an accelerator for numerous public service campaigns and initiatives, including clinics, interdisciplinary programs, student reading groups, summer colloquia, and oral histories and documentary films.
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. Since 1996, CEPS faculty and staff have trained more than 1,400 graduate and undergraduate fellows and interns and collaborated with more than 50,000 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.Community Impact
Current Student Testimonials
"The Peter Palermo Fellowship has given me the flexibility to engage in essential and much-needed community work with CEPS while alleviating the financial burden of being a law student. I appreciate the opportunity to give back to my community as a CEPS fellow with the help of our donors!"
"Being a David P. Catsman Fellow has been the most gratifying experience during my time in law school. Not only have I gained significant professional development in programming, law practice management, and community lawyering, it has also been an absolute pleasure working with this team. This experience has set a standard for collaborative, impactful, and encouraging work environments, which is truly invaluable as I move forward in my career."
"I have been a CEPS Mandel Fellow in the Legal Profession Program since the summer after 1L year and it has been one of the most impactful experiences in law school. As a first-generation law student, it is incredibly rewarding to be able to spend time connecting students to the broader legal community. Helping organize events and programming that expose students to the different pathways, nuances, and ethical considerations of the legal profession has been both rewarding for me and beneficial for my peers. I am thrilled to be part of an important program and amazing team."
"Being a CEPS Steven Chaykin Fellow immersed in the realms of health and housing equity in underserved communities signifies an invaluable opportunity to effect positive change at the intersection of law and social justice. The financial support we receive from generous donors not only acknowledges the importance of the work, but also enables me to dedicate focused time and effort to making an impact. My role as a CEPS Steven Chaykin Fellow has shaped me into a more effective advocate and supports my goal of becoming a legal professional committed to promoting equity and justice. Thank you!"
"Thus far, there has been no experience comparable to being a William M. Hoeveler Fellow. The Center creates such a unique and comprehensive educational environment for its fellows. A laboratory for leadership development and professional growth. I am grateful for this opportunity and the donors making this possible."
Alumni Testimonials
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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!"
"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."
"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."
"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."
"The Center does great work and is a wonderful way for students to learn while helping others."
Director, Center for Ethics & Public Service
Founder, Historic Black Church Program
aalfieri@law.miami.edu
305-284-2735
Sr. Program Manager
keshamerritt@law.miami.edu
305-284-9185
Program Coordinator
aboucher-browning@miami.edu
305-284-3934
1311 Miller Drive, Room G262
Coral Gables, FL 33146-8087
Phone 305-284-3934