“There is no question that going to law In January, Supreme Court Justice holds so much prestige in my field is Clarence Thomas visited UF Law for a helping me interpret laws or judging my school here had a tremendous impact on week to co-teach Property Rights and the oral advocacy skills it’s going to make all my future,” Mickle told a group of UF Law U.S. Constitution with Professor Michael the difference in the level of my skillset students as part of a Black Law Students Allan Wolf, challenging students with hy- when I’m advocating and using what I’ve Association event. “It put me in touch with future leaders in our community and potheticals designed to encourage them to learned after graduation.” with people who make and think through the issues, rather will make major decisions on than giving the expected answer. how things are done in our During his stay he also dropped society. It taught me that bein on first-year property classes ing average will not carry you and had lunches and dinners to the finish line. Something with students and faculty. inside of you has to push to It was the ninth such visit work harder and be greater.” to UF Law by current and reThe power of UF Law tired Supreme Court justices —U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE STEPHAN P. MICKLE (JD 70) alumni in the judiciary exsince 2006, including Justices tends beyond Florida. John Paul Stevens, Sandra Day Howard Brill (JD 70), for example, One of the law school’s most esteemed O’Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Chief Justice John Roberts, who judged alumni, U.S. District Court Judge Stephan P. the 2008 Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Mickle (JD 70), who like Hodges is also on Court Final Four Competition. Chief senior status, attested to the power of a UF Justice Earl Warren visited the law school Law education during a visit in the spring. Mickle was the first African-American in 1969 to deliver the keynote address at the dedication ceremony of the Spessard to earn an undergraduate degree from UF (1965), to establish a law practice in L. Holland Law Center. “The fact that as a first-year stu- Gainesville (1972), to become a county dent I can walk into my property class judge in Alachua County (1979), to and have a Supreme Court justice teach become a state circuit judge in the 8th Jume and challenge my interpretation of dicial Circuit (1984), to become a federal cases really adds immeasurable value judge in the Northern District of Florida to my degree,” said Brooklyn Rapchik- (1998) and to receive a UF distinguished Mickle (JD 70) Gaughen (1L). “When someone who alumnus award (1999).
“There is no question that going to law school here had a tremendous impact on my future.”
Connecting with clerkships
CLERKING IS A UNIQUE E X P E R I E N C E for lawyers and law
students. They apply what they learn in the classroom and gain new perspectives on legal issues. UF Law initiated the Judicial Clerkship Mentor program to connect students with recent graduates who have clerked for federal judges. The program creates a pipeline in which alums guide students through the clerkship application process and provide insight on how to become more competitive applicants.
The UF Law Center for Career Development coordinates the program while collecting information on judges who are seeking clerks, connecting those judges with students through an online system or with faculty who can then recommend qualified students to judges. The Judicial Clerkship Committee, chaired by UF Law Professor Mark Fenster, works alongside these initiatives to promote post-graduate clerkships and help students apply for these opportunities. Jerry Edwards (2L) has a line on a graduate clerkship a year and a half before graduating because judges approached Fenster and UF Law Professor Lea Johnston looking for a highly accomplished student with strong research, writing and analytic capabilities. Johnston was able to testify to the strength of Edwards’ abilities. “The dean and faculty recognize the importance of judicial clerkships. We give students the opportunities they
need in order to secure them, whether through research assistantships, independent studies or extracurricular activities that demonstrate their ability to write and reason,” Johnston said. UF Law’s strong Fenster relationship with the judiciary is a powerful resource as students build relationships, gain mentors and learn from those who are prominent in the fields they will soon enter. “We help develop Johnston the reservoir of skills and resources necessary to make students into effective advocates upon graduation,” Johnston said.
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