Fall Semester Wrap-Up

As the fall semester draws to its conclusion, there has been a plethora of activity — fun as well as purposeful and dedicated — on campus.

One highlight of the semester for many students was the powder-puff flag football game pitting University of Florida fans against Florida State University fans. The event was hosted on the law school green and would not have been complete without a visit from “Osceola” and “Renegade” for Seminole faithful and a Gator chomp chant for the fans in orange and blue. While the Seminoles won the game, it proved a great stress reliever for participants and fans shortly before the beginning of finals. (Click here for more photos from the event.)

Homecoming was another fun event for students and alumni. Milestone classes — 1969, 1979, 1989 and 1999 — hosted class reunions of their own in addition to the annual Friday night reception and tailgate.

The semester has provided an abundance of scholastic opportunities as well. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Wayne Logan coordinated visits from two federal judges during the semester. Harris L. Hartz from the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeal and Susan H. Black from the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeal met with students and faculty, giving both the opportunity to learn more about clerking opportunities and a variety of other topics.

The environmental law faculty continued to strengthen that program with two fall programs, the environmental lecture by Professor Tony Arnold of the University of Louisville and the fall forum featuring several well-respected statewide environmental attorneys. Students not only had the opportunity to learn quite a bit during both these events, they had the opportunity to network with the attorney-speakers at receptions.

Networking continues to be key to establishing job offers and contacts for the future for students. To that aim, the Placement Office has initiated several tools to benefit students and recent graduates. First, to facilitate communication between students and alumni, it has created a new Facebook group for job postings, advice for students and information about networking events. Additionally, the Placement Office has implemented a student-placement mentor program by which students who have been successful in finding jobs — full- or part-time externships or summer associate positions — offer input to their classmates. Nearly 30 students have signed up to offer assistance since its inception only a month ago, continuing to show the collegial atmosphere at the law school. Students who have agreed to help their classmates have worked in locations as far-flung as Chicago, D.C. and Atlanta. Their experience has been with prestigious law firms, and the state and federal government. For more details about Placement Office programs, e-mail placement@law.fsu.edu or call 850.644.4495.

For more details about fall 2009 events at the College of Law, view the alumni magazine here.