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Thanks to the generous support of FSU Law graduates, we are delighted to report that contributed dollars from alumni to the Annual Fund reached an all-time high of $502,238 for the 2018-19 fiscal year! Many thanks to everyone who gave and to everyone who played a part in soliciting donations. Your contributions and efforts are making a difference for our students through scholarships and support for our programs, co-curriculars and student groups. With our Fall Phonathon beginning in a little more than two weeks, we ask that you answer the call again this year. Students will begin calling alumni on September 23. We are still accepting gifts for student scholarships through our Pave the Way Campaign, which is already significantly impacting students. As always, you can also designate your gift to any organization with which you are affiliated or any fund that suits your interests. Thank you for your support!
- Dean Erin O'Connor
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FSU Law Students Provide Free Tax Preparation for Low-Income Families
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During the 2019 tax season, 35 IRS-certified students from FSU, including many FSU Law students, helped prepare 418 tax returns for Tallahassee families–securing them more than $720,000 in tax refunds and saving them nearly $170,000 in commercial tax preparation fees. The law students were volunteers through the College of Law’s partnership with Impact America to establish and manage free tax sites and provide free tax preparation for low-income, working families through the SaveFirst initiative.
Additionally, Florida State University College of Law students were part of a coalition of more than 500 students from 24 campuses across the southeast that provided free tax preparation to low-income, working families. The SaveFirst initiative exists to ensure these families receive the full Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and other credits to which they are entitled, and to encourage long-term financial planning and asset-building.
“It is very gratifying to know the difference our students are making,” said Dean Erin O’Connor. “We applaud our students and Impact America for making this possible.”
In order to obtain a law degree at FSU, students must perform a minimum of 20 hours of pro bono legal work. Students earn pro bono hours in a wide variety of ways. In support of the requirement, the law school has relationships with numerous organizations that are designated pre-approved pro bono sites. Many FSU Law students go well beyond the minimum hours required—impressively, the FSU Law class of 2019 completed 12,760 hours of pro bono legal service.
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Alum Profile: Krista A. Storey (’83)
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Krista A. Storey is a senior assistant county attorney for Martin County and has been representing Florida local governments for almost 35 years. She provides legal representation to the Board of County Commissioners, the county administrator, department heads, staff, other boards and committees. Storey has special expertise in land use, zoning and comprehensive planning, which she has utilized in representing the growth management and building departments, code enforcement staff, the Local Planning Agency and the Board of Zoning Adjustment. Storey has served as acting county attorney for Martin County three times, most recently from January 2019 through June 2019. Before joining the Martin County legal team, Storey served as city attorney for the City of Edgewater and as assistant county attorney for St. Lucie County.
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“Local government practice has evolved during my 35 years of public sector employment. I got my start as a second-year law student with a yearlong Florida Senate committee internship and haven’t looked back. County and city attorney offices provide great opportunities for graduates in numerous substantive areas, land use, environmental, real estate, finance and litigation to name a few. As the level of government closest to home, decisions made by city and county commissioners impact residents’ daily lives. Interaction with residents is an important component of the practice, in addition to the chance to assist in the development of good public policy. Opportunities abound in Tallahassee in virtually all governmental and judicial sectors to gain valuable experience – no wonder FSU was the nation’s eighth best in terms of law schools with the highest percentage of 2018 graduates obtaining government and public interest jobs.”
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Student Profile: 3L Ryan Dyson
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Desired Practice Location: Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando, Sarasota or West Palm Beach areas
Expected Graduation: May 2020
Field of Law Sought: Sports and entertainment law, corporate law or legislative affairs
Ryan Dyson is from Bradenton, Florida. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Florida and will graduate from FSU Law in May 2020. During his 3L year, Dyson will be interning with the Florida Senate Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources. This summer, he externed with Paul Davis Restoration in Jacksonville, where he assisted with franchise agreements, terminations, compliance and legislative initiatives. During the Florida 2019 legislative session, Dyson clerked with the Senate Committee on Innovation, Industry and Technology, where he assisted committee members and staff in the areas of alcohol, gambling, tobacco and public utilities. The summer following his 1L year, Dyson clerked with the University of South Florida's Office of the General Counsel. He assisted attorneys with issues regarding internal university policies, the updating of university contracts, student privacy laws and athletics. At FSU Law, Dyson has been the competition chair and vice president of the Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Society, as well as the vice president of LitiGators. Dyson competed at Tulane's Mock Major League Baseball Arbitration Competition and is a member of the FSU Law softball team. If you are interested in hiring Dyson after graduation, visit his LinkedIn profile.
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“Coming from the University of Florida I didn't know what to expect when I arrived at FSU. Being a part of the FSU Law family has allowed me to meet so many great people and have experiences that I could not have anywhere else. I will always cherish my time spent at FSU Law and look forward to joining the alumni community.”
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