|
|
|  | We celebrated our students last week at a student give back campaign appreciation event. | |
| | |
Our annual student give back campaign concluded in March and we are pleased to report that collectively, our students donated more than 1,100 hours of their time and more than $3,500 to advance the College of Law! An incredible 88.27% of students donated either time or finances, with many doing both. Our 1Ls ended the campaign with the highest rate of participation – an impressive 91.51%! We are very grateful to our students for their support, which communicates a great deal about our FSU Law community. Last week, we held an appreciation event at the law school to thank students for their generosity. The event was also a nice opportunity to connect with students before exams begin next week. Many thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate our vibrant, supportive student body! - Dean Erin O'Connor
| |
|
Faculty & Alum Profile: Alyssa Lathrop (’09)
| |
Alyssa Lathrop is an adjunct professor teaching Judicial Externship Perspectives Seminar this semester. She is currently a hearing officer at the Florida Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC), where she presides over administrative hearings for labor and employment disputes, including career service discipline, age discrimination, Whistle-Blower Act, Drug-Free Workplace Act, veterans’ preference and unfair labor practice cases. Prior to joining PERC, Lathrop was chief assistant general counsel of the regulatory division of legal services at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Previously, she served as a staff attorney for Justice Barbara Pariente at the Florida Supreme Court. Lathrop graduated summa cum laude from FSU College of Law in 2009, where she served as editor-in-chief of the Florida State University Law Review. A “double 'Nole,” Lathrop also earned her bachelor’s degree in philosophy and anthropology from FSU.
| |
“My externship at the Florida Supreme Court was one of the highlights of my law student experience at FSU. That experiential learning opportunity enhanced my professional career and continues to pay dividends even today. This is why I am excited to help the current generation of law students have rewarding and successful externship experiences.”
| |
|
Alum Profile: Charles C. Whittington (’11)
| |
Charles C. Whittington is a shareholder at Grant Fridkin Pearson, P.A., in Naples, where he is a member of the firm’s real estate and business law practice groups. Whittington’s real estate practice includes complex commercial and residential real estate transactional matters, including acquisition, disposition, finance, leasing and development. Whittington has successfully represented clients seeking land use entitlements before the City of Naples, Collier County and Lee County. He counsels corporate clients on a wide variety of commercial transactions and business relationships, including business formation, the purchase or sale of businesses, non-competition covenants, commercial leases and other types of contracts. Whittington also represents financial institutions and borrowers in all aspects of business and real estate financing. Whittington serves as president of the Young Lawyers Section of the Collier County Bar Association, is a director of the Collier County Bar Foundation and is past chairman of the Real Estate Section of the Collier County Bar Association. He is also a member of The Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section. Whittington actively gives back to his community, and in his free time enjoys spending time with his wife, Caitlin, and two children.
| |
“I continue to look fondly at my time at FSU College of Law. The engaging faculty and collegial student body stand out as highlights for me. Moreover, the education and real-world work experience I received while a student at the FSU College of Law provided a strong foundation from which I was able to grow my legal career.”
| |
|
Student Profile: 3L Abrianne Brookins
| |
Desired Practice Location: Atlanta or South Florida
Expected Graduation: May 2019
Specialization: Business law
Field of Law Sought: Corporate law
Originally from Miami, Abrianne Brookins earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Spelman College. She will graduate from FSU College of Law in May 2019. Currently, Brookins is participating in the FSU Business Law Clinic, where she assists with client intake and identifies legal and business issues. She selects the appropriate entities for clients and drafts organizational documents, shareholder contracts and licensing agreements. From April 2018 - January 2019, Brookins clerked at Heath & Rasky. She analyzed incoming cases, researched case law, prepared discovery, wrote deposition summaries, and drafted correspondence, pleadings, motions and orders. She also maintained client relations, scheduled court hearings and compulsory medical examinations, and corresponded with insurance adjusters, clients and opposing counsel. During the fall of her 2L year, Brookins interned at the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, where she drafted correspondence and forms, including administrative complaints, settlement agreements, final orders and closing orders. She also prepared affidavits and discovery for hearings, researched legislative issues and presented findings at team meetings. Brookins also interned at the FSU Center for Advancement of Human Rights during the spring semester of her 1L year. She assisted attorneys in providing legal representation to victims of human trafficking and torture who were seeking asylum and citizenship. Brookins was a member of the Student Bar Association and was the 1L representative for the Black Law Students Association. If you are interested in connecting with Brookins, email her at ab16ae@my.fsu.edu.
| |
“I’m very interested in expanding my knowledge and being part of an awesome team. Helping companies develop and move things in the right direction has always been a passion of mine. I bring a smile, motivation and positive energy everywhere I go and the workplace is no exception.”
| |
|
|
|
|
