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2019 Donald J. Weidner Summer for Undergraduates Program participants
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Last week, we welcomed 60 extremely bright, enthusiastic undergraduate students to campus for our 2019 Donald J. Weidner Summer for Undergraduates Program. The students attend a wide variety of institutions around the nation and we are delighted to have them at FSU Law. Our award-winning, four-week program is designed to acquaint students with the study of law and to assist them in acquiring skills that will benefit their undergraduate and future law school studies. Students are attending daily legal writing and law classes and meeting with prominent lawyers and judges to hear about opportunities in the legal profession. Since the program's opening session on Wednesday, June 12, participants have already attended sessions at the Florida Supreme Court with alumnus Justice C. Alan Lawson (’87), at the Florida Capitol with program benefactor and alumnus Wayne Hogan (’72) and alumna Pamela Burch Fort (’77), and at the College of Law with alumna Judge Nina Ashenafi Richardson (’91). Students have also attended a networking reception with dozens more alumni. During their remaining time at FSU Law, students will attend sessions with additional FSU Law alumni, including Rebecca Bandy (’05), Benjamin Crump (’95), Judge Raymond Gross (’72), Shenika “Nik” Harris (’04), Kenneth Lawson (’91) and Thomas Warren (’74). Another enriching component of the program is presentations by law school administrators and professors on topics including the admissions process, networking, the LSAT, interviewing, career options and much more. In addition, students will present moot court oral arguments and take a final exam. Please join me in welcoming our 2019 summer program participants to FSU Law. We know from past experience that the program will be life-changing for many of them!
- Dean Erin O'Connor
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Faculty Profile: Valencia Davis
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Valencia Davis is teaching Legal Writing for the Donald J. Weidner Summer for Undergraduates Program. Davis currently works at the Supreme Court of Florida, where she is a career staff attorney for Justice Jorge Labarga. Davis was a legal writing professor at FSU Law from 2004-2006, and in years since, has also served at FSU Law as an adjunct instructor and as a teacher in the Summer for Undergraduates Program. Davis, who has had a career-long commitment to law-related education, has also taught as an adjunct and a visiting instructor in the Legal Studies program at the University of West Florida, where she received an adjunct faculty excellence award in 2015. She holds a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary social science education from the University of West Florida, an M.Ed. in social science education from the University of Central Florida and a J.D. from the University of Nebraska College of Law.
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“Teaching in the Donald J. Weidner Summer for Undergraduates Program is one of the greatest joys of my career. I love to engage with these wonderfully insightful students as they learn about law school and the path to a legal career. The students never fail to impress me with their questions and viewpoints, and they continually inspire my optimism for the future of the legal profession.”
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Alum Profile: Max Jordan Solomon (’17)
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Max Solomon is an associate at Heuler-Wakeman Law Group, P.L. in Tallahassee, where he focuses on elder law, including guardianship, probate administration and litigation, public benefits planning, trusts and estates, financial exploitation, and appeals. He also works on animal care trusts and veterans’ legal issues, and is an accredited VA attorney. Outside of his elder law practice, Solomon advises Florida candidates, setting up political committees, working on election compliance and litigating finance issues. He currently serves as co-chair of The Florida Bar Elder Law Section’s Law School Liaison Committee and volunteers with Legal Services of North Florida. He remains very engaged with FSU Law. This spring, he visited the law school to give a presentation about pet trusts to the FSU Animal Legal Defense Fund and Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Society.
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“I stay engaged with the College of Law because my classmates and professors have made such a positive impact on my life and career. I am proud to be helping establish FSU Law’s Tallahassee area alumni group so that we can continue to network and assist each other in navigating our noble profession.”
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Student Profile: 2019 Grad Evan Etheridge
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Desired Practice Location: Anywhere in Florida or Atlanta
Field of Law Sought: Criminal or corporate law
Originally from Albany, Georgia, Evan Etheridge earned a bachelor’s degree in international affairs from the University of Georgia. He graduated from FSU Law in May 2019. During the summer after his 2L year, Etheridge interned for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit of Florida. He worked both in the Postconviction Unit in Fort Myers, as well as in the Misdemeanor Division in Charlotte County. While there, Etheridge helped attorneys develop trial strategy, conducted research, condensed and organized case files, and attended depositions, trials and other hearings. During the summer after his 1L year, Etheridge attended the Summer Program in Law at the University of Oxford in England. He also worked as a mentor for the FSU Law Donald J. Weidner Summer for Undergraduates Program, where he planned events, coordinated guest speakers, and provided advice and direction to potential law students. Etheridge was a member of the Student Bar Association and the Federalist Society. He was also captain of FSU Law’s co-rec softball team. If you are interested in hiring Etheridge, visit his LinkedIn profile.
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“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Florida State Law and I firmly believe that my three years here have prepared me for a lifetime of success. Having the chance to learn from such a tremendous faculty has not only given me the confidence to take on daunting legal issues, but also the desire to go out into the world and make a difference.”
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