FIU College of Law

FIU Law was proud to welcome our admitted students for Admitted Student Day.   Throughout the day, attendees had the opportunity to engage with our community and experience law school firsthand, including a class observation, conversations with faculty over lunch, and engaging panels featuring our advocacy teams and student journals.   The day concluded with a visit to Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton, offering a valuable look into the professional opportunities that await our students.   Thank you to our faculty, students, and alumni who helped make the day a meaningful and informative experience. We look forward to welcoming the next class of FIU Law students.

Oral advocacy is an essential skill, but it often comes with intense pressure. Racing hearts, sweaty palms, wobbly legs, and self-doubt are all too familiar.   This week, Professors Rosario Lozada and Angelique Ortega led Oral Argument Without Angst: A Mindful Practice, a dynamic workshop that helped students understand stress, the fight-flight-freeze response, and the relationship between stress and performance.  Students also explored practical tools and mindfulness-based techniques to help them manage stress (and even harness it) in high-stakes settings.   Thanks to all who participated. Good luck on your oral arguments. You’ve got this!

Congratulations to FIU Law’s Vis Moot team, Daniela González, Sabrina Prado, Jake Sanchez, and Sebastian Quintanilla, on their strong performance in Vienna at the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot. Their advocacy and professionalism on a global stage highlight the strength of our students and our commitment to experiential learning. Read more: bit.ly/4dCUXlI

The Federalist Society at FIU Law recently hosted America 250: A Constitution Conversation, featuring Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and moderated by FIU President Jeanette Nuñez.   The discussion offered valuable insight into Attorney General Uthmeier’s professional journey, including the experiences that have shaped his philosophy and approach to public service. He also reflected on personal and professional challenges that contributed to his growth, providing a candid perspective on resilience and leadership.   A key takeaway for students was his emphasis on the importance of strong writing skills as a foundational quality for success in both private practice and public service. The conversation provided practical guidance and meaningful perspective for those preparing to enter the legal profession.   Thank you to the Federalist Society at FIU Law for hosting this engaging program, and to our distinguished guests and attendees for contributing to a thoughtful and impactful discussion.

FIU Law rose seven spots in the latest @usnews Best Law Schools rankings, now ranked No. 40 among public law schools nationwide, with strong outcomes in graduate success and bar passage. Read more: bit.ly/4mgz3GX

Today, the CABA FIU Law Chapter hosted a Q&A session to learn more about CABA Pro Bono, its impact on the community, and how students can get involved in completing their pro bono hours.   Thank you to Karen Cespedes, Vice President, and Lesley Mendoza, Executive Director, for joining us this afternoon and sharing their work and the opportunities available to students.

Out of 18 teams competing, the @FIULaw trial team came out on top at the @TrialLawSection's Chester Bedell Memorial Mock Trial Championship. "This is a spectacular victory for the students and coaches on our Bedell trial team," Professor H.T. Smith said. floridabar.org/the-florida-ba…

On March 20th, FIU Law professor Barbara Ballan led a field trip to Everglades National Park, with students from both her Natural Resources Law and Environmental Law classes in attendance. Students had the opportunity to connect doctrine to practice by experiencing firsthand one of South Florida’s most important protected ecosystems. Seeing the landscape in person helped ground their discussions of restoration, conservation, biodiversity, wetlands protection, and the real-world implementation of environmental and natural resources law. It was a valuable experiential learning opportunity and a meaningful way for students to engage directly with the legal and policy issues they are studying in the classroom.   Through these courses, students develop a strong foundation in the legal frameworks governing environmental protection and natural resource management. They examine major federal statutes such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, NEPA, CERCLA, and the Endangered Species Act, while also exploring administrative law, enforcement, environmental justice, and emerging issues. In Natural Resources Law, the focus expands to the laws shaping the use and protection of forests, wildlife, water, wetlands, wilderness, and public lands.

Congratulations to our Trial Team on reaching the Final Four of the AAJ National Student Trial Advocacy Competition for the first time after winning Regionals. 3Ls Rachel Cross, Michael Leatherman, Benjamin Sly, and 2L Callie Moore advanced through a competitive national field to the semifinals. Full story: bit.ly/4v0GV3h

Today, the FIU Law Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Society (RPPTL) hosted “Behind the Beat: Florida Real Estate Deals Unraveled,” a deep dive into the world of high-profile real estate transactions involving music artists in Florida.   Moderated by RPPTL Vice President Matthew Brust, the discussion was led by guest speakers and attorneys Jacqueline Marzan and Silvia Rojas. Students gained an inside look at the legal side of some of Miami’s most talked-about deals by exploring what drives real estate investment, the benefits of ownership, and the complexities of representing high-profile clients.

This week, the Women’s Law Society at FIU Law hosted a conversation on professional experiences in law practice and related careers. Panelists shared their individual paths to success, offered advice on overcoming professional obstacles, and provided guidance on making career pivots and seeking leadership positions. Thank you to Miriam Fresco Agrait, Devyn Hoskisson, and Natacha JeanBaptiste for joining us!

FIU Law Professor Vanessa Miller recently presented at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law during the 2026 UA Little Rock Law Review Symposium, Rethinking Juvenile Law Through Education and Trauma.   Professor Miller participated in the panel “The Future of Juvenile Law: Education, Healing, and Accountability,” where she presented her forthcoming paper, Rethinking the School-Prison Nexus. Learn more: ualr.edu/lawreview/2026…

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Great Legal Storytellers at FIU Law.   As the flagship event of our Trial Advocacy Program, Great Legal Storytellers brings together students and the legal community for a conversation on advocacy.   We were honored to host Michael Haggard, a nationally recognized trial lawyer whose career has focused on pursuing justice for victims. His work in pool drowning, negligent security, wrongful death, unsafe premises, and products liability extends beyond the courtroom, helping drive change through local, state, and federal legislation.   He spoke about the role of attorneys in identifying and preventing danger, and how the tort system helps make communities safer. Speaking directly to students, he encouraged future lawyers to pursue their work with purpose, step into the role of advocates, and lead with courage and conviction.   We are grateful to our students, alumni, and members of the legal community who made this event such a success.

Professor Roman authored an op-ed in The Washington Times on the FTC’s recent warning to Apple regarding neutrality in the company’s aggregation of news stories. Read more: bit.ly/47okzPd

FIU Law’s CPPO Committee hosted an informal conversation with students about networking and establishing strategies for externships and long-term job placement. Thank you to our panelists for sharing their insight and helping our students form their professional identities.

Come visit the FIU Law booth at the FIBA AML Conference 2026 to learn more about how our one year, fully online master’s degree in law can help you advance your career in banking, financial services, and BSA/AML work. @FIBAbankers   #FIBAConference2026 #FIBAAML2026

Today, the Criminal Law Society hosted Dangers of Cybercrime, a panel featuring attorney and Division Chief of the Broward State Attorney’s Office Cybercrime Unit, Justin Griffis. Students had the opportunity to learn from his firsthand experiences, career trajectory, insights on emerging technologies in the field, and practical tips on how to protect themselves from cybercrime.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for IP x Influence: A Social Media and Creator Rights Conference at FIU College of Law on March 20, 2026.   The conference brought together legal practitioners, academics, students, and industry professionals to examine the evolving legal issues shaping the creator economy and digital markets. Panels addressed creator and brand agreements, intellectual property enforcement in digital spaces, ethics in digital advertising, and emerging trends affecting creators and the professionals who support them.   We are grateful to our speakers and attendees for contributing to a dynamic discussion. FIU Law looks forward to continuing to host programs exploring the intersection of law, technology, and the creator economy.

Today, FIU Law hosted its inaugural Private Law Firm Career Fair, bringing together students and employers for networking and professional engagement. The event gave students the opportunity to connect with firms, learn about hiring needs, and explore summer and post-graduate opportunities.   Participating employers met with students, shared information about their firms, and collected resumes, helping introduce students to a range of practice areas and potential career paths.   Special thanks to Jason R. Marks of Kluger, Kaplan, Silverman, Katzen & Levine, P.L. for delivering our pre-fair briefing on skills development and professional advice on successfully entering the practice of law.