"The greatest privilege on the face of the earth is to be a member of the Bar," said Justice Lewis, JD '72. When he was a student at Miami Law, he was a member of the University of Miami Law Review and an officer of the Student Bar Association. Additionally, he was inducted into the Iron Arrow honor society, the highest honor of the University of Miami, and was awarded membership into the Bar and Gavel, and Order of Barristers. "When you leave here, you will be a lawyer in the great state of Florida."
The graduates were among the first in the state to take the oath, which pledged that as lawyers they are to maintain: "fairness, integrity, and civility, not only in court, but also in all written and oral communications;"
Justice Lewis urged the new lawyers to not lose sight of their priorities. He said, "Stay true to who you are. Stay true to the values you've been taught by your family and here at the Miami School of Law."
The occasion, in itself, was cause for celebration. But when Justice Lewis announced that among the audience sat a fellow classmate, Victoria Wilson, who achieved the highest score on the July Bar exam, the room erupted into cheers.
Wilson said she became elated after receiving the news earlier that day. Now, a commercial litigation associate at Kenny Nachwalter, PA located in downtown Miami, she immediately called her fiance. Because of her high-ranking score, she has been invited to speak at the Florida Supreme Court induction ceremony taking place on Oct. 3.
"We are tremendously proud of Victoria Wilson," Dean Patricia D. White said, "We are proud of all of our graduates who were sworn in today."
Click here to view the new oath.
To obtain a copy of the new Oath of Admission to the Florida Bar, you should submit a written request for a Certificate of Admission, which is to be addressed to Florida Board of Bar Examiners located at 1891 Eider Court, Tallahassee Fl 32399-1750. The request must include your name, birthday, social security number and a check for $25. Recently admitted members can obtain (within 90 days of being sworn in) a free Oath of Admission to the Florida Bar by mailing in a signed copy of the oath provided on the day they were sworn in.
"I Do Solemnly Swear:" Miami Law Hosts Bar Swearing-In Ceremony
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL 33124
305-284-2211