Professor Laurence Rose, director of the Litigation Skills Program, has said, “The art of persuasion and performance, combined with strategic thinking,” is what are ultimately the variables that made certain students more effective advocates, as well as attractive to prospective employers.
Miami Law's Litigation Skills Program recently awarded scholarships to top students who distinguished themselves through their hard work and talent.
The Thomas Ewald Memorial Award, in the form of a Mont Blanc pen, was given to Christina Fernandez. The award is given each semester to the student in Litigation Skills who best exemplifies the devotion to high standards and ethical conduct followed by Tom Ewald.
The Marco A. Vazquez Memorial Scholarship of $7,000 was awarded to Henry Moreno. The scholarship was established in 1996 in memory of Marco A. Vazquez, a 1993 graduate of the school of law, and is awarded each semester to an academically qualified second or third-year law student who has completed the Litigation Skills Program and who has demonstrated financial need. Preference is given to Cuban/American students.
The John F. Evans Memorial Scholarship of $3,500 was awarded to Lauren Thronson. The scholarship was established in 1989 in memory of John F. Evans, a criminal defense attorney, former deputy chief of the U.S. State Department’s Miami Strike Force, and founding partner of the law firm of Zuckerman, Spaeder, Taylor and Evans. It is awarded each semester to a second or third-year student who has expressed an interest in trial practice.
The Honorable Theodore Klein Endowed Scholarship, a $3,000 award established in 2006 in memory of Theodore Klein, an outstanding lawyer, law professor, federal magistrate, and leader among his peers, was bestowed on Jessica Armstrong. The scholarship is awarded each semester to a rising second or third-year law student who has demonstrated financial need, demonstrated ability and excellence in oral and written advocacy, and has demonstrated a strong commitment to public service.
Carter Reeves and Ajith Shetty both received the Litigation Skills Adjunct Faculty Scholarship, of $4,000. The scholarship is awarded to a second or third-year law student who has shown excellence in advocacy, professionalism, and civility in the Litigation Skills I class and demonstrated financial need. The faculty confers on the recommendations, and the final determination is made by the director of the Litigation Skills Program, in consultation with the dean.
Samuel Ludington was named the Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton Scholar. Established in 1995 by one of Miami’s leading law firms, it is awarded to a minority law student who has completed Litigation Skills and has expressed an interest in trial advocacy.
The Honorable Stanford Blake Award of $500 was given to Michael Kimok; the award is given to a second- or third-year student who has excelled in trial skills.
The Richard L. Lapidus Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund awarded Christian Maroni $5,000. The scholarship is awarded to a student who has excelled in the Litigation Skills program and demonstrated a clear understanding of legal ethics.
The John M. Hogan Fund for Public Interest Litigation awarded Daisy Delgado Gomez $5,000 to memorialize John Hogan’s life and legacy. The law firm of Holland & Knight established the John M. Hogan Fund for Public Interest Litigation at Miami Law to be used to provide scholarship assistance to Hogan Scholars—law students who are certified legal interns with a preference given to students who wish to be placed at Legal Services of Greater Miami or the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office.
Daniel S. Pearson Endowed Scholarship was awarded to Annie Rosenthal. The $4,500 award is given to students who show great promise as trial lawyers, dedication to public service, and the highest standards of professionalism.
Ervin A. Gonzalez Endowed Scholarship was awarded to Christina Fernandez. The $5,000 scholarship is awarded to a student who has shown excellence in litigation skills.
Director’s Book Award for Excellence in Litigation Skills was bestowed on Josselyn Gomez, Gideon Levy, and Tiffany Hornback. The award is given to a student(s) who shows great promise in trial advocacy.
American Board of Trial Advocates awarded $1,000 to Jessica Hernandez, the cash prize given each year to a student who has excelled in the Litigation Skills Program and has demonstrated the highest level of professionalism and civility.
Beyond litigation training for the courtroom, the Litigation Skills Program incorporates feedback from active serving judges and lawyers. Students are also taught theater techniques in the art of persuasion portion of the curriculum; faculty at the University of Miami Theatre Department critiques the students on their abilities.
More on the Litigation Skills Program
