Aimed at honing students' analytical skills and preparing them for the rigors of law school examinations, the Academic Achievement Program is a testament to the collaborative spirit of the University of Miami School of Law. It draws on the collective strengths of the institution's administration, faculty, and student body to foster academic excellence.
The program welcomes Alex Calle, J.D. '14, as its new assistant director. Calle (section B advisor), an alumnus of Florida International University with a B.A. in political science, brings a wealth of experience to his role. As a law student, he distinguished himself as an articles and comments editor for the University of Miami Inter-American Law Review, contributed as a HOPE Public Interest Fellow, and honed his legal skills as a certified intern at the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office.
In other exciting developments, Rodney Rawls has been appointed program director, with Odetta Clarke, J.D. '12, and Jack F. Townsend, B.A. '14, J.D./LL.M. '17, stepping in as associate directors. Rawls brings close to 20 years of experience in academic support and looks forward to using this experience to help students achieve their best. Clarke (sections C and D advisor) and Townsend (section A advisor) transition from their previous positions in Student Life, bringing fresh perspectives to their new roles. The AAP Team is bolstered by the diligent efforts of Megan Toledo, the AAP program coordinator for the Dean’s Fellow Study Program.
A flagship feature of the program is the Dean's Fellow Study Groups. These sessions offer first-year law students the unique opportunity to engage in weekly study groups tailored to specific classes under the guidance of a Dean's Fellow. The fellows, who are upper-level students with a proven track record of academic success, employ interactive learning techniques to cater to various learning styles. They work closely with professors, attend all class sessions, and lead two weekly study group meetings. The initiative not only eases students into the demands of law study but also fosters a supportive and engaging learning environment.
Continuing its tradition of legal education innovation, the School of Law has partnered with BARBRI. This collaboration ensures students and graduates have seamless access to BARBRI's comprehensive bar review resources. From the outset of their J.D. program, students can utilize a suite of resources, including a bar mastery series tailored to each year of study, MPRE review materials, and a range of assessments to aid in Multistate Bar Exam preparation and to gauge bar readiness.
Together, these initiatives underscore the program's commitment to supporting students throughout their law school journey and beyond as they prepare for successful legal careers.
Read more about the BARBRI program.
Read more about the Academic Achievement Program.
