The University of Miami School of Law celebrated its 100th anniversary during the Spring 2026 Commencement ceremony, honoring a group of 404 graduating students while reflecting on the school’s evolution and milestone.
“You are a class 100 years in the making,” Patricia Sanchez Abril, dean of the School of Law, told the graduates. “In 1926 Miami Law welcomed its very first class in the Anastasia Building in Coral Gables. Today, we stand together as a nationally and internationally respected institution—and you are the centennial class that carries our legacy into its second century.”
The ceremony recognized the diverse paths that led students to this moment, awarding degrees across several programs, including one Doctor of Juridical Science, 53 Master of Laws degrees, 334 Juris Doctors degrees, and 16 Master of Legal Studies degrees.
The commencement address was delivered by the Honorable Roy K. Altman, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Florida. The youngest federal district court judge in the nation at the time of his appointment, Altman offered a unique perspective on the intersection of excellence, discipline, and public service.
Drawing on his family’s history of fleeing political persecution in Europe, Altman offered a poignant reminder of the sacrifices that paved the way for the graduates. He urged them to look beyond their own success toward a higher purpose.
“Whenever you feel that life’s challenges are too many ... think of all of the people in your own lives—your parents, grandparents, and your teachers—who have given so much and worked so hard to give you the opportunity and the privilege ... to stand here today. Remember to pay those people back by paying that debt forward—live lives of service to your community,” he said.
Altman further challenged the centennial class to find work that is “both work and service,” reminding them that as lawyers, they carry a unique weight in society. “You will be the essential stewards—the only guardians—of that intimate and inspiring relationship between a free people and its government,” he noted.
He concluded with a reminder that a professional reputation is built on everyday choices. “It is easy to promise to behave when you’re swearing the oath of attorney. It is harder when your opposing counsel is nasty, your client is ungrateful, and you haven’t slept well in weeks,” he said.
The theme of resilience was personified by student speaker, Yelyzaveta Aleksyeyeva. A native of Ukraine who navigated her legal education with English as her third language, Aleksyeyeva distinguished herself within the school’s litigation programs. Set to join the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office as an assistant state attorney, she reminded her peers that their true power lies in their integrity. “The true measure of the success we earned at Miami Law will not be the volume of our voice but the impact of its weight,” she told her fellow graduates.
This sense of purpose and gratitude was echoed by graduates across the centennial class as they reflected on their individual journeys. The graduates represented the bridge into the School of Law’s second century, a legacy that began with a first graduating class of just 13 students who completed their studies in 1929. That small group laid the foundation for an institution that has since graduated more than 27,000 lawyers.
Alicia-Rosa Gonzalez, who is headed to the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps, credited the school’s clinical opportunities for her career launch. “Through the resources and opportunities available to me at Miami Law, I was able to explore and learn more about serving as a military lawyer,” she said, noting that her internship with the Coast Guard helped her “discover the career path that is right for me.”
For others, the moment was a chance to reflect on the grit required to reach the finish line. Nicolas Vicenty, who will join the state attorney’s office for the 4th Judicial Circuit, described the journey as a grueling but rewarding one. “I walk away with a profound sense of pride, unforgettable memories, and deep gratitude for the faculty, friends, and family whose unwavering support propelled me forward,” Vicenty said. “If I were asked whether I would do it all over again, I would simply respond, ‘In a heartbeat.’”
As the ceremony concluded, Abril provided a final charge to the newly minted alumni, urging them to use their hard-earned credentials to tackle the challenges of a rapidly changing world.
“As you transition into practice, you carry the foundation of an institution committed to innovation, community, and empowerment to tackle the challenges of tomorrow,” she said. “Use your degree to lead, to serve, and to make the world a better place.”
