Quick Facts

17% - Enrollment growth in the B.S./B.A. in legal studies program from 2007-2011

850 - Over 850 undergraduate legal studies majors in Fall 2011, making the program one of the largest undergraduate legal studies programs of its kind in the country

1st - UCF Legal Studies Department named as the inaugural site of the American Collegiate Moot Court South Atlantic Regional Tournament to be held December 2-3, 2011

4th - Edition of Foundations of Legal Research and Writing published by Associate Professor Carol Bast in 2010

Recent Publications

Foundations of Law: Cases, Commentary and Ethics, 5th Edition
By Ransford C. Pyle and Carol M. Bast
more

The College of Health and Public Affairs is a global leader in creating positive community change

Mission Statement

The Department of Legal Studies at the University of Central Florida provides excellence in teaching, research and service related to the law and legal community. Dedicated to its students, the faculty delivers outstanding instruction at the undergraduate level, incorporating learning, service and inquiry. By actively developing meaningful partnerships, it provides exemplary service to the university and the broader professional and academic community.

Connolly Wins Employee of the Year Award

4/27/12

Congratulations to Office Manager Katie Connolly (left in both photos), recipient of the College of Health and Public Affairs' 2011-2012 Employee of the Year Award in the University Support Personnel System (USPS) category! The award, which comes with a check for $1,000, was announced at the college's Staff Appreciation Luncheon on April 25. Connolly posed with several department colleagues (right photo) after the luncheon.

Faculty Interviewed on NPR About Trayvon Martin Case

4/12/12

Instructor Brett Meltzer, a former prosecutor at both the state and federal levels, was interviewed last night on National Public Radio about legal aspects of the second-degree murder charge against George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin case. Listen to his interview

In addition, Associate Professor Robert Wood, also an attorney, was quoted last night during another NPR interview on the same topic. Read the transcript

Slaughter Moderates Discussion on Book About Casey Anthony Trial

4/4/12

Assistant Professor David Slaughter (left in left photo above), program coordinator for the Department of Legal Studies, moderated a discussion with author Jeff Ashton (left and right photos) about his new book, Imperfect Justice: Prosecuting Casey Anthony, at the UCF Book Festival on March 31, 2012.

Ashton served as the senior prosecutor for the State of Florida during the prosecution of Casey Anthony. His book seeks to “understand how the jury, given the formidable circumstantial evidence and the overwhelming number of incidents of the defendant’s lies, could have reached a ‘not guilty’ verdict in such a short amount of time.” (Quotation taken from book review by Mark Lewis in The Florida Bar Journal, April 2012, pp. 42-43.)

The event was one of the most well-attended author talks during the third annual book festival at UCF. Approximately 50 to 60 people were in attendance for the presentation and book signing.

In addition to his lengthy career -- including being the first prosecutor in the United States to successfully try a case with DNA evidence -- Ashton has deep ties to the Department of Legal Studies at UCF. He served as an adjunct professor for a number of years, teaching legal studies students the substance and art of criminal procedure. Additionally, Ashton is a current member of the department's Legal Studies Advisory Board.

Slaughter is a well-respected and well-known member of the department, having served as a legal studies faculty member at UCF since 1978.

Alumnus Receives Statewide pro Bono Service Award For Young Lawyers

3/22/12
Timothy Allen Moran (B.A. in legal studies, B.A. in political sciences, '01), an Oviedo attorney in private practice, is the recipient of the 2012 Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Pro Bono Service Award. News of his award and photos of Moran appear in the Feb. 15, 2012, issue of The Florida Bar News. His efforts have "prevented countless families from becoming homeless," according to the report. Moran was born with cerebral palsy. He uses a wheelchair and relies on FAMU law students and computer software to write. Read the article Additional photo

Phi Alpha Delta Knights March Newsletter

3/14/12

The March 2012 issue of the Phi Alpha Delta Knights newsletter provides students with information about workshops, fundraisers, community service, the LSAT and law school. Read the issue.

Legal Studies Student Discusses Cellphone "Cramming" Charges in Orlando Sentinel

2/29/12
Monique Eigenbauer, a legal studies student and current Florida Legislative Intern in Tallahassee, recently relayed her experience with mysterious cellphone "cramming" charges in an Orlando Sentinel article. Read the article

What's the article didn't mention, said Instructor Chad Cronon, is that she was given a unique opportunity to testify at a hearing before a legislative committee regarding "cramming."

"People work in Tallahassee for years and never get to testify before a committee," he noted. "It is impressive."

Cronon knows Eigenbauer well, having taught her in almost every course he's instructed at UCF Valencia West. He said he's witnessed her undergo a transformation of sorts:

"Monique is part of the first cohort of legal studies majors at UCF Valencia West. When I first met her, she turned up in class with groovy blue hair and had her eyebrow pierced. After our first meeting, I knew she was sharp as a tack. As she prepared for her internship, and without me having to say really too much about a professional look for the legislature, the blue hair disappeared, the eyebrow ring disappeared. She started turning up to class in professional-looking outfits. I have enjoyed watching her evolve. I still think she has an edgy advocate in spirit, but she is learning how to be a professional advocate. She is going to go far. I am convinced she will make and outstanding attorney one day. I am so proud of her."

Legal Studies Students Awarded UCF's Highest Honor

2/23/12
Two legal studies students, Andrea-Li Medina and Yisell Rodriguez, have been awarded UCF's highest honor, the Order of Pegasus. They are among just 19 undergraduates campuswide selected to receive this honor for 2012. The Order of Pegasus recognizes "exemplary performance" by UCF undergraduates in the areas of academic achievement, outstanding university involvement, leadership and community service, according to the UCF Office of Student Development and Enrollment Services.

Department Hosts Highly Successful Regional Mock Trial Tournament

2/23/12

The Department of Legal Studies held a highly successful regional mock trial tournament at UCF's Orlando campus on Feb. 18-19. The department hosted the American Mock Trial Association's Orlando Regional Tournament, an annual event of qualifying rounds involving teams of undergraduate students from throughout the southern United States. This year's tournament drew an exceptionally large number of local attorneys as volunteer judges, reported Margarita Koblasz, instructor of legal studies and coordinator of the Mock Trial Team at UCF. At the end of the second day, eight teams, including one from UCF, advanced to next month's Opening Round Championship Series in Greenville, S.C. "After having been to Buffalo, Boston, Fresno and Atlanta (just to name a few) I know that there is NO other regional in the country that can even come close to the caliber of tournament hosted by UCF," Koblasz said. Read her full report

Local Bar Association Reports on UCF's Moot Court Tournament

2/14/12
The February 2012 issue of The Briefs, a publication of the Orange County Bar Association, reports on the 2011 South Atlantic Regional Undergraduate Moot Court Qualifying Tournament hosted by the Department of Legal Studies. Read the article

TV Segment Showcases Moot Court Tournament at UCF

2/3/12

More than 100 college students from across the country gathered in Orlando in December 2011 to compete in the annual South Atlantic Regional Undergraduate Moot Court Qualifying Tournament hosted by the Department of Legal Studies at the University of Central Florida. A new video shows UCF students preparing for the tournament and other students competing. The segment is airing on both WUCF TV and UCFTV. It also will appear in the debut episode of UCF's TV program, "One," which will air in March or April.

Meltzer Weighs in on the death penalty in Peer-Reviewed essay

1/18/12
Brett Meltzer, instructor of legal studies, is the author of an essay on the death penalty published in the latest issue of ABC-CLIO's Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society. He is one of three authors to respond to the question, "Should the Death Penalty be Abolished?"

In his essay, Meltzer argues in favor of retaining the death penalty, primarily because it is not cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, it is a proportionate punishment for certain offenders, and it is a useful tool to deter future murderers.

"Meltzer argues that the death penalty is constitutional, that no innocent people have been proven to have been put to death [in the current legal system], and that the death penalty is the only proportional punishment for some heinous crimes," the publication states in a summary of the essays.

The citation for the complete article is "Should the United States abolish capital punishment?." Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 18 Jan. 2012.

Learn more at http://issues2.abc-clio.com/

Moot Court Tournament a Resounding Success

12/21/11

Moot Court Tournament Earlier this month, more than 100 college students from across the country gathered in Orlando to compete in the South Atlantic Regional Undergraduate Moot Court Qualifying Tournament hosted by UCF's Department of Legal Studies. Learn more

Internet Threats Against U.S. President To Be Argued During Student Tournament

12/1/11
More than 100 college students will put their lawyering skills to the test Friday, Dec. 2, when they defend or argue against the legality of shutting down a chat room where threats to the U.S. president were made.

It’s a hypothetical case that is at the center of the South Atlantic Regional Undergraduate Moot Court Qualifying Tournament, which will be judged by more than 75 local judges and attorneys. The tournament will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, at UCF’s main campus in Orlando and from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Seminole State-UCF Partnership Center in Sanford. Learn more

UCF Wins Big in Mock Trial Competitions

11/14/11
In an unprecedented weekend, the Trial Team at UCF competed at two different tournaments on the same weekend. Teams 868, 869, and 870 traveled to Middle Tennessee State University to compete in the 19th Annual MTSU Invitational Tournament. The tournament was attended by 48 teams from across the country, including Fresno State, Vanderbilt, Rhodes, University of Georgia, University of South Carolina, University of Alabama, and many others. At the same time, teams 871 and 872 traveled to Gainesville to compete at UF's Growlin' Gator Invitational. The amazing part is that four of our teams placed at these tournaments!

Team 868, coached by Chad Cronon and Patricia Cashman, Esq., took 1st place in their division with an undefeated 8-0! This team is captained by Michael Garcia and the members are: Meghan Bejarano, Lydia Crawford, Victor Demesmin, Jackie DerOvanesian, Nick Gurney, Bianca Lherisson, Daniel Miles, and Nathan Nelson.

Team 869, coached by Andrew Langenbach, took 2nd place in the same division with a record of 7-1! This team is captained by Catya Ruiz and the members are: Rey Justiz, Ali Kamalzadeh, Tabitha Koblasz, Markus Kurden, Kyle Ross, Travis Russell, Emilio Solares, Marco Specoli, and Rob Zahradnik-Mitchell. In addition to their great team performance, for a second tournament in a row, Ali Kamalzadeh earned a double witness award!

Team 870, coached by Jordan Ostroff, took 3rd place in the other division! This team is captained by David Reimel and the members are: Caitlin Esposito, Eduardo Faria, Patrick Landy, Christy Redmond, Ellen Ryan, Alexis Wansac, Jared Woliver, and Jacob Zinger. Also Ellen Ryan earned her first witness award!

Overall, out of a field of 48 incredibly tough teams UCF placed 2nd, 4th, and 6th in Tennessee!

While we traveled home yesterday our other two teams were still competing in Gainesville. When all was said and done Team 871, coached by Tim Collins, had earned 3rd place! This team is captained by Bryan Blount and the members are: Thiago Coelho, Tarig Elwasila,Khari Fischer-Pratt, Cameron Marsh, Sarah Morris, Dylan Nesturrick, Robin Teetzel, and Davis Watson.

Finally, while Team 872 did not place, they did not come home empty handed. Khambrel Davis earned an Outstanding Attorney Award. This team is coached by Andrew Doyle and captained by Mike Zizich. The members are Glen Gordon, Ben Peyret, Romain Peyret, Greg Snavely, and Jackie Spellicy.

What an amazing weekend for an amazing group of students! I am incredibly proud of their performances and thankful to blessed by so many truly gifted and dedicated assistant coaches! The South again saw the caliber of students in the UCF program.

- Margarita Koblasz, J.D., instructor of legal studies and coordinator for the Trial Team at UCF

Walters Receives Professional Achievement Award

10/31/11

Lawrence "Larry" Walters, a 1985 graduate of UCF's legal studies program, received the College of Health and Public Affairs' Professional Achievement Award for 2011 at the university's Black and Gold Gala on Oct. 28, 2011. Walters has a successful law practice, the Walters Law Group, in Longwood, FLa. Watch the Black and Gold Gala video about Larry.

Beckman Publishes Essay on Civil Liberties

9/29/11
Department Chair James Beckman is the author of an essay, "Temporary Reduction of Civil Liberties is Acceptable in the Name of National Security," published this week in ABC-CLIO Enduring Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society. His essay is one three on the topic of civil liberties vs. national security. A summary of the essays includes the following:

James Beckman, in his response, claims that it is acceptable to allow a temporary reduction in civil liberties during times of war if it is done in the name of national security. He further goes on to state that there is much precedent throughout the history of the country for such suspension of liberties. Among other evidence, Beckman points to the decision by President Abraham Lincoln to weaken particular civil liberties during the time of the Civil War "to save [the] life of the country."

Read more at: Should civil liberties ever be suspended in the interest of national security?. (2011). In Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society. Retrieved September 29, 2011, from http://issues2.abc-clio.com/

The Briefs Magazine Features Article by Cook

9/8/11
Instructor Kathy Cook discusses the value of recognizing paralegals in the workplace in "The Three Rs — Reading, Writing and Recognition," an article appearing this month in The Briefs, the flagship publication of the Orange County Bar Association. Read the article

Court is In Session for Students

9/7/11
When Nancy St. George was a legal studies student at UCF's Cocoa campus, she helped found Court Watch Brevard, a program that helps cases involving domestic abuse, sexual assault and child abuse. Since launching the program in 2009, nearly 50 students, including some from UCF, have been trained as court watchers in Brevard County. Learn more in an article published in UCF Today.

Pons Speaks at Community Foreclosure Workshop

7/23/11
Instructor Irene Pons was a speaker at a Foreclosure Prevention Workshop held today by the nonprofit Neighborhood Community Foundation. The foundation seeks to preserve and strengthen communities by partnering with city leaders, attorneys and relief agencies in educating homeowners about foreclosure prevention.

Brown Attends National Security Law Institute

7/12/11
Assistant Professor Cynthia Brown recently attended the 19th Annual National Security Law Institute conducted by the Center for National Security Law and the University of Virginia School of Law. This year's institute was held June 5-17 at the law school in Charlottesville, Va.

Brown was one of just five professors selected to attend the institute, following a national competitive process. The participants also included 27 government practitioners with responsibilities in national security.

The participants attended lectures, panels and debates to address both theoretical background and contemporary issues of national security law. Among the lecturers were former directors, chief counsel and executives of the CIA, the FBI, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the White House.

"It was an unbelievable opportunity and an honor to be selected," Brown said.

Department Welcomes New Chair James Beckman

7/1/11

The Department of Legal Studies is pleased to announce the arrival of James Beckman, J.D., as the first permanent chair of the department, which was established in July 2010.

Beckman comes to UCF from the University of Tampa, where he was an associate professor of government, world affairs and law from 2000-2011. For the last three of those years, he served as chair of the Department of Government, History and Sociology as well. He also was director of the university's Law and Justice program for 11 years.

In the 1990s, Beckman practiced law for the federal government, both as an active duty judge advocate (JAG) for the Army (with assignments at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, and Fort Meade, Md.) and with the Treasury Department in Washington, D.C.

Beckman was selected this spring for the chair position. "I was attracted to the size of the legal studies program at UCF, the breadth and scope of its curriculum, and the fact that the program here is not a subdivision of another academic discipline, but rather its own rightful academic department," he said. "On top of all of this, the people in the department are great and the campus is gorgeous!"

Pam Kirby, associate dean of undergraduate studies for the college, served as interim of the department from July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2011.

UCF to Host National Collegiate Moot Court Qualifying Tournament

6/14/11
The Executive Committee of the American Collegiate Moot Court Association has voted to accept UCF's proposal to host a national collegiate qualifying tournament on Dec. 2 and 3, 2011. "Given the quality of UCF's program in mock trial, and reputation as a tournament host, I am anticipating that this will be a very fine regional tournament," wrote ACMCA President Frank Guiliuzza. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

Legal Studies Quick Takes

UCF's Mock Trial Team

Legal Studies' Instructor Margarita Koblasz, who coordinates the Mock Trial Team at UCF, and Brenna Eagen (B.A. in legal studies, B.A. in English literature, '10) discuss the skills gained by team members on the Public Affairs Today show on UCF TV.

LS Highlights

Andrea-Li Medina

Andrea-Li Medina is the first student to receive the new Legal Studies Professional Development and Leadership Scholarship. She received the $500 award in fall 2010. "This scholarship helped me tremendously," said the legal studies honors student. "It was given at a time when I most needed it." This spring, she was selected to be a member of the 2011-2012 President’s Leadership Council at UCF. The honor recognizes her excellence in leadership, scholarship and service to the university and Orlando community. Medina plans to become an attorney, practicing in the fields of immigration, real estate and property, bankruptcy, and family law. She also aspires to become an immigration judge and one day return to UCF to teach and "give back to UCF what it has given me."
Lacy Page

Legal studies major Lacy Page (pictured above with Florida Gov. Rick Scott) served as a UCF Legislative Scholars Intern in Tallahassee in spring 2011. For three months, she worked in the legislative offices of Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner (District 9) and Representative Dorothy Hukill (District 28).

"It was a very enlightening experience that I will never forget," Page said. "There was not one day without some sort of excitement. I was privy to the ins and outs of Florida bills going from committee to law. I saw firsthand Florida voters' passion to have their voices heard in regards to bills because of the ultimate effect they will have on their lives. I attended committee meetings, House sessions and Senate sessions. I had the great honor of meeting our governor, attorney general, Senate president, House speaker plus many, many more movers and shakers that make up our state government. You could not ask for a better opportunity to see our House and Senate at work in an up close and personal way. I consider myself lucky to have had this prestigious opportunity and will always be thankful for it." More photos
Aboubakr Maaroufi

Aboubakr Maaroufi (B.S., legal studies, '10) recently described his first semester at Barry University Law School as "unbelievably successful." "I received an A for every class and I even booked (received the highest score) my contracts class," Maaroufi wrote. "In addition to that, I was selected as a member of the Barry trial team. ... I know that the education I received as a student in the legal studies program played a big role in what I have been able to achieve here at Barry." He has been selected to serve as a Dean's Study Fellow in fall 2011, a position offered "to only a few of the most successful law students," said Lisa Kirscht, director of academic success at Barry. Update, 6/2011: At the end of his first year of law school, Maaroufi ranks first in his class.
Mark Nation

Attorney Mark Nation (B.A., legal studies, '87) (above, left), founder of The Nation Law Firm, was named the College of Health and Public Affairs' 2009 Professional Achievement Award Winner. He is shown here with Michael Frumkin, dean of the college.
Brenna Egan

As a senior, Brenna Egan (B.A, legal studies; B.A, English, '10) received the Order of Pegasus award, UCF's most prestigious honor, and was named the 2010 Founders' Day Award Winner for the College of Health and Public Affairs. At UCF, Egan maintained a 4.0 GPA while remaining actively involved on-campus and in the Central Florida community during her four years at UCF. Egan was an active member of UCF's Mock Trial Team, winning five Outstanding Mock Trial Attorney awards at regional and national competitions. She also served as a volunteer teacher with Junior Achievement for four years, and she served as a volunteer jury advisor for the Orange County Teen Court. In addition, she took on the challenging Honors in the Major program in legal studies, which requires researching and writing a thesis. In spring 2010, she successfully defended her thesis, titled "The Battered Man: An Evaluation of Equal Justice under the Law." Egan will begin law school at Georgetown University Law Center in fall 2010.
Kathy Cook

Legal Studies' Instructor and Attorney Kathy Cook was named an honorary member of the Paralegal Association of Florida at the organization's 35th anniversary celebration on May 13, 2011. She received the honor in appreciation for her dedication and service to the association and paralegal profession. Cook is one of just two professionals to be awarded honorary membership in the organization. Click here to enlarge photo.
Matthew Beck

Alumnus Matt Beck (B.S., legal studies, '10) is currently a student at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. He completed a "great" summer 2011 internship at the U.S. Department of Justice and was invited to remain there this fall to write a monograph about alternative service of process in all 50 states for use in the Court of International Trade. "I'm pretty excited about writing something that will stay behind as an office resource long after I move on," he said. He also will write for the Georgetown International Law Review. Beck hopes to return to Orlando in 2012 as a summer associate at a local law firm.