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

News Archive

2011
2010
2009
2008
2007

5/23/11

Alumna Elected as student delegate to American bar association

Alumna Tiffany Colbert (B.S. in legal studies, '08), a May 2011 graduate of
Stetson University College of Law, is one of only three students elected from law schools across the country to be a Student Delegate to the American Bar Association House of Delegates. The ABA House of Delegates is the policy-making body of the association. Colbert is also former 5th Circuit Governor for the Law Student Division including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Puerto Rico.

4/19/11

Cronon Receives Integrity Award

Chad Cronon, instructor of legal studies, was selected to receive a UCF Keeper of the Creed Award — "under the pillar of Integrity" — for 2010-2011. He was honored today by UCF Student Development and Enrollment Services at an Appreciation Celebration at 9 a.m. in the Student Union Pegasus Ballroom. Photo (Cronon is third from the left)

4/6/11

Egen Receives Top Thesis Award

Alumna Brenna Egen (Legal Studies B.A., English B.A. '10) received the Most Outstanding Honors in the Major Thesis Award in the category of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at UCF's annual Founders' Day celebration. She wrote her thesis, "The Battered Man: An Evaluation of Equal Justice Under the Law," under the direction of Kathy Cook, instructor of legal studies and an attorney. Egen investigated the problems the legal system has in recognizing that men can be victims of domestic violence. Her research showed that medical journals recognized a higher incidence of violence against men than legal resources. Egen is currently a first-year law student at Georgetown University Law.

3/29/11

CyberLaw Course Teaches Virtual Justice

Current Issues in CyberLaw is a graduate course offered by the Department of Legal Studies that examines free speech, copyright, patent and privacy issues through discussions, case study reviews and legal research projects.

3/2/11

Two UCF Trial Teams to Compete At Nationals

Team 870 and Team 871 of the Mock Trial Team at UCF have qualified to compete at the American Mock Trial Association National Championship Tournament, planned for April 15-17, 2011, in Des Moines, Iowa. To reach this level of competition, both groups of students have competed successfully in a series of regional mock trial competitions. Most recently, Team 871, faced teams from Duke University, the University of Georgia and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill at the Opening Round Championship in Greenville,... more S.C. Team 871 consists of Arthur Richards (captain), Carissa Dass, Jackie DerOvanesian, Alexis Wansac, Chris Best, David Reimel and Bianca Lherrison.

3/1/11

Brown Presents at Criminal Justice Sciences Meeting

Cynthia Brown, assistant professor of legal studies, traveled to Toronto to attend the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences meeting, held March 1-5. While there she will chair a panel entitled "Gender and the Justice Profession," present a paper entitled "The Evolution of Roles of Police Women as Portrayed in Television Crime Dramas: Myth or Reality," and participate in a roundtable discussion on "The Future of Capital Punishment in the United States," chaired by Robert Bohm, professor of criminal justice at UCF. The night before the conference, Brown conducted a teaching and research workshop... more for junior faculty entitled "What You Always Wanted to Know But Where Afraid to Ask."

1/18/11

Trial Team Wins at polar bear invitational

Team 868 of the Trial Team at UCF went undefeated and won the Polar Bear Invitational Mock Trial Tournament, sponsored this past weekend by Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio. Team 869 also earned a place in the winner's circle, finishing ninth overall. And Team 870 had a strong showing, finishing in the top half of the field. "We faced 38 of the best teams in the Midwest, including those from Michigan State, Ohio State, University of Wisconsin, Loyola University Chicago and Notre Dame," said Margarita Koblasz, faculty coordinator of the trial team. "What a great start to 2011!"

1/12/11

A Legal Knight Gives Back

Legal studies alumnus Michael Mott (’02) recently gave back to his alma mater by creating an endowed scholarship in the College of Health and Public Affairs. Mott is a personal injury attorney with his own practice, The Mott Law Firm, in Maitland, Fla.

12/20/10

New this Spring: PLA 5587 Current Issues in Cyberlaw

The Department of Legal Studies will offer this spring an online graduate course in cyberlaw, PLA 5587 Current Issues in Cyberlaw. The course will be taught by Bob Cherry, a long-time adjunct faculty member and former full-time faculty member. The course is open to graduate students and qualified undergraduate students. The course registration number is 23544. For further information, contact legalstudies@mail.ucf.edu.

11/21/10

Law Event Brings Connections to students

This Central Florida Future article describes an inaugural Continuing Law Education event jointly coordinated by UCF Legal Knights and Friends and the Orange County Bar Association.

11/2/10

Trial Team Goes Undefeated at Hurricane international

The Mock Trial Team at UCF was undefeated at the Second Annual Hurricane Invitational Mock Trial Tournament hosted by the University of Miami on Oct. 30-31, 2010, in Coral Gables, Fla. UCF Team 868, captained by Michael Garcia, faced Miami, William Woods University from Missouri and stiff competition from the Air Force Academy. In the end, UCF finished undefeated with a record of 8-0. In addition, all three of the UCF team's defense attorneys — Michael Garcia, Stacey Marmorstein and Juan Garcia-Pardo — won Outstanding Attorney Awards, and John Tolley won an Outstanding Witness Award for his portrayal of a guilty babysitter. Team 868 consists of Michael Garcia, Juan Garcia-Pardo, Nick Gurney, John Tolley, Stacey Marmorstein, Elizabeth Camacho, Elizabeth Bejarano and Sam Roberts.

In other Trial Team news, Emilio Solares traveled with UCF Team 870 to Athens, Ga., for the Classic City Invitational hosted by the University of Georgia on Oct. 23-24, 2010, where he earned an Outstanding Witness Award for his portrayal of the same guilty babysitter.[

10/20/10

Trial Team Shines At carolina classic

The Mock Trial Team at UCF shined during a "weekend of tough competition" at the Carolina Classic Mock Trial Tournament hosted by Elon University in Elon, N.C., on Oct. 16-17, 2010. UCF Team 869, captained by Vanessa Seblano, finished eighth overall out of 26 teams. The team "split" with the University of Texas, "crushed" the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and George Washington University, and lost by a margin of two points to Harvard University. "The amazing part is that Vanessa captained a team of 10 students, seven of whom had never competed before," said Margarita Koblasz, faculty coordinator of the Mock Trial Team at UCF. "I am extremely pleased with their performance and know that this means bigger and better things are to come this year." Team 869 consists of Vanessa Seblano, Michael Mulvaney, Marco Specoli, Kelli Sutton, Meghan Bejarano, Catya Ruiz, Arthur Richards, Robert Zahradnik-Mitchell, David Reimel and Bianca Lherisson.

Koblasz also reported, "Nick Gurney, one of our seniors on Team 868, earned an individual award as an Outstanding Attorney for the Plaintiff. He earned 18 of a possible 20 ranks at the tournament, making him one of the top 10 attorneys present at the tournament overall."

On Oct. 23-24, 2010, two teams from the Mock Trial Team at UCF will compete at the Classic City Invitational Tournament hosted by the University of Georgia in Athens.

9/30/10

Pyle and bast public 5th edition of Foundations of Law

Ransford C. Pyle, associate professor emeritus of legal studies, and Carol M. Bast, associate professor of legal studies, have published a fifth edition of their book, Foundations of Law: Cases, Commentary and Ethics. The book provides an overview of American law and its legal system and is published by Cengage Learning.

Learn more

9/27/10

Save the date" 11/18/10 - inaugural CLE Event

The UCF Legal Knights and Friends Alumni Chapter, in coordination with the Orange County Bar Association, are pleased to present an Inaugural Continuing Law Education Event on Nov. 18, 2010, from 4 to 6 p.m., at the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center on UCF's Orlando campus. Two Ethics CLEs will be offered. For additional information, see CLE-flyer-2010. For sponsorship opportunities, see CLE-sponsorship-2010. Register now at www.ucfknightsnetwork.com/legalknightscle.

9/15/10

Trial Team to Hold Car Wash

Legal Studies' Instructor Kathy Cook has been appointed to serve on The Florida Bar's Special Committee to Study The Mock Trial Team at UCF will host a car wash this Saturday, Sept. 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the 7-11 on the corner of Aloma Ave and Tuskawilla Road. All monies raised will help send the Trial Team to multiple competitions this year. Please come out and support the Trial Team!

9/9/10

Cook appointed to committee to study mandatory paralegal regulation

Legal Studies' Instructor Kathy Cook has been appointed to serve on The Florida Bar's Special Committee to Study Mandatory Paralegal Regulation. She is one of nine members of The Florida Bar to serve on the committee, which will study a proposed mandatory regulation of paralegals and make recommendations on the issue.

Learn more

7/1/10

Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Splits Into Two Departments

The College of Health and Public Affairs is pleased to announce that the Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies has split into two departments, effective today.

The Department of Criminal Justice is led by Dr. Robert Langworthy, chair of the Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies since 2007. The restructured department's administrative offices are located in the former department's offices in HPA I - Suite 311. Criminal justice faculty members continue to maintain offices on the third floor of HPA I.

UCF is ranked 10th among the nation's top-producing institutions of books on criminal justice. Learn more at www.cohpa.ucf.edu/crim.jus.

The Department of Legal Studies is led by Dr. Pamela Kirby, interim chair,
associate dean for undergraduate studies and a member of the legal studies' faculty. The department's administrative offices are located in HPA I - Suite 343. Legal studies' faculty members will continue to maintain offices on the third floor of HPA I, but they will relocate this summer to rooms closer to the department's administrative suite.

The new department is home to the Mock Trial Team at UCF, one of the most competitive and successful organizations on campus in recent years. Learn more at www.cohpa.ucf.edu/legalstudies.

6/29/10

Cook Shares Thoughts On Supreme Court Appointment Process

6/29/10

Legal Studies' Instructor Kathy Cook was recently interviewed about this week's questioning of Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan. Click here to read the article in Florida Today.

6/27/10

Alumni Giving Out Legal Aid

Seasoned attorneys, judges and paralegals who have survived the tenacious journey of establishing a legal career are providing a resource of opportunity and advice for the students — whose frightened shoes they once were in — through the newly assembled Legal Knights and Friends Alumni Chapter at UCF. Click here to read more.

6/1/10

Cook Establishes Scholarship fund

Legal Studies' Instructor and Attorney Kathy Cook has established a scholarship fund for legal studies' students. She feels that professional organizations are vital to the success of her students. "Being a student can be difficult," said Cook, who considers her students an extension of her family. "Giving them the resources to join professional organizations to network and talk with others in the field is essential to their education and future careers."

Cook has been a part of the UCF community since 1972, when she joined the university as an adjunct professor in allied legal services. When she became a full-time instructor in 1983, she continued to work as a private attorney in Winter Park, Fla., specializing in family and juvenile law.

Mark Nation (B.A., legal studies, '87), founder of The Nation Law Firm, was one of Kathy's many students. "Kathy's dedication to her students is unsurpassed and infectious," Nation said. "She truly has a servant's heart and lives out the creed that unless the student surpasses the teacher, the teacher has failed."

Cook is active in many local organizations, including the Central Florida Association of Women Lawyers, Orange County Bar Association and Florida Respite Coalition. She is also the faculty adviser for the Pre-Law Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta at UCF.

4/13/2010

Bast publishes article in the Criminal Law Bulletin

Congratulations to Associate Professor Carol Bast on the publication of her article in the Criminal Law Bulletin: Donald W. Garland & Carol M. Bast, Is the Government Riding Shotgun? Recent Changes in Automobile Technology and the Right to Privacy, 46 Criminal Law Bulletin 295 (2010).

3/1/2010

For the Record - 2009

Read the latest about the department in the annual news publication For the Record, which is distributed to alumni, relevant state and local law organizations, and comparable academic programs nationwide.

Read the publication

2/17/2010

Brown Contributes to New Book on Domestic Violence

Assistant Professor Cynthia Brown contributed an article titled "Domestic Violence Policy: Navigating a Path of Obstacles" to a new book, The War Against Domestic Violence, edited by Lee Ross, associate professor of criminal justce at UCF.

Click here to learn more

2/15/2010

Mock Trial Team Wins at Polar Bear Invitational

Congratulations to the members of the Mock Trial Team at UCF for their "amazing" results at the Ohio Northern University Polar Bear Mock Trial Invitational Tournament in Ada, Ohio. UCF competed in a field of 38 teams. Schools present included Gonzaga, Ohio State, Michigan State, Eastern Michigan, Loyola Chicago, Miami of Ohio, Pittsburgh, Case Western Reserve and many more. The Department of Legal Studies Department is proud to have such a hard working and dedicated student organization.

2/1/2010

Bast Publishes Article in New York Law School Law Review

Congratulations to Associate Professor Carol Bast on the publication of her article in the New York Law School Law Review: Choice of Law and Surreptitious Taping of Telephone Conversations, 54 New York Law School Law Review 147 (2009-2010). This publication is accessible on the Social Science Research Network (SSRN) at: http://ssrn.com/author=1122427.

11/15/2009

Ross inducted into Honor Society

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at UCF recently held its ceremony honoring national award winners, new inductees and new chapter officers. During the ceremony, the Honorable Judge David Ross addressed the participants and was inducted as a new faculty member of the society.

11/10/2009

Bast Publishes Latest issue of Journal

As editor-in-chief of the Journal of Legal Studies in Business, Associate Professor Carol Bast has been instrumental in the publication of the journal's most recent issue, Volume 15. Learn more at www.sealsb.org/journal.html. The Department of Legal Studies congratulates her on her accomplishment.

11/8/2009

Brown and Bast present current surveillance research at Regional Conference

Assistant Professor Cynthia Brown and Associate Professor Carol Bast presented their paper titled "Guilty by Association: Small World Problem Theory Emphasizes Need for Critical Business Strategies in Response to the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act" at the 2009 Southeastern Academy of Legal Studies in Business, held Nov. 5-7 in Miami, Florida,

9-4-2009

Brown Presents Research Findings at Crime Mapping Conference

Assistant Professor Cynthia Brown and R. Cory Watkins, associate professor of criminal justice, attended the 10th Annual Crime Mapping Research Conference in New Orleans where they presented their work titled "Perception Versus Reality - The Saga Continues: Employing Information-led Policing to Develop Local Policing Solutions." The conference was held Aug. 19-22.

9-3-2009

Bast Publishes Article in the Journal of Legal Studies Education

Congratulations to Associate Professor Carol Bast on the publication of her latest article: Carol M. Bast & Linda B. Samuels, Legal Studies Scholarship: Setting the Standard for Excellence, 26 Journal of Legal Studies Education 263 (2009). This publication is accessible on the Social Science Research Network (SSRN) at: http://ssrn.com/author=1122427

9-1-2009

Pons Invited to become member of the Central Florida Family Law American Inn of Court

Instructor Irene Pons was invited to become a member of the Central Florida group of The American Inns of Court, a prestigious organization founded to promote the highest level of practice and professionalism among its members and the legal system. Pons was asked to become an associate member based on her devotion, expertise and potential in the area of family law. The department congratulates her on this recent accomplishment.

8-26-2009

Ross invited to Florida Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges

The Florida Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges invited Judge David Gray Ross, an executive-in residence in the Department of Legal Studies, to participate in a meeting at the Dependency Court Improvement Summit at the Portofino Hotel at Universal in Orlando on Aug. 26 from 11:30 to 1pm. Judge Ross contributed his years of expertise at the summit.

8-10-2009

Legal Studies professors attend Annual Academy of Legal Studies in Business conference

Associate Professor Carol Bast and Assistant Professors Cynthia Brown and Robert Wood presented papers for the Academy of Legal Studies in Business conference. Brown and Bast presented their paper titled "
Government Wiretapping and 2008 Amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act." Wood presented his paper titled:
"The Failure of Sexting Prosecution: Federal Expansion of Minor Rights Under the First Amendment."

7-1-2009

Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Newsletter

News for students in UCF's criminal justice and legal studies academic programs

3-25-09

Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Career Fair

The annual Criminal Justice and Law Studies Career Fair will be held on Wednesday, March 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Pegasus Ballroom at the Student Union. Representatives from local, state and federal agencies; law schools; graduate schools; and local businesses will attend. Sponsored by Lambda Alpha Epsilon. For further information, contact Charlotte Czaja at LAEDZOpresident@gmail.com.

1-28-09

For the Record - 2008

Read the latest about the department in its annual news publication, For the Record, which is distrubited to alumni, relevant state and local law organizations, and comparable academic programs nationwide.

12-31-08

Mock Trial Team at UCF Wins in 2008

Click below for a comprehensive list of team and individual member wins at competitions in 2008.

12-4-08

Ross Named to Obama's Transition Team

The Honorable David Gray Ross, and executive-in-residence and instructor of legal studies, will serve on the Health and Human Services team.

11-6-08

Seventh Annual Public Service Career Showcase

Students are invited to meet with representatives from throughout Central Florida at the Seventh Annual Public Service Career Showcase, held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the UCF Student Union, Pegasus Ballroom. For further information, contact Heather Engelking at hengelki@mail.ucf.edu.

10-14-08

Orange County Sheriff Candidates' Debate

The Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies and Channel 13 will host a debate between the two Orange County sheriff candidates, Jerry Demings and John Tegg. A limited number of tickets are available for faculty members and students. 6:45 p.m. (doors open at 6:15), UCF Student Union, Pegasus Ballroom. For further information, contact the department at 407-823-2603.

10-1-08

Mock Trial Team Featured on UCF TV

Instructor Margarita Koblasz, faculty coordinator for the Mock Trial Team at UCF, talks about the trail team experience on UCF TV's Public Affairs Today show. Click the heading above to watch the show online.

9-5-08

Mock Trial Team at UCF Tryouts

5 p.m. (arrive by 4:50 p.m.),
HPA I - 304 (sign up in 317)
For further information, contact mkoblasz@mail.ucf.edu.

5-5-08

Policastro Raised More Than $20,000 for Charities While at UCF

During her time at UCF, student Megan Policastro of Deltona, Fla., was a “fund-raising machine.” Her philanthropic efforts brought in more than $20,000 for charities, including the Children’s Miracle Network, American Heart Association and American Cancer Society.

Policastro says it’s because she is “really passionate about raising money and awareness for these organizations.”

A legal studies major with a minor in political science, Policastro will go on to University of Florida Levin College of Law in the fall to pursue a career in environmental law and hopes to eventually land a job in Florida government.

Policastro graduated UCF as a Burnett Honors College student and the President’s Leadership Council chair. She was one of 11 undergraduates named to the Order of Pegasus, the most prestigious student award given by the university. She was selected the college's Founders' Day student for 2008.

Policastro plans to pursue a career in environmental law.

4-10-08

Ammar Initiated into National Leadership Society

Farah Nancy Ammar, a senior in legal studies, was initiated into the UCF Chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society, on April 10, 2008. She is one of only 13 UCF students elected this year to become a member, reports Chapter Adviser David Gray Ross (right) of the Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies.

3-37-08

Ross Shares Practitioner's Perspective at National Meeting

The Honorable David Gray Ross, an executive-in-residence in the Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies, was invited to provide a practitioner's perspective at a meeting to assess the National Institute of Justice's Research Program in Washington, D.C., on March 27, 2008. Ross is the former commissioner of the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and a former circuit court judge in the Seventh Judicial Circuit in Maryland.

12-15-07

For the Record - 2007

Read the latest issue of the Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies annual news publication, which is distrubited to alumni, relevant state and local law organizations, and comparable academic programs nationwide.

11-21-07

UCF Teams Take Top Honors at Mock Trial Competitions

Two UCF Mock Trial Teams have won national competitions this month.

10-29-07

UCF Places in Southeastern Mock Trial Tournament

After three days and four rounds of grueling competition, the Mock Trial Team at UCF (Team 868) took second place at the Southeastern Mock Trial Tournament in late October, according to Margarita Koblasz, faculty coordinator for the team. The winning team members are Brenna Egan (captain), Tiffany Colbert, Sam Bird, Mike Quintero, Erica Emas, Jessica Kennedy, Andrew Doyle, Ben Abel and Genesh Chen-Shue. Colbert and Egan, along with Jordon Ostroff and Marcus Rein, also took awards for their individual performances.

10-14-07

Second Fall 2007 Newsletter for Students

The Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies' newsletter provides information for students about scholarships, study abroad programs, internship opportunities and one-day seminars.

10-3-07

Legal and Criminal Justice Careers Symposium

4:30 to 5:30 p.m.: Career workshop for students
5:30 to 6 p.m.: Hors d'oeuvres and networking
6 to 8 p.m.: Symposium
FAIRWINDS Alumni Center, Orlando campus. The year's symposium will feature Richard Berry ('04), UCF police chief, as the keynote speaker. Sponsored by the Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Alumni Chapter.

8-21-07

Bast Wins Ethics Award

Carol Bast, associate professor of legal studies, and Linda Samuels, professor of legal studies at George Mason University, received the Virginia Maurer Ethics Paper Award from the international Academy of Legal Studies in Business for their paper, "Plagiarism and Legal Scholarship in the Age of Information Sharing: The Need for 'Intellectual Honesty.'" The award recognizes excellence in legal scholarship, quality of writing and research, and readiness for publication.

8-20-07

Fall 2007 Newsletter for Students

The Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies' newsletter provides information for students about scholarships, study abroad programs, internship opportunities and one-day seminars.

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.