by Richard Prior
Staff Writer
Money continues to come in to support the popular Pre-Law Program at the University of North Florida — some from the State, some from local law firms and some from at least one graduate giving back to his alma mater.
The state recently sent in $50,000 as its part of a match after the program received $100,000 from local law firms to endow four courses, program director Marty Edwards said.
He made the announcement at the monthly meeting of the Pre-Law Advisory Board, held in the offices of Holland & Knight.
The announcement was also made that Jason Burnett, a UNF graduate and practicing attorney, was one of five attorneys who had pledged $5,000 toward scholarships for students taking pre-law courses.
The interest on that $25,000 will go each year to help a deserving pre-law student.
“This is permanently endowed,” said Edwards. “Long after I’m gone . . . the courses will still be taught, and UNF students will still benefit from having these courses. I think that’s special.”
Burnett, who graduated from UNF in 1985 with a business management degree, “didn’t go through the Pre-Law Program, but I wish I had. I’m a big supporter. It’s a fantastic program.”
He graduated from law school at Florida State University in 1988.
“The Pre-Law Program helps students make the decision about whether they want to go to law school,” he said. “And it certainly helps their performance once they’re there.”
The program was started about eight years ago to help students get the background and skills they need to get into law school, said Edwards, who also teaches two nights a week at Florida Coastal School of Law.
“One of the things I wanted to do to make it different, and perhaps better, was to actually design and get money for courses to be taught on a permanent basis,” he said. “So we went to different law firms over the years, and we got four firms to endow our four courses.
“That means we got $100,000, and it’s all been paid.”
The first contribution came from the firm of Brown, Terrell Hogan, which endowed “Social Responsibility and the Law.” Coker, Myers, Schickel, Sorenson, Higginbotham & Green endowed the Mock Trial course, which Edwards teaches each summer.
Liles, Gavin & Costantino endowed “Ethics, Standards and Values,” and attorney Maria Keebler endowed “Child Advocacy.” That course is taught by Harriet Howe, visiting assistant professor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice.
“All of these courses are very, very popular with the students,” said Edwards. “I only take 28 students in the Mock Trial course because they do a lot of stuff in front of the class. There are 70-some who have signed up to take it, so we have a waiting list for next summer.
“After taking out all the students that have graduated, we still have 300 in the program. We’ve built something that has a pretty good foundation.”
The Child Advocacy course also has consistently high attendance.
“It’s very popular,” said Howe, who has a doctorate in sociology. “It addresses the issues children have. And there are a lot of issues these days.”
The course examines the idea that advocates “should be able to think in terms, not only of the law, but of other social pressures,” she said.
Because of the “catch as catch can” manner in which children are being raised — many in single-parent homes — “It’s a time bomb, as far as I’m concerned,” said Howe. “I really think the next generation is going to have major problems.”
Peggy Baldt is one of the half-time assistants who have worked for Edwards since the program was established. Five of them, including Baldt, have now graduated from law school.
“The program gives you the information you need to select the law school that will fit you,” said Baldt, an FCSL graduate who works for Jeff Cramer’s law firm in Mandarin. “It helps you get the materials to study for the LSAT and the courses to take to prepare you for law school.
“They’re really doing a good job.”