Tag: Shepard Broad College of Law

Law Firm Partners with NSU to Enhance Honors Program

Van Horn Law Group, P.A. has partnered with Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad College of Law by committing to $50,000 over five years to enhance its Pro Bono Honor Program, which recognizes students who are committed to serving the community and who believe the improvement of our community starts with giving all citizens equal access to the legal system.  The program now will be known as the Van Horn Law Group Pro Bono Honor Program.

Led by NSU Shepard Broad College of Law graduate Chad Van Horn, Van Horn Law Group will fund the Pro Bono Honor Program to ramp up the law student experience at NSU Law, maximize opportunities for students to provide pro bono services in the community, and increase the number of overall pro bono hours provided.  The program provides a variety of programs for students to fulfill pro bono hours and maintains records of the students’ pro bono work.

“I am extremely committed to offering quality, pro bono legal services to our underserved, lower-economic neighbors,” said Van Horn, Founding Partner Attorney.  “Van Horn Law Group has never turned down a pro bono case, because we believe the legal system should be open to everyone, not just those who can afford it.  We have handled approximately 200 pro bono cases, simply because we believe it’s the right thing to do.”

Van Horn Law Group, among the top five bankruptcy firms in the state based on number of cases filed in the last 12 months (pacer.gov), is dedicated to restoring peace of mind to individuals in financial distress by providing first rate, affordable legal services with compassion, understanding and respect.  Its efforts on behalf of NSU Law’s Pro Bono Honor Program directly align with this mission.

“We are very excited to partner with Van Horn Law Group to bring more awareness and opportunities for our students to engage with the community in addressing their legal needs,” said José Roberto (Beto) Juárez, Jr., Dean and Professor of Law at NSU’s Shepard Broad College of Law.  “NSU Law has always been committed to instilling an ethic of pro bono service in its graduates, and now through our alumnus, Chad Van Horn, we will be able to provide more awareness and opportunities for our students to give back and develop a lifelong commitment to using their education and skills to contribute to the public good.”

The Van Horn Law Group Pro Bono Honor Program provides recognition to students who have completed a minimum of 50 hours of pro bono service while enrolled in NSU Shepard Broad College of Law. Students are recognized in three levels of distinction:  Bronze for 50 to 124 hours; Silver for125 to 299 hours; and Gold for 300+ hours.  Students who participate in the program will receive a cord to wear at graduation and an awards certificate.

The Van Horn Law Group Pro Bono Honor Program is part of the Public Interest Programs established in 1996 by NSU Shepard Broad College of Law.  It serves as a focal point for all public interest law activities at the law school.  Programs offer many opportunities to encourage students to participate in public interest law while in law school and to encourage a dedicated commitment to the public for life.  NSU Law encourages a culture of giving back, as does Van Horn Law Group.

Posted 07/17/22

NSU Community Mourns Loss of Shirley B. Fischler (1926-2022)

Shirley Balter Fischler and Dr. Abraham “Abe” Fischler.

The Nova Southeastern University community is mourning the loss of Shirley Balter Fischler, who died on May 30, 2022. She was the beloved wife and partner of deceased Dr. Abraham “Abe” Fischler, a former president and president emeritus at NSU.

Shirley Fischler was always involved in the community, especially at NSU, where she was one of the university’s first faculty members. The Fischlers were married for 67 years before his death in April 2017.

Shirley Fischler had a lifelong thirst for learning. She graduated from Brooklyn College and became a French and Spanish teacher. Languages and international events remained a keen interest and focus throughout her life, as she enjoyed travels in the U.S. and abroad. Later, she became a member of NSU’s Shepard Broad College of Law charter class. Following graduation, she practiced law for many years before retiring.

Two of Shirley Fischler’s strongest attributes were her strength and optimism. She inspired many people, particularly girls and women, to pursue lives and careers on their own terms and to never give up.

Shirley Fischler spent her early years in Brooklyn, N.Y., where she met Abraham Fischler over a handball match in Coney Island. The two married in 1949, their lifelong partnership was dedicated to family, friends, and community, and making the world a better place for all. The Fischler family moved from New York to Boston to Berkeley and, ultimately, to South Florida. During more than 45 years, she and her husband embraced and enjoyed South Florida as strong supporters of community organizations as well as dedicated theater goers and sports enthusiasts.

Shirley Fischler is survived by her children Bruce (Martha), Michael (Anita), and Lori; her grandchildren Kenneth, Danielle (Micheal), and Mikaela; and great-grandchildren J.P. and Ava. In addition, Shirley is survived by her sisters Beverly Stier and Eleanor Sugerman, and brother-in-law Hubert Fischler (Patti), and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Abraham and Shirley Fischler Scholarship Fund at Nova Southeastern University or the Fischler Family Scholarship Fund at the NSU Shepard Broad College of Law, or to a charity of your choice.

Posted 06/02/22

Two College of Law Faculty Elected to Serve on National Boards

Heather Baxter, Professor of Law and Director of Legal Research and Writing, was elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Legal Writing Institute (LWI) for a four-year term beginning in 2022. LWI is the second-largest organization of law professors in the United States with nearly 3000 members. According to its website, LWI is “dedicated to improving legal communication, building the discipline of legal writing, and improving the status of legal writing faculty across the country.”

Prof. Baxter has been very active in the legal writing community, including formerly chairing LWI’s Teaching Resources Committee and ALWD’s Blackwell Award Reception Committee. She currently serves on the ALWD Leadership and Development Committee, and the Diversity Committee of the Legal Writing, Research and Reasoning (LWRR) Sectionof AALS. In addition to legal writing, Prof. Baxter also teaches Criminal Procedure and Appellate Advocacy, and she serves as Nova’s Moot Court Faculty Adviser.

Jane Ellen Cross, Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Diversity Inclusion, & Public Impact and Director of the Caribbean Law Program, has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Association of Legal Writing Directors (ALWD). ALWD is one of the preeminent national professional associations for lawyering skills and legal writing professors.

Prof. Cross been actively involved in ALWD as the Chair of the Innovative Programming Committee for the ALWD 2021 Conference and currently serves as the co-chair of the ALWD Diversity Committee. She is also on the Governing Board of the Legal Writing Institute’s Sirico Scholars’ Workshop and serves as the 2022 Program Coordinator.  Finally, Prof. Cross was selected to serve on the Program Committee for the Legal Writing, Research and Reasoning (LWRR) Section of AALS.

Posted 06/05/22

 

Free Tax Assistance on Campus: VITA Tax Program

The NSU Shepard Broad College of Law along with the NSU H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship have partnered with Hispanic Unity of Florida to bring free tax preparation assistance to the community every weekend until April 11th in the Alvin Sherman Library.  This service is provided by trained and qualified tax professionals who will prepare taxes at no cost, and determine an individual’s eligibility for special tax credits and education credits to assist taxpayers in maximizing their refunds. VITA also has a telephone hotline to serve as an informational and referral hub that provides service support for the virtual/online tax preparation service. This hotline also will answer general tax questions. Click here for more information, to find out if you qualify for tax assistance, to file online, or to schedule an in person appointment.

When:

Now until April 11th, on Saturdays from 3-6 p.m. and Sundays from 1-6 p.m.

Where: 

Alvin Sherman Library: Room EC1042

For More Information:

Contact Jennifer Gordon, Esq., Director of Public Interest Programs at the College of Law; JoAnn Ackerman, CPA, MBA, MS, CGMA, Lecturer of Accounting at the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business & Entrepreneurship; or Raymond Skelton, CPA, JD, LLM (Tax), Instructor of Accounting at the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business & Entrepreneurship.

Posted 03/25/22

College Hosts Free Immigration Legal Screenings/Community IDs

The NSU Shepard Broad College of Law is hosting an Immigration Legal Screening Clinic and Community ID of Broward Clinic on Saturday, April 2nd from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in the College of Law.

NSU Law has partnered with NSU College of Psychology and local nonprofit organizations including: Americans for Immigrant Justice, Catholic Legal Services, Office of New Americans, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Haitian Lawyers Association, Hispanic Unity, and Legal Aid Service of Broward; and student organizations including: the Evening Law Student Association (ELSA), the Foreign Lawyers Association at NSU (FLAN), the Immigration Law Organization (ILO), the ILSA Journal of International & Comparative Law (ILSA), and the Public Interest Law Society (PILS); to provide free immigration legal screenings and Community IDs to those in need.

Immigration Clinic: If you are interested in learning how immigration law affects you and your family or know anyone who may be in need assistance, please click here to register for an opportunity to receive a free consultation with an immigration attorney. This will help determine eligibility for any immigration relief or legal representation.

Broward Community ID Clinic: Florida state-issued photo identification may be difficult to obtain for some Broward County residents. A Community ID provides an alternative option for Broward residents who may have limited access to government issued ID cards. If you or anyone you know may need or benefit from a Broward Community ID, please click here for more information.

For More Information: Contact Jennifer Gordon, Esq., Director of Public Interest Programs at the College of Law and/or Diana Formoso, Ph.D., Associate Professor – Department of Clinical and School Psychology.

Posted 03/25/22

Professor’s Book Helps Adults Navigate the Digital Generation

“Parenting for the Digital Generation,” written by Shepard Broad College of Law Professor Jon Garon provides a practical handbook for parents, grandparents, teachers, and counselors who want to understand both the opportunities and the threats that exist for the generation of digital natives who are more familiar with a smartphone than they are with a paper book. This book provides straightforward, jargon-free information regarding the online environment and the experience in which children and young adults engage both inside and outside the classroom.

The digital environment creates many challenges, some of which are largely the same as parents faced before the Internet, but others that are entirely new. Many children struggle to connect, and they underperform in the absence of the social and emotional support of a healthy learning environment. Parents must also help their children navigate a complex and occasionally dangerous online world.

This book provides a step-by-step guide for parents seeking to raise happy, mature, creative, and well-adjusted children. The guide provides clear explanations of the keys to navigating as a parent in the online environment while providing practical strategies that do not look for dangers where there are only remote threats.

You can visit Prof. Garon’s webpage to read more about his books and publications.

Posted 03/27/22

 

Shepard Broad College of Law Ranks High for Diversity

While all schools strive to make it a reality, diversity is undoubtedly seen here at Nova Southeastern University. The Shepard Broad College of Law has been ranked 22nd in a National Level as “Best Schools for Black or African Americans” and 6th in a National Level as “Best Schools for Hispanics” by preLaw Magazine Winter 2022 edition.

Posted 03/13/22

Law Alumnus Discusses COVID’s Affect On Hybrid Work Models

Ira Coleman, J.D.

Ira Coleman, J.D. (’86), a Shepard Broad College of Law graduate, is the chairman of McDermott Will & Emery. Since Ira took on this role in 2017, the firm has embraced a new strategic direction focused on being indispensable to clients, enhancing performance and nurturing a happy, fun culture.

He focuses his practice on all aspects of representing major private and publicly held corporations. In particular, he advises clients in navigating M&A and controversy matters that have “bet the company” implications. His other areas of focus include health, private equity and compliance.

The pandemic forced lawyers to leave the office and work from home. Now, as many of those offices open back up, leaders of big law firms are grappling with what tasks need to be done in person and what can be done remotely.

Leaders from some of the country’s biggest law firms share their return-to-office plans and whether hybrid work is here to stay. To watch video, click here.

To learn more about our alumnus, Ira J. Coleman, click here.

Posted 03/13/22

NSU Law Students Emerge Regional Champions in Competition

In February, a team of students from the Shepard Broad College of Law’s Moot Court Honor Society represented NSU at the Brooklyn Regional of the American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC) and were crowned Regional Champions!

Founded in 1978, the NAAC showcases teams from elite law schools across the nation and emphasizes the development of legal writing and oral advocacy skills through a hypothetical appeal to the United States Supreme Court. The competition involves writing a brief and arguing the case before a mock court, with attorneys, law professors, and sitting judges presiding.

This year, third-year law students Kelly O’Neil and Jonathan Bornstein, along with second-year student Jordan Stein, went undefeated in oral argument, prevailing over teams from Pace University, Quinnipiac University, Michigan State University, and the University of Notre Dame. In the regional finals, the judges voted unanimously in favor of the NSU team to project them to victory! Out of 178 teams, they are one of just 24 teams advancing to Nationals. This marks the third time in eight years that the Shepard Broad College of Law’s Moot Court Honor Society has reached this incredible goal under the direction of Professor Heather Baxter, who serves as Professor of Law, Moot Court faculty advisor, national competition team coach, and Director of the College of Law’s nationally ranked Legal Research and Writing Program.

Posted 03/13/22

Symposium Explores Legal Reponses to COVID-related Trauma

On Friday, March 11, at 9 a.m., NSU will hold a symposium address the legal and systemic responses to psychological trauma associated with COVID-19.

Since January 2020, COVID-19 has ravaged the United States’ population physically, economically, and psychologically.  Caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (“COVID-19”), the pandemic simultaneously decimated the population, shuttered businesses, and traumatized those experiencing its effects.  In early 2021, just as the country believed that it had survived the worst of the pandemic, the Delta variant appeared, causing a surge of cases worse than the first.

Consequently, increased prevalence of mental, neurological, and substance use disorders already has and will continue to present the legal system with challenges of previously unknown proportions.  As mental health professionals substantiate and address the negative impacts of uncertainty, fear, isolation, and economic hardship, legal issues are multiplying. This symposium will explore a range of those legal issues and is intended to foster study and discussion of mental health and ways the legal system can improve it.

For more information on speakers and event program, click here.

Posted 03/03/22

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