April 2013
April 23, 2013 - Spotlight on A Unique Scholarship in South Florida
By Erica Gyimesi, P.A.D. Spring 2013 Intern
Stewardship and community service are just some of the values that Phi Alpha Delta aims to instill in its members. Brother Richard Steele, Justice of the Holland Chapter, has exemplified all these characteristics and more through his creation of the Charles Rodger Steele Scholarship and continuous community service to the South Florida region.
An FIU College of Law Student and University of Florida alumnus, Steele came up with the idea of creating a scholarship to benefit the high-school students of South Florida. The scholarship is designed to give aid to students who come from disadvantaged background, more specifically, those who have parents or guardians that are incarcerated.
“I chose this class of students because after gaining a better understanding of the criminal justice system, I have come to realize these classes of individuals are some of the most ignored, shunned and disadvantaged of all,” Steele explained. The money to fund the scholarship will be raised by holding poker events, various social events, and holiday themed gifts, to name a few.
Steele chose to name the scholarship after his father Charles. “[My father] taught me that a part of being a man, among many other respects, is to help those who need help, even when it is a great sacrifice”, he explained.
Much to Steele’s advantage, FIU is also home to one of P.A.D.’s outstanding Pre-Law Chapters. Both Law and Pre-Law Chapters have been in communication and plan on coordinating events to raise money for the scholarship. However, the support for such endeavors does not end there.
“I also think our District has a lot of potential in the South Florida area,” he explained. “The legal community here is enormous and impressive. I am trying to work together with the other Chapters on coordinating more events to help our members network with each other and be more effective with our causes.” Steele commends both the Law and Pre-Law chapters for their motivation and interest in taking on and completing these tasks.
Steele credits much of the coordination in the South Florida district to the enthusiasm and interest of District Justice, Jason Haber. Haber has been an intrinsic part in creating unity amongst members in the area. He goes on to explain that “the versatility of the organization, the bond of fraternity with others, and the huge networking opportunities” have been a tremendous help as well.
When Steele and Holland Chapter are not busy with fundraising for the scholarship, they also plan on organizing other charitable events such as food drives, clothing drives, and are exploring the idea of possibly offering some type of pro bono legal help for the indigent.
As for Steele, while he hopes to open his own firm upon graduation from law school, he acknowledges that legal career paths often change throughout schooling.
“Whatever I do, I hope I enjoy it and that I always continue to try to do the best [I can].”
April 9, 2013 - Spotlight on The Central Michigan Mock Murder Trial
By Erica Gyimesi, P.A.D. Spring 2013 Intern
On March 21, the Central Michigan University Pre-Law Chapter held a mock murder trial at the Isabella County Courthouse in Mount Pleasant, MI. Lasting approximately two hours and presided over by the Honorable William, students were able to gain hands-on experience in a real courtroom.
The students have been holding mock trials at the courthouse for the past few years. “We have a good relationship with the judge who allows us to use the courtroom as well as serves as the judge for our trials,” Junior Public Relations Chair Kevin Kula explained.
Four members were chosen to make up the defense and prosecuting attorneys based on who had not taken part in a mock trial recently. The prosecuting attorneys team consisted of Senior Andy Brockman and Junior Grayson Smith, while Seniors Michael Begovic and Shannon Hollenbeck assumed the role of defense attorneys. Additionally, both sides had two witnesses that were played by other fraternity members.
This case was no easy task for the Chapter, which usually holds a mock trial every semester. “Every case is challenging in its own way but this case was the most challenging we've taken on in recent years,” Kula explained.
Despite the daunting task of arguing a case such as this, members had plenty of time to prepare for their court appearances. “Roles were distributed about three weeks in advance giving participants ample time to prepare their strategies and learn their roles” Kula explained.
Following the trial, members of the Chapter and Judge Ervin were able to engage in discussion and receive feedback. The Central Michigan University Life reported that “[Judge Ervin] …said all members did an exceptional job, and that it was as close to a real trial as one could get.”
Kula credits such a smooth trial to the event organizer Brandon Debus. Another trial MVP that deserves mention was Mike Begovic. Begovic “was very prepared and had many fantastic questions ready to use at trial.”
When the group is not convicting murders or holding trials, they try to take one major trip per semester. Last semester, students were able to make the hike to Boston to attend the LSAC Conference. They hope to visit Chicago’s DePaul University College of Law and The John Marshall Law School this semester.