Farewell & SBA 2021-2022 Recap

Dear Miami Law,

It has been a tremendous honor serving as your Student Bar Association President. I am extremely proud of the 2021-2022 SBA administration, which went above and beyond to provide students with countless professional, academic, and social opportunities that brought our law school together in the face of unprecedented challenges.

In my final communication as SBA President, I would like to provide a summary of what we’ve accomplished this year. I share the below in the hopes that students continue to support and rely on the SBA, share their ideas and feedback, and keep holding future administrations accountable to work tirelessly for the Miami Law community.

The following is our 2021-2022 SBA recap:

• Planned and hosted the most successful Barrister’s Ball in over a decade, with over 600 tickets sold
• Unveiled Sebastian’s Closet, a professional attire lending resource in the Shalala Law Lounge
• Created the SBACDO Student Advisory Committee, which includes non-SBA student members, to discuss CDO improvement strategies and student feedback
• Created the SBA Law Library Advisory Committee to advocate for optimized study space, voice student concerns, and discuss the creation of new group study areas on campus
• Designed and offered the SBA Sweatshirts for the second year in a row as an affordable alternative to pre-existing law school merchandise
• Hosted 3 free, two-day Professional Headshot Events (some in conjunction with the Florida Bar Young Lawyers’ Division (YLD) and/or LAFAC)
• Raised over $1,500 for the Miami Law Food Pantry
• Hosted the 1L Social at the UM Rathskeller with free food and drinks
• Hosted the UM vs. FSU Watch Party at Fritz and Franz Bierhaus
• Provided a free Coffee Tab at Einstein’s during the Fall 2021 reading period and finals week (also in the works for Spring 2022!)
• Distributed free SBA tumblers to students
• Hosted the Bar Q&A for 3Ls and collected data on students taking the bar out-of-state to facilitate specialized assistance by the school
• Hosted the Networking Night featuring Florida Bar President-Elect Gary Lesser in conjunction with the Florida Bar YLD
• Co-hosted the Legally LinkedIn for Lawyers event alongside the CDO and LAFAC
• Hosted the Conversation with Deborah Enix-Ross, American Bar Association President-Elect, with co-sponsor BLSA
• Hosted the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace panel with co-sponsors OUTLaw, HLSA, APALSA, and BLSA
• Co-hosted the 72^nd Annual Morning Spirits & Homecoming Breakfast alongside the Law Alumni Association
• Co-hosted the Courageous Conversations Series on Mental Health in conjunction with the undergraduate, graduate, and medical school student governments
• Co-founded the “Big 4” coalition with the undergraduate, graduate, and medical school student government Presidents
• Requested that the University formally address and hear student perspectives on the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill, which resulted in a lunch meeting scheduled for this afternoon between President Frenk, LGBTQ student leaders (including OUTLaw), and the law, undergraduate, graduate, and medical school student governments
• Relaunched the SBA Blog and created an anonymous virtual suggestions box
• Chose a Student Commencement Speaker for spring graduation through the Graduation Speaker Selection Committee
• Provided for new healthy snack options in the law campus vending machines
• Voiced student concerns and represented the law school on the COVID-19 Committee with Dr. Weiss and other top University doctors managing UM’s pandemic response
• Helped plan and execute Wellness Week 2021
• Improved SBA’s social media presence and increased the @MiamiLawSBA Instagram following by several hundred
• Organized the annual Student Organization Fair
• Oversaw the Inter-Club Council and kept student leaders informed
• Worked with the Honor Council to help facilitate and certify twosuccessful election cycles
• Provided the student perspective during the redesign of CaneLink and in the continuing redesign of the Miami Law website
• Welcomed new students at Fall 2021 Orientation
• Created a mentorship program within SBA
• Represented and advocated for students on the Law and University Faculty Committees, Law Alumni Association, and before the University’s Board of Trustees
• Supported Dean’s Cup, which had a victorious year thanks to its amazing team
• Recruited students to join the American Bar Association
• Currently participating in the ongoing search for a new Dean of the Law School