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College of Law confers 152 degrees on its departing Class of 2010
Florida doesn’t need more lawyers. It needs a different kind of lawyer. With that message, Florida Supreme Court Justice Jorge Labarga applauded the 152 graduates of the FIU College Law, a new generation of lawyers as diverse as Miami itself.
“This school was created to make sure that all segments of our population [are] represented,” said Labarga, who delivered the commencement address.
Established to offer South Floridians affordable legal education, FIU’s College of Law is one of the top five most diverse law schools in the nation.
The college’s sixth graduating class is its largest since it was founded in 2002. Among the graduates was Larry Lalla, a native of Trinidad and Tobago who had just become a judge back home when he applied to FIU to pursue a law degree in the United States.
“Far more important than our success as lawyers is our success as human beings,” said Lalla to his fellow graduates.
As students, the Class of 2010 helped thousands of Haitians register for Temporary Protected Status, and they fought on behalf of victims of torture in Liberia, winning a $22 million damage award.
“I’m grateful for your leadership,” said Rosenberg, who assured graduates that with an FIU legal education they can hold their own with the best in the country. “Thank you for your confidence in us,” he added.
“You reflect FIU’s success in teaching and graduating an ever-increasing number of lawyers who seek to right wrongs,” said Albert Dotson, chairman of the Board of Trustees. “You, the FIU Class of 2010, are our hope for a better tomorrow, for our community, state, nation and world. And I am sure you will do all you can to ensure that it is a better world for your children.”
In parting, former U.S. Attorney and College of Law Dean Alex Acosta asked the graduates, “Recall why you enrolled in law school. Fulfill your reason for becoming a lawyer.”
— Sissi Aguila ’99, MA ’08
Photos courtesy of Ivan Santiago.
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