Stetson University College of Law

Student Organizations

Hispanic Bar Association

The Hispanic Bar Association concerns itself with promoting the understanding of cultural diversity as well as aiding the surround Hispanic community. HBA meets its objectives through a variety of guest speakers, pro bono workshops, general meetings, and social events that are open to the entire Stetson community, irrespective of ethnicity. A recent focus of HBA has been to aid in the recruitment process of Hispanic students to Stetson.

Mark your Calendars: The 1^st Annual Diversity Mentoring Picnic will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2008 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Stetson University’s College of Law Tampa Campus. HBA invites all law students to participate in the picnic and take advantage of many mentoring and networking opportunities. Join hundreds of lawyers, judges and law students from all over Florida.

HBA is made up of law students who actively participate throughout the year on campus and in the local community. HBA is dedicated to helping individuals overcome the language barrier that stands between the Hispanic Community in need of legal pro bono help and the lawyers committed to helping them. To fulfill this commitment, Spanish speaking HBA members perform intake work and serve as translators for Gulfcoast Legal Services’ and Bay Area Legal Services’ pro bono clients. These translation skills help make Gulfcoast’s, Bay Area’s and the Clearwater Bar Association’s various legal workshops with the local Hispanic community a great success.

On February 16, 2006, the Florida Supreme Court honored Stetson’s HBA chapter for its pro bono work. Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara J. Pariente and Florida Bar President Alan Bookman presented HBA with the 2006 Chief Justice’s Voluntary Bar Association Pro Bono Service Award.

In addition to its pro bono dedication, HBA is also committed to promoting cultural diversity and awareness on Stetson’s campus. To do this, HBA strongly encourages the entire Stetson community to participate in its monthly meetings and many on-campus events. Some of this past year’s HBA events included a Hispanic Heritage Month Luncheon, Soccer Viewing Party, 1L Welcome Program, career development luncheon with solo practitioner William Galarza, and our largest event -- the Annual HBA Picnic. Every year HBA organizes a weekend picnic where Stetson students, faculty, staff, family and friends join the surrounding legal and business communities for a day of Latin food, music, dancing, entertainment, and fun.

Stetson's HBA, along with the Tampa Bay Hispanic Bar Association, is also very proud of its instrumental role in the launch of the HNBF/HNBA Mentorship Program in Tampa Bay. Contact an HBA officer for more information on this successful program.

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/1325785401.html?dids=1325785401:1325785401&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Aug+26%2C+2007&author=&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1&desc=FREE+LEGAL+CLINIC+OFFERS+ADVICE+TO+HISPANICS

Hispanic National Bar Association/Hispanic National Bar Foundation MENTORING Program

This picture was taken at the inaugural dinner for the Tampa Bay Hispanic Bar Association (the first of its kind in our area). Judge Covington swore in the new officers and board of directors. Judge Salcines was the keynote speaker. The board of directors is working with Stetson’s HBA to launch a mentoring program for students.

(left to right): David Hoffman, HBA member; Vanessa De Rosa, HBA President; Frank Angones, Florida Bar President-Elect; Judge Emiliano Salcines, Appellate Judge for the 2nd DCA; Clara Rokusek, HBA Vice President; and Patricia Gomez, Assistant Director of International Programs