FIU College of Law

This summer, rising 2L Finley Kalinic is serving as a judicial intern for the Honorable Bronwyn C. Miller at the Florida Third District Court of Appeals. After enjoying her LSV II experience, Finley pursued the internship to build on her appellate writing skills and learn from Judge Miller’s approach to opinion writing.

During her internship, Finley conducts legal research, reviews appellate briefs and records, and writes bench memos. The experience has strengthened her research and analysis by challenging her to consider different interpretations of the law.

“The clerks at the Third District Court of Appeal have been a great help and have challenged me to look at laws in different ways to figure out which is the right way to approach a particular case,” Finley says.

Her advice to FIU Law students?

“I would advise incoming students to attend all networking events, to talk to people who have careers that you might be interested in, and not to limit yourself to one type of law,” Finley said. “At the Third District Court, I am exposed to various areas of the legal field, which has helped me figure out what areas of law I am interested in and the areas that are more challenging for me.”

This summer, rising 2L Lauren Ayala Rodriguez is serving as a judicial intern for the Honorable Robert Norway in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Lauren pursued the internship to gain firsthand exposure to the day-to-day realities of federal litigation.

Lauren says FIU Law’s first-year curriculum gave her a strong foundation in core areas of the law. “Civil Procedure, in particular, has been extremely relevant for most of the disputes I've seen thus far, and Professor Wasserman ensured that I was well-prepared and confident in navigating the Rules,” Lauren shared.

During her internship, Lauren observes court proceedings, conducts legal research, drafts reports, and refines her writing. She says the experience has reinforced the importance of identifying weaknesses in a case of preparing to address difficult questions. “Judges will notice every flaw in a case before them and will raise those issues if they haven't already been addressed.”

Her advice for FIU Law students?

“Stay focused on what you're genuinely passionate about. FIU Law offers incredible resources, from the Career Planning Office to professors and classmates who are always willing to help. Don't hesitate to use the resources at your disposal!”

kinda chic to go to FIU Law ⚖️🐾

This summer, rising 3L Nikolas Gomez is serving as a law clerk at Greenberg Traurig. After taking a land use course last fall, Nikolas sought a role where he could build on that foundation through hands-on work in land use and zoning.

Nikolas says his FIU Law coursework prepared him to use his legal research and writing skills while handling land use and zoning matters during his externship.

“Those skills have been essential at GT, where I use legal research and writing almost every day,” he says. “Because my work at GT focuses on land use and zoning, I have often been assigned research projects that connect directly to topics or cases we covered in class.”

At the firm, Nikolas collaborates with attorneys, paralegals, and staff, learning how to contribute his skills while drawing on the expertise of others. As he returns to FIU Law, he plans to choose courses that genuinely interest him because he produces stronger work and is more productive when the subject matter excites him.

His advice to fellow FIU Law students?

“My advice would be not to be afraid to use your network, especially at FIU,” he shared. “Many professors work at respected law firms or have strong professional connections, and even those who are not currently practicing at large firms often know people who can help connect students with opportunities.”

Consider this our unofficial preview of fall. The drawings are in place, but we are ready for the real thing. See you soon, Panthers.

FIU Law is proud to receive the 2026 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award from Insight Into Academia magazine.

“We are deeply honored to receive this award, which reflects FIU Law’s commitment to creating an environment where students can flourish both personally and professionally,” said Interim Dean Michelle D. Mason.

This recognition highlights the work of Professor Rosario Lozada, Director of Well-Being at FIU Law, who champions well-being and mental health as essential components of success in the study and practice of law.

Thank you to everyone in the FIU Law community whose work helps foster a supportive and healthy environment for our students!

FIU Law will be featured in the magazine’s September 2026 issue.

Full story:

FIU Law Receives Insight Into Academia Magazine’s Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award Top Stories FIU Law Receives Insight Into Academia Magazine’s Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award August 6, 2026 Miami, FL., August 6, 2026 - Today, FIU Law received the 2026 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award from Insight Into Academia magazine. The Excellence in Menta....

This summer, rising 3L Vanessa Vanderbilt interned at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office. Her commitment to public service and the pursuit of justice motivated her to apply for the internship after attending an FIU Law panel about the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.

Vanessa says FIU Law’s criminal law curriculum prepared her for the demands of her internship. Through her assignments and courtroom observations, she learned to examine every detail involved in criminal litigation and gained a clearer understanding of how criminal procedure and constitutional law apply in practice.

She plans to carry the lessons and perspectives she gained from the internship into her 3L studies. “I will take back seeing nearly the entire criminal litigation process from start to finish from my observations at the State Attorney's Office,” Vanessa shared. “I will also take back important insights on everything that goes into keeping the community of Miami-Dade County a safe and thriving community.”

Her advice to FIU Law students?

“I would advise future FIU Law students to pick a unit that they think they have the most interest in,” she shared. “Try and observe courtroom proceedings closely so they know more clearly what is going on in the future in practicing as an attorney or for trial advocacy class at FIU Law.”