Download Magazine - Levin College of Law - University of Florida

A man of firstsAlfredo Garcia (JD 81)BY JASON SILVERAs the first Cuban-born deanof a U.S. law school at the St.Thomas University School ofLaw in Miami, Fla., Alfredo Garcia(JD 81) takes great pride in beingthe first in his family to graduatefrom college and law school.Garcia, who was president of theHispanic and Latino Law StudentAssociation at UF Law, remembersthe school giving him an opportunityto be successful by working hard.“It was a distinct honor for mebecause I was a first-generation collegeand graduate school student,”he said. “UF Law gave me an opportunityto further my educationand represent my heritage and roots,which is a privilege.”After graduating UF Law,Garcia became an assistant stateattorney under Janet Reno duringMiami’s infamous high-crime “CocaineCowboys” era. During thattime he handled felony and narcotics-relatedcases, gaining experienceworking against the best criminalattorneys, he said.“Being an assistant state attorneywas an incredible experiencebecause I got great on-the-job trainingagainst the best criminal defenselawyers like Roy Black,” he said.“It really sharpened my criminallitigation skills, which prepared mego into private practice in criminaldefense law.”There was never a dull momentin Miami during the 1980s as acriminal attorney, Garcia said.“I always tell my students thatfive years of the Miami Vice daysgave me all the excitement I neededfor a lifetime of practicing criminallaw,” Garcia said. “I had scary clientswho even smashed in my carwindows, but I have no regrets.”Garcia’s first love was alwaysacademics, and there’s nothing elsehe’d rather do than teach his studentsand learn from them as well, he said.“Your work should be your hobbyand your hobby should be yourwork,” Garcia said. “I always wantedto be a teacher since I was a kid, andit’s great to see your students developand then teach you things.”When Garcia arrived at the St.Thomas University School of Law20 years ago, it had only 14 facultymembers and was newly approved bythe American Bar Association. Now,under Garcia’s leadership, the schoolboasts 40 faculty members and morethan 600 students. As an attorney andleading legal scholar, Garcia says studentsneed to know the key to successis hard work and preparation.“My favorite quote from ChuckClose is ‘Inspiration is for amateurs,the rest of us just show upfor work,’ ” Garcia said. “The bestattorneys I see in action are the oneswho prepare better than anyone, andGarcia“A lawyer who works harder thanhis opponent is the most successful.”a lawyer who works harder than hisopponent is the most successful.”Garcia, who has Gator footballseason tickets, said the most rewardingaspect of being the dean of St.Thomas University School of Lawis what he gets back from students.“You learn a lot from yourstudents; it’s a two-way street,” hesaid. “I’m very proud and excitedbecause my background mirrors themission and the values of the lawschool.” ■Gregory S. Weiss has joined the lawfi rm of Leopold-Kuvin in Palm BeachGardens.1999John Badalamenti, an appellateattorney with the federal defender’soffi ce in Tampa, was quoted in therecent ABA Journal article “CrimeRegistries Under Fire” concerningthe constitutionality of the AdamWalsh Act.Bryan S. Gowdy became a boardcertifiedappellate attorney and anequal shareholder in his firm, formerlyMills & Creed, which is changing itsname to Mills, Creed & Gowdy.Orlando attorney A. Brian Phillips(LLMT) has been appointed adjunctprofessor of law at the University ofFlorida Levin College of Law.Vee Leonard, general counsel forFlorida Gulf Coast University, hasbeen reappointed to a three-year termas an at-large director of The FloridaBar Foundation, a statewide charitableorganization that fosters law-relatedpublic service programs on behalf ofFlorida’s legal profession.Richard P. Rollo was elected directorof Richards, Layton & Fingerin Wilmington, Del. in July. Rollopractices in the fi rm’s CorporateLitigation Department, representingDelaware corporations and theirWeiss 98Leonard 99FALL 2008 53