Our Involvement
Florida State College of Law boasts a proud tradition of being active in the ABA Law Student Division. Our current SBA Executive Board includes two National ABA Officers and one Lt. Governor for the 5th Circuit. Recognizing the benefit of networking with fellow law students and exchanging ideas with other law school leaders on how to benefit students and improve our law school, the SBA Executive Board regularly attends the yearly ABA Annual Meeting, the Fall Circuit Roundtable, and the Spring 5th Circuit Meeting. These meetings allow us to promote Florida State College of Law both nationally and regionally, network with leaders of other law schools, and to come back with great ideas to implement at Florida State College of Law.
Our SBA has two positions on the Executive Board solely dedicated to promoting the ABA Law Student Division to Florida State College of Law Students. Please contact them with any questions you might have regarding the ABA/Law Student Division.
ABA Sr. Representative: Sherria Williams
ABA Jr. Representative: Chris Tanner
National Positions
Vice-Chair/SBA - Ben Gibson
President Ben Gibson, serves as the Law Student Division Vice-Chair/SBA. Elected by the SBA Presidents at the 2007 Annual Meeting in San Francisco, Ben represents the student body Presidents at all 196 ABA accredited law schools. These Presidents, in turn, represent all 150,000+ law students in the nation. As Vice-Chair/SBA, Ben sits on the Law Student Division Board of Governors and addresses issues that affect law students and SBAs across the country. He also oversees the relationship between the SBA and ABA organizations at local, regional and national levels, travels throughout the country assisting SBA Presidents on behalf of the Division, and regularly communicates with SBA Presidents and facilitates idea sharing between them regarding the common issues that affect all law students.
Ben encourages all SBA Presidents and Leaders to contact him regarding any Student Bar Association questions or issues you might have: .
For resources and the latest information regarding SBA Presidents please visit the SBA Presidents Homepage.
Division Delegate - Ashley Ligas
ABA Sr. Representative Ashley Ligas serves as one of three Division Delegates to the ABA House of Delegates. Ashley was elected by all of the SBA Presidents and ABA Representatives at the 2007 Annual Meeting in San Francisco. Ashley sits on the Law Student Division Board of Governors and attends and represents the Division to the ABA House of Delegates at the Midyear and Annual Meetings. Ashley also votes as a member of the ABA House of Delegates, and communicates regularly with Division officers, circuit governors, ABA School Representatives, SBA Presidents, and liaisons in order to assess the voice of law students on issues of concern to law students across the country. Ashley works closely with the Chair of the Law Student Division to execute the Division’s legislative agenda through lobbying members of Congress and State Legislators. This year, the Division is again focusing on passage of legislation on a national and statewide level dealing with Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAP) for law students who decide to practice in certain public sector areas. Ashley has led the way for Florida State College of Law in lobbying for the passage of LRAP legislation in the state of Florida and now is taking that experience to the national level.
For the latest info and alerts on the Law Student Division’s Congressional Advocacy Efforts please visit their site and see how you can get involved in advocating on behalf of law students.
Ashley encourages you to contact her regarding any questions or law student advocacy issues you might have: .
Other ABA Law Student Division Involvement
5th Circuit Lt. Governor Maria Dawson
SBA Secretary Maria Dawson currently serves as the Lieutenant Governor/Regional Coordinator for the ABA 5th Circuit North and Central Florida Region. She previously served during 2006-2007, as the ABA Lieutenant Governor of 5th Circuit
Programs.
Fmr. 5th Circuit Governor Alan Nash
Florida State College of Law student Alan Nash served from 2006-2007 as the Circuit Governor for the largest Circuit in the nation- the 5th Circuit. As Circuit Governor, Alan oversaw all law schools in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, and Tennessee.
Fmr. 5th Circuit Executive Lt. Governor Ashley Ligas
SBA’s ABA Representative Ashley Ligas served from 2006-2007 as the ABA’s 5th Circuit Executive Lt. Governor. Ashley assisted then 5th Circuit Governor Alan Nash in providing programming related to the ABA and facilitating communication amongst all law schools in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, and Tennessee.