La-Toya Franklyn, a rising third year law student at UC Berkeley School of Law, is the recipient of the 2009 Leesfield/AAJ Law Student scholarship. La-Toya is completing her third year at Harvard Law School through the Berkeley-Harvard Exchange Program. La-Toya’s passion for law and trial advocacy began as a young child. At the age of 11, her commitment to the legal field and the practice of law began when she attended the Crown School for Law and Journalism. There she served as a defense attorney for the school’s mock trial team, leading the team to second place in the city-wide mock trial competition.
La-Toya attended Vanderbilt University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology. While at Vanderbilt, she explored the idea of presenting a case in front of a jury through teaching young students. She served as a student teacher at Maplewood High School and the Andrew Jackson Boys and Girls Club in Nashville, TN. La-Toya has maintained the attention of over 500 students in her four years of teaching and serving in the Nashville community. She knows that if she could survive in front of a classroom, she would thrive in front of a jury.
Eric Policastro, a graduating third-year law student at Baylor Law School in Texas, is the recipint of the 2009 Trial Advocacy Scholarship. As an undergraduate at Florida State University, Eric became involved in the college’s Pre-Law Society Mock Trial program, competing in the American Mock Trial Association’s national competition. Eric was awarded the Most Outstanding Litigator award by the Pre-Law society, and began attending Baylor Law School at the age of 21.
As a law student, Eric has found continued success in the courtroom. While enduring Baylor’s rigorous Practice Court program throughout the fall of 2008, Eric competed at the invitation-only Tournament of Champions mock trial competition, and he was awarded Best Advocate of the Preliminary Rounds. During his third year at Baylor Law, Eric and his mock trial partner tried 11 cases at the National Trial Competition and were subsequently crowned Regional and National Champions.
Upon graduation, Eric plans to work for a Dallas-based Plaintiff’s law firm where he will continue to work on the craft of trial advocacy. Eric’s desire to represent victims of corporate neglect will be enhanced by the experience that he has gained in the courtroom.
Felicia “Liz” Stokes is the recipient of the 2009 Elaine Osborne Jacobson Award. Liz received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from the University of Virginia and is currently a third year law student at the University of Richmond T.C. Williams School of Law. Nursing allowed Liz to care for people in their most vulnerable moments. This encouraged her to provide access and resources to the underprivileged. Liz serves as the president of the law school’s Child Health Advocacy Program which is partnered with the Medical College of Virginia’s medical school. This program provides holistic, free legal services, medical needs, social benefits, and needs assessments for patients in the MCV Pediatric Pavilion.
Liz is a member of the Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society and The American Association of Nurse Attorneys. Liz has traveled all over the country providing nursing care to critically ill patients. She has been recognized for her time spent promoting HIV awareness and heart disease prevention to North Carolina State and Duke University communities. Liz currently spends her time volunteering with the Alliance of AIDS Services, African Advocates Against AIDS, the Legal Information Network for Cancer, and has been recognized by the General Assembly of Virginia for her dedication to community service. Liz continues to be an exemplary member of her community and spent time working with the Virginia Interfaith Center for Policy lobbying for social justice and advocating for systemic change. Liz frequently encounters the astronomical disparities that both medical professionals and patients face everyday. She plans to continue to be an advocate for patients, disadvantaged persons, as well as her colleagues, to provide resources for both legal and medical care.
2009 Richard D. Hailey Scholarships
AAJ awarded five scholarships this year to deserving minority law students who have demonstrated an interest and proficiency of skills in trial advocacy, expressed a desire to represent victims, and demonstrated a commitment to AAJ and the civil justice system.
Ashley D. Mitchell is a third year law student at Florida A&M University. Erica Molina is a law student at Albany Law School. DeAnna N. Taylor is a third year law student at North Carolina Central University. Zaylore Sapphos is a third year law student at the University of St. Thomas. Emile Thompson is a third year law student at Wake Forest University.
The students were selected based on their strong desire to make a positive contribution to the legal profession.
