THE TALLAHASSEE BARRISTERS recently mentored members of the Black Law Students Association from Florida State University at a speed networking event. Pictured from the left are Kristen Hanna, BLSA community service chair; Ashley Grant, BLSA financial secretary; Ashlee Pouncy, BLSA president; Brandi Thompson, BLSA member at large; Chief Justice Peggy A. Quince; Angelique Knox, Tallahassee Barristers president; Administrative Law Judge Errol Powell, historian; and Mutaqee Na’im Akbar, recording secretary. 


By Judge June C. McKinney
Special to the News

The Tallahassee Barristers mentored Florida State University law students at a speed networking activity where more than 35 members of the Black Law Students Association were paired with Tallahassee lawyers and judges to meet and learn about the legal profession.

Angelique Knox, president of the Tallahassee Barristers, noted that it is rare for any law student to meet with and learn about so many practice areas in the legal field in one setting.

The students met individually with lawyers and judges to learn about numerous legal practice areas. As the 40 mentors stayed seated, the law students continuously moved one seat to the right and networked in three-minute intervals with the professionals, including the chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court, a First District Court of Appeal judge, administrative law judge, federal prosecutor, general counsel, assistant chancellor, lobbyist, personal injury attorney, solo practitioner, judicial law clerk, law firm partner, Legal Services of North Florida attorney, contracts attorney, and numerous agency attorneys.

“This interactive activity with law students was a wonderful opportunity to meet and see the caliber of students in and entering our law schools,” Chief Justice Peggy Quince said. “It also gave the students an opportunity to meet and share ideas with practicing lawyers and judges, an opportunity that would not otherwise be available to most law students.”

“The speed networking event was a remarkable experience,” said BLSA President Ashlee Pouncy. “To have so many accomplished lawyers and judges from various legal fields in one room, with the common goal of providing insight and direction to future lawyers, was enlightening and encouraging,”

Pouncy said the experience reaffirmed her personal goal to pursue a career in law, and reminded her how important it is to give back.

“Speed networking is one of our student mentoring programs initiated because of the Tallahassee Barristers’ theme ‘Raising the Bar: In the Community, with Mentorship and Professionalism,’” Knox said.