UF Law Presents Serious About Law

In this candid and inspiring conversation about growth, grit, and Gator pride, Dean Merritt McAlister chats with Emma Towler , now a UF Law alumna and proud “double Gator.” They discuss Emma’s journey from UF undergrad mascot to law student and future litigator at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York. Emma reflects on her deep connection to UF, balancing academics with involvement, and the supp...

In this episode of Serious About Law , Dean Merritt McAlister sits down with UF Law mental health counselor Ritzy Ettinger for a conversation about wellness, resilience, and the realities of law school. Ritzy shares her journey from Honduras to becoming a counselor and advocate for students in Florida, reflecting on how her own experiences shaped her passion for helping others and supporting stude...

Professor Michael Allan Wolf joins Dean Merritt McAlister on this episode of Serious About Law for a wide-ranging conversation about his journey from Lakeland, Florida, to becoming one of the nation’s leading scholars in property and land use law. Professor Wolf reflects on his early fascination with the law through shows like Perry Mason , his time at Emory University and Georgetown University La...

On this episode of Serious About Law , Dean Merritt McAlister chats with Judge Patricia Barksdale (JD 96) , a U.S. Magistrate Judge and proud Florida Gator. Judge Barksdale takes us from growing up near NASA’s launch pads to her path through law school, Big Law, in-house counsel work, and eventually the federal bench. Along the way, she shares stories, laughs, and advice for law students—especiall...

UF Law Dean Merritt McAlister welcomes first-year law students Josh Zimerman and Yael Szanzer to share their unique journey from New York finance students to University of Florida Levin College of Law Gators. Married and navigating law school together, Josh and Yael discuss the factors that brought them to UF, and what their experience has been so far. Join us as they reflect on balancing rigorous...

UF Law Dean Merritt McAlister welcomes the first alum to the podcast: Rafael Sayagués , managing partner and CEO of Deloitte Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic, and a proud graduate of UF Law’s distinguished Graduate Tax Program. Rafael shares his journey from Costa Rica to Gainesville and beyond, revealing how a passion for tax law evolved into a thriving career at the nexus of i...

UF Levin College of Law Dean Merritt McAlister sits down with Stanford Professor Brandice Canes‑Wrone , senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and director of the Center for Revitalizing American Institutions. Canes‑Wrone shares the story of her journey—from a Washington, D.C., upbringing and a brief stint as an aspiring concert pianist to a PhD in political economy and a research career focused...

Hosted by Merritt McAlister, Dean of the University of Florida Levin College of Law, Serious About Law offers candid and engaging conversations on legal education, legal practice, and the evolving landscape of law schools today. In this inaugural episode, Dean McAlister sits down with Joe Mandernach, UF Law’s Senior Associate Dean and Chief of Staff and a proud University of Minnesota Law School g...