Nicholas W. Allard, dean of Jacksonville University’s College of Law, recently said that the high level of support and engagement of Jacksonville’s bench and bar truly set us apart.
Dean Allard who was appointed founding dean of the College of Law to be launched in August 2022 by the school, joined last July. He expressed his pride at the achievements and direction of the college and its students.
He said that “our successes in the last year and our immediate position of strength indicate several unique and competitive advantages we offer.” “We’re literally building a law faculty from scratch, without retrofitting or changing existing mindsets. The students enjoy the thrill and challenge of creating something new in the best possible way. “In addition to balancing the rigorous study load as first-year students, these students have served and contributed to the community. They have also been ambassadors for our school and have had incredible opportunities and experiences working with Jacksonville judges and bar members.”
They haven’t achieved such success alone. Dean Allard said, “Jacksonville’s lawyers, in both the public and the private sector, along with our judges, local civic organizations and companies, as well as esteemed faculty, have been extremely engaged and committed in ensuring our law students receive the best possible education, inside and outside of the classroom.” “Jacksonville’s legal community is a shining example.” They are very knowledgeable about the most recent legal issues and show outstanding qualities such as leadership, adaptability, and teamwork when serving clients facing uncertainty.
Dean Allard stated that the small size of the school initially allowed professors to offer a more personalized and hands-on approach to their students. “We are able not only to offer the best traditional approaches to legal training, but also to adapt and adopt new methods.”
He said that the ability of the school to balance two difficult and challenging lines of legal education is a special but strategic focus.
Dean Allard stated, “To gain respect, attract students, employers, and donors to our College of Law as well as impress accreditations, we color within the lines and teach the fundamentals of the law, ethics, and professionalism, so that our students can pass the bar exam and be ready to practice,” “Our students are learning the fundamental and conventional skills and abilities that they need to have in order to pass the Florida Bar and become good lawyers,” Dean Allard said.
Dean Allard explained that the new approach to law school is more than just a change in name. He explained that the law school is also showing a ‘Jacksonville Pollock” inventiveness and innovative approach by listening to Jacksonville’s bar and bench to learn what new needs there are for lawyers. One of those needs is to help and teach our next generation to understand how to adapt and change. “We’re designing the best curriculum to prepare students for the constantly changing 21st century world of law.” Even if law schools were teaching the same thing 10 years ago, they must have changed now, because the world and client needs have dramatically evolved.
The dual approach will prepare our students to become new lawyers, not only to understand and provide legal services, but to also be lifelong learners, adapting to new needs, as new legal issues are bound to arise, which we may not even be aware of yet.
He cited recent examples, including artificial intelligence, drones and cybersecurity.
The Supreme Court of the United States has heard four AI-related cases in the past term. Dean Allard emphasized that it is every lawyer’s obligation to be knowledgeable about new technologies. Other areas include changing norms in relation to cannabis across Canada, the latest financial tools such as cryptocurrency and blockchain, and biomedical advances and breakthroughs in medicine and healthcare. We must continue to provide quality, affordable legal services for underserved community members and access to justice.
I believe that lawyers will be more important than ever in this century because of the tension between the rules and the ever-changing way of life. Our students are being prepared to tackle the next legal issues in our world.
Dean Allard believes that the College of Law of Jacksonville University will achieve its long-term goal of having every student be regarded as one of the best lawyers in the nation.
Zoom was one of the many online platforms that were still used for litigation. Why not try a few of these mediated cases for myself to see what it’s all about?
He continues, “I not only jumped right in and did the work but I also began reaching out people I had known and worked for over 20 years.” “They shared with me their Zoom experiences, and I soon discovered that it was (a) a more efficient model (b) that the settlements were similar if not even better (c) that I remembered that someone had said to me some time ago that I would be a good mediator. After 25 years, I finally decided to become a mediator.
Maliszewski, who is a man of action and a lover of technology, immediately started planning his career switch, using online technology to help him. He was excited and motivated to get everything done by the end 2021. However, a number of major family issues arose right around the beginning of the year.
He says, “I had to deal with these issues so I retired from my insurance career I loved on that fateful afternoon in January 2021 and spent the next six week focusing my energy on caring for my family.” “During this time, I got my first Florida Supreme Court Certification as a Mediator and opened up the shop ahead of schedule on march 31, 2021. It took off!”
Maliszewski, whose new career was unquestionably succeeding above and beyond all expectations in 2022, stumbled upon an opportunity to move back to Jacksonville. This move was not just a return to childhood and his career, but also a good one for the whole family.
He says, “My wife runs a pediatric speech-language pathology clinic in Jacksonville, and our children Annastin, and Molly attend Holy Family Catholic School.” It just made sense from all angles.
Practice Makes Perfect
Maliszewski’s practice and reputation have continued to grow. His 25 years in insurance and litigation provided him with a network of clients on both sides who jumped into the Zoom revolution and became loyal repeat mediation clients. However, the growing number of referrals he receives for his mediation work is a true indication of his abilities.
The cherry on the top, if that’s what you call it, is Maliszewski was able to charge a very competitive price for his services and he is a big fan of using data in order to make decisions.
“COVID introduced us to Zoom. It is here to remain for the most part and the data regarding its success do not lie. Settlements have remained the same, if not improved, with minimal travel costs and a small overhead. You can see the decision makers and have real-time access to them. “This is beneficial to all parties.”
LEO Mediations, LLC is not a discount or cut-rate service. But when you look at the experience and expertise of the mediator, Maliszewski, the ease and convenience of the online Zoom process he hosts, the personal scheduling, the data-driven results that are equal or better than others, and the price, it’s easy to see the value.
Formula for Success
Maliszewski’s success can be attributed to three hallmarks: Listening and Engaging. Listening to what the parties want, need and why; involving the parties and tackling obstacles on their way; and optimizing the information available for an informed decision. LEO Mediations, LLC is about this.
“I believe many of your readers from Jacksonville and NE Florida will recognize my name. If for no other reason, it’s because I used to be out on the field directly handling insurance litigation. I have spent the last decade of my career in insurance mainly focused on the litigation hotbeds of South Florida, the I-4 corridor and leadership. I hope that the locals will embrace the technology and benefit of remote mediations through Zoom and be willing to see me again. I am sure that the savings and results they achieve will speak for themselves. “At the end of it all, the success of our clients is what matters most. Mine comes from theirs.”
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