On Friday, October 10, the Collegiate Leadership Tampa Bay Class of 2026 spent the day immersed in the Legal, Government, and Real Estate industries of Tampa. Our first program day set a high bar: thoughtful discussions, influential speakers, and real-life perspectives. As an aspiring attorney, this program day truly resonated with me, and the speakers I interacted with gave me something to aspire to. Here’s a sneak peak at how the day went:
The day began at the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, the third-largest circuit in Florida, where Judge Thomas Palermo welcomed us into the courthouse. Even before we entered, we were reminded of the gravity of the place; a death penalty trial was taking place on the first floor as our class arrived. After reaffirming the respect required in that space, Judge Palermo proceeded to take us into his personal chambers. The room was filled with miniature rockets, medals, and other interesting objects, which he addressed with stories that reflected his amazing character and impressive career. He then took us to his courtroom, where he shared some very interesting facts that I, as someone interested in the topic, had to take notes on. Here are some of them:
- The term “bar exam” comes from the physical rail separating the public from the well; passing it means you’re admitted to cross that barrier and argue before the court.
- In most courts, the plaintiff or prosecution sits closest to the jury, reflecting the burden of proof and facilitating clear presentation.
- Juries function as a democratic check on government (judges, in this case) by inserting community judgment into the fact-finding process.
- Courtrooms are intentionally designed like churches to inspire reverence for justice; the raised bench, lectern, and even sightlines all carry symbolic meaning.
- Lady Justice (Justicia) symbolizes the system’s ideals: the blindfold for impartiality, the scales for weighing evidence, and the sword for lawful authority.
Next, we visited the State Attorney’s Office, where we were introduced to State Attorney Suzy Lopez, the first woman elected to the role in Hillsborough County. She briefly spoke about her work leading a team of 300 professionals handling nearly 50,000 cases a year. We then heard from Michelle Dorothy, Assistant State Attorney, about the State v. Keetley case. This was the longest-pending case in the county's history, lasting over twelve years before the prosecution (Dorothy herself was a prosecutor in the case!) ultimately won. Hearing, in vivid detail, all the evidence, testimony, and procedural issues of this complex, tragic trial was my favorite part of the day.
Our next stop, City Hall, offered a behind-the-scenes look at how local government functions. Rebecca Siviglia spoke about the collaboration—and occasional overlap—between city and county responsibilities. Councilman Luis Viera then discussed the latest developments in Tampa’s political scene, emphasizing both the progress made and the areas that still require attention.
At around noon, we had a Lunch with an Attorney session. My table heard from LaKisha Kinsey-Sallis, a partner at Fisher Phillips, and Adam Alpert, a partner at Bush Ross. Their reflections on their careers and life lessons allowed my colleagues and me to better understand what it takes to be successful in a legal profession.
The afternoon focused on the real estate and development portion of the program. We had presentations from Cushman & Wakefield, the Tampa Bay EDC, and Darren Wilson. We focused these conversations on the commercial real estate scene in Tampa, as well as discussed business consulting opportunities for those seeking to establish or invest in companies within the city. Ending the day on a good note, we welcomed Jay Quigley from Florida Executive Realty and Kenneshia Martin from Martin Mortgage Financial, who did an interactive and educational presentation on Homeownership 101.
Day 1 may have been the first, but I can already say it will likely be among the most impactful for me. I, along with my colleagues, am sincerely grateful to the program sponsors Arnie Bellini and Scott Riley; Day Chairs Emma Tomlin and Luis Martinez-Monfort; the program coordinators; and every speaker who took the time to be with us. Each conversation and presentation revealed not just what they do, but why—and understanding the details behind each operation emphasized the importance of these industries at the municipal level (and beyond), and further motivates me to pursue a career with the same level of impact.
