UWF Talent Catalyst Program Gives Aspiring Attorney Real-World Legal Experience

Through the University of West Florida Talent Catalyst Program, UWF junior Tia Smith has spent the past few months gaining hands-on experience at Levin Papantonio while exploring her goal of becoming an attorney.

Levin Papantonio’s partnership with UWF gives students interested in law an opportunity to experience the profession beyond the classroom, with Levin Papantonio attorney Brandon Bogle helping support the firm’s involvement by providing Tia with mentorship and exposure to the day-to-day practice of law.

During her time at Levin Papantonio, Tia has assisted with cases, reviewed deposition testimony, and communicated with clients. Through that work, she has seen firsthand the critical thinking, problem-solving, and personal interaction that go into practicing law.

The experience has also strengthened Tia’s desire to attend law school and pursue a career as an attorney, with the goal of one day helping clients and making a difference in her community.

Hear more from Tia Smith and Brandon Bogle about the UWF Talent Catalyst Program, what Tia has learned during her time at Levin Papantonio, and why real-world experience can be an important step for students considering a career in law.

One of the goals of Levin Papantonio’s partnership with UWF is to give aspiring attorneys experience that cannot always be replicated in a classroom.

For Brandon Bogle, one of the primary reasons for Levin Papantonio’s involvement in the program is to provide aspiring attorneys with experiences that cannot always be replicated in a classroom.

“One of the main reasons I wanted us to get involved in this program with the university is to provide young aspiring lawyers like yourself real-world opportunities that you just can’t really fully capture in the classroom.”

For Tia, one of the most valuable examples has been the opportunity to communicate directly with clients and learn how to work with different people and personalities.

“That’s something you can’t get from a book. Textbooks are very black and white, especially ones that have to do with law. And so to talk to different kinds of people, get their different opinions, deal with just different personalities, that’s not something you can learn in a classroom.”

The UWF Talent Catalyst Program, launched in 2024 through the University of West Florida’s Office of Workforce Development, connects UWF students with local businesses for paid, part-time positions related to their academic and career interests. In addition to hands-on work experience, students receive industry mentoring and participate in professional development focused on workplace skills such as communication, teamwork, professionalism, and problem-solving.

The program also helps build a local talent pipeline by connecting businesses with students early in their education. Students can gain one to two years of relevant experience before graduation, while employers have an opportunity to mentor and prepare potential future employees