Professor Michael Vastine joined the faculty of St. Thomas University College of Law in 2004, where he is a tenured professor of law and Director of the Immigration Clinic. A frequent conference speaker and author, he is also a leader of the immigration bar, with extensive service within the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). From 2011-20, he was elected to serve on the AILA South Florida Chapter Board of Directors, including a term as Chair of the Chapter. Professor Vastine’s AILA national-level service includes multiple terms on the Federal Litigation Section Steering Committee, Annual Conference Planning Committee, and Amicus Curiae Committee. His impact litigation principally relates to immigration and crimes, including the lead case at the Florida Supreme Court establishing the constitutional rights of immigrant defendants to effective representation by their criminal counsel, and multiple cases at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit delineating the immigration consequences of Florida convictions involving controlled substances. Additionally, he has represented AILA and other community-based organizations, as amicus curiae counsel, in forums ranging from the Board of Immigration Appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court, in matters including the constitutional limits of indefinite detention of immigrants, the due process rights of the physically deported, and the immigration consequences of state crimes. In 2013, Professor Vastine received the AILA (National) Elmer Fried Award for Excellence in Teaching.

- This event has passed.
Integration Challenges: All Hands on Deck to End Human Trafficking in Southwest Florida
January 11, 2022 | 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

On January 11, 2022, National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, please join us in Fort Myers, Florida, for an intensive one-day training against human trafficking: Integration Challenges: All Hands on Deck to End Human Trafficking in Southwest Florida.
Three years after Breaking Chains and Breaking Cycles: The Intersection of Human Trafficking and the Opioid Crisis, the John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy of St. Thomas University College of Law is proud to once again partner with A Voice in the Wilderness Empowerment Center on a training that explores the next frontier of eradicating human trafficking in southwest Florida and beyond.
Great strides have been made against human trafficking in southwest Florida, but more work remains – requiring the collaboration, compassion, and multidisciplinary efforts of the entire community to succeed. This year’s training aims to build on past progress and empower the community with knowledge and resolve as it continues to strengthen public-private partnerships and work towards ending human trafficking in all its forms. In addition to opportunities to network with other organization working against human trafficking, sessions will be presented by leading experts in the field as follows:
-
Session 1: Perspectives in Law: Trafficking in Persons as a Crime
-
Session 2: Assessing Vulnerability and Trauma in Human Trafficking: Case Study Opioids
-
Session 3: Labor Trafficking: A Collaborative Response to Immigration Issues of Victims and Survivors
-
Session 4: Public-Private Partnerships: A Multidisciplinary Imperative to Combat Human Trafficking
This training is free and open to the public with registration. This training is accredited for 5.5 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits from The Florida Bar. This event is not available virtually. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. Space is limited.
*REGISTRATION IS NOW FULL*
In partnership with
*The John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy reserves the right to change/modify the schedule as necessary.*