Gayle Cheatwood This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. Barry's 2000 Law Graduates Left in Limbo

   www.theledger.com/local/local/ - [Cached]

   Published on: 6/16/2002   Last Visited: 6/16/2002

   Gayle Cheatwood always wanted to be a lawyer, but doubted her ability to do so because it didn't seem like a career chosen by many women.
   
   They attended night classes at Barry University School of Law in Orlando and graduated in 2000.
   
   But through no fault of their own, none of the three is a lawyer yet.
   
   After years of juggling families, jobs and legal studies, the three Polk County residents -- along with all 108 others in Barry's law class of 2000 -- are left with just two options if they want to practice law: Return to school to repeat the last two years of law school or move to a state with different requirements for taking the bar exam.
   
   ...
   Cheatwood, a 48-year-old registered nurse, started law school in 1995 "because I always wanted to go to law school," she said. She didn't pursue the career when she was younger because it didn't seem like a career many women chose.
   
   Years later, she applied to law school at Stetson University, against her husband's wishes. After the couple divorced, she made law school a priority and attended Barry. She hoped to put herself in a position to eventually help put her three children through college.
   
   After taking the bar exam in 2000, Cheatwood went to work for Public Defender Marion Moorman.
   
   "It was my hope the school would get provisional accreditation, and I'd be able to practice as a criminal assistant public defender," Cheatwood said.
   
   Since that plan has been on hold, Cheatwood works as a forensic social worker in the Public Defender's Office.
   
   But like Franklin, Cheatwood feels lucky to be working in the legal field when other Barry graduates haven't been as fortunate.
   ...
   However, by delaying their graduation dates, other graduates who attended Barry University with Cheatwood, Taylor and Franklin have been more fortunate.
   ...
   Cheatwood said she thought about not turning in a senior paper until later so she could delay her graduation beyond 2000, but "to me it wouldn't have been an ethical thing for me to do."
   
   LIMITED OPTIONS
   ...
   When provisional accreditation came in February, Taylor, Cheatwood and Franklin hoped the Supreme Court would make another exception, like it did in allowing them to take the bar exam in 2000.
   ...
   Leaving the state isn't an option for many of the students, including Taylor, Cheatwood and Franklin.
   ...
   Franklin, Cheatwood and Taylor said they will return to Barry University for the required classes.