Local Firm Launches First NIL Practice in the Region — Free Seminar Explains Why It Matters
Levin Papantonio attorney Brenton Goodman joins Rick’s Blog Live to preview his session at the 16th annual People’s Law School, where he’ll teach families how to protect student athletes navigating Name, Image and Likeness deals.
September means the return of the Levin Papantonio People’s Law School, a free community education series now in its 16th year. This year, one topic stands out as brand new territory for local families: Name, Image and Likeness, or NIL.
Attorney Brenton Goodman, grandson of legendary Pensacola lawyer Fred Levin, sat down to explain why he pitched the firm on becoming, in his words, the first firm directly involved in the NIL space locally.
Why it matters now: NIL allows student athletes, from high school through college, to earn money off their own personal brand. Because the rules are so new, Goodman warns that predatory actors are already circling.
“There’s information out there that they should know because when you have something that’s brand new like this, you have a lot of predatory entities and people that want to take advantage of people that don’t know what’s going on.”
A family connection to local athletes: Goodman shared that Fred Levin’s decades-long ties to athletes, including boxer Roy Jones Jr. and NFL great Emmitt Smith, helped convince the firm this was a natural next step.
What the People’s Law School covers: NIL is just one of several sessions. The free series also covers trusts, wills, probate, motor vehicle crashes and workers’ compensation.
Goodman’s pitch to parents: He says the NIL session isn’t only about maximizing money — it’s about helping students use their name and platform to land internships and open doors, not just endorsement deals.
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Levin Papantonio Announces 2026 People’s Law School, Offering Free Legal Education to Pensacola Community
Three-night September series will help local residents better understand their legal rights and issues affecting their families and community
For more than 16 years, People’s Law School has brought attorneys and other professionals together with members of the community to make the law easier to understand and more accessible.
The 2026 series will be held on three Monday evenings, September 14, 21 and 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Resource Center, 913 S. I Street in Pensacola. Attendance is free and open to the public.
Three Nights of Free Legal Education Every Monday After Labor Day
Each People’s Law School class will feature presentations focused on legal topics relevant to individuals and families in Northwest Florida.
The current 2026 schedule includes:
Monday, September 14
Rachael Gilmer, Levin Papantonio
Personal Injury and Motor Vehicle
Brett Vigodsky, Levin Papantonio
Workers’ Compensation and Social Security
Monday, September 21
Lauren Merritt and Amanda Elliott
Estate Planning and Probate
Charlie Penrod
The Legal Side of Cybercrime
Monday, September 28
Brenton Goodman, Levin Papantonio
Name, Image and Likeness (NIL)
Speaker to be announced
Social Media Addiction
The agenda is subject to change, and additional information will be announced as the event approaches.
No legal background is necessary to participate. The presentations are intended to be educational and approachable, giving attendees an opportunity to learn about legal issues before they find themselves facing them firsthand.
Participants who attend all three evenings will receive a People’s Law School Certificate of Completion recognizing their participation in the full series.
Registration Now Open
People’s Law School is free, but advance registration is encouraged. Registered attendees will receive updates about the schedule and other important event information.
WHAT: 2026 People’s Law School
WHEN: September 14, 21 and 28, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m.
WHERE: Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Resource Center, 913 S. I Street, Pensacola, FL 32502
COST: Free and open to the public, food and drinks will be provided
REGISTRATION: https://levinlaw.com/2026-peoples-law-school/
For more information about the 2026 People’s Law School or to register, visit levinlaw.com/peoples-law-school