FALL 2018
FLORIDA’S FIRST LAW SCHOOL FOUNDED 1900 TAMPA BAY, FL
WHY CHOOSE RANKED #1 IN TRIAL ADVOCACY RANKED #2 IN LEGAL WRITING RANKED AS ONE OF THE TOP 100 LAW SCHOOLS by U.S. News & World Report (2019)
WINNER OF THE FIRST-EVER ABA COMPETITIONS CHAMPION AWARD, RECOGNIZING STETSON’S PERFORMANCE IN THE FOUR ABA LAW STUDENT DIVISION COMPETITIONS—ARBITRATION, CLIENT COUNSELING, NEGOTIATION, AND NATIONAL APPELLATE ADVOCACY.
7 7 6 45+ 350+
Teaching courtrooms Study abroad programs Foreign exchange programs Student organizations allowing students to have a voice Clinic and externship opportunities annually
STETSON LAW? NATIONAL CHAMPION ADVOCACY TEAMS
CONCENTRATIONS IN ADVOCACY, ELDER LAW, ENVIRONMENTAL LAW, INTERNATIONAL LAW AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCACY
A BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS IN TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA AND MINUTES AWAY FROM WORLD-CLASS BEACHES
MORE THAN 350 CLINIC AND EXTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ANNUALLY TO GIVE YOU REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE
3
BY THE NUMBERS TOTAL J.D. STUDENTS
STETSON PROFILE 2018 ENTERING CLASS
132 Part-time
45 Part-time
696 Full-time
239 Full-time
29 STATES 94
24.3% Minority in the Fall 2018 J.D. entering class
Undergraduate colleges and universities represented
4
80.99%
New J.D. students receiving scholarships
54.9% Female
in the Fall 2018 J.D. entering class
$43,384 Full-time 2018-19 fall/spring tuition and fees
Data as of August 23, 2018
Represented in Fall 2018 J.D. entering class, plus one foreign country (United Kingdom)
$37,747
Part-time 2018-19 fall/spring/summer tuition and fees
(Summer session is required for part-time students.)
“
S tetson provided me with a well-rounded and worthwhile law school experience. Between thought-provoking academic courses, practical legal externships and engaging student organizations, I had numerous opportunities to develop the skills needed to advance my legal career.
Lane Cryar ’14 Honors Attorney, Department of Homeland Security Former Judicial Law Clerk to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
5
STETSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW HAS PREPARED LAWYERS AND LEADERS SINCE 1900.
Today, Stetson leads the nation in blending legal doctrine with practical training, evidenced by its top-ranked programs in advocacy and legal writing. You can prepare for practice and build relationships with mentors in a variety of ways: • Participate in Stetson’s championship Dispute Resolution Board, Trial Team or Moot Court Board • Work with your professors on research and service projects to begin building your network with leading attorneys • Compete in intramural competitions for oral arguments, opening statements, closing arguments or full trials • Serve as a student editor for one of Stetson’s four academic law journals • Participate in Stetson’s Student Leadership Development program • Must complete at least 60 hours of pro bono service 6
OUR CURRENT SUCCESS CLASS OF 2017, STATUS OF 263 GRADUATES
263 261 6 245 170 47 4
OFFICE OF CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Your new career begins on your first day of law school when you join an established community of Stetson Law students and alumni. The Office of Career and Professional Development guides, coaches, and provides support and guidance throughout your law school experience and beyond to help you reach your goal. Our ability to build strong and lasting relationships with you, our employers, alumni, and organizations is a trademark of the Stetson culture.
Total graduates* Graduates whose employment status is known** Pursuing graduate degree full-time Employed Employed/bar passage required Employed/J.D. Advantage Employed/professional
EMPLOYMENT TYPE***
Law firms (114) Business & industry (50) Government (44) Public interest (19) Judicial clerkship (10) (federal, state, other) Academia (8)
* The employment numbers for the class of 2017 are for December 2016, May 2017, and August 2017 graduates. ** Employment outcomes data is as of March 15, 2018, and reported to the American Bar Association in the required format. For more information regarding Stetson’s post-graduation employment rates, visit Stetson.edu/law. ***Of the 245 employed. For more information, visit http://employmentsummary.abaquestionnaire.org
7
Over 118 years ago, Stetson set out on a mission to deliver smart, skilled, practice-ready graduates. Stetson has never wavered in this mission because today’s legal profession demands this now more than ever.
WHERE LAW STUDENTS BECOME STETSON LAWYERS 8
At Stetson Law, you will find a comprehensive J.D. curriculum that features more than 60 skills electives, 350-plus clinic and externship opportunities, and five J.D. Certificate of Concentration programs. You may specialize your degree by pursuing a J.D./M.B.A., J.D./LL.M. in Advocacy, or continue on to earn an LL.M. degree in Advocacy, Elder Law or International Law.
REQUIRED CURRICULUM FULL-TIME J.D.
PART-TIME J.D.
Most full-time students complete the required curriculum in the sequence listed below.
All part-time students are required to take classes at both the Gulfport campus and the Tampa Law Center.
FIRST SEMESTER (FALL)
• • • •
Civil Procedure Contracts Criminal Law Research and Writing I
SECOND SEMESTER (SPRING)
• • • •
Constitutional Law I Real Property Torts Research and Writing II
THIRD SEMESTER (FALL)
•
Professional Responsibility
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS REQUIRED: 88 ESTIMATED TIME FOR COMPLETION: 3 years
(may be completed in 2.5 years by attending summer sessions)
FIRST FALL SEMESTER
• •
Contracts Torts
FIRST SPRING SEMESTER
• •
Real Property or Civil Procedure Research and Writing I
FIRST SUMMER SESSION
•
Real Property or Civil Procedure
SECOND FALL SEMESTER
• • •
Criminal Law Professional Responsibility Research and Writing II
SECOND SPRING SEMESTER
•
Constitutional Law I
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS REQUIRED: 88 ESTIMATED PART-TIME COURSE LOAD: 8-10 credit hours in fall and spring 4-5 credit hours in summer ESTIMATED TIME FOR COMPLETION: 4 years including summers
(Students who meet certain academic and other criteria may apply to transfer to the full-time program in any semester after completing 28 credit hours.)
The curriculum is subject to change.
“
In one of my courses, students research and write a memorandum of law. They then argue the case in a mock arbitration in front of a panel of alumni. This training reinforces and enhances the doctrinal learning, and makes our students that much more prepared to start practicing law upon graduation. Joseph F. Morrissey Professor of Law and co-author, “International Sales Law & Arbitration: Problems, Cases and Commentary” 9
“
My legal training at Stetson has helped me tremendously in being prepared to make decisions today as a president in the NFL.
Rich McKay ’84 President and CEO, Atlanta Falcons Former General Manager, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
CHART YOUR LEGAL CAREER DUAL AND JOINT DEGREES • J.D./LL.M. in Advocacy • J.D./M.B.A. from Stetson University’s School of Business Administration • J.D./M.I.N.T.E.C. in International Economic Law from the University of Toulouse, France • J.D./M.E.B.L. in European Business Law from the Comillas Pontifical University in Madrid, Spain
LL.M. DEGREES • LL.M. in Advocacy (online) • LL.M. in Elder Law (online) • LL.M. in International Law
ACADEMIC JOURNALS • Stetson Law Review • Journal of International Aging Law and Policy • Journal of International Wildlife Law and Policy • Stetson Journal for Advocacy and the Law
INTERNATIONAL STUDY • Summer abroad in England, The Netherlands, South Africa, Spain • Fall intersession in the Cayman Islands • Spring break in Ireland and Cuba • Foreign exchange with the University of Granada, Spain; Comillas Pontifical University, Spain; Université Toulouse 1, Capitole, France; University of East Anglia, England; University College Dublin, Ireland; and Victoria University, Australia
10
CERTIFICATES OF CONCENTRATION ADVOCACY
ELDER LAW
At Stetson Law, students can focus their studies through our elective curriculum and earn a Certificate of Concentration along with the J.D. degree. By earning a certificate, students can demonstrate to potential employers both a genuine interest and a higher level of knowledge in a particular field of law.
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
INTERNATIONAL LAW
SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCACY
11
CERTIFICATES OF CONCENTRATION
ADVOCACY ISN’T AN AFTERTHOUGHT AT STETSON; IT’S OUR CORE MISSION, AND IT SHOWS.
The Center for Excellence in Advocacy’s Dispute Resolution Board advanced to nationals in four ABA competitions—the first law school to ever do this.
12
AWARD-WINNING ADVOCATES
Since 1980, Stetson University College of Law has won:
5
71
84
47+
56+
157+
6
20
World Championships
National Championships
Regional Championships
State Championships
Brief Awards
Best Oralist / Best Advocate Awards
Professionalism Awards
Number of times Stetson has been ranked #1 in Trial Advocacy by U.S. News & World Report
(International)
(including Best Oralist / Advocate, Best Cross Examination & Best Chair)
Since U.S. News and World Report began ranking trial advocacy programs twenty-four years ago, Stetson has ranked No. 1 in the nation 20 times. No other school even comes close.
RANKED #1 IN TRIAL ADVOCACY
by U.S. News & World Report (2019)
AWARD-WINNING DISPUTE RESOLUTION BOARD
MOOT COURT BOARD CONSISTENTLY PLACES AT OR NEAR THE TOP IN APPELLATE ADVOCACY COMPETITIONS,
winning team awards, as well as best oralist and best brief awards
consists of four categories of student competition teams: client counseling, negotiation, mediation, and arbitration
TRIAL TEAM HAS WON FIRST PLACE
in more national-level trial competitions than any other law school
13
CERTIFICATES OF CONCENTRATION
“
The Certificate of Concentration in International Law provides Stetson students who wish to focus their legal studies in international law a unique opportunity to learn from Stetson faculty who have specialized in international human rights, international arbitration, and international business, and are wellrespected and well-known in their fields. Jason S. Palmer Professor of Law Former Attorney-Adviser, U.S. Department of State Former Claims Judge, Claims Resolution Tribunal, Switzerland 14
INTERNATIONAL LAW • International Law is designed for students who want to advance their studies in either private or public international law. • Students who have completed at least 30 credit hours but no more than 45 credits may apply for the Certificate of Concentration in International Law. • International Law is a competitive program designed to admit no more than five students per year.
ELDER LAW • The Center for Excellence in Elder Law is an internationally-recognized program with esteemed, accessible faculty. • Well-regarded and established Elder Law curriculum and course offerings surpassing other law schools. • Select Stetson students attend the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys National Conference annually. • Students participate in the premier Elder Law Inn of Court in the U.S., offering students access to the nation’s distinguished Elder Law attorneys in the area. • Stetson law students become editors for The Journal of International Aging, Law and Policy, one of the national journals addressing global issues of aging. • Students may obtain a concentration in Elder Law by completing 25 hours of electives in the area of Elder Law or Estate Planning.
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW • At the Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy, students receive personalized attention and mentoring from environmental law faculty. • First-year law students have unique opportunities to participate in the Ecosystem Banking Workshop and by taking Research and Writing II Environmental Law, a special section covering skills with an emphasis on real-world issues. • Students have access to distinguished environmental professionals who visit campus to present as part of the Edward and Bonnie Foreman Biodiversity Lecture Series, the Stetson International Environmental Moot Court Competition, and other environmental events. • Students may participate in prestigious national environmental law moot court and negotiation competitions. • Law students can become editors for the Journal of International Wildlife and Policy, one of the national journals addressing global wildlife issues.
SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCACY • Law school students who pursue a Social Justice Advocacy Certificate of Concentration share a unique passion for equality in society and a drive to stand up for those who need advocacy the most. • Stetson Law leverages its strong Advocacy core to prepare students to serve in the causes that matter to them. • Deliberate Coursework: Students choose elective courses with a career path in mind. • One-on-one Mentoring: Each student works closely with a faculty mentor who has experience in the field of Social Justice Advocacy. • Experiential Learning Opportunities: The Constitutional Law and the Civil Rights Movement Travel Course takes students to six cities associated with the Civil Rights Movement, the legal history of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
15
CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION LAW AND POLICY
LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING
The Center’s mission is to advance the field of higher education law and policy by: • Conducting quality research and producing outstanding scholarship in higher education law and policy. • Presenting interdisciplinary conferences and special programs in areas affecting higher education law and policy. • Forging productive relationships with other organizations devoted to the advancement of law and higher education, both within the United States and throughout the world. The Center’s keystone event is the National Conference on Law and Higher Education, held annually in February.
STETSON LAW IS RANKED #2 IN LEGAL WRITING Source: U.S. News & World Report (2019) Stetson Law’s Institute for the Advancement of Legal Communication furthers Stetson’s commitment to leadership in legal communication education, research, and service. It requires seven credit hours of legal research and writing in the first year, substantially more time devoted than many other schools. First-year courses are taught by tenured and tenure-track faculty. Stetson’s faculty are leaders in the field of legal communication. They serve on the Board of Directors for the Legal Writing Institute, are members of the Association of Legal Writing Directors and serve as leaders at the American Bar Association. Stetson Law is not only committed to excellent training and curricula for our students; it is committed to the study of legal communication. Professors engage in scholarship about legal writing, which makes them experts in the discipline of legal communication.
16
VETERANS LAW
The Veterans Law Institute’s mission is to increase legal services available to the growing population of military members, veterans and their families in the local area. It brings together volunteer attorneys, Stetson faculty and students, and other community organizations.
The Veterans Law Institute: • Serves as a center for student veterans and student pro bono service activities for members of the military and veterans. • Works with community partners to meet the needs of wounded veterans and their families. • Advises on policy affecting veterans at the national and local levels. The Veterans Advocacy Clinic provides representation to local area veterans appealing decisions denying Veterans Administration disability benefits. The Yellow Ribbon Scholarship Program is a reduction in law school tuition and fees paid for eligible veterans.
STETSON LAW IS A MILITARY FRIENDLY® SCHOOL Serving those who serve us.
“
Stetson’s law students are at the heart of the Veteran’s Advocacy Clinic’s mission to serve our nation’s veterans by providing them top notch legal help to receive the benefits they have earned. Stacey-Rae Simcox Associate Professor of Law, Director, Veterans Law Institute Director, Veterans Advocacy Clinic and former Army Major and JAG Officer 17
CLINICS AND EXTERNSHIPS
EXTERNSHIPS American/Caribbean Law Externship Bankruptcy Externship Bankruptcy Judicial Externship Elder and Disability Law Externship Environmental Law Externship Equal Employment Opportunity Law Externship Family Law Externship Federal Judicial Externship Federal Litigation Externship Florida Circuit Court (Appellate) Externship
GET REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE • More than 350 clinic and externship opportunities annually • Approximately 30 clinic and externship courses at 60 hosting organizations • One of the few law schools across the country who guarantee every student can participate in a clinic or externship course during law school • Any student with the proper prerequisites may participate in clinical education involving real world experience. 18
Florida Circuit Court (Trial) Externship Florida District Court of Appeal Externship Homeless Advocacy Externship Individual Externship In-House Counsel Externship Intellectual Property Externship Labor Law Externship Municipal and Administrative Law Externship State Litigation Externship State Supreme Court Externship
CLINICS Child Advocacy Clinic Civil Legal Services Clinic Immigration Law Clinic Local Government Clinic Prosecution Clinic Public Defender Clinic Tampa Prosecution Clinic Veterans Advocacy Clinic
STETSON LAW STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
“
Stetson’s externships offer students a unique opportunity to work with an experienced attorney in the field while simultaneously seeking guidance through a class setting from a professor who knows the area of practice. We are proud of the deep clinical history at Stetson. Many times, clinical education is the first moment when students represent real clients; they feel the weight and responsibility of practice and develop a deeper appreciation of being a lawyer. Christine E. Cerniglia Director of Clinical and Experiential Education Assistant Professor of Law
COMMUNITY-WIDE ORGANIZATIONS American Bar Association – Law Student Division (ABA/LSD) Calvin A. Kuenzel Student Bar Association (SBA) Stetson Ambassadors Student Leadership Development Committee
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS American Constitution Society Amnesty International – Stetson Chapter Asian American Law Student Association (AALSA) Black Law Students Association (BLSA) Business Law Society (BLS) Child Advocates of Stetson Law Christian Legal Society (CLS) Dream Defenders Education Law Association Elder Law Society Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law Society (EASL) Environmental Law Society (ELS) Federal Bar Association Federalist Society Florida Association of Women Lawyers at Stetson (FAWLS) Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Law Student Division Food Law Society Health Care Law Association (HCLA) Hispanic Bar Association (HBA) If/When/How Immigration Law Student Association Innocence Initiative: Reform and Education Division
Intellectual Property Law Society (IPLS) International Law Society (ILS) Investment and Finance Law Association Jewish Law Student Association (JLSA) Labor & Employment Law Association Lambda Legal Society Maritime Law Society National Organization for Women Part-Time Student Society Phi Alpha Delta (PAD) Phi Delta Phi The Pillars Public Service Fellows (PSF) Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section of the FL Bar: Stetson Law Chapter (RPPTL) Second Amendment Society Stetson Law Democrats Stetson Law Parents Stetson Law Republicans Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF) Student Veteran’s Organization (SVO) Student Wellness Society Tax Law Society 19
361
Average number of sunny days per year in St. Petersburg, nicknamed the “Sunshine City”
81°
Average year-round temperature
Miles of white sand beaches
ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA HOLDS THE GUINNESS WORLD RECORD FOR LOGGING THE MOST CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF SUNSHINE
Within minutes of the best rated beaches by
20
35
129
Parks in the St. Petersburg area including six dog parks & eight nature preserves.
#1 700
+
4
ST. PETERSBURG City in Florida for attention to LGBTQIA issues three years in a row (2016, 2017, 2018) as ranked by the Human Rights Campaign.
RESTAURANTS, BARS AND COFFEE SHOPS in the St. Pete/Gulfport area. (TripAdvisor)
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay Rays Tampa Bay Lightning Tampa Bay Rowdies
Stetson University College of Law Stetson Tampa Law Center Museums
28
ST. PETERSBURG IS HOME TO Museums including the Chihuly Collection, Morean Arts Center, Florida Holocaust Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, and The Dali Museum, which includes over 2,100 of his works – the largest collection outside of Europe.
Performing Arts Attractions Parks/Recreation Areas Professional Sports Downtown 21
94 UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES REPRESENTED IN THE FALL 2018 J.D. ENTERING CLASS
22
Albright College Arizona State University Boston College California State University Channel Islands California State University Chico California State University Fresno Clemson University College of Coastal Georgia College of Wooster Delaware State University Duke University Eckerd College Emory University Fairleigh Dickinson University - Madison Fitchburg State University Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University Florida Atlantic University Florida Gulf Coast University Florida Institute of Technology Florida International University Florida Southern College Florida State University Furman University George Mason University Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia State University Grace College Hillsdale College Hodges University Indiana University Bloomington Jacksonville University James Madison University Kings College - PA Liberty University
Lindenwood University Louisiana State University Baton Rouge Louisiana Tech University Lynn University Lyon College Maryville University of Saint Louis Miami University Oxford Millersville University of Pennsylvania New College of Florida New York University Graduate School of Arts and Science Norwich University NYU Stern School of Business Ohio Northern University The Ohio State UniversityColumbus Oklahoma State University Stillwater NTU School of Engineering and Applied Science at Walden University Pennsylvania State University - University Park Purdue University - West Lafayette Rhodes College Rollins College Saint Leo University Sewanee: The University of The South Southeastern University Stetson University Stonehill College SUNY College at Oneonta Tarleton State University Temple University Texas State University Troy State University Troy University
United States Air Force Academy University of Maryland University College University of Alabama University of Alabama Birmingham University of Arkansas - Little Rock University of Central Florida University of Central Oklahoma University of Chicago University of Colorado Boulder University of Florida University of Kentucky Lexington University of Louisiana at Lafayette University of Nevada - Las Vegas University of New Haven University of North Carolina Chapel Hill University of North Carolina Wilmington University of North Dakota Grand Forks University of North Florida University of Notre Dame University of Richmond University of South Carolina - Columbia University of South Florida University of Tampa University of West Florida Villanova University Virginia Military Institute Washington and Lee University West Virginia University Morgantown Western Connecticut State University
“
Stetson Law elevated me intellectually, professionally and personally. It was a playground of opportunity with targeted and interesting programs. It gave me a sense of confidence I never knew possible. I received coaching from esteemed professors and lawyers, an opportunity to contribute to an academic text on international sales law and arbitration, and media coverage on our teams’ successes. As a result, I had two years of exciting periodical updates and achievements to share with hiring partners and HR departments, and doors simply opened.
Meagan Foley ‘13 Counsel, William-Morris Endeavor Los Angeles, California
WHERE ARE STETSON ALUMNI?
FLORIDA: 80%
100-250 ALUMNI
25-49 ALUMNI
75-99 ALUMNI
10-24 ALUMNI
50-74 ALUMNI
FEWER THAN 10 ALUMNI
Stetson Law has alumni in 48 states, D.C., U.S.V.I. and Puerto Rico, + 55 countries. Statistics are as of March 2018 23
The College of Law is part of Stetson University, with a College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business Administration, and School of Music in DeLand, Florida. A university satellite center in Celebration offers advanced degrees.
IMPORTANT DATES FALL OPEN HOUSE: November 3, 2018 SPRING OPEN HOUSE: February 23, 2019 APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR NEW STUDENTS: May 15, 2019 APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR FALL TRANSFERS: August 1, 2019
STETSON UNIVERSITY, DELAND
facebook.com/stetsonlaw STETSON CENTER AT CELEBRATION
twitter.com/stetsonlaw youtube.com/stetsonlaw
COLLEGE OF LAW, TAMPA BAY
@stetsonlawschool stetsonlaw Follow the Admissions blog at lawblog.law.stetson.edu
© 2018 Stetson University College of Law. All rights reserved. Stetson University is an equal opportunity educational institution.
STETSON LAW ADMISSIONS stetson.edu/lawadmissions 727-562-7802 877-529-7838 lawadmit@law.stetson.edu STETSON LAW STUDENT FINANCIAL PLANNING stetson.edu/lawfinaid 727-562-7813 finaid@law.stetson.edu