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Stetson University (College of Law)

For more than a century, Stetson has guided aspiring lawyers as they prepare for brilliant careers. Stetson University College of Law is Florida’s first law school, and the first and only law school in the greater Tampa Bay area, with campuses in Gulfport/St. Petersburg and Tampa.

The main College of Law campus is located in Gulfport, a residential beachfront community adjacent to St. Petersburg. This 21-acre campus houses nearly all of the College’s programs and classes, as well as the 58,000-square-foot law library, administrative and faculty offices, five courtrooms, student housing, recreational facilities, a cafeteria, and reception halls.

The College of Law moved in 1954 to the Gulfport campus from its original home in DeLand, Fla. at Stetson

University’s main campus.

At Stetson, you will quickly find yourself woven

into the fabric of this close-knit community.

There is a warmth at Stetson that can sustain you

through the challenges of law school. An active and welcoming student body provides social and moral support. Friendships made at Stetson can endure for a lifetime. Our students, faculty and staff come from all walks of life, offering a rich opportunity to broaden your circle of friends. An involved and committed faculty offers a level of access rarely found in larger institutions, and a friendly administrative staff provides personalized attention. Campus recreational facilities provide much-needed stress relief, as does a walk on the beach after class.

One of our greatest assets is the Stetson Lawyers Association, which serves as the alumni association for the College of Law. With membership of more than 7,500 throughout theUnited States and the world, the Association cultivates a spirit of fellowship among Stetson graduates.

Alumni events are hosted regularly on the College of Law campus and throughout the United States, thus providing a special opportunity for alumni and friends to stay connected with each other and the College of Law.

The Stetson community is supportive, challenging and motivating. This caring environment is part of our philosophy, and it sets us apart from many other law schools. Through personal guidance,

Stetson develops graduates who become leaders in the legal profession and the community.

Stetson’s part-time program is designed to accommodate working professionals within commuting distance of Tampa Bay who may have delayed or even dismissed the possibility of law school due to other obligations. Evening classes provide the accessibility that helps make law school, and a Stetson-quality education, a reality.

Stetson part-time students are taught by the same

professors who teach full-time students, and parttime students are expected to meet the same high academic standards.

The Stetson experience provides many opportunities to interact with influential members of the legal community.

High ethical standards are implicit in every element of your training at Stetson, and a commitment to service is part of our mission. Stetson was one of the first law schools in the country — and remains one of only 15 — to require students to perform pro bono service as a

prerequisite for graduation. The legal community has embraced Stetson’s commitment to public service, and the College of Law has been nationally recognized for its emphasis on public interest.

We give you the tools and support you will need from the beginning. Expectations are high. Standards are elevated. At Stetson, the idea of becoming a good lawyer takes on a deeper meaning.

THE MISSION OF STETSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW

Stetson University College of Law provides a dynamic and supportive scholarly community in which students learn, in and outside the classroom and by example, to become outstanding lawyers and leaders who serve the profession and society.

OUR CORE VALUES

Stetson University College of Law is committed to teaching, mentoring, skills training and providing

students with a transformative educational experience. Stetson University College of Law values professionalism, ethics, civility, mutual respect and integrity. Stetson University College of Law strives to maintain a vibrant and dynamic intellectual community.

Stetson University College of Law values community, access to justice, and stewardship.

At Stetson, you are a name, not a number. Faculty, administrators and fellow students take a genuine interest in your success. Faculty collaborate with staff members to provide a high-quality legal education. With a low studentteacher ratio, Stetson faculty can provide personalized attention. Peers become colleagues and close friends.

The J.D. curriculum balances required courses in fundamental areas, such as contracts, torts, property, legal research and writing, constitutional law, civil procedure, and criminal law, with a wide range of electives.

Students may earn a Certificate of Concentration

in advocacy, elder law, health law, higher education law and policy, or international law, or may choose to enroll in the J.D./ M.B.A. dualdegree program.

An academic success program is available to supplement your classroom experience with individual guidance and assistance in outlining, analysis and exam writing. An academic skills workshop helps first-semester students adapt quickly to the rigorous academic demands of law school, featuring topics such as critical reading, legal analysis and exam-taking techniques. Additional bar preparation workshops are provided for students in their last year of law school.

The Teaching Fellows staff a legal writing clinic that offers students assistance with course assignments and career development materials such as writing samples, cover letters and resumes.

In short, you can quickly become well-acquainted

with your professors and peers, and Stetson’s

extensive support system will help prepare you to

excel in law school and in life.

Stetson gives you the opportunity to develop

unparalleled leadership skills. Students are expected to become active members in their community.

Professional development is encouraged at Stetson. We provide access to local and national bar associations and facilitate membership in the local chapters of the American Inns of Court Program. Our mentor programs, campus speakers and adjunct faculty members provide a unique and personal introduction to the study of law.

The Stetson Ambassadors serve as an elite

leadership team that represents Stetson at community functions, mentors new students, hosts competitions and conferences, provides campus tours, and assists with other important activities.

Stetson’s Calvin A. Kuenzel Student Bar Association has been recognized as one of the most effective student government organizations in the nation and received the Student Bar Association of the Year Award by the American Bar Association Law Student Division in 1999-2000 and again in 2002-2003. Stetson has playeda leading role in representing law students among the greater legal community, producing more

national and regional ABA Law Student Division officers in the past three years than any other law school in the country.

The College of Law has an active intramural program of team sports and competitions, as well as an assortment of exercise classes taught by certified fitness professionals. The Gulfport campus is also a short distance from several public beaches, bike trails and community parks.

School name: Stetson UniversityCollege of Law

Address: 1401 61st Street South

Zip & city: FL 33707-3299 Florida

Phone: 727-562-7800