Since being founded in 1900 as Florida’s first law school, Stetson University College of Law has welcomed bright students from across the nation and prepared them for success as highly skilled attorneys, judges, CEOs, and advocates. Read on to learn why you should consider applying for admission to Stetson Law and joining our community.
7 Great Reasons to Choose Stetson Law:
1. Stetson's advocacy program is one of the best.
You can distinguish yourself with a degree from the law school that has decades of top rankings in Trial Advocacy and Legal Writing Education by U.S. News & World Report, including the current #1 ranking in Trial Advocacy. Stetson is also a leader in elder law, biodiversity-environmental law, higher education law, international law, social justice, veterans law, and Caribbean law. You can specialize with one of six J.D. concentration programs (below) and choose from more than 60 skills electives as well as joint or dual-degree options for J.D./LL.M. and J.D./M.B.A..
2. You'll be prepared for the practice of law.
Our students can sign up for more than 400 clinic and externship opportunities every year across the Tampa Bay, Florida metropolitan area. With more than 30 clinic and externship courses at approximately 60 hosting organizations, we guarantee that every student can participate in a clinic or externship course during law school. Watch these short videos to learn more about our students' experiences.
3. You'll enjoy a beautiful campus in Tampa Bay, Florida and be minutes away from fantastic beaches.
Stetson’s 21-acre, palm-tree lined main campus in Gulfport/St. Petersburg was once a 1920s resort frequented by Babe Ruth and other celebrities. Today, our historical buildings are supplemented with 3,920 network connections, seven working courtrooms, 50 library group study rooms, a swimming pool, and a law library with more than 419,000 volumes. Need a break from studying? Trip Advisor’s #4-ranked best beach (St. Pete Beach) is five minutes from campus, and Trip Advisor's #1-ranked best beach (Clearwater Beach) is twenty minutes from campus.
4. Scholarships to help you save.
All admitted first-year students are automatically considered for multi-year scholarships. In Fall 2023, 89% of new J.D. students received scholarships, ranging from a few thousand to full tuition.
Stetson supports an unlimited number of qualified veterans or eligible dependents with the GI Bill’s Yellow Ribbon Program.
5. Our faculty love teaching law and care about students' success.
Faculty spend time serving as mentors, advising student organizations, and coaching award-winning advocacy teams. Our faculty are authors, lawyers, and leaders in their areas of legal expertise. Our professors are involved in almost every aspect of campus life and are passionate about working with students.
6. Our career placement numbers are always great, and we offer top-notch career guidance for students and graduates.
An accessible career development staff supports students with individual coaching sessions, group meetings and programs. Stetson’s “Career Toolkit” workshop series provides a framework for career planning and job searching. Our staff has established numerous relationships with the Tampa Bay area legal community and works to help graduates find their ideal careers.
7. You can study in Australia, the Cayman Islands, England, France, The Netherlands, Spain, and South Africa.
You can explore the world while earning academic credit and networking with legal experts around the world. In addition to Stetson’s summer abroad and semester programs, Stetson also has international exchange agreements with universities in Australia, France, and Spain.