Founded in 1900 as Florida’s first law school, Stetson University College of Law has educated outstanding lawyers, judges and other leaders for more than a century.
In 1954, the College moved from Stetson’s main campus in DeLand to Gulfport, nestled in one of the 25 largest metropolitan areas in the United States. The College of Law opened a satellite campus in downtown Tampa in 2004. Stetson is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and has been a member of the Association of American Law Schools since 1931.
Student Demographics
- Approximately 867 full-time J.D. students enrolled
- Approximately 209 part-time J.D. students enrolled
- 19 students enrolled in the LL.M. program in International Law,
representing seven countries
- 40 students enrolled in the online LL.M. program in Elder Law,
representing 40 states
2009 J.D. Entering Classes
The information below profiles the 395 students in the fall (full- and part-time) and spring entering J.D. classes:
- Minority students: 21 percent; Women: 50 percent
- 33 states represented
- 142 colleges/universities in three countries
- Full-time entrants for fall and spring 2009: 335
| Percentile |
LSAT |
GPA |
| 75th |
158 |
3.65 |
| Median |
156 |
3.46 |
| 25th |
153 |
3.21 |
- Part-time entrants for fall 2009: 60
| Percentile |
LSAT |
GPA |
| 75th |
156 |
3.59 |
| Median |
153 |
3.39 |
| 25th |
151 |
3.12 |
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester (full- and part-time): March 15
2009-2010 Tuition
- 2009-10 full-time* (fall/spring): $31,420
- 2009-10 part-time (fall/spring/summer-est.): $27,320
*Full-time tuition does not include summer classes.
Scholarships
A variety of financial aid options are available, including a range of scholarships and loans.
- Merit-based scholarships: full or partial tuition, renewable
- Diversity scholarships: full or partial tuition, renewable
- Continuing student scholarships based on merit and need, renewable
Faculty
The full-time faculty of 55 professors is supplemented by 51 experienced practitioners and judges who serve as adjunct professors in specialized areas.
Law Library
The three-story Gulfport law library is one of the most advanced legal research centers in the southeastern United States. The Tampa Law Center also houses a satellite library to support students, alumni and judges. Housing more than 419,500 volumes, the libraries have extensive research databases, wireless networks, 50 group study rooms and 11 professional librarians. There is a laptop requirement for all admitted students.
Alumni
Stetson University College of Law has more than 8,000 graduates including judges, prominent attorneys, business leaders, government officials and academicians. Though nearly 75 percent live in Florida, Stetson graduates practice in 48 states, the District of Columbia, two U.S. territories and 22 foreign countries.
Career Development
The Office of Career Development provides career counseling, internship and placement assistance for students and alumni. For the 2008 graduating class, 96 percent of those seeking work reported that they found employment within nine months of graduation. Stetson’s July 2008 passage rate for the Florida Bar Examination was 85.0 percent (compared to 82.5 percent of all students taking the exam for the first time) and in February 2009, 80.0 percent passed (compared to 70.7 percent statewide).
Practical Training
Stetson was the first law school in Florida to establish a clinical program. Stetson’s clinics and internships include:
- American/Caribbean Law Internship
- Civil Immigration Clinic
- Civil Poverty Clinic
- Elder Law Clinic
- Elder/Disability Law Internship
- Employment Discrimination Internship
- Environmental Law Internship
- Family Law Internship
- Federal and State Judicial Internships
- Federal and State Litigation Internships
- In-House Counsel Internship
- Intellectual Property Internship
- Labor Law Internship
- Law and Policy Internship
- Local Government Clinic
- Mediation Skills Training
- Prosecution Clinic
- Public Defender Clinic
- Veterans Advocacy Clinic
Specialty Programs
In addition to the required curriculum, Stetson also offers the following degree programs and certificates:
- J.D. Certificates of Concentration in Advocacy, Elder Law and International Law
- J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.D. and J.D./M.P.H. dual-degree programs
- LL.M. in both International Law and Elder Law
Student Life
The Office of Student Life coordinates activities such as cultural programs, experiential education trips and community service opportunities. Stetson Law is home to more than 40 student organizations offering a diverse set of experiences. Stetson students have received the American Bar Association Law Student Division’s highest regional and national awards for student leadership and involvement, including the 2007-2008 Award of Excellence for the second time in three years. Stetson also received the American Bar Association’s 2006 E. Smythe Gambrell Professionalism Award.
Stetson at a Glance
- Ranked No. 1 for trial advocacy and No. 5 for legal
writing by U.S. News & World Report
- Individual attention to student needs
- Nationally acclaimed faculty who excel in their fields
- State-of-the-art library and classrooms
- Seven courtrooms
- J.D. Certificates of Concentration in Advocacy, Elder Law
and International Law
- J.D./M.B.A. Certificate of Concentration in Eco-Asset Management
- J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.D. and J.D./M.P.H. dual-degree programs
- LL.M. in both International Law and Elder Law
- One of only two U.S. law schools to share space with a working court, Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal
- The first law school in Florida to require pro bono
service by students and faculty
- Excellent career development services
- Listed among nation’s best value law schools by National Jurist
- Centers for Excellence in Advocacy, Elder Law, Higher Education Law and Policy, and International Law
- Home to the National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law, and Institutes for Biodiversity Law and Policy and Caribbean Law and Policy
- Home to three academic journals, including the Stetson Law Review
- Honors program for top-ranked students
- National and world champion advocacy teams
- Hundreds of clinic and internship opportunities
- Vibrant campus life with diverse student organizations, interscholastic activities and competitions
- Study abroad programs in Argentina, Cayman Islands, China, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Spain
- Campuses in beautiful Gulfport and Tampa, Florida