YEAR IN
Review
U.S. News: Stetson #1 in advocacy, #2 in legal writing In March, U.S. News & World Report ranked Stetson University College of Law first in trial advocacy for the 17th time. Stetson ranked second in the nation for legal writing, advancing from sixth last year. “Advocacy is a significant strength at the College of Law,” said President Wendy Libby. “When Stetson Law students graduate, they are prepared to walk into a courtroom with the advocacy and communication skills they need to succeed in representing
their clients professionally and persuasively.” Stetson has been recognized as the top law school in the nation for trial advocacy 17 times since 1995 and has ranked in the top six legal writing programs since the inception of the legal writing rankings. “Advocacy education at Stetson enjoys a reputation for excellence across the country,” said Charles H. Rose III, professor of excellence in trial advocacy at Stetson. “The Stetson method of advocacy is sought by scholars at other law
Law Student Division chapters recognized Both of Stetson’s bar association chapters have won awards this year. Stetson’s chapter of the Florida Bar’s Law Student Division was named the best in the state during the Bar’s 2014 annual meeting in Orlando. “Our fantastic student leaders — Jennifer Tindell, Anisha Patel, Ciara Willis and Jeffrey Berglund — do an incredible job of representing Stetson within the Florida Bar and on campus,” said Assistant Director of Career Development Joann Grages Burnett ’08. “It is wonderful that they were once again recognized for these contributions.” In February, Stetson was presented with a bronze key for the greatest raw membership and a bronze key for the most improved membership during the American Bar Association Law Student Division regional meeting on Feb. 7 on the Gulfport campus. Law students from Florida, Georgia and Puerto Rico were invited to attend the meeting hosted by Stetson. Stetson student Brandy Pikus, the ABA Law Student Division 5th Circuit Governor, introduced the meeting program.
schools and legal practitioners around the world.” “Legal writing is the centerpiece of Stetson’s broader emphasis on legal communication,” said Kirsten K. Davis, Ph.D., Stetson’s director of the Institute for the Advancement of Legal Communication. “Stetson’s legal research and writing curriculum teaches students to communicate ethically and effectively in today’s evolving legal workplace.” Stetson also ranked 29th in the nation for part-time juris doctor programs and 105th overall.
2014
Meet the entering class
In fall 2014, 246 new students started the Juris Doctor program. Here are the statistics for the incoming class:
Anisha Patel (left) accepts Stetson’s best chapter award from the Florida Bar’s Law Student Division president Danielle Kaye.
“Receiving two bronze keys was very rewarding for the Stetson ABA chapter. They are a symbol of our leadership team’s passion and dedication, who spent countless hours informing students and creating excitement about the many benefits of the ABA. I’m proud that we were able to carry on Stetson’s superior legacy in the ABA,” said Pikus.
• 210 full-time J.D. students • 36 part-time J.D. students • 26% minority students • 43.5% female • 27 states represented • 92 colleges/universities
represented in four countries
• 50th percentile LSAT: 155 • 50th percentile UGPA: 3.25 The total student body:
• 667 full-time J.D. students • 198 part-time J.D. students • 11 LL.M. in International Law
students (8 foreign countries)
• 35 LL.M. in Elder Law students • 20 LL.M. in Advocacy students
Spring 2015
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