BOOKSTORE: CAMPUS UNITED SALE ENDS FRIDAY, 11/21 (we see you looking at those 1/4 zips)

All Campus United clothing on sale now through Nov. 21st. Use links to purchase online or come grab these deals in-store! Great time to begin holiday shopping.

Stetson University Law Full Zip Hood: Stetson University ON SALE FOR $32.21

Stetson University Law 1/4 Zip: Stetson University ON SALE FOR $32.21

Stetson University Law Crewneck Sweatshirt: Stetson University ON SALE FOR $24.71

Stetson University Law Short Sleeve T-Shirt: Stetson University ON SALE FOR $12.71 (White tee only on sale)

Stetson University Law Short Sleeve T-Shirt: Stetson University ON SALE FOR $12.71

Check our website for other promos and sales coming up!

Toys for Tots

Please help us in supporting Toys for Tots! Students can earn one non-legal pro bono hour for donating three toys. Bring new, unwrapped toys to the Library, the VLI, or Student Affairs and place them in the donation box located there by November 30.

Did You Know?? One in Five Law Students Has a Disability — (LSSSE 2025)

The 2025 report released last week by Law School Survey of Student Engagement (LSSSE) is its first comprehensive look at disability among law students. LSSSE has determined that one in five law students has a disability. The CDC reports that one in four adults in the United States has a disability and that number will only increase as the population ages.

At Stetson Law, Accessibility Resources (AR) supports students with disabilities, students who require temporary accommodations (emergency or disability-related needs that are expected to resolve within six months), and students where English is their Second Language (ESL).

During the 2024-2025 academic year, 1,091 students were enrolled at Stetson Law, and 254 students were registered with Accessibility Resources: 23.3% of the student body.

Of the 254 students registered with AR, 217 were students with disabilities defined under the ADA; 19.9% of the student body, 15 students received temporary accommodation; 1.4% student body, and 14 students received ESL testing modifications; 1.3% of the student body.

Registration Categories with AR	No. of Students Registered with AR (Total: 254)	Percentage of Student Body 2024-25 (Total Enrollment: 1,091)
Students with Disabilities (ADA)	217	19.9%
Temporary Accommodations	15	1.4%
English as Second Language	14	1.3%

The types of disabilities represented in the Stetson Law student body vary. While students may have the same diagnosis, the barriers they experience often differ, resulting in different types of accommodations to address those barriers. All accommodations are made on a student-specific, case-by-case basis.

Disability Category	Percentage of Students Registered with AR¾Reported Disability**
Autism Spectrum Disorder	1.5%
Chronic	12.9%
Cognitive & Learning Disability	15.1%
Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing	1.5%
ESL*	5.4%
Mobility	4.3%
Psychological (includes ADD/ADHD)	70.1%
Temporary*	10.8%
Visual	3.6%

*Not considered a disability under the ADA.

**Many students report having more than one disability and are counted in more than one disability category.

How can you support our disability community?

Learn more about disability culture at Stetson Law: Reach out to Accessibility Resources to understand the requirements and process for requesting and receiving accommodations. Attend programming events offered by Accessibility Resources and the Disability Allied Law Students Association (DALSA).

Promote awareness and inclusion of this underrepresented community: Ensure your events, materials, and messaging are accessible to all members of our community. Your message is important; make sure it reaches everyone.

Minimize stigma surrounding disability status and accommodations: Lead with an open mind, not assumptions. Every student receiving accommodations has a medical condition that has been verified by a qualified medical provider and the accommodations process at Stetson Law. However, not all disabilities are visible. It’s far more common for people to mask their challenges than to feign a disability ¾often as a response to societal stigma.

Respect the privacy of our disability community: Refrain from discussing unverified, personal, and private information with others. If you learn a student is receiving accommodations, practice the legal ethical requirement of keeping that information confidential. Appropriate handling of confidential and private information is a critical part of everyone’s professional identity formation.

Read the full LSSSE Disability in Law School report.

The Basics of PDF Accessibility

Date: Thursday, December 4^th, 2025

Time: 10:00 to 11:30 AM Central Time

This webinar will introduce participants to the basic concepts of PDF accessibility. We’ll cover the advantages and disadvantages of using PDF, common accessibility errors with PDF, creating an accessible PDF from a source document, and working with existing PDFs.

Registration

This event is free but registration is required. Once registered, you will receive a link to join the event.

Register Online

About the Presenter

Melanie Thornton is the Director of Initiatives on Access and Justice at University of Arkansas Partners. She provides professional development on topics related to leadership, disability, accessibility, and design. She is very interested in working with organizations to create more accessible environments.

Accessibility

We are committed to creating accessible events. We will provide human-generated captioning services. Other disability-related accommodations can be requested in the registration form.

Questions?

Feel free to contact Melanie Thornton at [email protected].

This presentation is provided with support from iCAN-Arkansas.

Melanie Thornton

Digital Accessibility Consultant
Director, Initiatives for Advancing Disability Access
University of Arkansas Partners

University of Arkansas Partners – College of Education and Health Professions

Mobile: 501-291-3217 (V/Text)

Toys for Tots

Bookstore: Campus United 1/4 Zip Jackets on sale!!!

All Campus United clothing on sale now through Nov. 21st. Use links to purchase online or sale good in-store!

Stetson University Law 1/4 Zip: Stetson University ON SALE FOR $32.21

Stetson University Law Crewneck Sweatshirt: Stetson University ON SALE FOR $24.71

Stetson University Law Short Sleeve T-Shirt: Stetson University ON SALE FOR $12.71 (White tee only on sale)

Holland & Knight’s 1L Florida Mentoring Program

We would like to invite Class of 2028 JD students (current 1Ls) to participate in Holland & Knight’s 1L Florida mentoring program. Details below. Deadline to apply is Friday, December 5, 2025.

Please note:

This program is only available to first-year/J.D. law students graduating in May 2028.

Spots are limited.

This is solely a mentoring program and NOT linked to employment.

If you have any updates regarding who we should direct the invitation to in your office, please reach out to Lauren Grand, [email protected].

Toys for Tots

Stetson Dispute Resolution Board made waves at CINEMA Competition!

Big news from New York! Our Dispute Resolution Board made waves at the Cardozo Invitational Negotiation on Entertainment, Media, and Art (CINEMA) Competition, bringing home SILVER and BRONZE!

This is only our second time competing at CINEMA, and the field was fierce with 40 teams battling for the top two spots in finals after two preliminary rounds.

Please join us in congratulating Ashley N. Taylor & Adriana Pereira and Grayson Ferber & Kayla Somoano, along with our amazing coaches, DR alumnus Jerry Funt, Esq. and Alina Evans, Esq.

We are so proud of this incredible achievement!

(L-R) Coach Jerry, Kayla, Grayson, Adriana, Ashley, Coach Alina

RSVP by November 14th for the Foreman Biodiversity Lecture!

Join us for the November 2025 Edward and Bonnie Foreman Biodiversity Lecture with acclaimed author Michael Grunwald. Grunwald will explore the themes of his latest book, We Are Eating the Earth, examining how our global food choices shape the planet and influence the climate.

November 18, 2025, 12:00-1:00 p.m. in the Mann Lounge. Lunch will be served!

RSVP HERE by November 14 for a chance to win a copy of We Are Eating the Earth or Grunwald’s award-winning bestseller The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise, to be distributed at the event.

The Basics of PDF Accessibility

Date: Thursday, December 4^th, 2025

Time: 10:00 to 11:30 AM Central Time

Registration

This event is free but registration is required. Once registered, you will receive a link to join the event.

Register Online

About the Presenter

Accessibility

We are committed to creating accessible events. We will provide human-generated captioning services. Other disability-related accommodations can be requested in the registration form.

Questions?

Feel free to contact Melanie Thornton at [email protected].

This presentation is provided with support from iCAN-Arkansas.

Melanie Thornton

Digital Accessibility Consultant
Director, Initiatives for Advancing Disability Access
University of Arkansas Partners

University of Arkansas Partners – College of Education and Health Professions

Mobile: 501-291-3217 (V/Text)

Congratulations to Stetson’s Moot Court Teams!

What a weekend! Three moot court teams were in action this weekend—two in Washington, D.C. and one in Chicago—and there is much to report.

In Washington, D.C., the team of Valeriya Gilmutdinova and Clayton Smith brought home—for the seventh time—a championship win at the National Veterans Law Moot Court Competition. Since the competition began in 2009 (which Stetson won), only Baylor (at five wins), comes close to Stetson’s record. (And yes, the Chief Justice in the final round was none other than Stetson’s own, Chief Judge Mike Allen.) And to top it off, our very own Clayton Smith became the seventh Stetson advocate to win the Best Oral Advocate award. (Clayton was the top advocate out of the 56 advocates who participated.) Congratulations to Valeriya and Clayton! Many thanks to our friends in the VLI who helped the team work through some challenging constitutional and veterans benefits issues. A special thanks to the team’s co-coach, Christopher Gieger. And to Logan West—this was for you!

Also in D.C., Patricia Bishop Hamlin, Brendan Fink, and Emma Vis participated in the 2025 Wechsler First Amendment Moot Court Competition. The unique rules for this competition require advocates to learn multiple issues for both parties, which the team did beautifully under the guidance of Professor Okuno. (Thank you, Professor Okuno!) The team battled it out, eventually losing a very close round in the octofinals to a team that has won the competition a number of times in the previous years. But Stetson earned two additional recognitions—the team had the fourth best brief and Emma was the fourth best oralist. Congratulations to Patricia, Brendan, and Emma!

And finally in Chicago, the team of Logan Wallen, Tara Basile, and Beliz Esen argued at the 2025 Appellate Lawyers Association Moot Court Competition (ALA). Logan and Tara were part of last year’s ALA team that lost in the semifinal round by less than a quarter of a point. Needless to say, the team’s focus was on arguing every round that they could. And the team did just that—through preliminary rounds, elimination rounds, all the way to the finals. Logan, Tara, and Beliz earned the Second Place Overall Team award. And the recognition did not stop there—Logan was recognized as the Second Place Advocate out of a field of over 50 advocates. Congratulations, Logan, Tara, and Beliz! And a special thanks to the team’s coach, Jeremy Bailie!

What a weekend; congratulations! And this cannot be said enough—thank you to all the professors, administrators, alums, and Moot Court Board members who helped these teams prepare. Go Stetson!
Professor Bowman

Volunteer Opportunity for Students – VET Fest Community Event

Volunteer opportunity for students seeking service hours or community engagement experience. Bay Area Legal Services is hosting VET Fest, a community event honoring veterans and connecting them with vital resources, and we’re inviting students to support the event in various roles.

Event Details: VET Fest
Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Time: 3:00PM-7:00PM
Location: 222 22nd Street S., St. Petersburg, FL 33712
Volunteer Roles: Setup, hospitality, vendor support, and cleanup

If you would like to volunteer, please contact Anastasia Jones at [email protected].

Volunteer Opportunity for Students – VET Fest Community Event

Event Details: VET Fest
Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Time: 3:00PM-7:00PM
Location: 222 22nd Street S., St. Petersburg, FL 33712
Volunteer Roles: Setup, hospitality, vendor support, and cleanup

If you would like to volunteer, please contact Anastasia Jones at [email protected].

Bar Prep on a Budget: Financial Strategies for Success (VIRTUAL – Monday, November 17, 2025)

Planning for bar study expenses can feel overwhelming—but you’re not alone. Join us for a practical and informative workshop with LeAndra Ross, an Accredited Financial Counselor® from AccessLex Institute, who will guide you through:

Smart strategies to fund and budget for bar prep costs
A credit and debt checklist to prepare for the Character & Fitness review
Tips for managing living expenses during your bar study period

The workshop will be held:
Monday, November 17, 2025
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Virtual – Zoom Link to be provided to registrants on the morning of November 17th.

Register Here
Registration closes at 5:00pm, Sunday, November 16, 2025

* A third workshop (also virtual) will be offered on December 1, 2025 (from 6:00pm – 7:00pm). The workshops are open to all students and attendance at one or the other is required for any student applying for a Bar Study Grant for the February or July 2026 bar exams.

If you have any questions, please contact The Office of Student Financial Planning at [email protected] or call 727-562-7813.

November Public Interest Newsletter

Download the Public Interest Newsletter (below) for information about some of the latest pro bono, internship, and post-graduate opportunities in the public interest and public service fields.

Nov. Public Interest Newsletter Download

Edward and Bonnie Foreman Biodiversity Lecture Featuring Michael Grunwald

November 18, 2025, 12:00-1:00 p.m. in the Mann Lounge. Lunch will be served!

Criminal Law Society Presentation November 4 at 5pm

The Criminal Law Society presents Felony Murder in an Overdose Death: The Case of Robert Gullo on Tuesday, November 4, 5pm-6pm, in Classroom F.

Speakers will include: Corporal Jerry Creaser – Case agent, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office; Juan Saldivar – Prosecutor, Felony Division A, State Attorneys Office 6th Judicial Circuit; Gino Megna – Defense attorney – trial lawyer.

Join the International Learning Committee’s Discussion of Immigration

The International Learning Committee invites all members of the Stetson community to an open discussion on immigration events and their impact on our international students, faculty, and staff. The session will feature Art Rios, immigration lawyer graduate and adjunct professor at Stetson’s College of Law, who will share insights on current issues related to student and employee visas and answer participants’ questions.

If you would prefer to ask your questions anonymously, you can send your questions in advance to Paula Hentz, Senior International Officer & Director of Global Initiatives and member of the ILC Subcommittee on Current Events, at [email protected].

· When: Wednesday, Nov. 5

· Time: beginning at 4:30 p.m.

· Where: Zoom

Please share this information with other members of our community!

We hope to see many of you there!
Professor Vaughan

Hollis Institute Planning Grant Applications Due Friday, Nov. 14

This is a reminder that Hollis Institute Impact Planning Grant applications are due Friday, November 14. Applications can be found on the Nina B. Hollis Institute for Educational Reform website. For further information, please feel free to contact Colleen Cooper, project manager.

Quick Wins for Digital Access Ability — Brown Bag for Faculty & Staff

TEXT: Quick Wins for Digital Access: Is your message reaching everyone? Join Accessibility Resources to learn common accessibility features in Microsoft Office products, PDFS, and more.

Thursday, October 30th — 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM in Classroom E.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Quick Wins for Digital Access Ability — Brown Bag for Faculty and Staff

TEXT: Quick Wins for Digital Access: Is your message reaching everyone? Join Accessibility Resources to learn common accessibility features in Microsoft Office products, PDFS, and more.

Thursday, October 30th — 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM in Classroom E.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Children’s Dream Fund Benefit – Volunteers Needed

Cornhole Classic on November 22nd to benefit the Children’s Dream Fund, volunteers are needed for the event. These hours would qualify for non-legal community service hours.

The tournament will take place from 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM at 8223 Verna Bethany Rd, Myakka City, FL 34251. We anticipate needing around 12–15 volunteers to help with the following:

Parking
Running and scoring cornhole games
Assisting at the registration table
Monitoring the raffle table
Helping with lunch service

If you would like to volunteer, please reach out to Matt at [email protected] or 941.400.7965.

The Latest Issue of Stetson Law Review

Volume 55, Number 1 of Stetson Law Review is now published and available to read online. This issue features scholarship on the proper standard for False Claims Act falsity, sentencing procedures under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and a critique of Planned Parenthood v. State, among other topics. We are proud to share this publication with you, and we look forward to the conversation it inspires. You can read the full issue here: https://stetsonlawreview.org/article/category/volume-55/.