25 Big Stetson Law Stories in 2025

In 2025, the Stetson Law community worked hard, supported one another, earned national recognition, and achieved great milestones. From celebrating the College’s 125 years of exceptional legal scholarship to continuing our forward-thinking approach to the role of artificial intelligence in education and the law, here are 25 major Stetson Law highlights of 2025.

1. Stetson Law celebrated its 125^th anniversary. Hundreds came to campus to mark the occasion for the opulent Eras Gala. Festivities will continue throughout the remainder of the 2025-2026 academic year.
2. Stetson Law was yet again U.S. News & World Report’s top advocacy destination and remained in the No. 3 spot for legal writing.
3. Reflecting our decades-long commitment to supporting veterans on campus and beyond, Stetson Law was named a Top 10 Military Friendly® School for veterans and their spouses.
4. Stetson Law welcomed five exceptional individuals into its prestigious Hall of Fame: Dean Darby Dickerson, Professor Peter Lake, Michael Marder ’77, Jeffery Smith ’73, and Ying White ’97.
5. Drawing from the vast expertise of faculty members like Stetson Law Gary R. Trombley Family White Collar Crime Research Professor Ellen Podgor, the College launched an innovative White Collar Criminal Defense Training Program, which brought practitioners to campus.
6. Alumnus Jeffrey Harvey ’12 helped reinforce the tremendous sense of community Stetson Law enjoys. Harvey honored his mentor, Alumnus and Former Florida Supreme Court Justice Fred Karl ’49 by donating a copy of Karl’s book Python Tales to the Florida Supreme Court Archives and contributing to a scholarship fund designated for veterans attending Stetson Law.
7. Stetson Law’s signature professional development event, Campus to Career, featured insightful panel discussions, incredible keynotes, and impactful networking sessions. Bonus: during the event, Jonah Perlin recorded a live episode of the How I Lawyer podcast that featured Howard Williams ’12, who talked about his career path. Williams is now president of the Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association. Listen here.
8. Civil rights activist Janice Wesley Kelsey spoke about her experience at the annual Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Lecture.
9. Alumna and longtime Stetson Law Professor Rebecca Morgan ’80 was honored with the Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Public Service Award.
10. The International Wildlife Conference brought together top animal advocates from around the globe in April. The 29^th edition of the International Environmental Moot Court Competition followed immediately on its heels. See full recap.
11. Stetson’s Veterans Law Institute became the only nonprofit of its kind to join the Raymond James Valor Network.
12. Faculty, staff and leadership continued to lead the charge on generative artificial intelligence in higher education and within the legal profession and in higher education. The Association of American Law Schools’ Section on Legal Writing, Reasoning, and Research honored Law Professor Kirsten Davis with its 2026 section award for her leadership in this and other areas.
13. Visiting Director of Clinical and Experiential Learning Michael Vastine led a daylong conference exploring the landmark immigration case Padilla vs. Kentucky 15 years after the decision was handed down.
14. We sent more than 300 new Stetson Lawyers out into the world to advocate for their clients, themselves, and a better tomorrow.
15. We welcomed new and visiting faculty members from a broad range of backgrounds and geographical locales. This included two new full-time faculty, two Bruce R. Jacob Visiting Assistant Professors, and visiting professors from a broad range of backgrounds.
16. The Stetson Law community served veterans in myriad ways, from its annual Wills for Warriors event to hosting a veteran claim oral argument. Veterans Law Institute Interim Director Morgan Zimarakos ’20 was also named president of the National Law School Veterans Clinic Consortium.
17. The Foreman Biodiversity Lecture Series brought bestselling authors to campus. Among these were We Are Eating the Earth author Michael Grunwald, University of South Florida springs expert Chris Meindl, and Cynthia Barnett, author of The Sound of the Sea: Seashells and the Fate of Oceans.
18. Two celebrated professors, Jason Palmer and Stacey-Rae Simcox, helped the College expand its support of students through new deanship roles.
19.  From deep dives into Florida environmental law to sharp practitioner insights on major business transactions, immersive learning took center stage.
20. For the first time, Stetson’s 1L orientation included a session that delved into using AI ethically and effectively while in law school.
21. Stetson’s Child Advocacy Clinic was awarded Funding Florida Legal Aid’s Paul Doyle Child Advocacy Award during the 2025 Florida Bar Convention.
22. During an event organized by Stetson’s chapter of the Federalist Society, Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos G. Muniz spoke at Stetson Law.
23. Stetson’s criminal law team stepped up its offerings with a new criminal law concentration, which invites students to sharpen their understanding of the area of practice while still in law school.
24. Recognizing the widespread nature of food insecurity, including among law students, Stetson Law Board of Overseers Chair Jason Turner and his parents, Gary and Laura Turner, supported the renovation, expansion, and replenishment of the College’s campus food pantry, an important resource for students.
25. Two students dedicated their win at the National Veterans Law Moot to the memory of a dear friend and colleague, Logan T. West, who passed away unexpectedly in 2024 shortly before he was expected to compete in that year’s edition of the competition.

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Post date: Dec. 16

Media contact: Kate Bradshaw
[email protected] | 727-430-1580