Every couple hopes for the perfect wedding. While wedding-planning usually involves guest lists, cake tastings, and flowers, few expect bankruptcy court to be part of the checklist.
In early June 2026, Stetson Dispute Resolution Board alumna Sierra Scott ’25 and her fiancé learned that their wedding venue, Red Mesa Cantina in St. Pete, had abruptly closed and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, leaving couples wondering what would happen to the deposits they had paid to reserve their wedding venue.
At the June 4 hearing, the Bankruptcy Court determined that consumers were entitled to recover only $3,800 under the Bankruptcy Code, a figure far smaller than the deposits many couples had paid to reserve their wedding date. For couples with weddings only weeks or months away, the news was devastating. They now faced the challenge of finding a new venue while trying to recover the deposits they had already paid.
Recognizing the importance of the issue, the Court invited interested parties to submit legal authority addressing whether customers could recover more than the amount typically protected under the Bankruptcy Code.
Although Scott’s wedding was not until 2028, she did not hesitate.
“I felt that, as an attorney, I had both the ability and the responsibility to help where I could,” she said.
Scott volunteered to research the issue and prepare a memorandum of law for the court’s consideration. She was initially nervous about researching and writing in an unfamiliar area of law but quickly found herself relying on the same skills she developed as a member of the Dispute Resolution Board.
“One of the most valuable lessons I learned through the Board was how to advocate in situations where the answer is not entirely clear,” she said. “The issue before the court did not have a simple, directly controlling solution. Similar to the negotiation competitions I participated in, I had to evaluate competing arguments, identify the most persuasive authorities, and develop a coherent narrative that connected the facts to the legal principles.”
After considering her memorandum alongside the other filings before the court, the Bankruptcy Court ultimately authorized 100 percent refunds of the affected event deposits. The Court’s Final Order specifically references Scott’s memorandum among the materials considered in reaching its decision.
In open court, the Court also recognized the 2025 Stetson alumna’s efforts, stating:
“Ms. Scott, the other similarly situated brides- and grooms-to-be owe you a pat on the back.”
Reflecting on the experience, Scott encourages current Stetson students to embrace opportunities that take them outside their comfort zones and to remember that the skills they develop through advocacy have real-world applications.
“Those skills are valuable in every area of practice and can make a meaningful difference when people need an advocate most,” she said.
In partnership with a trusted developer, Stetson moves forward on plans to transform the Tampa Law Center property.
Stetson’s Tampa Law Center is on track to be an anchor for an exciting mixed-use development in Downtown Tampa.
Stetson University plans to increase its visibility and deepen its long-standing commitment to Downtown Tampa through a transformative redevelopment initiative in partnership with Bromley Companies. The project will modernize the Stetson University College of Law’s Tampa Law Center and create a vibrant, mixed-use space in a currently underutilized area.
Situated in the vibrant Tampa Heights district near the Hillsborough River and Interstate 275, Tampa Law Center has served students, alumni, legal professionals, and the broader community for more than 20 years. The reimagined campus, which will feature iconic design and prominent Stetson branding, has the potential to become a major urban connection point linking the Riverwalk to Downtown.
“This project will substantially increase our visibility while allowing us to reimagine our Tampa Law Center in a way that reflects the energy and growth of the city – and the ever-changing needs of the legal profession,” said Stetson Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros. “This is an investment in the future of legal education, professional development, and sustainable economic development in the Tampa Bay region.”
Tampa Law Center (indicated by star) sits near the Tampa Riverwalk, Armature Works, and Ulele.
The state-of-the-art facility will advance the vision of Stetson Law remaining at the forefront of legal education by expanding opportunities for professional growth, innovation, and lifelong learning. It will support the continued growth of its part-time juris doctor program known as Flex JD, providing greater access and flexibility for working professionals and non-traditional students. It will also create new opportunities to expand the law school’s micro-credentialing and badging offerings in areas where Stetson Law is a national leader, including advocacy, elder law, and higher education law and policy.
The new law center will be adjacent to a hotel as part of a planned mixed-use development that will connect Downtown Tampa, Tampa Heights, and the Hillsborough Riverwalk. In addition to the law school facility and hotel, the development will add residential, retail, and dining facilities to the property, all within walking distance of some of Tampa’s most iconic destinations like Armature Works, Ulele, and the Tampa Riverwalk.
For the law school, this arrangement provides classrooms for Flex JD courses, a destination for professional education and credentialing programs, and spaces for alumni and networking gatherings. Visitors will have access to a convenient hotel that can accommodate attendees of the numerous regional, national, and international conferences and competitions the College of Law hosts each year. It will also serve as a venue for information sessions to aid in recruitment for undergraduate programs in DeLand.
The site will increase the University’s overall visibility by enhancing awareness of our Law Ready program, housed at our main campus in DeLand with pathways into Stetson Law.
“Stetson University is proud to partner with the Tampa community and Bromley Companies in a major commitment to create a vibrant, revitalized space for the students at Stetson University College of Law,” said Christopher F. Roellke, president of Stetson University. “We are excited about the many programmatic possibilities that this partnership brings us to expand the footprint and visibility of Stetson University through an enhanced physical presence in Tampa.”
Building on Stetson’s Tampa presence
Former Stetson Law Dean Gary Vause (right) and Law Professor Peter Lake (left)
Following a 1997 survey that revealed a growing demand for part-time professional education in the greater Tampa Bay region, Stetson sought to fill that void. Five years later, under then-Dean W.Gary Vause, Stetson purchased the land on which the law center now sits from the City of Tampa.
The Tampa Law Center opened in 2004 and has been integral to Stetson Law’s Flex JD program ever since. Professionals from across Tampa Bay take advantage of evening and weekend classes at the Tampa Law Center and Stetson Law’s main campus in Gulfport to earn their JDs in as little as four years.
In February 2026, the Florida Second District Court of Appeals (DCA), a longtime tenant at the center, relocated to the new Bernie McCabe Courthouse (named for long-time Pinellas County State Attorney and 1972 Stetson Law alumnus Bernie McCabe) in Downtown St. Petersburg.
The vacancy gave Stetson leadership an opportunity to explore ways to enhance the property’s relevance, visibility, and economic sustainability.
A trusted Tampa partner
To support Stetson’s vision for the property, the University has partnered with The Bromley Companies, a firm with a stellar 50-year track record, to create a versatile space along the Tampa Riverwalk that will integrate educational, residential, hospitality, and retail use in a vibrant, walkable environment, with plenty of parking.
Bromley’s recent development, Midtown Tampa, showcases the firm’s expertise in redeveloping urban spaces in a way that sparks economic activity while reflecting the surrounding community. The firm also has extensive experience partnering with universities and communities.
The project will help create continuity between Downtown Tampa, Tampa Heights, and the riverfront, thereby enhancing the area’s desirability.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity to help reshape a highly visible site at one of Tampa’s most important urban connection points,” said Nicholas Haines, CEO of Bromley Companies. “Our goal is to work with Stetson to create a district that supports the university’s long-term mission while contributing meaningfully to the continued growth of Downtown Tampa. The site has the potential to become a true gateway, linking downtown, the Heights, and the Riverwalk through a more active, walkable, and connected mixed-use environment.”
Neighboring the Tampa Law Center, the Hillsborough County Bar Association and Hillsborough County Bar Foundation will remain unaffected and in their current facility while benefitting from increased event space and parking.
While groundbreaking is anticipated in late 2027, the timing of the three-phase redevelopment is subject to continued planning. As currently envisioned, the new law center will be built in the first of three carefully planned phases. The University will retain ownership of the new Stetson Law Center and have permanent access to use of the hotel and parking garage.
Stetson University President Christopher F. Roellke (left); Stetson Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros (right)
To prevent disruption of operations for the Tampa Law Center, demolition of the existing building will occur after the new law center is complete. Current students will experience no disruption of coursework and no loss of parking. It will not impact tuition or operations at Stetson Law’s main campus in Gulfport.
Stetson University’s partnership with Bromley ensures that Stetson will continue to own the law center and that University needs will remain at the forefront. The economic impact to Stetson will be positive, and extensive Stetson-branded signage will enhance visibility from I-275 and along major thoroughfares like North Tampa Street and North Florida Avenue.
“Working with a company with a proven track record like Bromley, we are certain that this project takes a thoughtful approach to redeveloping our Tampa property,” Barros said. “Bromley understands the value of our Tampa Law Center as a place where this region’s most driven professionals come to advance their careers and their earning potential.”
This site will also enhance awareness of the overall Stetson brand while serving as a venue for information sessions to aid in recruitment for undergraduate programs based on the University’s main campus in DeLand.
Stetson’s Tampa Law Center opened in 2004.
With a pioneering approach to community development and a proven track record of truly transformative impacts on the places in which it invests, The Bromley Companies’ portfolio features millions of square feet of student housing, residential units, and comprehensive mixed-use development in Manhattan and Tampa.
Marcya Burden, current president of the Southeastern Association of Pre-Law Advisors (SAPLA).
With engaging programming and industry insights, the annual Southern Association of Pre-Law Advisors’ conference brought higher education professionals from across the Southeastern US to Stetson Law.
Comprising a broad range of backgrounds – from law professors to career counselors, all of whom play numerous roles within their home institutions – more than 100 attendees heard sharp insights about law school admissions, updates on recent student loan policy changes, and strategies for avoiding burnout. Many were first-time conference attendees; others had never before set foot on the Stetson Law campus.
Advisors had the chance to speak with law schools from across the region as well as test-prep companies and other non-law-school exhibitors – all while getting a close-up view of the stunning Stetson Law campus and learning about its unique offerings for prospective law students.
The June 2026 event marked the first time the event took place at the College, and the first time it occurred in Florida in recent memory – if ever.
“It was very important for us to address what is currently going on in the everchanging landscape of law school admissions,” said Marcya Burden, current president of SAPLA and, among other roles, pre-law director at Oakville University in Huntsville, Alabama. “And what better way to do that than meeting at such a historic law school whose mission and purpose has always been to strive for excellence and to advocate for others?”
A changing & competitive landscape
Even as federal student loans for graduate-level students become more challenging to obtain, student interest in attending law school has never been higher. Yet the number of spots available at many law schools has remained somewhat static. Student GPAs and median LSAT scores have soared as a result, making for stiff competition at law schools across the country.
Those advising undergraduates who are considering a career in law strive to stay on top of these changes as well as how law schools are preparing students for sustainable careers when factors like generative AI pose seismic changes to the field.
“The work you all do is so important,” said Stetson Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros in his remarks to conference attendees. “I think more than ever that prospective students and their parents want to see sustainable career pathways.”
Stetson Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros speaks to pre-law advisors gathered for an annual conference at Stetson Law.
The conference invites attendees to learn from each other while building their professional networks. Networking sessions have led to collaborations on law school fairs and other events – all with the goal of connecting undergraduate students with a law school that will be the right fit and lead to a fulfilling future.
Guiding students in an uncertain future can add a layer of stress for advisors who usually have numerous other roles at their schools but often aren’t compensated for the extra work of advising.
“Most of the prelaw advisors in our region serve in dual roles,” Burden said. “They’re either on the staff side or the faculty side.”
Attendees at the Southeastern Association of Pre Law Advisors 2026 Conference comprised a variety of backgrounds.
That’s why, in addition to programming specific to pre-law advising, SAPLA leadership includes sessions about strategies for avoiding burnout and other wellness-focused insights. This year’s conference also featured an update from the Law School Admissions Council, which administers the LSAT, on how to navigate changes to how the test is administered.
“It has been an honor to host so many important conversations about the changing legal education landscape and what it means for the professionals we entrust with helping students find the right career path,” said Stetson Law Director of Admissions and Recruitment Darren Kettles. “Our team worked hard to provide an environment where attendees could have open conversations, gain sharp insights, and make important professional connections on our beautiful campus – just as we do for our students.”
Exploring Stetson’s offerings
When choosing a site for the annual conference, SAPLA looks for law schools that have signature programs that prelaw advisors will want to share with their students.
With its focus on career readiness, nation-leading advocacy and legal writing programs, community-focused culture, and breathtaking grounds, Stetson Law gave previously unfamiliar attendees food for thought.
“It’s a bit different when you’re viewing it on a webpage versus when you’ve had a connection to the place,” said SAPLA Vice President and Conference Co-Chair Carol Riddock, director of prelaw advisory at Emory University in Atlanta. “Seeing a law school in person gives me a sense of their ethos and their community.”
A new approach to orienting 1L students offers a variety of immersive activities to help students acclimate to law school life.
Stetson University College of Law’s Stetson Inns program was recognized with the 2026 Excellence in Innovation Award: Law Schools award, a new honor from Insight Into Academia magazine. The award honors the Stetson Inns program for its innovative approach to student orientation experience, which has been proven to help students to start building community and confidence during their first days at Stetson Law.
The nation’s longest-running publication dedicated to promoting advancement in higher education, Insight highlights initiatives that lead the way in shaping industry best practices. This new award celebrates law schools that demonstrate a bold, effective approach to rethinking legal education. Through transformative programs and initiatives that reflect how students learn as well as the day-to-day life of law firms, these schools are taking a fresh approach to curriculum, experiential learning, technology and AI integration, access to legal education, professional pathways, and more to better serve the evolving needs of students and meet the rapidly shifting demands and expectations of the legal profession.
Inspired by the British Inns of Court tradition as well as the broader culture of Stetson Law, Stetson Inns is a dynamic reimagining of traditional law school orientation programming.
“The Stetson Inns are where our students explore and begin to develop the competence, candor, diligence, and professional judgement that are essential to success in the legal profession,” said Stetson Law Associate Dean for Assessment and Professional Engagement Anne Mullins, an architect of the program. “We are grateful to Insight into America for recognizing the thought and planning that has gone into this signature program.”
In February 2024, the Podgor and Adams Inns heard from guest speakers, the Honorable Nelly Khouzam and the Honorable Morris Silberman, both judges on Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal.
Insight Into Academia magazine selected the Stetson Inns program because it meets students where they are, it is future-focused, and it has created a measurable impact on students since it launched in fall of 2023.
It invites first-year students to acclimate to law school life in smaller groups led by a faculty mentor (referred to as a “Bencher”) and supported by upper-level students.
Through candid discussions, guest speakers, and other events, students are encouraged to explore professional identity, long-term career goals, and strategies for dealing with the stresses of law school and life as a lawyer. In fall of 2025, the program added a session on ethical use of artificial intelligence in law school and the legal profession, which was led by Dr.Kirsten K. Davis, a Stetson Law professor who has led the national conversation about AI use in law schools and the legal profession.
Students have had an overwhelmingly positive response to the program.
According to an informal survey taken after the initial implementation of Stetson Inns, 97 percent of students said they “started building community during orientation” – up from 54 percent in prior years. Meanwhile, 94 percent of students said they had at least one upper-level student they could reach out to, and 96 percent said there was at least one faculty, staff, or administration member they felt comfortable reaching out to. In prior years, those percentages were 55 and 33 percent, respectively.
Stetson Law will be featured in the July/August 2026 issue of Insight Into Academia magazine.
“The Insight Into Academia Excellence in Innovation Award: Law Schools is a prestigious national honor recognizing law schools driving innovation in legal education,” said Holly Mendelson, co-owner and publisher of Insight Into Academia magazine. “This selective recognition celebrates programs defined by forward-thinking design and measurable impact—initiatives that raise the standard and advance the field.”
The Stetson Law 2026 Commencement took place at BayCare Sound in Clearwater, Florida.
In the early evening on Saturday, May 16, Stetson University College of Law marked a major milestone for more than 300 students who successfully completed their law school journey.
The Spring 2026 Commencement ceremony took place at The BayCare Sound in Clearwater. The ceremony recognized the classes of December 2025 as well as May and August of 2026.
Stetson Law Vice Dean Jason Palmer led the event. He was joined onstage by Stetson University Provost Elizabeth Skomp, Stetson University Board of Trustees Chair Steven Alexander, Stetson University College of Law Board of Overseers Chair Jason Turner, Associate Dean for Assessment and Professional Engagement Anne Mullins, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Veterans Law Institute Director Stacey-Rae Simcox, and other distinguished members of the Stetson Law community.
Left to right: Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Veterans Law Institute Director Stacey-Rae Simcox, Associate Dean for Assessment and Professional Engagement Anne Mullins, and 1996 alumnus Michael Loparco
To kick off the event, Stetson Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros praised the graduating students for showing character as they faced the rigors of law school and mastering the skills that lawyers need to be successful.
“Here at Stetson Law, you learned to lead with empathy, resourcefulness, and commitment,” he said. “That commitment is evident in the more than 27,000 hours of legal and non-legal pro bono service contributed by you and your classmates. That spirit of service will define your careers just as much as your legal skill.”
Stetson University President Christopher Roellke urged the graduates to remain steadfast in their commitment to justice – and said that their success at Stetson Law demonstrates that they can achieve great things even amid times of unprecedented change.
“You have not only met the rigorous demands of a Stetson legal education, you have done so during a time of profound complexity and change in our world,” he said. “In doing so, you have developed the critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and practical skills that will enable you to lead and serve with distinction.”
Alumni words of wisdom
Current Stetson Law Board of Overseers Chair Jason Turner ’04, a successful lawyer in the music industry, encouraged the graduates to remain committed to ethics and professional responsibility for the duration of their careers.
“As lawyers, we are so deeply privileged to do what we do for a living,” he said. “It is a calling with a deeply important responsibility. People will come to you for help with their challenges. And most of all, they are going to trust that you never forget our greatest calling: to represent the client’s interest with the utmost integrity, respect and humility each step of the way. And never forget “who” the client actually is while doing your job – and that no client is ever worth losing your reputation or license.”
Reflecting on the adage, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is today,” Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association President Howard Williams said the graduates’ Stetson roots will create lifelong connections that will serve them well.
Members of Stetson Law’s Class of 2026.
“Your destiny begins with the tree you are planting today,” Williams said. “Five, ten, 15, or 20 years from now, you will look back and realize this was one of the greatest decisions of your life.”
Student Bar Association President William Austin Dodson applauded his classmates for making it through law school – primarily their final year, which had unique challenges.
“Some say that character is not something law school can teach. I disagree,” Dodson said. “I believe this place has been shaping exactly that in all of us. In the way you supported each other. In the way you showed up when it mattered. In the way you handled setbacks, disagreements, and uncertainty. Those experiences matter. They will stay with you long after today.”
Engaging keynote from a distinguished alum
Distinguished tech leader and 1996 alumnus Michael Loparco delivered an engaging commencement keynote.
1996 alumnus and 2026 commencement speaker Joe Loparco
With more than 25 years’ experience building and growing highly technical and cross-border manufacturing businesses, he served as CEO of Symbotic, an AI and software-enabled warehouse robotics and automation company, and spent more than two decades at Jabil Inc., where he was responsible for driving growth, innovation, and digital transformation. Before joining Jabil, he practiced corporate and commercial litigation.
He said the capabilities and qualities Stetson Law instills in its students will empower them to speak confidently, but with humility, in places where they may not yet feel like they belong.
“You don’t need to have it all figured out,” Loparco said. “Because the best parts of your life will not come from the master plan. They will come from the moments you had the courage to step outside it.”
Evangelia Manias, the 2026 Edward D. Foreman Most Distinguished Student honoree, accepted the award while surrounded by past honorees.
On the eve of Stetson Law’s Spring 2026 Commencement, the community honored the students who exceeded the rigorous expectations they faced as law students.
Graduating students were recognized for exceptional academic performance, passionate pro bono service, superior professionalism, and more. The event culminated in the presentation of the College’s three most prestigious student honors: the Walter Mann Award, the Dean’s Excellence Award, and the Edward D. Foreman Most Distinguished Student Award.
“Today, we recognize your contributions to this community and to society at large,” said Vice Dean and Professor of Law Jason Palmer in his introductory remarks to those gathered in the Great Hall. “It is my hope that you will remain committed to improving your community, wherever you might be. Law school not only teaches you to be a lawyer – it also teaches you to be a leader.”
Vice Dean and Professor of Law Jason Palmer.
A Literary Connection
Setting the tone for the ceremony, Stetson University Provost Elizabeth Skomp, a professor of literature, read Ithaka, a 1911 poem written by Greek poet Constantine Cavafy. Inspired by Homer’s Odyssey, it emphasizes the value of experiences gained during a journey over the destination — a message she said encapsulates what she hoped to impart to the students.
“I wish you all the best for graduation and your future academic, professional, and personal endeavors,” she said following the recitation. “As you go out into the world, please take care, be well, and pursue great things as a Stetson Lawyer.”
Stetson University Provost Elizabeth Skomp addresses graduating students at the 2026 Graduate Honors ceremony.
Honoring Outstanding Achievements
Starting with the nominees for the National Order of Barristers, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Veterans Law Institute Director Stacey-Rae Simcox announced the awards and honorees.
More than 30 named awards bearing the names of individuals and organizations seeking to recognize achievement in specific areas followed. Among the awards were the Carol R. Samuels Unsung Hero Student Leadership Award, the American Law Institute Continuing Legal Education Scholarship and Leadership Award, and the Pride Award. A complete list of the Awards and their recipients can be found in the Stetson Law 2026 Commencement Program.
The Day’s Most Prestigious Honors
Recognizing a graduating student who has shown the greatest promise of becoming an outstanding leader in the legal profession, the 2026 Walter Mann Award was given to Miracle Ann Amiot.
This year’s Dean’s Excellence Award was presented to Nicholas Colicci in recognition of his extraordinary service to Stetson Law.
Both students served on the Stetson Law Review Editorial Board.
Evangelia Manias, the 2026 Edward D. Foreman Award honoree.
The final award, the Edward D. Foreman Most Distinguished Student Award, was given to Evangelia Manias, a pharmaceutical doctorate holder who was exceptionally active on campus, including serving as chief ambassador of the Stetson Ambassadors.
Her name was cast in bronze and secured to a plaque outside the Great Hall as she was presented with the crystal, flame-shaped award, as well as a check for $5,000.
Continuing a Storied Tradition
Manias is the 28th recipient of the Foreman Award. To showcase its legacy and the qualities it represents, the award was passed between prior recipients before making its way to her.
Past Foreman Award honoree Aleks Jagiella-Litts, JD/MBA ’04, told the gathered audience that the award represents the spirit of service, tireless advocacy, and steadfast integrity of its namesake, Edward D. Foreman. She noted how he was quick to embrace emerging technology and would have been fascinated with generative artificial intelligence and its evolving role within the legal profession.
Aleks Jagiella-Litts, JD/MBA ’04, a past recipient of the Edward D. Foreman Most Distinguished Student Award.
She added that while AI might change the way much legal work is done, the values underpinning the profession will remain the same.
“AI may make us faster,” Jagiella-Litts said. “It may make us more efficient. But it cannot replace judgment, integrity, compassion, or courage.”
The very first recipient of the Foreman Award, Andrew Chiang ’05, presented the award to Manias, who expressed gratitude for the Foremans and thanked the Stetson Law community for providing a supportive environment in which she could thrive.
“Coming from a family of pharmacists, the world of law was completely unfamiliar to me, and I was learning everything from the ground up,” Manias said. “Looking back, I am grateful for how fully this community met me where I was and helped me grow into the student and person I’ve become today.”
Calling all aspiring advocates: Stetson Law is inviting future changemakers to apply for its groundbreaking youth summer program, the Pathways to Justice Academy.
This immersive, hybrid program takes local high school students on a deep dive into public policy and the legal system over the course of one week. With candid conversations, workshops led by legal professionals, and sessions designed to empower students to develop their leadership skills, the academy brings new dimensions to civics education.
“Pathways to Justice is designed to make a lasting impression on students and equip them with the knowledge and confidence they need to effectively advocate for themselves and their communities.” said Stetson Law Professor and Director of Clinical and Experiential Education Christine Cerniglia, who leads the program. “Instead of traditional classroom lessons that cover the three branches of government and how laws are passed, this program meets students where they are through engaging, impactful sessions.”
A pivotal experience
Now in its fifth year, Pathways to Justice has put dozens of students face-to-face with judges, activists, attorneys working within a range of specialties, students, and others who are passionate about creating positive social change.
Pathways to Justice, 2025.
Students learn about the critical role young people had in the Civil Rights Movement and other transformative moments throughout history while getting an immersive look at how legal professionals can help advance important social causes.
“Throughout the program, it really made me realize that there’s so much to being a lawyer; there’s more than what they show you on TV,” said Akira Greenwood, who experienced Pathways to Justice in 2024. For the students who participate, the program’s reach can extend well beyond the week. Thanks to a partnership with Community Tampa Bay’s ANYTOWN® Advocacy Academy Program, interested participants may continue to benefit from the mentorship and engagement with Stetson Law throughout the 2026-2027 academic year.
The details & how to apply
Students aged 15 to 17 who live in the Tampa Bay area are eligible and encouraged to apply.
The 2026 program dates are July 13-17 through both Zoom and in-person interactions on Stetson Law’s main campus in Gulfport, Florida. There will be an in-person, pre-program orientation on Saturday, July 11. Participation is free for all selected applicants.
A Pathways to Justice session takes place on the Stetson Law campus in 2025.
The deadline to apply is June 15, 2026.
The applicants selected for the program and their parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified directly via email. We will require a Consent Form signed by their parent/guardian to confirm their participation.
Left to right: Pye Young ’05, Stetson Law Sean D. Benjamin Barros, former Florida State Sen. Arthenia Joyner.
From bold acts of civil disobedience to innovative strategies for addressing the current justice gap, the 2026 William Reece Smith, Jr. Banquet was a moving exploration of how the law can transform lives.
Each year, the event honors two individuals who embody the values promoted by legendary lawyer Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. In his leadership of organizations from Florida Legal Services Inc. to the American Bar and International Bar Associations, Smith fought to expand legal services to those who cannot afford them. He was also a distinguished professorial lecturer at Stetson Law. This year’s banquet featured former Florida State Senator Arthenia Joyner, who is best known for her pioneering legal career rooted in Civil Rights Era activism, as the keynote speaker. Pye Young, a 2005 alumna and managing attorney in Bay Area Legal Services’ St. Petersburg office, was honored with the 2026 Wm. Reece Smith Public Service Award.
Recognizing fearless leadership
Law Professor Kristen Adams
Introducing Joyner, Law Professor Kristen Adams referred to her as “a trailblazer, a lawyer, a legislator, and a lifelong advocate for justice” and noted the former Florida Senate Minority Leader has practiced law longer than any other Black woman in Florida history.
“Where others might have been silenced, Senator Joyner was strengthened,” Adams said. “Some call her an activist. Others call her a pragmatist. All know that she is firm in her resolve to reflect positive change in our society.”
A return to campus
At the podium, Joyner said this was not her first time speaking at Stetson Law. In 1990, she was the first Black person to serve as the College’s commencement speaker. Thirty-six years later, she returned to honor the legacy of Smith, whom she knew through their shared profession and passion for equal justice.
“So, I’m home now,” she joked.
She recalled growing up in Tampa at a time when the Ku Klux Klan was a constant threat and her activism against segregation and other injustices, which included acts of civil disobedience that led to three arrests.
“That’s not a criminal record for me. It’s a freedom record,” Joyner said. “When your government is wrong, you have not just the right but the obligation to say so.”
Civil rights activist and former Florida State Senator Arthenia Joyner.
The Florida A&M University alumna became the first Black lawyer to practice in both Polk and Hillsborough Counties in Florida. Elected to serve in the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate, including as Senate Minority Leader, Joyner championed civil rights, equitable justice, and opportunities for marginalized communities. She said the fight for progress never ends.
“I have lived 83 years on this earth; more than 50 years at the Bar,” she said. “And if there’s one thing I know, it is this: progress is never permanent. Every generation must fight for it. Over and over and over again.”
As she closed her lecture, she urged the law students and young lawyers in attendance to persevere against efforts to subvert the justice system.
“If you remember nothing else from what I’ve said this evening, remember this: the law is a living thing,” Joyner said. “It breathes through the people who practice it. It grows when we feed it courage and compassion. And it dies when we allow it to be captured by those who seek power over justice.”
Bridging the justice gap in Tampa Bay
The second honoree of the evening, Young was honored for her leadership and innovative approach to expanding legal services in Tampa Bay.
Law Professor Judith Scully
In her introduction, Law Professor Judith Scully said that while those accused of a crime are legally entitled to representation, people with other legal issues face fees ranging from $250 to $1,000 an hour. With a growing wealth gap in the US, more individuals lack access the legal support that would truly create equal justice under the law – which results in further injustice.
“Unfortunately, when people’s lives are not protected, inequality becomes entrenched and trust in the legal system begins to erode rapidly,” Scully said. “Consequently, addressing this justice gap should be of deep concern to all of us in the legal profession.”
Young’s work establishing legal clinics and medical partnerships at Bay Area Legal Services, Scully said, embodies the spirit of public service.
Pye Young, a 2005 Stetson Law alumna, has championed legal services.
In her remarks, Young urged students in attendance to harness their legal expertise to help others, and to embrace pro bono opportunities the way they would billable hours.
“Some people feel that pro bono is free legal work,” she said. “But I submit to you that offering pro bono services and public service is much greater than a requirement of our profession. It is the very manifestation of why we seek to become attorneys in the first place.”
Invoking the namesake of the evening, Young said dedicating time and expertise to an important cause is one of the most fulfilling things a lawyer can do.
“I challenge each of you to find your inner William Reece Smith,” Young said. “Find your passion. Donate your time to a worthy cause and make a meaningful impact on the lives of those who may not be able to afford legal assistance and legal representation. This is the call of our great profession.”
Stetson Law has been U.S. News and World Report’s #1 law school for trial advocacy more than 20 time since 1995. In 2026, it ranked Stetson Law #1 in legal writing for the first time.
In its newest graduate school rankings, U.S. News & World Report has elevated Stetson University College of Law’s legal writing program to the #1 spot in that category for the first time. The College had also retained its status as the #1 destination for trial advocacy.
This is the fourth year in a row Stetson has ranked #1 in trial advocacy, an honor the College has received 26 of the 31 years it has been given. Stetson Law earned its #1 law school ranking for legal writing after three consecutive years as the #3 school in this area. The College ranked 91st overall, an eight-point jump from 99th in 2025.
It is no coincidence that Stetson Law is the top school for advocacy and legal writing. Rather, it reflects a sharp focus on ensuring students are ready to practice when they graduate and pass the bar.
In other words, Stetson Law is the best at teaching what lawyers do every day.
“Our #1 rankings in both advocacy and legal writing reflect our values as an institution,” said Stetson Law Dean D.Benjamin Barros. “No matter their practice, all lawyers advocate and write. We are proud to be focused on training our students to be truly excellent lawyers.”
Stetson University President Christopher F. Roellke (left); Stetson Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros.
Currently celebrating its 125th anniversary, Stetson Law sits on a historic campus in Gulfport, Florida. It is Florida’s first law school and part of Stetson University, which has a main campus in DeLand, Florida. To university leadership, these latest honors are emblematic of Stetson’s university-wide culture of career preparedness, which includes Hatter Ready, an undergraduate initiative that emphasizes experiential and immersive learning.
“Yet again, our incredible College of Law community has earned its place as a top destination for students who seek the skills and knowledge to not only practice law, but to do so with heart,” said Stetson University President Christopher F. Roellke, PhD. “We are grateful to U.S. News & World Report for this recognition, which is the direct result of Stetson’s steadfast commitment to our students.”
Legal writing: well-rounded, forward-thinking
Through its Institute for the Advancement of Legal Communication, the College inspires passion for exploring legal writing’s many aspects, including the ways in which technological factors like generative artificial intelligence are shaping the teaching and practice of legal writing. For institute faculty and leadership, their work has implications that go well beyond legal academia and practice.
“Our work sets high standards for excellence within the legal profession,” said Elizabeth Berenguer, who directs The Institute. “We are honored that our colleagues and U.S. News & World Report have recognized Stetson as one of the top legal writing programs in the nation.”
Stetson Law Professor Elizabeth Berenguer
The institute provides robust support for its legal writing faculty while maintaining a strong institutional commitment to research and innovation.
Twelve full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty members, all leading scholars in the field, teach in the College’s legal writing program. Each year, Stetson Law hosts a distinguished visitor to teach legal research and writing and lead special events related to their scholarship at the law school. Recent visitors include professors Brian Larson, Shailini George, and Mary Adkins.
In spring of 2025, the Institute launched The Hive, a scholarship incubator for legal writing scholars across the nation who are seeking mentorship as they develop their work. Multiple participants have already placed their articles for publication.
For 25 years, Stetson Law’s Center for Advocacy Education (formerly known as the Center for Excellence in Advocacy) has helped Stetson Law remain a passionate, deeply supportive community for anyone eager to strengthen their advocacy skills. This is evident in a campus culture that encourages students to speak up for themselves and others as well as the College’s hosting premier events like the Educating Advocacy Teachers (EATS) conference and the National Pretrial Competition.
Its nationally and internationally recognized trial, dispute resolution, and moot court teams have earned more than 110 national titles, a testament to the center’s enduring impact.
Stetson Law Professor Elizabeth Boals
“We take a forward-looking, holistic approach to advocacy education that integrates emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to ensure our students are prepared to thrive in a rapidly evolving legal profession,” said Elizabeth Boals, Director of the Center for Advocacy Education. “We are committed to equipping students with the practical skills and adaptability they need to be practice-ready from day one. We are once again honored by U.S. News’ recognition and inspired to continue innovating and building an environment where our students will develop to their full potential.”
In fall 2023, the 16,000-square-foot Advocacy Institute opened its doors. With more practice spaces than any other law school, the impressive facility reflects Stetson’s deep advocacy roots while offering expansive opportunities for scholarship, collaboration, and hands-on training. As home to the Center for Advocacy Education, the Center for Elder Justice, and the Jacobs Law Clinic for Democracy and the Environment, it is a vibrant hub where advocacy can thrive in all its forms.
Stetson’s International Environmental Moot Court Competition turned 30 during the 2025-2026 academic year.
For three decades, the world’s top student advocates have come to Stetson Law to determine the outcome of fictional disputes between fictional nations – and the (also fictional) creatures that dwell within them.
As Stetson’s International Environmental Moot Court Competition turns 30, the event continues to build on its legacy of collaboration, cross-cultural celebration, and inspiring passion for the art of environmental advocacy.
The 26th Annual International Environmental Moot Court Competition, which took place Apr. 7-9, 2022
The final rounds of this year’s competition take place April 16 through April 18 on Stetson Law’s historic Gulfport campus. Once again, it will bring together student teams from around the globe for what will likely be a transformative experience.
“Over the last three decades, we have educated young advocates and leaders about environmental challenges. It’s been incredibly rewarding to meet alumni of the moot whose careers have been influenced by ‘The Stetson,’ as the event is referred to in many countries,” said Law Professor Royal Gardner, director of Stetson’s Institute for Biodiversity Law & Policy. “The competition has only endured because of the support of the Stetson community—faculty, staff, students, administration, alumni, and friends of Stetson.”
How it all began
Gardner and former Stetson Law Dean and Professor Darby Dickerson – both new professors at the time – realized that while there were moot court events covering numerous areas of law, none were dedicated solely to international environmental law. With the support of then-Dean Lizabeth Moody, the professors went to work organizing the event, which took place in November of 1996.
(L-R): Professor Royal Gardner in background, University of Maryland Law students William Tilburg, April Morton, Best Oralist Molly Knoll, and Stetson Law Dean Darby Dickerson. Click for high-resolution image.
A total of 12 teams – 11 from the U.S. and one from the University of Málaga in Spain – argued on both sides of a problem loosely based on the turbot dispute between Canada and Spain. Over the years, students from nearly fifty countries, from Australia to Zimbabwe, have competed.
For the 30th edition, national and regional rounds were conducted in Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Ghana, Kenya, India, Ireland, Pakistan, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, and the United States. Thirty teams from five continents have been invited to campus for the finals, although new visa requirements and rising travel costs have created significant challenges.
Gardner reports that he regularly receives compliments on how smoothly the moot is organized, which he credits to his colleagues on the competition committee, Professor Erin Okuno, a 2013 alumna, and Foreman Biodiversity Professor Katherine Pratt, a 2019 alumna.
Fostering global connections
With its globe-spanning reach and global themes, the competition has also attracted legal professionals working on international issues to volunteer as judges, including:
Judge Christopher Weeramantry (International Court of Justice), Judges Kathy-Ann Brown and Anthony Lucky (International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea), Secretary General Peter Bridgewater and Deputy Secretary General Nick Davidson (Ramsar Convention), Executive Director Bradnee Chambers and Executive Director Amy Fraenkel (Convention on Migratory Species), and Secretary Veronica Caceres (Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles).
A message from AstridSchomaker, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity
The cases, the critters
The competition always requires students to grapple with important legal questions such as: how should one balance the needs of the current generation with those of future generations? What does consensus mean in the context of multilateral environmental agreements? How does one resolve conflicts between different treaties?
Gardner said the case is the result of a brainstorming session that takes place over dinner immediately following the prior year’s IEMCC finals.
Although hypothetical, the facts used in the competition often reflect current events. The basis of the 1999 problem was the export of toxic waste from Taiwan to Cambodia, which sparked riots. Two years later, it was Japan’s whaling program. Coinciding with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the 2022 problem – which was created more than six months before the invasion – dealt with the environmental fallout of conflict in the region.
In 2024, the problem examined whether the discovery of a shark species long thought extinct should halt rare-minerals mining in its habitat.
Since she has been involved, Okuno has endeavored to create or purchase a costume she dons to serve as the competition mascot at the event’s culmination – including the shark. She said the most challenging one to create (as well as her favorite) was the “blue-crowned crane.”
Another favorite: 2025’s “Royal markhor,” a goat-like species with long, spiraling horns protruding from its head and splashes of pink fur.
“I had to get creative with that one,” Okuno said.
SLIDESHOW: ERIN OKUNO’S COSTUMES
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IEMCC 2024 Gorilla 2
The 2026 problem deals with legal questions about de-extinction efforts related to the (fictional) Royal panther.
“Everyone waits for the charismatic species to emerge when the judges are debating the final rounds,” Gardner said.
The impact of global events
Whether it’s the global Covid-19 pandemic or the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in 2001, major events have created uncertainty in some years. In 2022, Russia’s invasion in Ukraine kept a team from the latter country from participating in the finals. They did, however, produce a video that was shown during the event’s opening reception.
Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, a team of Ukrainian students created a video message to IEMCC teams, coaches, judges, and support staff.
The IEMCC was one of the first moot court competitions to go online in 2020 and 2021 during the global pandemic. Gardner recalls a student competitor from South Korea presenting virtually from his campus (which officials opened just for him) at 3:00 A.M. local time.
Stetson’s International Environmental Moot Court Conference was one of the first College events to go virtual in 2020.
One year, the competition’s Central Asian rounds were held in Nagorno-Karabakh, a breakaway region of Azerbaijan. The rounds went forward despite objections by Azerbaijani officials, with Gardner explaining it would proceed in the spirit of the right to education contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which promotes “the maintenance of peace.”
What sets IEMCC apart
Moot court competitions are often intense, high-pressure affairs. Even though the teams are there to compete, they help create a friendly, positive environment on campus.
“The best part is how enthusiastic and happy to be here everyone is,” said Pratt.
Okuno agrees. “Everyone exudes collegiality and joy,” she said.
T P Kennedy, Director of Education at the Law Society of Ireland, said his students often come away from the event with lifelong connections within the team as well as other competitors.
The opening reception of Stetson’s IEMCC final round includes an exchange of cultural traditions.
“What’s been notable for us is how civil and transparent the competition is,” Kennedy said. “Judges engage in conversation with the student advocate and there’s no sense of point scoring or entrapment.”
Such a cheerful environment has fostered the development of many traditions over the years, including a multicultural talent showcase during the welcome reception.
Members of Stetson Law faculty and staff sometimes even open their homes to visiting teams and judges. And the event now typically kicks off immediately on the heels of Stetson Law’s International Wildlife Conference, which often has a theme that dovetails with that of the IEMCC record.
Many national and regional rounds hold similar side events. Indeed, the organizers of the Bangladesh National Rounds use the Stetson moot as a mechanism to help build environmental civil society.
Gardner recently has had the opportunity to judge rounds in Brazil, Colombia, India, the Philippines, and Tanzania.
“It was an honor to participate, and it was inspirational to witness the energy, enthusiasm, and advocacy skills of the students,” Gardner said.
In partnership with the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the global leader in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), Stetson Law is introducing an innovative way for new attorneys to sharpen their knowledge of the arbitration process.
The Fundamentals of Arbitration Advocacy is a new online certificate program designed to equip new attorneys as well as those with limited arbitration experience with a practical understanding of the arbitration process.
Participants will gain sharp insights from Stetson Law advocacy faculty and experienced AAA arbitrators through virtual lectures, interactive exercises focusing on major steps of the arbitration process, and live Zoom office hours. They will sharpen their understanding of filing procedures, arbitrator selection, and preliminary hearings. The program is structured on flexible weekly modules students can work on at their convenience and submit assignments by the designated deadlines.
“Through this partnership with Stetson University, we are expanding access to high-quality training that equips attorneys to address both current practice and emerging challenges in arbitration,” said Christine Newhall, senior vice president of AAA Education.
For Stetson Law leadership, this course reflects College’s commitment to expanding the opportunities it offers to the greater legal community.
“We are incredibly proud to partner with the AAA on this project, which combines the AAA’s expertise in dispute resolution with Stetson Law’s nationally renowned expertise in advocacy education,” said Stetson Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros.
The inaugural round of the course begins on May 4, 2026. Upon successful completion, participants will receive a certificate and a digital badge.
The World Bank’s Christina Leb spoke about her institution’s role in the development of sustainable water policies across borders.
As she began her lecture in Stetson Law’s Great Hall, Christina Leb noted the opulence of the venue.
“This is probably the most fantabulous hall I’ve ever spoken in,” said Leb, who is senior counsel at the World Bank’s Environmental and International Law Department (LEGEN).
She was there to talk about the key role organizations like hers play in the development of sustainable water governance, especially in places where bodies of water cross international boundaries. Her talk, which drew a sizeable audience of students, was the February 2026 installment of Stetson’s Foreman Biodiversity Lecture Series.
Demystifying a complex topic
Leb detailed her experience working at a multilateral development bank supporting the creation and implementation of international water laws and sustainable water resources management – and how the very nature of water presents a challenge to doing so.
“We need to remember that water is in constant flux,” she said. “The hydrological cycle determines the availability of water over land. Water evaporates over land, over the ocean, rains down through the mountains, across landscapes, and percolates into the soil.”
Comparing the principles of international water law to the principles of international environmental law and international law in general, Leb said there is a general duty among participating nations to cooperate, prevent significant harm, and settle disputes.
There are more than 300 transboundary river basins in the world, and even more transboundary aquifers that provide freshwater to multiple countries. There are delicate wetlands and watersheds connected to the water supply upon which millions depend. Pollution in one country can contaminate another’s drinking water.
Left to right: Associate Professor Klara Van der Ploeg, World Bank Senior Counsel Christina Leb, and Law Professor Royal Gardner. Van der Ploeg helped bring Leb to campus to deliver a Foreman Biodiversity Lecture.
Organizations like the World Bank, which seek to lift populations out of poverty around the globe, can help motivate nations to protect the water resources they share with other nations by requiring sustainability practices as a condition of funding. Yet shifting political, economic, and environmental circumstances can present a challenge when it comes to creating a lasting agreement.
An example she cited was the Indus Basin Treaty, which was developed in 1960 when India and Pakistan were divided into two separate countries. The World Bank brokered this water-sharing agreement. Following a 2025 attack in India’s Kashmir region, India suspended the treaty.
“International treaties are a product of their times, and when negotiating a treaty, it’s very important as a lawyer to make them flexible in the long term,” she said. “To build in clauses that allow negotiation, because in most cases, the relationships between countries and their water needs evolve over time – and the treaties will become outdated one way or another.”
Advice to aspiring international law practitioners
Asked how a law student can best position him or herself for work within such initiatives, Leb said it is best to seek out professional experience through internships as well as attending relevant conferences where they can meet and interact with leading professionals in the field.
“Ultimately what helped me was having a network of people,” Leb said.
