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Stetson Law Reflects on Legacy of Dean Emerita Lizabeth A. Moody

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg stands next to Dean Emerita Lizabeth A. Moody. — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (left) and Dean Emerita Lizabeth A. Moody (right) at the 1998 dedication of the Dolly & Homer Hand Law Library.

As the Stetson Law community mourns the loss of former Dean Lizabeth A. Moody, who passed away on May 19, former colleagues say her impact on the College of Law – and the legal profession itself – was nothing short of transformative.

Moody, who was the school’s first female dean, served in that role from 1994 through 1999. Thereafter, she was named Dean Emeritus and remained involved at the College of Law. She was inducted into the Stetson Law Hall of Fame in 2009. During her deanship, Moody championed advocacy education initiatives, was critical in the planning of and fundraising for the Dolly & Homer Hand Law Library, and supported growth in International Programs and Elder Law.

“Stetson Law is a better place because of Dean Lizabeth Moody – as is the world,” said Stetson Law Interim Dean Theresa Pulley Radwan. “She didn’t just shatter a glass ceiling by being the first woman to serve as dean. She inspired and encouraged other women lawyers to lead – and she saw Stetson Law’s potential as a national leader in multiple areas. We are all saddened by the loss of such an important changemaker, and we invite our community to learn about Dean Moody and celebrate her legacy.”

A celebration of her life is currently being planned, the details of which will be made public when they are available.

A lifelong love of law

Born in Johnson City, Tennessee, Moody knew her path very early in life.

When she was six, she asked her father if she could be a lawyer – he said “yes.” By the time she was in the seventh grade, Moody had a large collection of law school catalogues. Her family moved to Ohio, where she was valedictorian of her high school class. Thanks to a Junior Achievement Scholarship, she attended Columbia University.

Dean Lizabeth A. Moody wears a cap and gown and speaks to a graduating class. — Stetson Law Dean Emeritus Lizabeth A. Moody

Moody then attended law school at Yale, where she was one of just seven women out of her 1959 graduating class of 160.

She continued to break the glass ceiling when she became a member of a major Cleveland law firm, was one of the first women to obtain an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and was the first female president of the Cleveland Bar Association.

Giving back through service to the profession

In 1971, she left private practice to teach at Cleveland State University College of Law, but remained tirelessly active within the greater legal community.

While serving on the Women’s Law Fund together in the 1970s, Moody befriended Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who ultimately became a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. After working on a case challenging the Cleveland Public Schools’ policy regarding pregnant people, the two friends stayed in touch.

In 1990, Moody signed on as president and CEO of Law School Admissions Services, the organization behind the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). She was instrumental in developing the Law Access Loan Program, which made billions of dollars available to students pursuing law.

Breaking barriers at Stetson Law

In 1994, she joined Stetson Law as Vice President and Dean. She was the first woman to serve in this role at the college. Over her five years as dean, she helped grow Stetson Law’s national presence through substantive initiatives.

“Dean Moody played a pivotal role in the College of Law’s emergence into national prominence in the 1990s,” said Law Professor Peter Lake, Director of Stetson Law’s Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy. “Our first female law dean recognized Stetson’s distinctive prowess in Trial Advocacy, and created the foundation for extraordinary success and recognition in training great trial lawyers.”

Under her leadership, the College of Law broke the U.S. News and World Report barrier and was ranked in the top 100 law schools in the nation. She helped plan and fundraise for a new law library, which is now the Dolly & Homer Hand Law Library. Her friend, Justice Ginsburg, spoke at the library’s opening ceremony.

In 2015, Stetson Law dedicated a seminar room to her on the second floor of the law library. It was the room where she taught her nonprofit corporations class. She was an early champion of the now-popular practice of teaching class in small seminar groups.

Dean Emeritus and Professor of Law Lizabeth A. Moody spoke at the dedication of the Dean Lizabeth A. Moody Seminar Room.

Moody was also instrumental in helping establish Stetson Law as a national leader in the area of elder law.

“Dean Moody understood the importance of elder law,” said Law Professor Rebecca Morgan, who pioneered Stetson Law’s elder law program. “The Elder Law Center, the first Center for Excellence at the College of Law, was established during her deanship. Additionally, she was active in the ABA Senior Lawyers Division, serving as Vice-Chair.”

Moody also helped lay the foundation for the college’s part-time and international programs – and encouraged Stetson Law’s moot teams to compete on the international level.

“Dean Emeritus Liz Moody and her loving husband Alan Buchman were instrumental in promoting and encouraging Stetson Law to become involved in the Willem C. Vis International Arbitration Moot, which began Stetson’s 20-year successful run in the competition,” said Law Professor Stephanie Vaughan, who has co-coached Stetson Law’s championship-winning teams for the prestigious annual moot in Vienna, Austria, and Hong Kong. “Dean Moody understood the importance of advocacy and international law, and her commitment to both put us on the global map. She was a dear friend and will be truly missed.”

Slideshow: Dean Emerita Lizabeth A. Moody

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A nationally recognized legal professional

She won dozens of awards over the course of her career, including the Ohio State Bar Association’s Bar Medal, the highest award for unusually meritorious service to the community, the profession, and humanity. In 1997, the American Bar Association gave her the Glass Cutter Award for her tireless work helping other women in the legal profession. She received the ABA Business Law Section’s Author Award for her work on the revised Model Nonprofit Corporation Act and Martindale-Hubbell’s Highest Rating in Legal Ability & Ethical Standards.

The city of Cleveland declared May 8, 1990 as Lizabeth A. Moody Day.

In 2012, the ABA included Moody as part of its Women Trailblazers Law Project, which featured her oral history of her career at Library of Congress and the Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America at Harvard University.

She was heavily involved in the ABA, the American Law Institute (which named her a Life Member, a prestigious designation), and the American Association of Law Schools and served her community through philanthropic efforts and by serving on nonprofit boards like those of Tampa General Hospital and Academy Prep.

Through the years, she set standards not just for women lawyers, but for the legal community to follow. The Stetson Law will continue to celebrate Moody’s legacy. Many of her awards are on display in the Dean Lizbeth A. Moody Seminar Room on the second floor of the Dolly & Homer Hand Law Library.

See Dean Moody’s Hall of Fame induction video

New Fellowship Aims to Boost Diversity in Estate-Planning

A composite photo of two law students. — Left: Chriseanna Mitchell. Right Jeffrey Southerland. Both students are the inaugural Diversity Estate Planning Fellows.

With help from a key community partner, Stetson Law is now offering an opportunity for students from underrepresented populations to gain critical experience in elder law and estate planning.

With its first two recipients set to start the program in the fall of 2023, the Estate Planning Council Diversity Fellowship and Award is a combination of learning, mentorship, and real-world experience earned while helping underserved community members access critical legal services. The program offers each fellow a $1,500 award per semester. The two Stetson Law students to participate in the program’s inaugural year are Chriseanna Mitchell and Jeffrey Southerland.

Mitchell said she looks forward to helping underrepresented communities access critical legal services to help families financially prepare for loss of a loved one so that money challenges don’t overwhelm them during the grieving process.

“I want to help families prepare so that bridge will not be as stressful when it’s time to cross it,” Mitchell said. “Communities of color are often discouraged by the price tag attached to legal services so I’m excited about the pro bono aspects. The program itself will be an opportunity to explain different hypothetical situations to clients and find solutions to problems they did not even know where there. My hope is that this experience will further emphasize the importance of estate-planning within the community.”

A community collaboration

Created from a contribution from Gassman, Crotty & Denicolo, P.A., and the efforts of the Suncoast and Pinellas County Estate Planning Councils, the program’s purpose is two-fold. It aims to introduce estate planning and elder law as a viable career opportunity for students of color, who have historically been underrepresented in these areas. In turn, the fellowship will directly serve communities of color, which have been underserved in the areas of elder law and estate planning.

Clearwater attorney and Stetson Law adjunct professor Alan Gassman

Clearwater attorney and Stetson Law adjunct professor Alan Gassman said he hopes the program will be a win-win for the fellows as well as those they serve.

“I have had a deep-seated desire to do something for diversity that can impact both the lives of the minority participant and the lives of those who offer to help,” Gassman said. “In thinking this through, I came across the idea of helping law students acclimate to being professionals and networking by participation in an actual estate planning council.”

How it works

As members of one of the local Estate Planning Councils, fellows will attend their respective group’s monthly breakfast or lunch meetings. They will be assigned two mentors active in the estate planning community, who will help them create an educational presentation on estate planning and end-of-life documents to be presented in community centers and churches within communities of color.

The fellows will meet, shadow, and work with lawyer members of Estate Planning Councils to improve their communication skills, network with the community, and learn about estate planning and elder law as a career.

“This will provide them with mentorship, a network of friends in a community, job opportunities, education, and the opportunity to show leadership and develop confidence and presentation skills and experience,” Gassman said.

The program also aims to connect the fellows with employment opportunities and the opportunity to take part in paid clerking positions with Council members.

“The monetary fellowship award, clerking opportunities and the ability to apply time spent towards pro bono hours are icing on the cake,” Gassman said. “The reaction that we have had from students, law professors, and members of estate planning counsels has been very gratifying.”

Southerland said he hopes this work will have a direct impact on local families and help make the field of estate-planning more equitable – and he’s thankful to Gassman for the opportunity to do so.

“I am so grateful to have been selected for the Estate Planning Council Diversity Fellowship,” Southerland said. “Over the next year, I hope to grow as an advocate for my community and help increase representation in this area of practice.”

Spring 2023 Commencement Celebrates over 300 Graduating Students

An overhead view of the Spring 2023 Commencement Ceremony — The Spring 2023 Commencement in Stetson Law’s Plaza Mayor

During a beautiful morning ceremony in Stetson Law’s scenic Plaza Mayor, 302 students celebrated their successful completion of law school. They were surrounded by faculty, Stetson Law staff, family, friends, and others who supported them through a uniquely challenging journey. (See full video below.)

The event began with a processional featuring bagpipe players, marshals, graduating students, legacies, faculty, and members of this year’s platform party, who represented campus and university leadership, faculty, alumni, and the Student Bar Association.

When everyone was seated, Dr. Noel Painter, a long-time faculty member at Stetson and the university’s Executive Vice President and Provost, greeted those gathered.He commended the class – which consisted of May 2023 graduating students, December 2022 graduates, and students intending to graduate in August of 2023 – for completing over 20,000 hours of pro bono service,advocating for others through clinics and externships, championship-level moot competition performance, and succeeding despite unprecedented challenges.

“All in all, you are well prepared for whatever may be next for you in life, and you have much to look forward to,” Painter said.

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President Roellke’s Remarks

Noting how the graduating class was the first to enter law school amid a global pandemic and all of the challenges it presented, Stetson University President Christopher Roellke urged the graduating students to value empathy and kindness alongside the practical knowledge and skills they learned at Stetson Law.

“Here at Stetson, you have learned the law and the skills required to apply it to legal practice with integrity and professionalism,” Roellke said. “Moving forward, I ask that you also bring kindness and empathy to all that you do. As you grow and thrive, I challenge you to help those around to thrive, to offer small acts of kindness and empathy to your clients, partners, institutions and organizations. By practicing these two things, kindness and empathy, you will, indeed, do your part in making the world a better place.”

More words of encouragement from leaders

Kind words followed from Stetson University Board of Trustees Chair Elect Steve Alexander, who told the graduates they are now lifelong members of the Stetson community and urged them to stay connected.

“As a graduate of this university you join a community of alumni that is more than one hundred years old, large, and well established. So stay connected to your Stetson classmates and reach out to your new Stetson colleagues,” he said. “If I have learned anything from my time with Stetson it is the ready-made network out there that can advise and assist.”

On behalf of more than 11,000 Stetson Law alumni, Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association President Mitchell Schermer said while law school was no doubt challenging – full of “sleepless nights, endless studying and preparation, and even a global pandemic” – the students showed resiliency and grit. There was fun sprinkled in, he said with “networking events, social events, and probably too many nights out at O’Maddy’s,” he said, referring to a popular bar and grill nearby in downtown Gulfport. All of these experiences, he said, have helped shaped them into the kind of professional often referred to on campus and beyond as Stetson Lawyers.

“As many of you have undoubtedly heard, there is the concept of what it means to be a Stetson Lawyer,” he said. “To be a Stetson Lawyer means that you will always strive to demonstrate integrity, ethics, competency, and an unwavering commitment to representing the interests of your client. It means to be professional and cordial in the face of those who act otherwise, and to never forget that you are an advocate who represents real people, who come to you with real problems, in their time of greatest need.”

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Addressing his classmates, Student Bar Association President Blake Radford remarked on how the Class of 2023 boldly faced the rigors of law school despite unprecedented challenges affecting society at large. As incoming 1Ls, they attended orientation wearing masks. They figured out how to network and gain critical experience while respecting social distancing guidelines. In their final year, as the pandemic waned, he said, they had to deal with two hurricanes.

He urged his fellow graduates to never lose their “fire” or the indomitable spirit that got them through law school despite unprecedented challenges – to bring it with them to professional life.

“Show them what I’ve had the honor of seeing all these years,” Radford said. “That maybe out of all the years prior, this is the class that’s going to change the world. And we’ll change it by working together. By being there for one another. And by never letting anything stop us. Because so long as we have each other, nothing can.”

Wisdom from a seasoned professional

Before the students walked across the stage, they heard from one last speaker, Leslie Caldwell, who delivered the event’s commencement address.

A seasoned white-collar law professional known for leading the federal investigation into Enron and other high-profile cases, Caldwell used her own experience with a shifting career pathway to illustrate the many directions in which one can take a legal career. She, after all, went from working in a large firm to a small firm to a U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York in Brooklyn before Robert Mueller – who had just been appointed U.S. Attorney in San Francisco – recruited her to a management position in his office.

“You already have and will continue to develop a body of knowledge and a way of thinking that is mysterious and foreign, and even scary, to most people. And it is those people – many of whom will be perfect strangers – who will be putting their trust in you, putting their most important interests – including sometimes their very futures and lives-squarely into your hands,” Caldwell said. “And that will be the case no matter what area or areas of the law you choose to start off or end up in.”

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She concluded her remarks by elaborating on the quote by philosopher John Locke, “Where law ends, tyranny begins,” telling the graduating students that, as lawyers, they are a firewall against tyranny.

“In that role, you are assuming an obligation to do your part to maintain the integrity of our laws, and to protect the rights that the Constitution and other laws at least promise to all of us,” she said. “A big part of that obligation is that we must practice ethically, and operate with honesty and integrity, with our clients, with the courts, and even with our adversaries… If the legal profession were to lose sight of the need for candor and integrity, if the courts were to become or even be seen as advocates for specific agendas, the public rightly would lose confidence in our system. Law would end, and tyranny could begin.”

The students were then called to walk across the stage, one, by one, to accept their diplomas as the exuberant crowd cheered for each new Stetson Lawyer.

Watch the full Spring 2023 Commencement ceremony

Recap: Stetson Law Honors & Awards 2023

Rows of statues featuring Lady Justice and the phrase "Order of the Barristers" line a table. — Honors & Awards at Stetson Law

Reflecting a spirit of service and commitment to enter the legal profession with robust experience, members of Stetson Law’s 2023 graduating class were recognized for their exceptional work.

Held yearly on the eve of Spring Commencement, the Honors and Awards Ceremony lauds those who have gone above and beyond Stetson Law’s rigorous curriculum and pro bono requirements. This includes participation in a Stetson Law legal journal, going well above the College of Law’s pro bono requirement, honors program participation, advocacy board membership, superior academic performance, and earning a certificate of concentration. (See full video below.)

Outstanding students were also given awards named for key members of the Stetson Law community.

College of Law faculty and leadership commended the graduating students and invited them to remain involved as they build their careers.

“It is my hope that you will remain committed to improving your community, wherever you might be,” said Stetson Law Interim Dean Theresa Pulley Radwan. “Law school not only teaches you to be a lawyer — it also teaches you to be a leader. You defined yourselves as leaders who are dedicated to justice and public service, you have also defined yourselves as leaders with stellar academic achievements.”

Unique challenges, indomitable spirit

Noting that most members of the 2023 graduating class started their law school journey in 2020 – squarely within the throes of the Covid-19 pandemic – Stetson Law Board of Overseers member Tracy Raffles Gunn, who earned her J.D. from Stetson Law in 1993, said it was evident early on that this class shared a common characteristic: “fierce.”

Students challenged themselves and others, she said, and took ownership of their time at Stetson Law in ways that will benefit them as lawyers.

“Please know that the Board and the school are extremely proud of your class and that we are committed to continuing to support you as Stetson Alumni,” Gunn said. “I hope that you will consider your Board of Overseers and your Law Alumni groups to be a resource for you.”

Noting their next set of challenges, passing the bar and launching their careers, she encouraged them to keep in touch with their alma mater.

“We want you to stay involved with the school. I hope you will share your knowledge and experience with the Stetson students who come after you in whatever way fits your time and passions,” Gunn said. “It’s going to be your turn to be the mentors, coaches, guest speakers and competition judges. You have a lot to offer.”

In Photos: Honors & Awards 2023

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Prestigious awards bestowed

At the ceremony’s culmination, the focus turned toward three students whose activity and performance were so exceptional that they were recognized with the three most prestigious named awards: The Walter Mann Award, The Dean’s Excellence Award, and The Edward D. Foreman Most Distinguished Student Award.

The Walter Mann Award, which recognizes a student who has shown the greatest promise of becoming an outstanding leader in the legal profession, was given to Nancy Eriksen, a student veteran whose past recognition includes a national award for women in the white collar field. The Dean’s Excellence Award, which honors a graduating student who has given extraordinary service to Stetson University College of Law, was given to Student Bar Association President Blake Radford.

At the request of the Foreman family, special guest Kathryn Christian, a 2006 graduate and past recipient of the Edward D. Foreman Most Distinguished Student Award, presented that award to Kathryn Alkire. Heavily involved on campus, Alkire served as the Stetson Law Review editor-in-chief for the 2022-2023 academic year. As the award’s recipient, her name has been cast in bronze and is being secured to the plaque outside of the Great Hall. She will also be given a $5,000 check as part of the award.

Alkire said she was “honored and humbled” to receive the award, adding that she and her classmates now have a “tremendous opportunity” to have a positive impact – just as the award’s namesake and his wife, Bonnie Foreman, had over their lifetimes.

As the event drew to a close, Interim Dean Radwan once again commended the graduated students for their exemplary commitment to the values at the core of Stetson Law’s mission.

“Stetson Law is a remarkable law school filled with dedicated individuals with one, unified goal — to prepare our students to be change agents who make significant contributions to our communities and to society,” she said. “I think you saw today that we have a new group of graduates who are going to do just that.”

FULL VIDEO: Stetson Law Honors & Awards 2023

U.S. News Ranks Stetson Law No. 1 in Advocacy

A wide shot of the main Stetson Law building in Gulfport from the Plaza Mayor. — Stetson University College of Law’s Tower building, as viewed from Plaza Mayor.

The annual U.S. News & World Report results have been announced for 2024.

This year, the publication has once again ranked Stetson Law the No. 1 law school for Trial Advocacy and the No. 3 destination for Legal Writing. Stetson is the only law school to consistently rank among the top schools in the nation in both Advocacy and Legal Writing year after year. Stetson Law’s Dispute Resolution rank continues its upward trajectory, climbing from No. 72 in 2021 to No. 18 in 2024 – a truly impressive increase. These three programs showcase Stetson Law’s commitment to rigorous and holistic training.

The College of Law’s overall ranking also climbed nearly 30 spots to No. 84 from its 2023 ranking of 111. This year, the rankings were redesigned to place more emphasis on successful student outcomes, and they now better reflect Stetson’s continued dedication to producing practice-ready legal professionals. Stetson Law is now proudly within the top 100 law schools in the U.S.

Community-wide collaboration

From championship-winning competition performance to advocating for the community through pro bono work, students have gone above and beyond as advocates. Faculty have inspired them to dig deeper into the true meaning of advocacy while helping connect students with real-life experience. Across numerous departments, the staff strives to support student and faculty achievement as well as the prestigious national and international competitions and conferences the College of Law hosts.

Alumni have been ardent supporters of advocacy at Stetson Law in countless ways, from coaching competition teams to giving generously so that Stetson Law can build upon its legacy as the top law school for trial advocacy through the Advocacy Institute, which will open its doors later this year. The innovative facility will help Stetson Law remain a trial advocacy leader in perpetuity – and will help the College of Law grow its reputation as a leading U.S. law school.

Law Professor Elizabeth Boals, Director of the Center for Excellence in Advocacy at Stetson Law.

“Preparing our students to be competent and professional advocates after graduation is our primary goal,” said Law Professor Elizabeth Boals, Director of Stetson Law’s Center for Excellence in Advocacy. “That objective requires us to focus on the students’ advocacy education by selecting excellent professors and competition team coaches; offering an array of advocacy courses that allow students to hone their skills; and by connecting students with alumni and practitioners that support their career development. The entire school is behind this mission. We are proud because we are Stetson.”

Stetson Law’s celebrated Legal Writing program remaining at No. 3 reflects a passionate commitment to bettering our understanding of legal communication, which is something that is fundamental to the study, practice, and evolution of American jurisprudence. Through proven methods of improving legal communication skills, thoughtful analysis of emerging issues related to the field, cutting-edge scholarship, and innovative programming, Stetson Law is driven to lead the way in this critical area.

“Being a national leader in trial advocacy and legal writing is about more than accolades and trophies – it represents our commitment to the legal profession and its critical role in promoting justice for all,” said Stetson Law Interim Dean Theresa Pulley Radwan. “We congratulate every member of the Stetson Law community for remaining committed to educating ethical professionals who will leave our campuses with the legal acumen, real-world skills, and empathy they need to succeed as Stetson Lawyers.”

A bright future for Stetson Law

With thoughtful planning and execution, Stetson Law will continue to make long-term investments that will further elevate our national reputation in all areas.

Interim Dean and Law Professor Theresa Pulley Radwan

These include investments in our enrollment strategy, Academic Success and Bar Preparation that starts with 1L students, career services, and student support that aim to educate ethical professionals who will leave our campuses with the legal acumen, real-world skills, and empathy they need to succeed as Stetson Lawyers.

Stetson Law invites students to hone their legal knowledge and skills through the lens of their choosing – all while making lifelong connections with leaders in their chosen area of practice.

Through centers and institutes led by globally and nationally renowned faculty, the College of Law offers students practical experience and opportunities to have a direct impact on the issues about which they are most passionate. In addition to the Center for Excellence in Advocacy, these include: The Center for Excellence in Elder Law, The Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy, The Institute for the Advancement of Legal Communication, The Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy, The Institute for Caribbean Law and Policy, and The Veterans Law Institute.

Learn more at Stetson.edu/law.

Introducing Stetson Law’s New Meditation & Wellness Spaces

Features from a meditation room, including a salt lamp, yoga mats, cushions, and a mandala on the wall. — Students will find adjustable lighting, aromatherapy, yoga mats, and other features to help them destress in Stetson Law’s meditation rooms.

Reflecting Stetson Law’s commitment to mental health and wellness, faculty, staff, and students celebrated the opening of two thoughtfully appointed student meditation rooms on campus.

Members of the Office of Student Affairs, the Office of the Dean, the Student Bar Association Health & Wellness Committee, and other groups gathered April 28 to mark the occasion, which is the culmination of a collaboration among students, staff, and administration officials. The rooms, located in the Dolly and Homer Hand Law Library and the Office of Student Affairs, aim to help students balance the challenges they face with mindfulness practices, de-stress, and build resilience, be it through yoga, talking through issues, journaling, prayer, or meditation.

“Students need a place to just quietly relax – or maybe sometimes quietly scream,” said Blake Radford, who is president of Stetson Law’s Calvin Kuenzel Student Bar Association. “It makes campus a safer place to be – not just a place where you’re studying and you’re panicking… It’s a place you can relax.”

Balancing the rigors of law student life

Daily life for law students can feel nonstop as they strive not only to succeed, but to stand out.

Law school is often so focused on competition and other intensive activities, said Associate Dean for Assessment and Professional Engagement Anne Mullins, that wellness can often be an afterthought.

“We don’t always celebrate just being. And as lawyers, that’s really important for us,” Mullins said. “We’re kind of set to go and do – and the be part gets kind of underattended.”

Multifaceted meditation rooms

The two mediation rooms are located in strategic spots on campus.

The library meditation room is located in room 233 on the south side of the building’s second floor and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Items for the room were made possible by the SBA, as well as the library’s Waters Wellness Fund, a donation-based fund dedicated to wellness programming for students.

The other meditation room is currently located in the Office of Student Affairs. This space will operate from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Items for the room, including an accessible yoga mat were made possible by the SBA, along with a donation from the Office of Student Affairs.

A student shows wellness accessories to others in a campus meditation room. — Dominique Alford-Raymond, right, shows students, faculty, and staff some features of a meditation room at Stetson Law.

The rooms’ ADA-friendly lighting can be adjusted by touch and changed to different colors. They also feature comfortable seating, salt lamps, a notebook for students to write down their thoughts or share inspirational messages, aromatherapy, an ambient sound machine with 50 different relaxing noise options, and more.

Dominique Alford-Raymond, chair of the SBA’s Student Health and Wellness committee, helped lead the initiative. She said the rooms were appointed to help students achieve comfort amid their most stressful moments.

“Mental health and wellness is very complex,” she said. “Just like everything else in law school, the solution to mental health is, “It Depends”. So while some may see an empty set of rooms with a couple of chairs and a salt lamp; it is actually solving a complex set of issues in a few ways.”

These include dimmable lights, aromatherapy, a calming atmosphere, ADA-compliant accessibility measures, and materials like cushioned yoga and prayer mats that vary in size, length, and texture. Such items, she said, can help deescalate anxiety or panic attacks.

“If you don’t feel comfortable, you’re not going to calm down. If you’re not at peace, your mind won’t stop racing,” Alford-Raymond, a 2L enrolled in Stetson Law’s part-time J.D. program, said.

A space for staff

Stetson Law leadership is also creating a space for staff members to relax during the workweek. The Human Resources department has outfitted a room in the Tower building with similar wellness accoutrements.

It will be located on the second-floor dorm hall (D203) and will feature a comfortable sitting area, yoga mats, coloring books, space for a new parent to breastfeed/care for a child, softer lighting, a television for streaming music or meditation videos, and more.

“It was important for us to set aside a space within our community with our employees’ well-being in mind, promoting both physical and mental wellness,” said Stetson Law Director of Human Resources Pamela Skoularakos. “We hope the room will help employees in need of a boost of energy or just a quiet space to get away from their workload for a few minutes of peace.”

She said staff should keep an eye out for a launch in the near future.

Reflecting a cultural shift

Having space where students (and staff) can relax and unwind reflects the College of Law’s commitment to inclusive excellence, said Carmen Johnson, Stetson University’s Executive Officer of Diversity, Collaboration, and Inclusion. It also invites students to process their experience at Stetson Law (and in life, in general) in a manner unique to them.

“This is really thinking about how we create spaces to be our authentic selves in multiple mediums. Whether it’s through advocacy; whether it’s through faith, prayer, meditation, and mindfulness,” Johnson said. “Everyone works collaboratively to make these kinds of spaces happen.”

These spaces also reflect an evolution in the way many individuals choose to approach professional life.

“These days, there is a lot more talk about self-care, mindfulness, and practices that offset the stresses of daily life,” said Interim Dean Theresa Pulley Radwan. “As one of the most challenging – and rewarding – pursuits one can take on, law school should be no different.”

As future lawyers whose work can be transformative for the lives of others, focusing on wellness is paramount.

“It is my hope that the self-care practices our students adopt here at Stetson Law will stay with them as they embark on their careers,” Pulley Radwan said. “You can’t take care of your clients if you don’t take care of yourself first.”

IEMCC 2023: Pirates, Deep-Sea Mining & Global Connections

A collage of images taken at the International Environmental Moot Court Competition finals — Clockwise from top left: Ed Gardner speaks on overfishing & piracy; teams gather for a round; Erin Okuno as the shark at the center of the IEMCC problem; Professor Royal Gardner announcing competition results.

Over three lively days of moot court sessions, 18 teams from 12 countries contended for the top spot at Stetson Law’s International Environmental Moot Court Competition April 13-15.

The final rounds of this international event, now in its 27^th year, brought teams of law students to Stetson Law’s Gulfport Campus from Brazil, China, Colombia, India, Ireland, Korea, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States. The two U.S. teams that made it to this round were from the University of Miami School of Law and William and Mary Law School.

The teams argued on either side of a fictional case involving parties from two (also fictional) nations, a state-run deep-sea mining operation for minerals used in electric-vehicle batteries, and a species of shark once believed extinct. A fresh specimen of the shark had been found in a net near the mining site and an environmental group sought to halt mining in the area.

In the end, the team from West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences in Kolkata, India emerged as this year’s champion. They bested the Law Society of Ireland team in the final round on Saturday, April 15. (See more results below.)

An update from team Ukraine

As the event kicked off, Kateryna Skichko, a coach for the team that traveled from the Educational and Scientific Institute of Law, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, gave an update on the environmental impacts of the war in Ukraine. It will be a long time before the world will know the extent of it both on Ukraine’s environment and the world in general, she said, given the climate impacts of modern warfare.

“When we speak about armed conflicts, they impact all the world when we speak about climate change,” she said. “The war is ongoing and we cannot assess the level of harm that has already been inflicted, or will be inflicted in years’ time.”

Last year, a Ukraine team was slated to compete in the IEMCC, but that changed when Russia attacked the country on February 24, 2022. In lieu of their presence, they sent a compelling video message to all of the 2022 IEMCC participants.

This year, the team was able to participate in person.

Unsustainable fishing & piracy: a deadly connection

Skichko’s update preceded an insightful conversation with Foreman Biodiversity Lecturer Ed Gardner, a retired Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) special agent whose work involved extensive enforcement of anti-piracy measures; he is also the brother of Law Professor and Director of Stetson Law’s Institute for Diversity Law and Policy Royal Gardner.

He focused on the connection between unsustainable, habitat-destroying, often illegal fishing practices like high bycatch, bottom-trawling, and blast-fishing and rises in piracy in proximal areas where these practices may be taking place, such as Somalia.

These practices, he said, are in fact a root cause of piracy, a costly problem with a grave economic and human toll as local fishers whose yields are negatively affected by Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing operations turn to extreme measures to feed their families.

“The argument was, you take away their fish, and they’re going to turn to piracy, or they’re going to turn to criminals to protect their fishing, and the criminals themselves become pirates,” Gardner said.

And while fighting piracy across the globe can be a bit like a game of whack-a-mole, Gardner said getting to the root of the problem by fighting IUU could drastically reduce a problem that can cost the economy $16 billion annually in ransoms, property theft, insurance, enforcement, alternative shipping routes, private security, and transportation fees – not to mention the trauma inflicted on piracy victims and their families.

A major source of these overfishing operations are tied to big corporations or national governments, he said.

“The vast majority of illegal fishing is conducted by corporations or state-sponsored fishers,” Gardner said. “That’s going to be the people who have the economic ability to have a refrigerated vessel out at sea, send a trawler out, pack the fish, bring them back to one location, dump them, keep dumping them, and stay out for a year at a time.”

Looking out into a room full of law students from around the globe, he said he is hopeful that they can take this information and help shape policy to fight IUU – and, by extension, piracy – in the future.

“You are in a unique position,” Gardner told his audience. “When you leave and go back and actually become lawyers in your home countries, you’ll have the opportunity to influence legislation, and law, and practice of that law.”

A successful competition

Since 2020, the IEMCC has either been held online or – as was the case in 2022 – affected by COVID-19 travel visa restrictions. This year’s competition was the first in years to see little to no effect from the global pandemic.

The event’s successful run stems from months of planning, namely by Foreman Biodiversity Fellow Katherine Pratt, Law Professor Royal Gardner, Miami Law Professor Erin Okuno and others involved in the Biodiversity Institute.

“It was incredible to see this all come together, and to once again experience Stetson Law’s global connection,” Professor Gardner said. “We expect that the competition’s participants will use what they’ve learned to promote and advocate for policies that help nations ensure sustainability for generations to come.”

More IEMCC 2023 results

International Finals Champion: West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata, India
Runner-up: Law Society of Ireland
Best Oralist in the Final Round: Sanyam Jha – West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata, India
Semifinalists:
- University of San Agustin, Philippines
- University of the Philippines College of Law
Memorial Awards:
- Best Memorial: Soongsil University
- Runner-up Best Memorial: Singapore Management University

Interim Dean Radwan Receives FL Bar Professionalism Award

Stetson Law Interim Dean Theresa Pulley Radwan

With enthusiastic backing from Stetson Law faculty, Interim Dean Theresa J. Pulley Radwan has been given the Florida Bar Center for Professionalism’s 2023 Law Faculty/Administrator Professionalism Award.

The recognition follows Radwan’s 22 years of service at Stetson Law, where, in addition to being a top bankruptcy law expert, she has held several roles at the College of Law. Radwan has served as interim dean since summer of 2022, and has also held the roles of Associate Dean of Academics, Senior Associate Dean of Academics, Associate Dean for Administration and Business Affairs, and Transitional Business Administrator.

“In all these capacities she has acted with the highest level of integrity and professionalism,” states a nomination letter submitted on behalf of the Stetson Law faculty recommending Radwan for the award. “She exudes professionalism in everything she does, from how she writes an email, to how she introduces speakers, how she interacts with faculty, staff, and students, how she teaches classes, and how she performs her current role as interim dean of the law school.”

Starting in 1999, the award has been presented annually to a faculty member or administrator who “best supports or exemplifies the mission of the Standing Committee on Professionalism” through scholarship, teaching, and service to the profession. Past recipients of this award from Stetson Law include former Dean Bruce R. Jacob (2018), Professor Emeritus Robert Dean Bickel (2016), Law Professor Roberta K. Flowers (2005), and Law Professor Rebecca Morgan (2003). See all award recipients.

She will be presented with the award at the Florida Bar’s Annual Convention during the Judicial Luncheon.

Leading Stetson through unprecedented challenges

At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Radwan took on the challenging role of leading the University’s team in overseeing the Pandemic response for all of Stetson’s campuses. She spent endless hours as the co-chair of the Safer Campus Task Force while also teaching classes and writing scholarly works. She received the “She Stepped Up Award: Recognizing Extraordinary Leadership During COVID-19,” presented by the American Council on Education (ACE) Women’s Network – Florida.

She was one of six women in all of higher education in Florida selected as a winner of this award for her leadership in making a difference in the lives of students as well as employees on their campuses. Well before she began serving as interim dean, students, faculty, and other members of the Stetson Law community lauded her for her communication and listening skills, sense of fairness, and scholarly work.

Advocating for campus diversity

As dean, she has been a key advocate for campus diversity; not only in being present for events, but also in promoting the importance of community. Her support for Stetson Law’s commitment to diversity is evident in everything from her encouraging faculty to participate in community MLK Day events to her scholarship of elder law issues in bankruptcy. Her behind-the-scenes efforts as a faculty member who served on the Appointments Screening Committee is a key reason behind the current diversity of Stetson Law’s faculty.

She served as a president of the Ferguson-White Inn of Court, as a member of the Florida Bar Association Standing Committee on Professionalism, and, in 2007-08, as the chair of the Professional Award Subcommittee.

The list of activities that she has done behind the scenes to advocate and reward professionalism in the legal practice is long.

Campus Vegetable Garden a Labor of Love for Students

A professor and several students pose for a selfie in front of a garden. — Law Professor Lance Long and members of the Food Law Society enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Obscured by trees along the north side of 15^th Avenue South is a garden oasis where good things are growing.

A banyan-shaded green space yielding massive heads of organically grown cabbage and broccoli sprouts, it’s the result of a recently revived Stetson Food Law Society project.

“This year we have a beautiful garden, and I am probably one of the biggest consumers of the crops,” said Law Professor Lance Long, the Food Law Society’s faculty advisor.

Reviving an old tradition

Long said the garden is the latest – and most successful – iteration of a student-run gardening initiative dating back about a decade. Then, a series of container gardens in Crummer Courtyard was productive, but it didn’t create a verdant, sanctuary-like space like the current garden initiative does. More recently, the current site of the project – just west of the Banyan Courtyard – had fallen into disrepair.

Students kneel in front of two garden beds. — Volunteers tend to Stetson Law’s organic garden,

Fresh membership and a renewed sense of purpose inspired the Food Law Society to revive the project in the fall of 2021.

With help from the facilities department – which installed a hose and let the students use store their tools in a nearby shed – the students began making true progress on the garden in Spring 2022 as part of an environmental law class. Through planning, meticulous work, and a bit of trial-and-error, the space was thriving within six months.

Much of the labor is divided among Food Law Society President Iman Mamdouh, Vice President Jon Burton, and Treasurer Saad Chowdhury.

“The garden became our shared ‘toddler’ on campus,” joked Mamdouh. “Between the three of us, we rotate watering, covering the garden in tarps to prevent weeds, and shop for new seeds, seedlings, soil, manure, and labeling stakes.”

Two photographs show a garden space in disrepair. — Before students set out to revive the garden in 2021, the space had fallen into disrepair.

It became a community effort among Stetson Law’s eco-conscious students. Other Food Law Society members assisted in de-weeding and replanting each month. One even brought used coffee grounds from the café where she works to use in the fertilizer.

“With the effort we all put in, we share in the literal fruits of our labor but also in the failed attempts that educate us in the dos and do-nots of gardening,” Mamdouh said.

The January harvest yielded produce for all members of the Stetson Law Community to enjoy at no cost. As a shaded green space open to all, the garden is also a great place to de-stress from the rigors of law school.

“Someone can enjoy fresh produce from the garden, or destress with a garden cleanup event, or even sit among the plants under the banyan tree,” Chowdhury said. “Moreover, the garden demonstrates gratitude. Seeing where food comes from and the work needed is a humbling experience.”

Digging deeper: Cultivating conversations around food

There are, of course, much bigger-picture aspects to the undertaking.

For one, economic conditions and broader food policy in the U.S. can result in limited access to nutritionally dense foods in many communities – including, potentially, at Stetson Law.

A refrigerator featuring cabbage and other vegetables grown in the Stetson Law garden — Vegetables grown in the Stetson Law garden.

“We realized while many schools offer food, there is a deficiency of nutrients – especially for any students who were food insecure because of finances or otherwise,” Burton said.

The group also hopes the project will help individuals think more critically about what it means to “eat local,” given how the current federal-government definition of “local” may cause consumers to buy produce that’s not as sustainably farmed as they think.

“We also realized that in 2022 the transportation and display system of in-store foods when the [United States Department of Agriculture] considered ‘local’ to be within 400 miles or less of product origin introduced spoilage and some nutrient degradation compared to truly local foods,” Burton said. “We hope the garden does draw community education about the localization of foods and the importance of nutrition.”

Keeping it growing

As 3Ls, law school is drawing near its close for Mamdouh and Burton – but the garden will live on. As incoming president of the Food Law Society, Chowdhury will take the reins – and he’s got big plans.

He said he hopes to foster more food justice initiatives, from encouraging students to volunteer at local food banks to creating “an educational space where students can learn about Food Justice issues, such as food deserts, legislative hurdles, and the socio-economic determinants for nutrition in our community,” he said.

That will likely include informative signage in the garden itself as well as walking paths to help invite others to explore the connection between local food and global sustainability. “I’m relieved to graduate knowing we have set solid building blocks for the Stetson Community Garden to further flourish in the upcoming years, and I hope it becomes a Stetson landmark,” Mamdouh said.

Benjamin Barros Named New Dean of Stetson Law

Benjamin Barros, incoming Dean of Stetson University College of Law

Following a nationwide search led by an exceptional search committee and assisted by Issacson | Miller Executive Search, Stetson University has selected Benjamin Barros as the next dean of the Stetson University College of Law.

A proven leader

Dean Barros joins Stetson Law from the University of Toledo College of Law, where he has been Dean since 2015. During his time as Dean, Toledo Law saw significant improvement in enrollment, bar success, graduate employment, and fundraising.

Dean Barros has been a leader in the legal community, serving two terms as a member of the Association of American Law Schools Executive Committee and serving as Chair of the Supreme Court Task Force on the Ohio Bar Exam. He is a Property Law expert and has authored a popular Property textbook. He is a former Chair of the AALS Section on Property Law and a former President of the Association for Law, Property, and Society.

Practical experience & education

Before joining the legal academy, Dean Barros practiced as a litigator at two prominent firms in New York City.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Colgate University, a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Maryland, and a law degree from Fordham University School of Law, as a member of Order of the Coif.

“I’m incredibly excited to join Stetson Law,” says Barros. “Stetson Law has earned a national reputation for excellence in advocacy, legal writing, and elder law, among other areas of excellence and I look forward to working with all members of the Stetson Law community to build on these existing strengths towards an exciting and bright future.”

Welcoming a new campus leader

Members of the search committee are enthusiastic to have a leader with deep decanal experience, a collaborative spirit, and a clear focus on student excellence join the college.

Search committee co-chairs Ellen Podgor (Stetson University’s Gary R. Trombley Family White-Collar Crime Research Professor of Law) and Greg Coleman (Chair of the Board of Overseers, partner at Critton Luttier Coleman and Past President of The Florida Bar) extend their thanks to all who contributed to this extraordinary outcome.

The entire Stetson community is thrilled to welcome Dean Barros and is eager to see how his partnership with Stetson’s faculty, staff, and students will lead Stetson to even stronger successes in the future.

Dean Barros starts his role as Stetson’s newest dean on July 1, 2023.

Stetson Law Emerges as Top U.S. Team at Vis Moot

A group of students and a professor stand in front of a Vienna cityscape. — Left to right: Jaclyn Foster, Phil Faires, Mary Roseth,, Professor Stephanie Vaughan, Matt Ceriale, Taylor Simonds, and Sam MacDougal.

Over days of intense competition, Stetson Law emerged as the only U.S. team to make it to one of the final rounds of the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna, Austria.

The five-member team representing Stetson Law at the prestigious tournament – consisting of Phillip Faires, Jaclyn Foster, Sam McDougall, Mary Roseth, and Team Captain Taylor Simonds – competed against 378 teams from 89 countries. They were one of 49 teams from the U.S. to compete – and the only U.S. team to make it into the event’s top 16 teams before advancing to become one of the competition’s top eight teams. This was the first in-person Vis competition since 2019, when Stetson’s team also advanced to the top eight.

As a top-eight team, Stetson lost in a split decision to a team from Singapore. The incredible run – which put the Stetson team in the top two percent in the world – serves as a milestone for the five competitors and their coaches, alumni Jason Stearns and Matt Ceriale, as well as Professor Stephanie Vaughan.

“Hearing Stetson’s name called not only for one of the Top 64 teams out of 378 that would be advancing, but also as the (by unanimous vote!) winner of three head-to-head elimination rounds in a row is undoubtedly the highlight of my law school career,” said Simonds.

Prestigious event, extensive preparation

The team spent months preparing for the event, which featured a fictional case involving drone manufacturers in the politically unstable “nation” of Equitoriana. The experience helped them develop their advocacy skills and explore new areas of the law.

“The entire team worked so hard in devoting ourselves to this problem for upward of five months – improving our advocacy skills, researching international standards for niche areas of law, and trying to convince ourselves and others that a helicopter-sized drone might not legally be an aircraft – and seeing all that work pay off was incredibly validating,” Simonds said.

An advocacy milestone

As both a professor and a coach, Vaughan said it was incredible to watch the team members develop their skills through diligent practice – then to advance farther than any other school in the United States.

“To say that I am proud of this team would truly be an understatement,” Vaughan said. “Being a part of this team’s success at Vis has been incredibly rewarding. It was a true feat for Stetson Advocacy.”

To the team, it was an incredible honor to emerge as the top U.S. team after competing with the likes of Harvard Law and Columbia Law School.

“Overall, this was an experience none of us will ever forget, and it allowed us an unparalleled opportunity to grow our skills in communication, research, creative argument, teamwork, and international perspectives in a way I know we will all carry into our careers,” Simonds said.

Stetson Law Review Symposium Explores Elon Musk & the Law

A room full of people during a Stetson Law Review Symposium presentation in Great Hall. — The 2023 Stetson Law Review Symposium

There was an air of excitement on campus as students, faculty, and other members of Stetson Law and the legal community gathered to discuss the timely topic of the 2023 Stetson Law Review Symposium: Elon Musk and the Law.

Throughout the day, esteemed legal scholars examined legal aspects of the famous and controversial billionaire’s many endeavors, from Space-X to Twitter. Speakers included experts from across the U.S. such as The University of Tennessee Rick Rose distinguished Professor Joan Heminway, Stetson Law Bruce R. Jacob Visiting Assistant Professor of Law Tomer Stein, and Florida Supreme Court Justice John Couriel, who gave the event’s thought-provoking keynote address.

One topic, countless perspectives

The symposium covered a range of topics and issues, all exploring an aspect of the eccentric entrepreneur’s multitude of business endeavors through a legal lens.

In the first discussion, for example, Duncan School of Law Vice President and Associate Dean Matt Lyon and Southern University Associate Professor of Law Kenya Smith talked about accountability, from the role of directors and regulators to First Amendment questions surrounding Musk’s purchase of Twitter. It was titled “The Untouchable Elon Musk.”

A woman speaks at a podium in Stetson Law's Great Hall. — University of Tennessee Rick Rose Distinguished Professor of Law Joan MacLeod Heminway

Other sessions covered issues like securities disclosure challenges, professional responsibility concerns, and corporate law and governance concerns related to the acquisition of Twitter, Inc.

Breakfast and networking sessions gave attendees the opportunity to connect with colleagues and reflect on the day’s discussions.

A Florida Supreme Court Justice speaks

During an engaging keynote address, Florida Supreme Court Justice John D. Couriel took a broader perspective. Using hypothetical legal challenges a Musk-like figure may face when making business decisions like building a new manufacturing facility, Couriel said there’s an untapped resource that can help lawyers win cases on behalf of such clients: a state’s constitution.

A Florida Supreme Court justice addresses a group of people in the Great Hall at Stetson Law. — Florida Supreme Court Justice John Couriel speaks during the 2023 *Stetson Law Review* Symposium.

“The lawyer who gets hired is the lawyer who comes up with the solution to the problem that the client hasn’t heard before,” Couriel said. “State constitutional law frequently supplies answers to your problems and lines of attack that the client has never heard. And for that reason alone, to the practitioners in the room, I say, pick up the sword. Develop these areas of the law. To the academics in the room, I say, write those things. Explore them. Because I think they speak to some of the most important challenges of our time.”

A collaborative effort, led by students

The day was a seamlessly run, thought-provoking affair thanks to the students on the Stetson Law Review staff who led it.

Though she worked tirelessly to organize and run the event, Stetson Law Review Editor-in-Chief Kathryn Alkire said she was grateful to everyone who had a hand in the event’s success.

A group of speakers at the Stetson Law Review 2023 Symposium — Left to right: *Stetson Law Review* Editor-in-Chief Kathryn Alkire, Southern University Law Center Associate Professor Kenya J.H. Smith, Gonzaga University School of Law Visiting Assistant Professor Angela Aneiros, LMU Duncan School of Law Vice President and Associate Dean Matt Lyon, Northern Illinois University Associate Professor of Law David Rosenfeld, SMU Dedman School of Law Assistant Professor Carla Reyes, University of Tennessee Rick Rose Distinguished Professor of Law Joan MacLeod Heminway, Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law Assistant Professor Nicole Iannarone, and Stetson University Bruce R. Jacob Visiting Assistant Professor of Law Tomer Stein.

“The event was an enormous success thanks to the fabulous group of speakers, professors, faculty, staff, and students who joined forces and worked hard to create such an engaging program,” Alkire said. “It truly was a team collaboration.” She added that she and her fellow Stetson Law Review staff members are especially thankful for University of Tennessee College of Law Professor Joan Heminway, who curated the group of speakers and constructed the symposium topic, and Justice Couriel for graciously sharing his insights.

Support from the Stetson Law community

Alkire also expressed gratitude for Professor Stein, who, in addition to presenting at the symposium, served as the event’s faculty advisor, as well as the work of the event’s volunteer, student Symposium Planning Committee (Noah Anderson, Caitlin Carey, Cameron Kubly, and Sophia LaFrance) and Marketing Team (Marketing Editor Jacquelyn Christoph and her assistant Sam McDougall).

Support and advising from Stetson Law faculty members as well as staff from multiple departments helped make the symposium the success it was, Alkire added.

“This event’s success is attributable to an entire team of people who surrounded and uplifted Stetson Law Review with their support,” she said. “We are very fortunate to attend a school that so strongly supports its student-run programs.” The panelists who participated will have their forthcoming scholarship on Elon Musk and the Law featured in Stetson Law Review publications throughout the 2023–24 [KLA1] academic year.