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Children’s Law Clinic Recognized at FL Bar Convention

A collage featuring the headshots of students and professors who have been involved with the Children's Advocacy Clinic at Stetson Law.
Clockwise from top left: Law Professor and Director of Clinical and Experiential Education Christine Cerniglia; 2024 alumna Mary Rose Maloney; Adjunct Law Professor Ari Weisberg; 2018 alumna Taylor Sartor

Following years of tireless work on behalf of vulnerable youth, Stetson’s Child Advocacy Clinic was awarded Funding Florida Legal Aid’s Paul Doyle Children’s Advocacy Award.

The award honors donors, pro bono lawyers, and legal aid programs that support legal services for children. FFLA recognized the clinic during the 2025 Florida Bar Convention in June, noting that not all legal aid organizations or law schools have programs designed specifically for children.

“Providing opportunities for our students to work on behalf of minors who are unable to advocate for themselves during the most critical moments of their young lives is challenging but rewarding,” said Law Professor and Director of Clinical and Experiential Education Christine Cerniglia. “We greatly appreciate the recognition and look forward to supporting the important work the Public Defender’s Office does on behalf of our most vulnerable.”

A voice for the voiceless

Launched in 2012 after having been cofounded by the College of Law and then-Public Defender Bob Dillinger ’76, the program offers Stetson Law students the opportunity to work on cases involving at-risk youth. Its initial director was Steve Nelson, followed by Laura Snell in 2014.

Clinic leadership says the program helps fill a gap in the juvenile justice system, and can have a transformative effect.

“Providing express interest and holistic legal representation to a child is extremely gratifying, as you can deliver them real change,” said Ari Weisberg, Juvenile Division Director of the Sixth Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office (PD6), who has been overseeing the clinic since 2017. “An attorney for a child gives a voice to the voiceless, upholds children’s autonomy and agency, and builds trusting adult relationships. It is deeply fulfilling to know that your work supports the dignity of a child that may have no other champion.”

Igniting powerful career trajectories

Of the roughly three dozen students who have enrolled in the clinic, many have gone on to pursue careers in juvenile law, and now work at local legal aid organizations representing children in the child welfare system, the Department of Children and Families, the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office, and Public Defender and State Attorney Offices across Florida.

The Florida Bar has recognized some alumni for their contribution to juvenile law. Some serve on the Legal Needs of Children Committee. One, 2018 alumna Taylor Sartor, has even created and published a handbook and related app called FosterPower to ensure that children in Florida’s foster care system know their rights.

Now an attorney at Bay Area Legal Services, Sartor said the Child Advocacy Clinic gave her invaluable experience that helped shape her career path, and that Weisberg remains an important mentor to her and fellow alumni who now help children in their daily work.

“This program gives law students the unique opportunity to not just learn how to be an effective advocate but also be able to put those skills into practice by representing clients,” Sartor said. “This recognition is very well deserved, and I highly recommend this clinic to anyone interested in becoming a children’s attorney.”

Real-world experience for aspiring advocates

While a student, 2024 alumna Mary Rose Maloney was interested in juvenile defense and dependency and was excited that the clinic offered crossover between the two. Sartor also suggested she apply for the clinic to prepare her for her current role as an attorney ad litem at Bay Area Legal Services.

Her work involved helping new clients understand how the delinquency court system works and representing them under the supervision of the attorneys in the office, which included preparing for trials.

One of her most impactful moments with the clinic was helping prevent a child from being “direct filed” (charged as an adult), which she said was particularly meaningful to her.

“The Child Advocacy Clinic was by far my favorite experience in law school,” Maloney said. “There is nothing more rewarding than protecting children’s rights as they navigate the system. Participating in the clinic helped me find where I belong in the legal field. I will forever be grateful for everything I learned at PD6.”

Learn more about Stetson Law’s Child Advocacy Clinic.

Learn more about Clinical and Experiential Education at Stetson Law.

VLI’s Morgan Zimarakos to Lead National Veterans Consortium

A headshot of a young woman smiling against a backdrop of the building that houses the Veterans Law Institute
Adjunct Professor and Veterans Law Institute Associate Director Morgan Zimarakos ’20.

Starting on June 10, 2025, Stetson Law alumna, adjunct professor, and Veterans Law Institute (VLI) Associate Director Morgan Zimarakos ’20 will begin her new role as president of the National Law School Veterans Clinic Consortium.

The organization supports veterans law clinics at law schools across the country and advocates for policy reform and legislation that benefit those who have served our nation. Zimarakos has served on the consortium’s Board of Directors for the last two years. As president during the third of the three-year board term, she will guide the organization as it endeavors to continue this work and create impact on a national scale.  

Law Professor and VLI Director Stacey-Rae Simcox was a cofounder or the nonprofit, and Stetson’s own VLI was one of the NLSVCC’s first members.

“It is an honor to continue Stetson Law’s involvement with this important organization,” Zimarakos said. “The Consortium was instrumental in my development as a veterans law attorney and a clinician, and I am looking forward growing further as a leader in this new role. I am passionate about the work we do an I am up for the challenge.”

Her involvement with the organization has included writing amici briefs, participating in a national bootcamp, and working with faculty at other clinics to produce academic scholarship and develop clinical pedagogy.

The organization’s biennial conference is organized by the conference committee. In June of 2026, Stetson Law will host that event, which is the NLSVCC’s first in-person conference since before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Learn more about the National Law School Veterans Clinic Consortium.

Stetson Law Celebrates More Than 300 New Graduates

A collage of images from the Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremony.

As the sun shone brightly on Plaza Mayor on the morning of Saturday, May 17, Stetson Law honored 314 new alumni for successfully completing their law school journey.

Surrounded by a sea of friends and family, cap-and-gown-clad graduating students were led to their seats in a processional led by Professor of Law and Faculty Marshal Royal Gardner and Stetson University Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Elizabeth Skomp.

A man in a red graduation ceremony robe, cap, and sunglasses, looks over a podium.
Stetson Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros

Stetson Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros welcomed the crowd and noted the unique challenges this class has faced – as well as how their perseverance is indicative of a promising future.

“Let’s be honest – this journey wasn’t easy,” Barros said. “Law school is challenging. And you aren’t graduating from any law school; you’re graduating from Stetson Law. A place where the bar is set high and the results speak for themselves. A place that doesn’t just teach the law, it shapes leaders. You are now part of a legacy that stands above the rest.”

As he closed his remarks, Barros announced the recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award, Professor Andrew Appleby, adding that the nationally recognized tax law scholar was overwhelmingly favored for this honor, which was voted on by the graduating class.

Inspiring words from community leaders

The audience and graduates then heard from an array of individuals who have distinguished themselves on campus and beyond.

With his signature enthusiasm and booming voice, Stetson University President Christopher Roellke commended the graduates for their resilience amid the rigors of law school and the commitment it took to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

Stetson President Christopher Roellke wears a green robe and cap as he addresses those gathered at the Spring 2025 commencement ceremony.
Stetson University President Christopher Roellke

 “Not only have you survived the demands of an outstanding Stetson education, but you have succeeded in accomplishing something very significant during a time of great uncertainty and complexity in the world,” he said.

Stetson University Board of Trustees Chair Steven Alexander invited the class to stay connected to their alma mater.

“I encourage you to stay connected to your classmates and to your Stetson network,” he said. “Some of your most important relationships and opportunities were built here.”

Stetson Board of Trustees Chair Steven Alexander addresses the audience at the spring 2025 commencement.
Stetson Board of Trustees Chair Steven Alexander

Alumnus and Stetson Law Board of Overseers Chair Jason Turner ’04 asked the graduating class to always remember that lawyering is a calling; one that must come with a deep sense of responsibility to those they represent as well as their colleagues.

“People will come to you to help with their challenges and problems…and most of all, they are going to trust that you never forget our greatest calling: to represent the interest of the client with the utmost integrity, respect, and humility each step of the way,” he said. “And yes, as hard as it may be at times, each of those things apply to how you interact with other counsel.”

Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association President Brittany Maxey-Fisher ’07 said the new grads must remain beacons of justice and voices for the voiceless no matter how they use their degrees.

“Whether you will be a courtroom warrior, a policy architect, or illuminate minds through academia, the power to affect meaningful change resides not just within the law, but within EACH of you,” Maxey-Fisher said.

Noting the unique challenges her class faced as attendees of a law school on Florida’s Gulf coast, Student Bar Association President Flora Patel commended her classmates for succeeding despite hurricanes, major life events, and other challenges.

“I hope you never forget how much inner strength each of you has,” she said. “Life may not stop, but you are up to the challenge.”

A young woman speaks at a podium at graduation.
2025 alumna and former Stetson Student Bar Association President Flora Patel

Accomplished alumna urges global connection

The 2025 Spring Commencement Speaker was Ying White ’97, who is currently a partner at the global law firm Clifford Chance LLP, where she leads the firm’s China Investment Funds and Investment Management Practice.

She has advised multiple nations on their sovereign wealth funds as well as Chinese financial institutions on their investment decisions, served as legal counsel at the World Bank, and chaired the American Bar Association’s China Law Committee.

She called on the new alumni to persevere, be dependable, think ahead, go the extra mile, and be flexible as they move forward in their careers.

A woman with short dark hair speaks at a podium during graduation.
2025 Stetson Law Commencement Speaker Ying White ’97

“As you step into this next chapter, remember to carry with you the values instilled in all of us by Stetson: be compassionate, ethical, courageous, and bold in your pursuit of justice,” she said. “Endeavor to make a positive impact on the world.”

A broad range of achievements

In addition to full-time and part-time juris doctor recipients, the spring 2025 commencement recognized LLM graduates in the areas of advocacy, Elder Law and International Law, as well as a fall 2024 graduate of the MJ in Healthcare Compliance program.

More than 20 legacy students were met onstage by family members who are also Stetson Law alumni: Garret Taylor Barnes, Jr., Madelyn C. Barron, Madeleine C. Bodiford, Michael A. Camareno, Nicholas M. Edwards, Kaitlyn Hope Ford, Jared William Galaris, Callista Grabel, Anthony Michael Graubard, Samuel M. Hart III, Mackenzie R. Herman, Anthony Tiemann Howard, Christopher Noel Howard, Clemente N. Inclan, Kylie Layne Kempe, John Anthony Moragues, John Lawrence Najem, Megan Delaney Padgett, Chadd A. Paradise, Daniel Joseph Peek, Gabriela Maria Pombo, Naseeruddin Ahmed Qazi, Mary Robert Robinson, and Scott Colvin Tepper Jr.

SLIDESHOW: More Photos from Spring 2025 Commencement

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See the 2025 Graduate Awards and Commencement ceremony videos.

Stetson Law Honors Exceptional 2025 Grads

A collage of images from the 2025 Graduate Awards Ceremony

On the eve of Stetson Law’s 2025 commencement, graduating students and their loved ones packed the Great Hall to honor those who exceeded expectations.

The annual Graduate Awards Ceremony celebrates those who went above and beyond during their time at Stetson Law. Honorees included graduates who performed pro bono work well beyond the number of hours required, participated in Stetson Law Review and other publications, received prestigious scholarships, and others.

“Law school not only teaches you to be a lawyer, it also teaches you to be a leader,” said Stetson Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros at the start of the event. “Your achievements are a testament to your dedication and excellence. You have set a standard for your peers and those who will follow you in your footsteps.”

A broad range of endeavors

As with the legal profession itself, law school offers those within it a variety of ways to distinguish themselves.

Stetson University President Christopher Roellke addresses the audience at the 2025 Graduate Awards Ceremony.
Stetson University President Christopher Roellke

Stetson Law students do so by focusing their studies on a specific area of law, serving on a Stetson legal journal, showing promise, or participating in relevant extracurricular activities.

Noting Stetson Law’s reputation for instilling professionalism in its students, Stetson University President Christopher Roellke commended the graduates for going the extra mile to distinguish themselves professionally.

“As your president, I want to extend the warmest congratulations to each and every one of you for what you’ve achieved,” Roellke said. “We are exceptionally proud of you and we absolutely know that you are, in fact, practice-ready.” The most prestigious awards bestowed that day were the Dean’s Excellence Award, the Walter Mann Award, and the Edward D. Foreman – Most Distinguished Student Award. The 2025 recipients of these were Flora Patel, Ronny Legare, and Shelby Ponton, respectively.

The Foreman Award turns 20

Named for 1971 Stetson Law alumnus Edward D. Foreman and established by his wife, Bonnie Foreman, the Foreman Award was first given in 2005. Factoring in community involvement, leadership, and selflessness, the Foreman Award honors a graduating student whose success and promise goes well beyond a top grade-point average.

The award package consists of a flame-shaped statue, a $5,000 award, and engraving of the recipient’s name on a plaque outside the Great Hall. It has been given to 26 students since it was first issued. Past recipients include former Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls, Stetson Law Professor Erin Okuno, 2024 alumnus Cameron Kubly, and the award’s first recipient, 2005 alumnus Andrew Chiang.

A woman in a black dress speaks at a podium.
Shelby Ponton, winner of the 2025 Foreman Award.

Many were in attendance to cheer on the 2025 recipient, Shelby Nicole Ponton.

A top student in her class, Ponton was on the Moot Court Board and served as editor-in-chief for Stetson Law Review during her time at Stetson – all while being a mother of two small children who are now 3 years old and 18 months old.

“We took a family walk around this campus every day,” she said in her acceptance speech. “Our kids experienced their first ever words here, their first steps here.”

Prior to law school, she worked as an animal cruelty investigator and rescue coordinator.

Ponton thanked those who supported her, from Professors Tomer Stein, Kelly Feeley, and James Hart – whom she said were key in her success as a 1L – to her colleagues on the law review’s editorial board.

She cited the support and wisdom of family members as critical in her accomplishments.

“My mother, she’s instilled many lessons in me, but the number one thing is, no matter where you come from, no matter who you are, whatever obstacles you face, if you have an absolutely relentless work ethic, you can change your life,” Ponton said. “You can do anything.”

Conference Explores Landmark Immigration Case 15 Years On

A man stands at the podium in Stetson's Great Hall
Visiting Director of Clinical and Experimental Learning Michael Vastine at a conference examining landmark case Padilla at 15.

Stetson Law’s Office of Clinical and Experiential Education recently invited defense attorneys to reflect on their work through the lens of a key case involving immigrants’ constitutional rights in criminal proceedings.

The conference, “Padilla v. Kentucky at 15 Years: Asserting the Constitutional Rights of Immigrant Defendants,”examined Padilla, a landmark case the U.S. Supreme Court decided in 2010, and all that has happened since. The decision recognized that constitutional rights of immigrants accused of crimes include accurate information about how the outcome of their case might affect their ability to remain in the U.S.

Led by Visiting Director of Clinical and Experiential Education Michael Vastine, a nationally recognized immigration law expert, the conference explored established issues and what Vastine called “hot issues” alike in the area of law where immigration law and criminal law overlap. In the early planning stages of the event in the fall of 2024, organizers had not anticipated the seismic shifts in the national conversation on immigration policy that have since ensued.

“We couldn’t expect that this issue – which some people find controversial; we think it’s just part of our day-to-day work – of immigration consequences of crimes would almost be quaint as opposed to the issues we’re all confronting with civil rights, constitutional freedoms around the country all converging,” Vastine said as the day-long event started.

A gathering of national experts

The day’s conversations included panel discussions among legal scholars, elected public defenders, and non-government organization leaders. They explored structural changes resulting from Padilla, the intersection of constitutional questions and immigration law, and other questions stemming from the case. 

A large audience looks to the front of the room in Stetson's Great Hall.
Practitioners from across the country participated in the Padilla Conference in April of 2025.

Practical discussions delved into the immigration consequences of specific crimes, Padilla’s role in determining the appropriate consequences within the specific circumstances of a given case, the pragmatic impacts of current events as well as federal and state legislation (including the Laken Riley Act) on criminal-immigrant defense, and other topics.

An inspiring perspective

The event’s keynote speaker was Hon. Beverly Martin, a retired judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit who now volunteers extensively for an organization that helps former gang members reintegrate into society after incarceration.

Vastine referred to her as a hero.

“Her passion for justice is just infectious,” he said.

Citing historical figures like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the late Congressman Jon Lewis, she encouraged her audience to remain steadfast in their commitment to their clientele, who are among the most vulnerable.

A woman with blonde hair makes a fist as she speaks at a podium.
Hon. Beverly Martin gives a keynote speech at an April conference exploring Padilla, a landmark 2010 case.

“The work you do is hard and I think that’s one of the most important things about us being able to be here today,” she said. “In this work, not only will you be sad – that helps you see things better – you will be underestimated.”

She also urged her audience to understand the perspectives of others and to see a silver lining in often emotionally draining nature of their work.

“First, we should be grateful, or certainly I’m grateful, that you have seen things that make you cry so that you can see the world more clearly. I’m appreciate that you are willing to do that, that you have those eyes,” Martin said. “But I think we also should be grateful that we found our path.”

Learn more about the Padilla v. Kentucky at 15 Years conference.

Recap: International Wildlife Conference & IEMCC 2025

A woman leads a panel discussion about humane wildlife management methods.
The 2025 International Wildlife Law Conference consisted of numerous compelling panel discussions.

For the first time since the onset of the Covid 19 pandemic, experts in wildlife law gathered on the Stetson Law campus for the 21st International Wildlife Law Conference. The two-day event transitioned seamlessly into the final rounds of Stetson’s International Environmental Moot Court Competition, which takes place each year on Stetson Law’s Gulfport campus.

The back-to-back events brought legal scholars and law students together to explore laws relating to wildlife conservation and how it often interconnects with ethics, environmental sustainability, culture, public health, and many other facets of human society.

The conference kicked off with two tours of natural spaces near campus that teem with wildlife, Boyd Hill Nature Preserve and an exploration of the aquatic area near the nonprofit Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center at the St. Pete Pier.

“There is nothing like being in each other’s presence – sharing a meal and having exchanges during the breaks can be almost as valuable, or even more so sometimes, than what we hear in the formal sessions,” said Law Professor and Director of Stetson’s Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy Royal Gardner as the event began. “And of course, if you’re online, you can’t go on the field trip.”

A group of women sit on a boat overlooking the calm waters of Tampa Bay.
Attendees of the 2025 International Wildlife Conference got to explore the complex coastal and inland ecosystems of St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay.

Fresh ideas, lively conversations

The wildlife conference featured a broad array of panel discussions with presenters from around the globe. They explored such topics as the rights of Indigenous communities, animal rights and animal welfare, wildlife trade, and US and Florida wildlife issues.

During the panel on animal rights and welfare, Dr. Felix Aiwanger of the Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law in Hamburg, Germany, presented his paper titled “Contracts with Nature: Getting Nonhuman Interests at the Negotiating Table,” which explored ways to foster environmental conservation through contract law despite nature’s inability to advocate for itself.

“Contract negotiations allow us, or even force us, to understand another person’s needs and interests, and to factor them in when making decisions,” he said. “’You cannot negotiate with nature’ is a phrase that is often used. But contract law could lend itself to a framework that fosters holistic environmental policy.”

A panel discussion with four wildlife experts who sit at the front of a meeting room.
A panel discussion at the 2025 International Wildlife Conference examines animal rights and animal welfare.

The event’s keynotes included a lecture by Dr. Same Ur Rahman, dean of Green International University in Lahore, Pakistan, who spoke about the species that inspired the IEMCC’s proceedings, the markhor, and national and international efforts to preserve the majestic goat species, which is the national animal of Pakistan.

Rahman gave a virtual presentation since he was unable to travel to the U.S. for the conference.

Welcoming international teams to the IEMCC

As the second day of the wildlife conference drew to a close, Stetson Law welcomed competitors to campus as it does each year, with a special edition of the Edward and Bonnie Foreman Biodiversity Lecture and IEMCC Welcome Reception.

The lecturer, Dr. Arie Trouwborst of Tilburg University in Tilburg, Netherlands, gave a lively presentation titled “Thinking Big and Aiming High: Taking the Objectives of Biodiversity Law and Policy Seriously.”

“He thinks deeply about how to improve the contribution of law at all levels to promote the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of biodiversity,” Gardner said, introducing him. “But he’s not a mere academic. He frequently advises international entities such as wildlife conventions, the European Commission, the IUCN, national governments, and NGOs.”

Referencing The Simpsons and Lord of the Rings among other pop culture favorites, Trouwborst discussed humans’ tendency to place themselves at the center of everything, including their legal and moral codes, thereby destroying the species and ecosystems around them. Noting the extrinsic and intrinsic value of being considerate of non-human animals, he urged his audience to consider the ways in which legal systems can compel societies to operate from a place of compassion toward all species.

“We are not alone as a community, as a person, as a country. But we are also not alone as a species,” he said. “A key role is reserved for law to keep selfishness in check.”

See the full 2025 International Wildlife Conference agenda.

IEMCC 29 – problem & results

The International Wildlife Conference transitioned into a multi-day competition in which the world’s top environmental law moot court teams contended for the IEMCC championship.

The 2025 roster included two teams from Ukraine and, for the first time, a team from Bangladesh.

Dozens of students, faculty, and staff members stand in a practice courtroom. They are professionally dressed, except for a person who as dressed as a markhor, a species of goat that is the national animal of Iran.
The teams, faculty, staff, and volunteer judges made the 29th Annual International Environmental Moot Court Competition a great success in 2025.

This year’s problem (or, in layman’s terms, fictional case around which the teams build their performance) involved a dispute between two fictional countries over trophy hunting of the (also fictitious) Royal Markhor.

Eighteen teams from twelve countries and four continents competed. The University of Chicago team prevailed. TheUniversity of the Philippines College of Law team was the runner-up. A competitor from the latter team, Sarahlyn Dato Revill,won best oralist in the final round.

The IEMCC continues to expand; Middlesex University Dubai is scheduled to hold the inaugural Middle East and North Africa Rounds in February 2026.

Learn more about the 2025 IEMCC finals.

Stetson Law Recognized as Top 10 Military Friendly® School

A meeting room with six Veterans Law Clinic students sitting around an oval-shaped wooden table.
Many students who work with Stetson’s Veterans Advocacy Clinic are themselves veterans who are passionate about giving back to others who have served.

After numerous years of earning a Military Friendly® School designation, Stetson Law is now rated a Top 10 Military Friendly School for 2025-2026, the organization announced.

This elevated status parallels the College of Law’s growing efforts to support individuals who have served our nation, particularly those who choose to pursue legal education.

Resources the college offers veteran students include the Veterans Law Institute (VLI), staff specially trained to navigate veterans’ educational benefits, and the Student Veteran Organization – all tailored to foster a supportive environment in which they can thrive.

“Stetson Law’s move into the top ten military friendly schools is the result of hard work by the entire Stetson Law community,” said Law Professor and VLI Director Stacey-Rae Simcox.  “We are dedicated to ensuring a bright future for the veterans who choose Stetson and look forward to welcoming many more of these quality students to the Stetson family.”

The college ranked #8 in the Top 10 Military Friendly Schools and #9 on the list of Top 10 Military Spouse Friendly Schools.

An external shot of Stetson Law's Veterans Law Institute
The exterior of Stetson’s Veterans Law Institute in Gulfport, Fla.

How the rankings work

For the 2025-2026 ranking period, more than 1,800 schools were evaluated using a variety of factors, including public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. Some 830 institutions earned the Military Friendly® School designation for going above the organization standard.

The 2025-2026 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in the May and October issues of G.I. Jobs magazine and found at www.militaryfriendly.com.

With input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community, the firm Viqtory developed the methodology, criteria, and weightings. To determine the final ratings, institutions’ survey scores were combined with the assessment of institutions’ ability to meet thresholds for data points like student retention, graduation, job placement, and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

Professor Stacey-Rae Simcox meets with students working with the Veterans Advocacy Clinic.
Professor Stacey-Rae Simcox meets with students working with the Veterans Advocacy Clinic.

“Military Friendly® is committed to transparency and providing consistent data-driven standards in our designation process, Kayla Lopez, vice president of Military Friendly®. “Our standards provide a benchmark that promotes positive outcomes and support services that better the educational landscape and provide opportunity for the Military Community. This creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages Institutions to evolve and invest in their programs consistently. Schools who achieve awards designation show true commitment in their efforts, exceeding the standard.”

At Stetson Law, honoring those who have served is part of the campus culture – but the college endeavors to extend this support to the broader veteran community.

Through its Veterans Advocacy Clinic, the college offers pro bono legal services to veterans seeking benefits they feel were wrongly denied. With guidance from seasoned VLI staff and leadership, students enrolled in the clinic gain hands-on experience helping those who have served.

Learn more about Stetson’s Veterans Law Institute and Veterans Advocacy Clinic.

Stetson Tops U.S. News Rankings for Advocacy, Legal Writing in 2025

The latest U.S. News & World Report graduate school rankings are out, and Stetson Law remains at the head of the class in two key areas.

 The College of Law is Number 1 in Trial Advocacy and Number 3 in Legal Writing, per the publication’s 2025 rankings. This is the third year in a row Stetson has ranked as such in these areas. The college has been at or near the top of the list for trial advocacy for decades. Ranking 99th overall for its full-time juris doctor program, it is also a top-100 law school in the nation.  Flex JD, Stetson Law’s part-time law program, ranked 33rd in that category.

The recognition is the direct result the Stetson Law community’s tireless dedication to equipping students with the practical tools they need to succeed in the legal profession regardless of their area of practice.

“These rankings are the result of the substantial time, energy, and resources the Stetson Law community invests in our students,” said Stetson Law Dean Benjamin Barros. “We are once again honored that U.S. News & World Report recognizes the passion our faculty, staff, alumni, and friends have for preparing our students for success as legal professionals.”

Situated on a historic campus in Gulfport, Florida, Stetson Law is Florida’s first law school and poised to celebrate its 125th anniversary. It is part of Stetson University, which has a main campus in DeLand, Florida.  University leaders believe the spirit of advocacy fits well within the culture and values the entire university embraces.

“We are incredibly proud of our College of Law, which receives national recognition — year after year — for providing a world-class legal education,” said Stetson University President Christopher F. Roellke, PhD. “These rankings reflect Stetson’s unwavering pursuit of excellence across the institution.”

A national leader in advocacy

From premier events like the Educating Advocacy Teachers (EATS) conference that takes place on campus every June to the campus culture that encourages students to advocate for themselves and others in daily life, Stetson Law offers a supportive community for those interested in developing their advocacy skills.

In its 25 years of existence, the College of Law’s Center for Excellence in Advocacy has been steadfast in its mission of and holistic in its approach to cultivating the next generation of advocates, including trial, dispute resolution, and moot court teams that have won more than 100 national competitions.

“We take a holistic approach to advocacy skills education that incorporates emerging trends to ensure that are teaching methods remain relevant in an ever-evolving legal landscape,” said Elizabeth Boals, director of the Center for Excellence in Advocacy. “We are once again honored by U.S. News’ recognition and inspired to continue innovating and building on our success.” 

In fall of 2023, the College of Law celebrated the opening of its state-of-the-art Advocacy Institute, a large facility dedicated to the study and practice of this fundamental skill.

The beautiful 16,000-square-foot Advocacy Institute symbolizes the college’s deep advocacy roots while offering extensive space for scholarship, collaboration, and practice.

With state-of-the-art spaces for practice and instruction, including the most practice courtrooms of any law school in the nation, it empowers students with essential advocacy skills to thrive in an ever-evolving world. It houses Stetson’s Center for Excellence in Advocacy, Center for Elder Justice, and the Jacobs Law Clinic for Democracy and the Environment.

A balanced approach to teaching legal communication

Stetson Law’s celebrated Legal Writing program ranking at No. 3 for the third year in a row reflects this community’s understanding that legal communication is fundamental to the study and practice of law. Through its Institute for the Advancement of Legal Communication, the college fosters passion for exploring legal writing’s many aspects.

“Through rigorous and critical exploration of the discipline, we play an essential role in leading the ongoing development of our discipline both at the academic, as well as at the practical, level,” said Elizabeth Berenguer, who directs the institute. “Through this work, we set a high bar for practice, ensure access to justice, and protect the very systems that sustain our democracy. We are honored to be recognized as a top destination for legal writing by our colleagues and by U.S. News & World Report.”

While the program uses methods of developing legal communication skills, its leadership closely monitors evolving technology trends such as artificial intelligence and how these trends may impact the ways in which legal writing is taught and conducted by legal professionals.

Learn more about Stetson Law’s Institute for the Advancement of Legal Communication.

Author Cynthia Barnett Explores the Many Facets of Seashells

A woman speaks at the front of a classroom. a photo of her book, "Sound of the Sea," is projected on the wall behind her.
USF Professor Cynthia Barnett talks about her recent book, “Sound of the Sea” at Stetson Law.

After giving a talk at the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum in Sanibel, Cynthia Barnett was haunted by something she learned during her visit.

A survey of mostly out-of-state museum-goers revealed an overwhelming majority of visitors – some 90 percent – did not know that seashells are built by a living animal.

“Most people thought they were some kind of rock or stone,” Barnett said. “I was so disturbed by that fact I couldn’t even sleep that night.”

The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium in Sanibel, FL.

An award-winning author and University of Florida journalism professor who covers water and climate, Barnett was looking to write a book about oceans at the time, but she needed an entry point. Eventually, she fell asleep.

“By the time I woke up the next morning, I knew I was going to write about seashells,” Barnett said.

Shared passion among disciplines

Barnett was speaking at Stetson Law as part of the Institute for Biodiversity Law & Policy Foreman Biodiversity Lecture Series. Introducing her, Law Professor and Institute Director Royal Gardner said it is important to hear from environmental advocates from other sectors.

“The point of the lecture series is to not just bring in environmental attorneys… but also people from other disciplines, because if we’re going to make any progress on environmental issues, it’s through a multidisciplinary approach,” Gardner said.

Throughout her lecture, Barnett encouraged her audience to use storytelling in their work advocating for the environment, given how persuasive it can be.

Universally beloved, but misunderstood

A picture of the front cover of a book titled "The Sound of the Sea: Seashells and the Fate of the Oceans."
USF Professor Cynthia Barnett’s latest book explores seashells and their intertwinement with human history.

In her acclaimed book, The Sound of the Sea: Seashells and the Fate of the Oceans, each chapter is built around a mollusk species whose shell had significance to humanity. Throughout history, humans have used seashells in tools, dye, jewelry, and even as currency.

Their universal appeal has captivated families of beachcombers, great painters, and countless others.

“There’s something fundamental about seashells that pleases the brain,” Barnett said.

Their presence throughout the fossil record has led to landmark scientific discoveries about the age of the earth, the complexity of neanderthal brains, and ancient trade routes.

Her book covers everything from the presence of lightning whelk shells from Florida’s Gulf Coast in the Cahokia Mounds near St. Louis to the “shell madness” sparked by the gorgeous tropical shells Dutch sailors brought back from trade expeditions.

From shell shop to major conglomerate

Barnett told the story of a shop owner named Marcus Samuel, who sold shells in London’s East End, in particular, popular shell-encrusted boxes.

A photo of The Shell, also known as Rembrandt's Shell or Conus Marmoreus.
The Shell, also known as Rembrandt’s Shell or Conus Marmoreus, an etching the artist created during what USF Professor Cynthia Barnett called “shell mania” that gripped Europe.

His company partnered with another that started trading kerosene and, eventually, oil. They built the first tanker that could safely transport oil through the Suez Canal. The vessel was named after the murex (the mollusk from which the Phoenicians extracted purple dyes).

Eventually, the company changed its name to Shell Oil.

Barnett noted the irony that climate change associated with the burning of fossil fuels is causing the Mediterranean Sea to warm faster than others part of the ocean – so much so that a scientist Barnett knows in the region told her that murex are struggling to survive.

Mollusks in peril

Shellfish can “whip somersaults” and “look at you with curious eyes,” but they are also “extraordinary architects,” Barnett said, that build their shells using minerals from the marine environment, namely calcium carbonate.

 “They layer minerals to build their shells, and their reliance on those minerals is making them sentinels for what’s happening to the ocean,” she said.

An image of an ammonite fossil.
USF Professor Cynthia Burnett said shells in the fossil record can tell us a lot about the earth’s history.

Since oceans absorb nearly a third of the extra carbon dioxide humans have sent into the atmosphere since the beginning of the industrial revolution, they are now 30 percent more acidic. This has become a problem for mollusks that use calcium to form their shells.

“Shelled animals are really showing us what’s happening to the ocean in just the same way that they once showed us evolution and geologic change,” she said. Scientists have also noticed mollusks having trouble locomoting, pockmarks on their shells, and mass die-offs during major heat events.

Ending on a high note

A photo of a live bay scallop with its shell slightly opened. It is surrounded by tendrils of seagrass and sand.
A bay scallop. Photo courtesy of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Concluding her lecture, Barnett said that while it is important to inform audiences of environmental perils, too much gloom-and-doom can cause audiences to shut down. She ended her talk by highlighting a thriving population of bay scallops in Florida’s Big Bend, a protected stretch of coastline with sparse development.

Students sit at several rows of semicircular classroom tables and engage in a discussion.
USF Professor Cynthia Barnett led an engaging discussion about seashells and their importance for humanity during the April 4, 2025 Biodiversity Lecture.

Florida’s bay scallop populations have been lost in almost every other bay in Florida, she said, including Tampa, Pensacola, and Biscayne bays.

“They are alive and well in the Big Bend, where the seagrass meadows are healthy,” she said. “I will also say that the manatees are not dying in that part of Florida as they are in so much of the rest of Florida. I think there are some really important comparisons to be made about the Big Bend and why it’s relatively healthy.”  

Prof. Morgan Honored With Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Public Service Award

A woman with short hair smiles as she holds a rectangular award in front of a backdrop that has the words "STETSON LAW' printed on it.
Law Professor Rebecca Morgan ’80, the 2025 Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Public Service Award recipient

Known for her tireless work as a scholar, advocate, mentor, and educator who continues to inspire and shape the field of elder law, Law Professor Rebecca C. Morgan is the recipient of the 2025 Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Public Service Award.

Decades ago, Morgan identified a gap in expertise when it came to legal, financial, social, and other challenges aging populations face. The 1980 Stetson Law alumna launched into decades of pioneering work to develop and evolve this area of practice. These efforts include inviting leading experts to share knowledge at the Stetson’s National Conference on Special Needs Planning and Special Needs Trusts for nearly three decades, directing Stetson’s Center for Elder Justice (formerly the Center for Excellence in Elder Law), and leading the LL.M. in Elder Law program.

“The landscape of elder law has very few voices who are as knowledgeable, who are as compassionate, and who have been as transformative as Becky Morgan,” said Professor Roberta Flowers, who teaches elder law alongside Morgan, in her introduction. “Many, many of our colleagues and students and staff do not realize where Becky Morgan sits in the elder law arena in the United States of America.”

A prolific career

Morgan’s work in the elder law arena went well beyond the Stetson Law campus. It includes serving as president of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and the Board of Directors of the National Senior Citizens Law Center (now Justice in Aging).

As a mentor and educator, she has inspired countless students through her courses on trusts and estates, elder law, and related topics with a teaching approach that emphasizes the importance of empathy, ethical practice, and a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by aging populations.

Alumnus and Stetson Law Board of Overseers Chair Jason Turner ’04 served as a teaching assistant to Morgan, and they developed a dear friendship in the years since. She helped him navigate the challenges of losing his grandfather to ALS. Turner said she embodies the spirit of community and mentorship at the core of Stetson Law’s culture.

“Becky is Stetson,” Turner said in 2024.

Her contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including a NAELA Award for her accomplishments in elder law and the Rosalie Wolf Memorial Elder Abuse Prevention Award. Morgan has also helped shape public policy as it relates to elder populations, including on state task forces addressing elder abuse and guardianship reform, and as a reporter for the Uniform Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Act.

“Her remarkable career, and it is remarkable, is not just a testament to legal expertise but a profound commitment to serving others and proving that the truest success is not the awards on the wall, but the lives that you’ve impacted,” Flowers said.

A woman in a white suit jacket speaks on a stage in Stetson Law's Great Hall.
Professor Roberta Flowers introduces Professor Rebecca Morgan, who was being honored for her tireless public service.

Briefly remarking after accepting the award, Morgan encouraged the audience to be brave and to use their legal abilities to help others.

“I want you to think about being brave, and I want you to think about giving more of your time volunteering for legal services folks, writing a letter on behalf of someone can make a huge difference,” she said. “Being a lawyer is an incredible privilege. A lot of folks would like to go to law school, but not all of us get to do it. We make a difference. If we can be brave, we can make life better for people who are willing to stand up.”

About the award

Named for former Stetson Law Professor William Reece Smith, Jr., a legal powerhouse who is credited with saving legal services, the award is given annually to an individual who has provided exemplary service to the legal profession and society writ large. 

“Reece was truly a mentor. He was truly a colleague. He was truly a friend. But he was also a leader,” Flowers said. “He was president of the International Bar Association, president of the American Bar Association, president of the Florida Bar Association.”

Wm. Reece Smith Jr. at Stetson University College of Law
Wm. Reece Smith, Jr., a beloved former Stetson Law professor and national leader in the legal profession

The award is given in conjunction with the annual Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Lecture. The 2025 lecturer was Civil Rights veteran Janice Kelsey Wesley, who shared stories about life as a teen “foot soldier” at the height of the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham, Alabama. Wesley is a fixture of Stetson Law’s popular summer Civil Rights Travel course, which is offered through the Social Justice Advocacy Concentration Program and stops in her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama.

Learn more about Professor Rebecca Morgan.

In Moving Talk, Janice Wesley Kelsey Reflects on Civil Rights Era

A woman with curly brown hair and a vibrant expression speaks at a podium.
The 2025 Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Lecturer, Janice Wesley Kelsey.

In the Great Hall at Stetson Law, Civil Rights Era veteran Janice Wesley Kelsey and 2025 Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Lecturer, drew laughter and tears from her audience as she shared stories of civil disobedience and thoughts on activism in 2025.

It was a rare opportunity for the community to get a glimpse of Stetson Law’s popular Civil Rights Summer Travel Course. Offered through the college’s Social Justice Advocacy concentration, the course explores the era through a legal lens and introduces students to important scholars and activists from the area, including Kelsey.

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair and glasses wearing a great suit and smiles as she speaks at a podium with the Stetson Law seal.
Law Professor Kristen Adams introduces the 2025 Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Lecturer, Janice Wesley Kelsey.

“Normally we go to her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, but this evening we are absolutely thrilled to host her in our home,” said Law Professor Kristen Adams, noting how Kelsey is one of the course’s most beloved speakers as she introduced Kelsey. “She is a national treasure, and we are enormously honored to host her.”

Kelsey’s book, I Woke Up With My Mind on Freedom, chronicles her experience as a “foot soldier” in the Birmingham, Alabama Children’s Crusade. In her lecture, she recounted how she first got into the movement.

Becoming a Civil Rights “foot soldier”

Until the spring of 1963, 16-year-old Janice Wesley Kelsey hadn’t thought much about civil rights. The Birmingham, Alabama native was focused on things you’d expect to be on a teen’s mind.

“I was in 11th grade, and I thought all was well in my world,” she said. “I was interested in dancing and dating and being popular.”

All around her, the seeds of a movement were sprouting. A friend who attended Monday evening meetings discussing how to fight segregation would speak passionately about the movement at school on Tuesday.

“What she was saying sparked my interest,” Kelsey said.

The back of the room as an audience watches a video. Footage of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is on the screen.
Attendees were shown a video ahead of Civil Rights Era veteran Janice Wesley Kelsey delivery of the 2025 Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Lecture.

She started to attend student nonviolence workshops where she was shown filmstrips of demonstrations in other cities during in which demonstrators were spit on, hit, and pulled off the lunch counter stools. The organizer warned that similar things would happen to those who got involved in the movement, but they cannot fight back. “This is a nonviolent movement,” she recalls being told.

Skipping school to join a movement

Before the first demonstration took place in early May of 1963, organizers warned the marchers they would likely be arrested.

Kelsey went to school that morning, but wasn’t planning to stay. During first period, she asked a young teacher about potential consequences of leaving for the march.

“I asked her, ‘suppose some kids walked out of class today. Are they all going to fail?’” Wesley recalled. “And she said, ‘if everybody walks, there’s nobody to fail.’ That gave me all the encouragement I needed.”

The marchers gathered at the 16th Street Baptist Church, Kelsey recalled, and people were everywhere, including police.

Singing ‘We Shall Overcome,” they walked out of the sanctuary in pairs. But they didn’t get far.

“The officer who stopped us was carrying a baton, he was wearing a gun, and he said we were in violation of a city ordinance. He said ‘you cannot parade without a permit.’”

Some of her fellow demonstrators began chanting ‘we are not afraid,’ which gave her the courage to stay in the line and face being arrested.

When it happened, Kelsey lied about her age so she could go to the same jail as her best friend, who was one year her junior.

Things intensified in the coming months. Authorities targeted protestors with high-powered firehoses that tore away demonstrators’ hair and clothes. President John F. Kennedy praised the teenagers who marched during a television broadcast.

“I thought ‘wow, we are really in it now,’” Kelsey said.

Stetson Law's Great Hall is packed with banquet attendees seated at tables throughout the room.
A packed house for the 2025 Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Banquet (formerly known as Inns of Court).

Progress and tragedy

Successes came as the movement grew and national sentiment shifted in favor of the movement – but so did more violence, including bombings.

On Sunday, September 15, white supremacists bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church, killing four Black girls. Kelsey didn’t go to that church, but she knew the victims and their families.

“The surprise wasn’t that the church had been bombed, but on a Sunday morning?” Kelsey said.

The following year, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed and forced the desegregation of schools and other public places.

Kelsey went on to become an educator, but said she often experienced survivor’s guilt. Although it took years to bring those responsible for the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing to justice, Kelsey said she felt encouraged when it finally happened.

Inspiring others to be brave

In a question-and-answer session following her talk, Kelsey was asked how students and legal professionals can tackle current-day efforts to roll back civil rights. Suggesting that law students “are in the perfect position” to be advocates for their communities, she urged the audience to put their talents, knowledge, and passion to work on good causes.

“My hope is in you. You young people,” Kelsey said. “I’m too old to go back to jail. There is hope because you have prepared yourself for the challenges you are now facing.”

Following the lecture, Law Professor Rebecca Morgan, a nationally known scholar in elder law and founder of Stetson’s Center for Elder Justice, was honored with the Wm. Reece, Smith, Jr. Public Service Award.

Stetson Law Hosts Veteran Claim Oral Argument

The oral argument took place in the Great Hall at Stetson Law.

On Monday, February 10, 2025, Stetson Law hosted an oral argument for the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

Consisting of Chief Judge Michael Allen (a former Stetson Law professor and Stetson Veterans Law Institute director), Judge Margret Bartley, and Judge Grant Jaquith, the panel heard argument in the case of a veteran appealing a decision of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.

Though based in Washington, DC, the court is authorized to meet anywhere in the U.S. throughout the year. The February 10 oral argument took place in the Great Hall with support from Stetson’s Veterans Law Institute (VLI).

VLI leadership saw the proceeding as an opportunity to invite students to witness veterans law unfolding in a live setting.

“It was an honor to help facilitate these learning experiences and contribute to the growth of the Veterans Law Institute,” said Morgan MacIsaac-Bykowski, an adjunct professor and associate director of the VLI and Veterans Advocacy Clinic. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to be involved in such impactful events. Moments like these remind me of why I’m passionate about legal education and the importance of providing students with real-world perspectives.”

After the argument, select students, faculty, and guests of Stetson joined the judges, court staff and attorneys for a luncheon co-sponsored by the VLI, the Federal Bar Association, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Bar Association.

The day’s events were on the heels of a VLI-facilitated weekend course, Veterans Benefits: Law, Practice, and Policy, taught by Zach Stolz and Robert Chisholm of Chisholm, Chisholm, and Kilpatrick, Meg Krahl and Ken Walsh from the VA Office of General Counsel, and Chief Judge Allen.

“I am immensely proud of my colleagues, specifically Director Stacey-Rae Simcox, Assistant Director Johnny Pruiett, and VLI Fellow Mary Samarkos, who pulled this event together flawlessly,” MacIsaac-Bykowski said. “I wish to extend thanks to our guests – the parties on both sides of the aisle and the Court – all of whom traveled during a snowstorm to join us.”

Learn more about our Veterans Law Institute.