Stetson University College of Law presented Joshua Karton, who specializes in teaching how to apply the communication skills of theatre, film and television to the art of trial advocacy, with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Teaching Advocacy on May 24 on the Gulfport campus. The award recognizes people who have fundamentally changed the way in which the world approaches the teaching of advocacy. Karton pioneered teaching the communication arts to lawyers.

“Karton is the quintessential teacher of advocacy and Stetson is excited to honor him this year,” said Stetson University Professor of Excellence in Trial Advocacy Charles Rose.

American University Washington College of Law Professor Elizabeth L. Lippy received Stetson’s Edward D. Ohlbaum Award, which honors an individual whose life and practice display sterling character and unquestioned integrity, coupled with ongoing dedication to the highest standards of the legal profession and the rule of law.

Both awards were presented in conjunction with Stetson’s Educating Advocates Teaching Advocacy Skills Conference on May 23-26.

The annual Educating Advocates conference invites professors, lawyers and legal practitioners from across the country to spend two and one-half intensive days learning the Stetson method of advocacy, developing their teaching skills, and networking with renowned advocacy instructors.

The theme of this year’s conference was “Teaching Skills: Building the 21st Century Law School-One Student, One Skill, One Moment at a Time,” and included a special Teacher Advocacy Training Session.

Stetson’s renowned trial advocacy program consistently ranks at the top among law schools around the country in the U.S. News & World Report.