Stetson University College of Law

August 29, 2002:  - Gulfport, Fla.- Stetson University College of Law has reached a development agreement with the City of Tampa for a new campus and law center in downtown Tampa. Tampa City Council approved the agreement today.

"We are excited about this agreement, which now clears the way for us to proceed on our new Tampa Law Center and Campus," said Dean Gary Vause. "We are also enthusiastic about our partnerships with the City of Tampa and the business and legal communities. It is fitting that Florida's oldest law school will open a campus in one of Tampa's oldest neighborhoods, Tampa Heights."

Construction on the initial three-story campus building will commence soon after closing on the property, which is seven acres of land just north of I-275 at the Ashley Street exit. The building will house part-time law classes leading to a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, continuing legal education programs and administrative offices. Dean Vause said that the College of Law is in the process of finalizing an agreement with the Florida Second District Court of Appeal to house the court in the building with the law school.

Stetson's inaugural part-time program began this August on the main campus in Gulfport. Once the new law center and campus is complete, some part-time program classes will be offered in Tampa.

A groundbreaking is planned for this fall. The first phase of construction is expected to complete in approximately 12 months.

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Stetson University College of Law is Florida's first law school. It has educated lawyers for more than 100 years, and offers continuing legal education programs for regional, state, national and international audiences. Stetson University College of Law tied for first place in Trial Advocacy in the 2003 U.S. News and World Report rankings of law schools. It is also the future headquarters for the National Conference of Law Reviews.