Business Law Concentration

Objective

To help prepare those students planning a career in business law, whether in litigation or transactional work, by ensuring that they take courses particularly applicable to business law; develop skills and knowledge outside of classwork relating to business law; receive mentoring from members of the faculty with experience and interest in business law; and recognizing students who have demonstrated high degrees of ethics and competence in business law.

Eligibility

Any Stetson law student in good standing who has completed not less than 30 credits and not more than 45 credits may apply for acceptance into the Concentration. The Concentration Advisors will consider all applications for acceptance into this program based upon consideration of the student's demonstrated commitment to the program and the likelihood that they will be able to successfully complete the requirements of the program.

Application Deadlines

The general concentration guidelines require that a student apply to a concentration program when a student has earned at least 30, but no more than 45, credit hours.  While the program has some flexibility to consider students who apply after this time, students will not be accepted into the concentration unless the student has three full semesters (including the semester of application and not including summer sessions) remaining in law school.  For a full-time student taking six full (fall/spring) semesters and graduating in May of the student's third year, this policy requires application no later than the spring semester of the student's 2L year (by February 15 as noted below).  For a part-time student taking eight full (fall/spring) semesters and graduating in May of the student's third year, this policy requires application no later than the spring semester of the student's 3L year (by February 15 as noted below).  Students not graduating in May or converting between programs may speak with the concentration advisors for more information regarding the deadline under this procedure.

Applications for the Business Law Concentration are considered once per semester.  Students seeking to be considered in the fall semester must apply no later than September 15.  Students seeking to be considered in the Spring semester must apply no later than February 15.  Students seeking to be considered in the summer session must apply no later than June 15.  Applications are available through, and are submitted to, the Office of the Registrar.  

Requirements

In order to receive the Certificate of Concentration in Business Law at graduation, a student must make a timely application for inclusion in the program, be accepted into the program, and do the following:

  • Complete at least 21 hours in the Approved Curriculum, including successful completion of each course in the Required Curriculum, with an average G.P.A. of at least 3.0 among those courses taken from the Approved Curriculum. Further, the student shall not have received a grade of less than 2.5 (or "S" in any course not graded on the 4.0 scale) in any of those courses taken in the Approved Curriculum;
  • Demonstration of proficiency in financial/accounting documents, through degree in accounting or finance, completion of accounting course with grade of pass/C/70%, or completion of Accounting for Lawyers course with grade of pass/2.25;
  • Demonstration of proficiency in Excel;
  • Participate in the Required Mentoring;
  • Fulfill the Concentration Pro Bono requirements.

Required Mentoring

Upon being selected into the Business Law Concentration, a student will be assigned a Mentor who is a member of the College of Law faculty. The student will be expected to meet regularly with such Mentor, no less than one time each semester, for the purpose of discussing their advancement toward completion of the requirements for receipt of the Certificate in Concentration. Further, such students, as a prerequisite for registration for each upcoming semester, will be required to obtain the approval of their Mentor regarding their course selection. It is the goal of this Required Mentoring that the participating members of the faculty will pass along to the students the benefit of their own experience and/or expertise in the field of business law. Prior to the student's receipt at graduation of the Certificate of Concentration, the Mentor will have to attest to the student's successful completion of all requirements for the certificate listed above.

Pro Bono

The College of Law requires each student, before graduating, to have completed 60 hours of Pro Bono work. To receive the Certificate of Concentration in Business Law, 20 of those 60, must be in business law.  Completion of this requirement includes any of the following experiences:

  • Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program
  • Bankruptcy project with Community Law Program/Bay Area Legal Services
  • Florida Business Law Section Law School Pro Bono Challenge
  • Other qualified pro bono projects approved by Concentration

Business Law Certificate of Concentration Approved Required Curriculum

Required Courses (14-19 credits):

LAW 3449FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION I3
LAW 3154BUSINESS ENTITIES4
Commercial Law (select one)
LAW 3190COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS4
LAW 3573INT'L BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS3
LAW 3587INT'L SALES LAW & ARBITRATION2 to 3
LAW 3768PAYMENT SYSTEMS3
LAW 3821SALES & LEASES3
LAW 3832SECURED TRANSACTIONS3
Experiential (select one)
LAW 3155BANKRUPTCY JUDICIAL EXTERNSHIP3 or 4
LAW 3548IN-HOUSE COUNSEL EXTERNSHIP1 to 3
LAW 3561INTELLECTUAL PROP EXTERNSHIP1 to 3
LAW 3297THE DOCUMENT OF THE DEAL: CORPORATE CONTRACTS2
LAW 3145ARBITRATION2
LAW 3761NEGOTIATION AND MEDIATION2
Other course approved by Concentration Advisor
Advanced Writing (select one)
LAW 3065ADVANCED CORPORATE LAW SEMINAR2 to 3
LAW 3083ADV EMPLOYMENT DISCRIM SEMINAR2 to 3
LAW 3156BANKRUPTCY SEMINAR2 to 3
LAW 3279CYBERLAW SEMINAR3
LAW 3325ELECTRONIC COMMERCE SEMINAR2 to 3
LAW 3511FOOD LAW AND POLICY SEMINAR2 to 3
INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PROJECT ON BUSINESS-RELATED TOPIC APPROVED BY CONCENTRATION ADVISOR1 to 2
LAW 3565INT'L BUS/TRANSBRDER CRIME SEM2 or 3
LAW 3580SINTL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SEM2
LAW 3716MEDIA LAW SEMINAR3
LAW 3752MULTIJURISDICTIONAL TAXATION SEMINAR2 to 3
LAW 3765NONPROFITS SEMINAR2 to 3
LAW 3902TAX POLICY SEMINAR2
LAW 3918TRANSNATIONAL BANKRUPTCY SEMINAR2
Law Review Note or Paper Written for Another Seminar on Business-Related Topic approved by Concentration Advisor (counts for advanced writing requirement, but credits do not count toward concentration total)

*This course may be waived if student demonstrates proficiency in financial/accounting documents through degree in accounting or finance or completion of accounting course with grade of pass/C/70%.

Elective Courses (to extent not used to complete requirements):

LAW 3053ADMIRALTY2 to 3
LAW 3063ADV CONTRACTS: COMM AGREEMENTS2 to 3
LAW 3063IAdv. Contracts: Issues, Concepts and Methods2 to 3
LAW 3065ADVANCED CORPORATE LAW SEMINAR2 to 3
LAW 3083ADV EMPLOYMENT DISCRIM SEMINAR2 to 3
LAW 3130ANTITRUST LAW2 to 3
LAW 3131ANTITRUST SEMINAR2 to 3
LAW 3145ARBITRATION2
LAW 3152BANKRUPTCY3
LAW 3156BANKRUPTCY SEMINAR2 to 3
LAW 3159BUSINESS ETHICS2 to 3
LAW 3172CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY REORGANIZATIONS3
LAW 3190COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS4
LAW 3198COMPARATIVE CORPORATE LAW1 to 3
LAW 3230CONSTRUCTION LAW2 to 3
LAW 3243COPYRIGHT LAW2 to 3
LAW 3245CORPORATE FINANCE2 to 3
LAW 3247CORP GOVERNANCE GLOBAL MARKET3
LAW 3246CORPORATE TAXATION2 to 3
LAW 3279CYBERLAW SEMINAR3
LAW 3285DELAWARE INFLUENCE ON CORP LW1 to 3
LAW 3325ELECTRONIC COMMERCE SEMINAR2 to 3
LAW 3330EMPLOYEE BENEFITS2 to 3
LAW 3333EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION2 to 3
LAW 3334EMPLOYMENT LAW2 to 3
LAW 3337ENTERTAINMENT LAW3
LAW 3395EUROPEAN UNION BUSINESS LAW1 to 3
LAW 3450FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION II2 to 3
LAW 3480FED TAX OF EST, TRUSTS & GIFTS3
LAW 3487FINANCIAL ADVOCACY1
LAW 3511FOOD LAW AND POLICY SEMINAR2 to 3
LAW 3525HEALTH INSURANCE LAW2 to 3
INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PROJECT ON BUSINESS-RELATED TOPIC APPROVED BY CONCENTRATION ADVISOR1 to 2
LAW 3553INSURANCE LAW2 to 3
LAW 3560INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY3
LAW 3572INT'L BANKING & FINANCE LAW2 to 3
LAW 3573INT'L BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS3
LAW 3580INTERNAT'L INTELLECT PROPERTY2 to 3
LAW 3580SINTL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SEM2
LAW 3581INTERNATIONAL JOINT VENTURES2 or 3
LAW 3587INT'L SALES LAW & ARBITRATION2 to 3
LAW 3591INTERNATIONAL TRADE REGULATION2 to 3
LAW 3613LABOR LAW2 to 3
LAW 3685LAW PRACTICE MANAGEMENT2 to 3
LAW 3715MEDIA LAW2 to 3
LAW 3716MEDIA LAW SEMINAR3
LAW 3729MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS3
LAW 3752MULTIJURISDICTIONAL TAXATION SEMINAR2 to 3
LAW 3765NONPROFITS SEMINAR2 to 3
LAW 3766ORG OF BUSINESS ENTERPRISE3
LAW 3769PARTNERSHIP TAX3
LAW 3767PATENT LAW2 to 3
LAW 3768PAYMENT SYSTEMS3
LAW 3775PRODUCTS LIABILITY3
LAW 3800REAL PROPERTY FINANCE2 to 3
LAW 3821SALES & LEASES3
LAW 3832SECURED TRANSACTIONS3
LAW 3863SECURITIES REGULATION2 to 3
LAW 3875SPORTS LAW2 to 3
LAW 3880STATE AND LOCAL TAXATION2 to 3
LAW 3899TAX OF EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS2 to 3
LAW 3902TAX POLICY SEMINAR2
LAW 3915TRADEMARKS & UNFAIR COMP2 to 3
LAW 3946WHITE COLLAR ADVOCACY2 or 3
LAW 3947WHITE COLLAR CRIME2 to 3
LAW 3960WORKERS' COMPENSATION2 to 3