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):
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 3449 | FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION I | 3 credits |
| LAW 3154 | BUSINESS ENTITIES | 4 credits |
| Commercial Law (select one) | ||
| LAW 3190 | COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS | 4 credits |
| LAW 3573 | INT'L BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS | 3 credits |
| LAW 3587 | INT'L SALES LAW & ARBITRATION | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3768 | PAYMENT SYSTEMS | 3 credits |
| LAW 3821 | SALES & LEASES | 3 credits |
| LAW 3832 | SECURED TRANSACTIONS | 3 credits |
| Experiential (select one) | ||
| LAW 3155 | BANKRUPTCY JUDICIAL EXTERNSHIP | 3 to 4 credits |
| LAW 3172 | CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY REORGANIZATIONS | 3 credits |
| LAW 3548 | IN-HOUSE COUNSEL EXTERNSHIP | 1 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3561 | INTELLECTUAL PROP EXTERNSHIP | 1 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3297 | THE DOCUMENT OF THE DEAL: CORPORATE CONTRACTS | 2 credits |
| LAW 3145 | ARBITRATION | 2 credits |
| LAW 3696C | ADVANCED LEGAL WRITING: CONTRACT DRAFTING | 2 credits |
| LAW 3696T | ADVANCED LEGAL WRITING: DRAFTING, WILLS, TRUSTS, AND ESTATES | 2 credits |
| LAW 3761 | NEGOTIATION AND MEDIATION | 2 credits |
| Other course approved by Concentration Advisor | ||
| Advanced Writing (select one) | ||
| LAW 3065 | ADVANCED CORPORATE LAW SEMINAR | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3083 | ADV EMPLOYMENT DISCRIM SEMINAR | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3156 | BANKRUPTCY SEMINAR | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3279 | CYBERLAW SEMINAR | 3 credits |
| LAW 3325 | ELECTRONIC COMMERCE SEMINAR | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3511 | FOOD LAW AND POLICY SEMINAR | 2 to 3 credits |
| INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PROJECT ON BUSINESS-RELATED TOPIC APPROVED BY CONCENTRATION ADVISOR | 1 to 2 credits | |
| LAW 3565 | INT'L BUS/TRANSBRDER CRIME SEM | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3696S | ADV LGL WRITING:SOCIAL JUSTICE | 1 to 2 credits |
| LAW 3580S | INTL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SEM | 2 credits |
| LAW 3716 | MEDIA LAW SEMINAR | 3 credits |
| LAW 3752 | MULTIJURISDICTIONAL TAXATION SEMINAR | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3765 | NONPROFITS SEMINAR | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3785 | PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW SEMINAR | 2 credits |
| LAW 3587A | INTERNATIONAL SALES LAW & ARBITRATION ADVOCACY (Commercial or Experiential, not both) | 3 credits |
| LAW 3902 | TAX POLICY SEMINAR | 2 credits |
| LAW 3918 | TRANSNATIONAL BANKRUPTCY SEMINAR | 2 credits |
| 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):
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 3053 | ADMIRALTY | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3063 | ADV CONTRACTS: COMM AGREEMENTS | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3063I | Adv. Contracts: Issues, Concepts and Methods | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3065 | ADVANCED CORPORATE LAW SEMINAR | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3083 | ADV EMPLOYMENT DISCRIM SEMINAR | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3130 | ANTITRUST LAW | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3131 | ANTITRUST SEMINAR | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3145 | ARBITRATION | 2 credits |
| LAW 3152 | BANKRUPTCY | 3 credits |
| LAW 3156 | BANKRUPTCY SEMINAR | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3159 | BUSINESS ETHICS | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3172 | CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY REORGANIZATIONS | 3 credits |
| LAW 3190 | COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS | 4 credits |
| LAW 3198 | COMPARATIVE CORPORATE LAW | 1 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3230 | CONSTRUCTION LAW | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3238 | CONSUMER LAW | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3243 | COPYRIGHT LAW | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3245 | CORPORATE FINANCE | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3247 | CORP GOVERNANCE GLOBAL MARKET | 3 credits |
| LAW 3246 | CORPORATE TAXATION | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3279 | CYBERLAW SEMINAR | 3 credits |
| LAW 3285 | DELAWARE INFLUENCE ON CORP LW | 1 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3325 | ELECTRONIC COMMERCE SEMINAR | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3330 | EMPLOYEE BENEFITS | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3333 | EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3334 | EMPLOYMENT LAW | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3337 | ENTERTAINMENT LAW | 3 credits |
| LAW 3395 | EUROPEAN UNION BUSINESS LAW | 1 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3450 | FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION II | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3480 | FED TAX OF EST, TRUSTS & GIFTS | 3 credits |
| LAW 3487 | FINANCIAL ADVOCACY | 1 credits |
| LAW 3511 | FOOD LAW AND POLICY SEMINAR | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3525 | HEALTH INSURANCE LAW | 2 to 3 credits |
| INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PROJECT ON BUSINESS-RELATED TOPIC APPROVED BY CONCENTRATION ADVISOR | 1 to 2 credits | |
| LAW 3552 | INSIDER TRADING SEMINAR | 2 credits |
| LAW 3553 | INSURANCE LAW | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3567 | INTERNATIONAL ENERGY LAW | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3560 | INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY | 3 credits |
| LAW 3572 | INT'L BANKING & FINANCE LAW | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3573 | INT'L BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS | 3 credits |
| LAW 3580 | INTERNAT'L INTELLECT PROPERTY | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3580S | INTL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SEM | 2 credits |
| LAW 3581 | INTERNATIONAL JOINT VENTURES | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3587 | INT'L SALES LAW & ARBITRATION | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3591 | INTERNATIONAL TRADE REGULATION | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3613 | LABOR LAW | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3651 | LAW AND ECONOMICS SEMINAR | 2 to 3 |
| LAW 3685 | LAW PRACTICE MANAGEMENT | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3715 | MEDIA LAW | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3716 | MEDIA LAW SEMINAR | 3 credits |
| LAW 3729 | MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS | 3 credits |
| LAW 3752 | MULTIJURISDICTIONAL TAXATION SEMINAR | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3765 | NONPROFITS SEMINAR | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3766 | ORG OF BUSINESS ENTERPRISE | 3 credits |
| LAW 3769 | PARTNERSHIP TAX | 3 credits |
| LAW 3767 | PATENT LAW | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3768 | PAYMENT SYSTEMS | 3 credits |
| LAW 3775 | PRODUCTS LIABILITY | 3 credits |
| LAW 3800 | REAL PROPERTY FINANCE | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3821 | SALES & LEASES | 3 credits |
| LAW 3832 | SECURED TRANSACTIONS | 3 credits |
| LAW 3863 | SECURITIES REGULATION | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3875 | SPORTS LAW | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3785 | PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW SEMINAR | 2 credits |
| LAW 3880 | STATE AND LOCAL TAXATION | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3899 | TAX OF EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3902 | TAX POLICY SEMINAR | 2 credits |
| LAW 3907 | TAXATION OF BUSINESS ENTITIES | 4 credits |
| LAW 3915 | TRADEMARKS & UNFAIR COMP | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3946 | WHITE COLLAR ADVOCACY | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3947 | WHITE COLLAR CRIME | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 3960 | WORKERS' COMPENSATION | 2 to 3 credits |
| LAW 7032 | COMPARATIVE TAXATION | 1 credit |