At the Cutting Edge: How FSU Law’s Stoops Center Is Shaping the Future of Legal Education
By: Suzi Baugh
As the legal industry evolves at an unprecedented pace, Florida State University College of Law is staying ahead of the curve thanks in large part to the Stoops Center for Law and Business. This dynamic center is not only keeping FSU Law at the forefront of technological and industry advances but also redefining what it means to prepare students and professionals for the future of legal practice.
The Stoops Center has rapidly emerged as a national model for how law schools can respond to the increasingly complex legal landscape by offering real-world, future-focused education. With four robust certification tracks—Employment & Human Resources Law, Health Care Law, Privacy Law & Policy, and Sports & Entertainment Law—the center equips students with specialized, career-relevant expertise that aligns with today’s most in-demand legal sectors.
Beyond certifications, the Stoops Center’s Executive Education program has become a cornerstone of its success, offering over 20 innovative courses designed to meet the needs of professionals across various industries. From workplace investigations and privacy law to the business of sports and health care compliance, the curriculum bridges legal theory with practical application in a way that few programs can.
And the center isn’t slowing down. In Fall 2025, new executive education courses will debut, including timely offerings like Influencer Law, Travel Law, and Legal Issues on Digital Platforms, fields that are increasingly shaping both public policy and private enterprise. Even more future-focused courses are in development, covering critical and often under-addressed topics such as employee mental health laws, AI and social media in the workplace, ADA compliance, and whistleblower protections.
This commitment to forward-thinking education has fueled impressive strategic growth. The Stoops Center has achieved over 400% year-over-year growth in Executive Education enrollment, demonstrating its relevance and reach in the professional market. This momentum is also helping to drive record-breaking enrollment in FSU Law’s Juris Master (J.M.) program, with more than 460 new students joining across fall, spring, and summer terms. Across the board, applications, admissions, and deposits are on a sharp upward trajectory, signaling a growing recognition of the center’s value proposition.
Equally notable are the center’s deepening partnerships with major employers and public institutions. Currently in discussions with more than 15 organizations—including Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, the Department of the Navy, and the courts of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties—the Stoops Center is helping to pioneer tuition support and workforce upskilling initiatives that directly link legal knowledge to employer needs.
In an era when the law must adapt to everything from digital disruption to workplace transformations, FSU Law’s Stoops Center for Law and Business is proving itself to be more than just an academic hub—it’sa strategic engine of innovation. By equipping students and professionals with the tools they need to navigate emerging challenges, the center not only elevates FSU Law’s national profile but also shapes the future of legal education and industry leadership.