By: Suzi Baugh
Emerging technologies continue to reshape the legal and business landscapes, and FSU College of Law’s groundbreaking Institute of Law, Technology, and Innovation is making sure FSU law students stay in-the-know. Positioned at the intersection of legal scholarship and real-world innovation, the Institute is quickly becoming a national leader in educating the next generation of lawyers, technologists, and policy makers.
The Institute, which operates under the Stoops Center, examines how emerging technologies—from artificial intelligence to blockchain—are transforming the practice of law and the industries it supports. Its flagship program, the Frontiers in Law and Technology webinar series, draws an average of 1,000 registrants per session and features leading practitioners, judges, and academics discussing timely issues such as AI in healthcare, data privacy, cybersecurity, autonomous vehicles, and space law. These sessions not only provide continuing legal education (CLE) opportunities but also establish FSU Law as a national thought leader at the intersection of technology and law. With a compelling lineup of webinars, the Institute is tackling some of the most urgent and complex challenges facing today’s legal professionals. By the end of 2025, the Institute averaged 500 virtual attendees per session—marking a staggering 500% increase in attendance compared to the previous year.
This meteoric rise in visibility is no accident. With strategic email outreach reaching over 1.8 million contacts and boasting industry-leading open rates of more than 50%, the Institute’s digital presence is translating into real engagement. Now, with new sponsorship opportunities launching for the 2025–2026 academic year, FSU Law is poised to deepen its impact even further by inviting mission-aligned organizations to support and engage with its forward-thinking programming.
The Institute serves as a bridge between academics and applications. Juris Doctor (J.D.) students, particularly those participating in the Stoops Fellows program, are immersed in events and research initiatives, providing them with firsthand experience in tech-driven legal practice. This approach extends to the broader FSU community, with the Institute hosting honors students and alumni for exclusive panels and networking opportunities that cultivate talent and foster interdisciplinary dialogue.
FSU Law’s national footprint is also expanding. In the coming semester, the Institute will represent the university at more than 16 events, several of which are major conferences spanning the legal, technology, healthcare, human resources, and education sectors. This presence solidifies Florida State’s reputation as not only a thought leader but also a vital contributor to national conversations on law and innovation. That reputation is reinforced by prestigious recognition. FSU Law was named Florida’s first law school-led executive education center, and it earned an A+ in Business Law from preLaw Magazine—a testament to the College’s commitment to excellence and its innovative academic offerings.
Looking ahead, the Institute of Law, Technology & Innovation is charting a bold course. With plans to expand national CLE offerings, launch new certifications and stackable credentials, strengthen employer partnerships, and enhance digital reach, the Institute is setting the stage for a lasting impact. FSU Law is proud to host its first AI Day in the Capital, a unique event taking place on January 22, which will bring together leaders in AI to discuss challenges and evolutions in Artificial Intelligence, as well as perform live AI demonstrations. The Stoops Center for Law and Business and the Institute of Law, Technology, and Innovation will also attend the 2026 Miami Blockchain Symposium: Crypto and the SEC virtual symposium on January 27. Joining FSU Law as a new faculty member, the Kevin Wood and Mary Jo Peed Professor of Law, Yuliya Guseva, comes to FSU from Rutgers Law School, where she served as the Director of the Fintech and Blockchain Research Program. Professor Guseva is considered a prominent researcher and teacher on financial regulation, securities law, capital markets, and digital innovation, and previously secured funds from Ripple via their University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI) to fund the Fintech and Blockchain Collaboratory at Rutgers.
Together, the Stoops Center for Law and Business and the Institute of Law, Technology, and Innovation embody FSU Law’s commitment to preparing professionals for the future of work—where legal insight, technological understanding, and business strategy intersect. Their combined efforts are not only elevating the reputation of the College of Law but also positioning it at the forefront of conversations that will define the next generation of leadership in law, business, and innovation.