Looking to the Future of Technology and Business at FSU Law
By: Joshua Coco, Executive Director of the Stoops Center for Law & Business and the Institute of Law, Technology & Innovation
Joshua "Josh" Coco, Executive Director of the Stoops Center for Law and Business
At Florida State University College of Law, the Stoops Center for Law and Business serves as a hub for interdisciplinary learning, outreach, and innovation—connecting the legal, business, and technology worlds in practical and forward-thinking ways. The Center’s mission is rooted in expanding the reach of legal education beyond the traditional classroom to offer accessible, high-impact programs for professionals, lawyers, and students alike.
Through the Stoops Center’s executive education programs, professionals acquire essential legal acumen to navigate the increasingly complex and regulated environments in which they work. Certifications in areas such as Employment and Human Resources Law, Health Care Law, Privacy Law and Policy, and Sports and Entertainment Law provide participants with targeted expertise while earning continuing education credits (SHRM, CLE, etc.). These programs are designed to help professionals “think like a lawyer”—understanding not just what the law requires, but how it affects decision-making and strategy across industries.
Closely aligned with these initiatives is the Institute for Law, Technology, and Innovation, which operates under the Stoops Center. The Institute 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 audiences of more than 1,000 registrants per session and features leading practitioners, judges, and academics discussing timely issues such as AI in healthcare, data privacy, cybersecurity, transportation, and space law. These sessions not only provide CLE opportunities but also establish FSU Law as a national thought leader at the intersection of technology and law.
The Stoops Center also collaborates closely with the College of Law’s Juris Master (J.M.) program, which provides non-lawyers with a graduate-level understanding of legal and regulatory systems. While the J.M. program operates independently, both units work in tandem to ensure that students and professionals receive a cohesive, career-focused education. Joint initiatives include integrating executive education certifications with J.M. coursework, hosting events that bring together J.D. and J.M. students, and offering programming that highlights real-world applications of legal knowledge in business, healthcare, and technology.
A key part of the Stoops Center’s success lies in its outreach efforts. The Center regularly represents FSU Law at national and regional conferences, including SHRM events across Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and North Carolina, as well as risk management and healthcare compliance gatherings. The team also participates in major innovation-focused events such as CyberBay in Tampa and Emerge Americas in Miami. These appearances serve multiple purposes—raising visibility for FSU Law, recruiting students to the J.M. and professional certification programs, fostering industry partnerships, and identifying emerging topics for future curriculum and research collaborations. The relationships built at these events have already led to discussions around sponsored programming, joint webinars, and custom corporate training initiatives that align with FSU Law’s mission to extend legal knowledge beyond the traditional legal community.
Looking ahead, the Stoops Center and the Institute are focused on continuing to grow their national presence through new partnerships, expanded CLE offerings, and innovative programming. Upcoming projects include an AI Day in the Capital—a collaborative event connecting Florida policymakers, educators, and industry leaders to discuss the policy and ethical implications of artificial intelligence—as well as new research-driven institutes and clinics designed to expand FSU Law’s leadership in business, technology, and regulatory education.
Together, the Stoops Center for Law and Business and the Institute for 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.