Stetson University College of Law humbly began on Oct. 2, 1900, with five students from Florida. Since then, the state's oldest law school has trained thousands to become legal experts and societal leaders.
In 1954, Stetson Law moved from DeLand to a beautiful new 21-acre campus in Gulfport. An enrollment boom after World War II spurred the relocation to the 17 buildings which had been part of the Hotel Rolyat built in 1925. Today, the student body exceeds 1,000 and Stetson Law has grown to become home of the nation's top-ranked advocacy program and LL.M. degree programs in elder law and international law.
Stetson Law is also a leader in the field of higher education law and policy. The Tampa Law Center opened in 2004 as a major hub for legal activity -- housing evening law classes, the Tampa branch of the Florida Second District Court of Appeal, and legal conferences. Stetson Law continues to be consistently ranked at the top of the U.S. News & World Report for Trial Advocacy (#1) and Legal Writing (#3). Since the rankings began in 1995, Stetson Law has been consistently ranked #1 for Trial Advocacy, including as recent as 2023. It also boasts a nationally recognized Elder Law certificate program via the Center for Excellence in Elder Law, along with the Veterans Law Institute.
LeRoy’s grandson, Jason L. Turner, is a 2004 graduate of Stetson University College of Law where he competed on the #1 nationally-ranked Trial Team and Client Skills Board (negotiation team).
He previously served as a member of the Stetson Lawyers Alumni Association Advisory Council and as an Adjunct Professor of Entertainment Law.
He currently serves as Chair of Stetson Law’s Board of Overseers and Executive Committee as well as on Stetson University’s Board of Trustees.
In 2023, he dedicated a courtroom in the new Advocacy Center in honor of his parents (Gary and Laura), Trial Team & Negotiation Team coaches (Pam Bell and Prof. Kelly Feeley), as well as Professors Rebecca Morgan & Bobbi Flowers.
