The College of Law's three-year curriculum for the Juris Doctor degree begins with traditional courses and expands to include the latest in theoretical and interdisciplinary analyses. The first-year curriculum provides the foundation in history, doctrine, process and analysis that students need to fully appreciate more specialized courses offered later in law school. In the second and third years of law school, our program is almost entirely elective. It includes a wide range of courses and approaches. Some of our classes are purely theoretical and doctrinal. Some focus on particular industries, such as health, pharmaceuticals, and entertainment and sports law. We also offer many opportunities for experiential learning and other courses designed to enable students to be sophisticated entrants into the worlds of business, government and law practice. In addition to our especially strong programs in business, environmental law and international law, we have one of the best criminal law programs in the region. Students can also take advantage of one of ten joint-degree programs, offered in cooperation with other colleges, schools and departments at Florida State University. We have live-client clinics in family law, children's advocacy, and law and business. We also have extensive externship offerings throughout Florida and elsewhere. Finally, our co-curricular organizations provide students a wealth of ways to earn credit for hands-on legal activities. Our Mock Trial and Moot Court programs prepare students to be trial and appellate advocates, and our three student-run scholarly journals give students additional opportunity to hone their research and writing skills.
The College of Law's environmental law program is ranked the nation's 15th best, and 1st in Florida, by U.S. News & World Report. Florida State provides a substantial number of courses focusing on environmental law, energy law, and land use regulation, a student-edited scholarly journal in the area, and a certificate program that offers students a chance to signal their expertise. Students can take advantage of a wide range of offerings in related areas of study at Florida State University, as well as externship opportunities in Florida and Washington, D.C. Our student-run Journal of Land Use & Environmental Law ranks among the nation's top 20 journals in environmental law. Our Environmental Moot Court and the Environmental Law Society are just some of the various other student organizations that our students participate in.
