Certificate Programs

STU Law offers ten certificate programs. STU Law offers a certificate in Admiralty and Maritime Law, Business Law, Criminal Litigation, Elder Law, Environmental Sustainability, Immigration Practice, Intellectual Property Law, Intercultural Human Rights, Real Estate Law, and Tax Law. These programs are designed for students who want to focus on a particular area of practice while in law school. To qualify for a certificate the student takes a number of classes and in some cases takes continuing legal education courses in the area of focus and/or performs pro bono work in the area of focus.

The certificate programs allow the student to gain greater insight into a particular area of the law. If the student completes all the certificate requirements then, upon graduation, he/she is provided a certificate and would have greater familiarity with that area of practice which the student might then continue to explore in practice or post-J.D. education. The requirements for each of the certificates can be found in the law school catalog.

The College of Law requires students to declare a certificate program at least one semester prior to completion of degree requirements for the Juris Doctor program.

Applications for the certificates can be found at the links below.

Admiralty and Maritime Law – Director, Prof. Attilio Costabel (Application)

A certificate in Admiralty and Maritime Law will be awarded to J.D. students who successfully complete:

  1. A minimum of 12 credit hours of designated course work, including the following:
    • Required Courses:
      • Admiralty Law (3 credits);
      • International Business Transactions (3 credits);
    • At least two (2) of the following courses:
      • Recreational Boating and Cruising (2 credits);
      • Environmental Law Practice (2 or 3 credits);
      • Federal Courts (3 credits);
      • International Law (3 credits);
      • Marine Insurance (3 credits);
      • Transnational Litigation (3 credits);
    • Any of the following, if necessary, to reach the total of 12 credit hours:
      • Alternative Dispute Resolution (3 credits);
      • Federal Income Tax (4 credits);
      • Seminar – International Law in the 21st Century;
  2. A skills component, which may be met by completing two (2) Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminars sponsored by the Admiralty Law Section of the Florida Bar.
Business Law – Director, Prof. Itai Fiegenbaum (Application)

A Certificate in Business Law will be awarded to J.D. students who have applied to the Certificate program at least a semester prior to completion of the J.D. degree requirements and who have satisfactorily completed:

  1. At least 12 credits hours of designated course work, including the following:
    • At least two (2) of the following required courses:
      • Bankruptcy (3 credits);
      • Corporate Finance (3 credits);
      • Federal Income Taxation (4 credits);*
      • Legal Accounting (3 credits);
      • Payment Systems (3 credits);
      • Secured Transactions (3 credits);
      • Sales (3 credits);
    • Any of the following additional courses to reach the total of 12 credit hours:
      • Bankruptcy (3 credits);
      • Commercial Law Amicus Initiative (2 credits);**
      • Commercial Law Survey (3 credits);
      • Consumer Law (3 credits);
      • Corporate Finance (3 credits);
      • Corporate Justice (2 credits);
      • Debtor and Creditor Rights (2 credits);
      • Essential Concepts of Business for Lawyers (2 credits);
      • Family Wealth Management (3 credits);
      • Federal Income Taxation (4 credits);*
      • Insurance Law (3 credits);
      • Intellectual Property Overview (1 credit);
      • International Business Transactions (3 credits);
      • Law Office Management (3 credits);
      • Legal Accounting (3 credits);
      • Legal Issues for Startups (2 credits);
      • Negotiations (1 credit);
      • Payment Systems (3 credits);
      • Real Estate Development & Finance (3 credits);
      • Sales (3 credits);
      • Secured Transactions (3 credits);
      • Transactional Skills (3 credits);**
      • Transnational Business and International Human Rights (3 credits);
      • White Collar Crime (3 credits);
  2. Completion of one of the following:
    • One of the following field placements or skills courses or additional CLE****:
      • Bankruptcy Law Externship
      • Civil Practice Externship (in a business law-related area, with the specific placement approved by the Director of the Business Law Certificate Program);
      • Commercial Law Amicus Initiative;***
      • Transactional Skills;***
    • Thirty (30) hours of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs sponsored by the Business Law Section of The Florida Bar or the American Bar Association;*****
  3. A minimum of 4 hours as part of a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) program sponsored by the Business Law Section of The Florida Bar or the ABA.

*Tax courses other than Federal Income Tax are excluded from this Certificate; students interested in taxation are encouraged to pursue a Tax Certificate.
**If not used to satisfy the skills requirement.
***If not used to fulfill the course requirements.
****Students may use a skills course to meet the 12 credits required above, but will need to complete an additional skills component to earn the Certificate.
*****Any student wanting to use CLE as their skill must have the CLE arranged as a course of study and pre-approved by the Director of the program. Such study should be consistent with the area/areas of intended practice.

Criminal Litigation – Director, Prof. Benjamin J. Priester (Application)

A Certificate in Criminal Litigation will be awarded to J.D. students who have applied to the Certificate program at least a semester prior to completion of the J.D. degree requirements and who have satisfactorily completed:

  1. Either the Criminal Practice Externship (6 or 8 credits) or the Appellate Litigation Internship (12 credits); and
  2. Criminal Procedure I (3 credits); and
  3. Florida Criminal Procedure (2 credits); and
  4. At least seven credit hours from among the following courses:
    • Capital Punishment (2 credits);
    • Criminal Procedure II (3 credits);
    • Florida Criminal Practice (3 credits);
    • Human Trafficking Law and Policy (3 credits);
    • International Criminal Law (3 credits);
    • Juvenile Law (2 credits);
    • National Security and Fourth Amendment (1 credit);
    • Topics in Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure Seminar (2 credits);
    • Transnational Criminal Law (3 credits);
    • White Collar Crime (3 credits);
Elder Law – Director, Prof. Mark Wolff (Application)

A Certificate in Elder Law will be awarded to J.D. students who have satisfactorily completed:

  1. At least 12 credit hours of designated course work, including the following:
    • Elder Law (3 credits); and
    • Elder Law Externship (4 credits); and
    • Guardianship Law (3 credits); and
    • Any of the following additional courses to reach the total of 12 credit hours:
      • Administrative Law (2 or 3 credits);
      • Advanced Trusts (2 credits);
      • Disability Rights: Law and Practices (2 credits);
      • Essential Concepts of Business for Lawyers (1 credit);
      • Estate Planning (3 credits); and
      • Family Wealth Management (3 credits);
      • Federal Estate and Gift Taxation (3 credits) or Federal Income Taxation (4 credits);
      • Government Benefits (3 credits);
      • Health Care Compliance (3 credits);
      • Health Law and Policy (3 credits);
      • Law and Bioethics (3 credits);
      • Legal Accounting (3 credits);
      • Legislation and Regulation (1 credit);
      • Selected Issues in Taxation (3 credits);
      • Seminar: Advanced Problems in Taxation (2 credits);
      • Seminar: Poverty Law and Economic Justice (2 credits);
      • Statutory Interpretation (3 credits);
      • Wills and Trusts (3 credits);
  2. Two (2) Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminars presented by the Elder Law Section of The Florida Bar.

These courses introduce the student to all fundamental principles of elder law that are tested on The Florida Bar’s Elder Law Certification examination.  Students pursuing the Elder Law Certificate must file a statement of intent with the Registrar and the Director of the Elder Law Certificate Program as soon as they desire to pursue the program.

Environmental Sustainability – Director, Prof. Claire Osborn-Wright (Application)

Environmental lawyers, whether in private practice, government, or public interest, must have a sound grounding in the technical issues and concepts that form the basis for environmental regulatory programs and that frequently arise in environmental litigation, transactions, and site cleanups.

A Certificate in Environmental Sustainability will be awarded to those J.D. students who have satisfactorily completed at least 12 credit hours of designated course work, including:

  1. Environmental Law (2 or 3 credits); and
  2. Human Rights and the Environment (1 credit); and
  3. Any of the following additional courses to reach the total of 12 credit hours:
    • Administrative Law (2 or 3 credits);
    • Admiralty Law (3 credits);
    • Comparative Environmental Law (3 credits);
    • Comparative Water Law (1 credit);
    • International Environmental Law (3 credits);
    • Land Use Planning (3 credits);
    • Legislation and Regulation (1 credit);
    • Natural Resources Law and Policy (2 or 3 credits);
    • Negotiations (1 credit);
    • Real Estate Development and Finance (3 credits);
    • Remedies (3 credits);
    • Seminar: Environmental Law Policy (2 credits);
    • Seminar: Regulatory Compliance (2 credits).
Immigration Practice – Director, TBD (Application)

A Certificate in Immigration Practice will be awarded to J.D. students who have satisfactorily completed:

  1. At least 12 credit hours of designated course work, including:
    • Immigration Law (3 credits); and
    • At least one of the following courses:
      • Asylum & Refugee Law (2 or 3 credits);
      • Human Trafficking Law & Policy (3 credits);
      • Seminar: Immigration Law (2 credits); or
      • The Protection of Refugees (1 credit); and
    • Any of the following additional courses to reach the total of 12 credit hours:
      • Administrative Law (2 or 3 credits);
      • Family Law (3 credits);
      • Guardianship Law (3 credits); or
      • Immigration Clinic: Students enrolled in the Immigration Clinic for a full year may count six credits towards
      • Interviewing, Counseling, and Negotiation (2 credits);
      • Juvenile Law (3 credits);
      • Law Office Management (2 credits);
      • Legislation and Regulation (1 credit).
  2. One of the following field placements:
    • Civil Practice Field Placement (immigration related) (4 credits summer or 8 credits fall/spring);
    • Immigration Clinic (6 credits fall and 6 credits spring); or
    • At least 30 hours of service at a placement approved in advance by the Immigration Practice Certificate Director.
Intellectual Property Law – Director, Prof. Zachary Catanzaro (Application)

A Certificate in Intellectual Property Law will be awarded to J.D. students who have satisfactorily completed at least 12 credit hours of designated course work, including:

  1. At least three of the following “course” courses:
    1. Branding and Trademark Management (3 credits);
    2. Copyright and Content Management (3 credits);
    3. Innovations and Patent Management (2 or 3 credits);
    4. Intellectual Property (3 credits);
    5. Intellectual Property Overview (1 credit); or
    6. Trade Secrets Law and Policy (2 credits);
  2. If needed, any of the following “additional” courses to meet the total of 12 credit hours:
    • Administrative Law (2 or 3 credits);
    • Cyberlaw (3 credits);
    • Entertainment Law (3 credits);
    • First Amendment Law (3 credits);
    • Media Law (3 credits);
    • Seminar: Bioethics: Controversies in Law and Medicine (2 credits);
    • Seminar: Cybersecurity Law & Policy (2 cr.);
    • Seminar: First Amendment Law (2 cr.);
    • Seminar: Intellectual Property (2 cr.);
    • Seminar: Internet Governance Law & Policy (2 credits); or
    • Sports Law (2 credits).

The credits must total 12 or more and can be of any combination of “core” or “additional” courses, so long as at least three (3) are core courses. Courses not listed above may count as well, such as a seminar other than the ones noted above and in which you complete a paper substantially on IP, internet law, or information law. Please contact the Certificate Director for further details.

The program course options provide innovative skills and writing opportunities to help students prepare for the digital economy. Many of the program courses provide an emphasis on integrating doctrinal studies with a practical context. Students will often engage in simulations of legal practice in order to develop practice skills, professional knowledge, and to assemble job placement portfolios.

Intercultural Human Rights – Director, Prof. Siegfried Wiessner (Application)

Courses offered in the LL.M. program in Intercultural Human Rights are open for credit to all J.D. students at St. Thomas University.  A Certificate in Intercultural Human Rights will be awarded to J.D. students who have satisfactorily completed at least 12 credit hours of designated course work, including:

  1. International Bill of Rights (LL.M.) (3 credits); and
  2. International Law (3 credits); and
  3. Any of the following additional courses to meet the total of 12 credit hours:
    • Armed Conflict and Individual Liability (LL.M.) (2 credits);
    • Ethical Moorings (LL.M.) (1 credit);
    • First Amendment Law (3 credits);
    • Human Rights and Religion (LL.M.) (1 credit);
    • Human Rights and Terrorism (LL.M.) (1 credit);
    • Human Rights and the Environment (LL.M.) (1 credit);
    • Human Rights Lawyering (LL.M.) (1 credit);
    • Human Rights in States of Emergency (LL.M.) (1 credit);
    • Human Trafficking Law and Policy (3 credits);
    • International Economic Law and Human Rights (LL.M.) (1 credit);
    • Protection of Refugees (LL.M.) (1 credit);
    • Regional Systems of Human Rights Protection (LL.M.) (3 credits);
    • Self-Determination and Group Rights (LL.M.) (2 credits) ;
    • Seminar: International Law in the 21st Century (2 credits);
    • Seminar: Rule of Law (2 credits);
    • The Art and Practice of International Negotiations (LL.M.) (1 credit);
    • The Right to Integral Human Development (LL.M.) (1 credit);
    • The Right to Water and Sanitation (LL.M.) (1 credit); or
    • Women’s Rights and the Rights of the Child (LL.M.) (1 credit).
Real Estate Law – Director, Prof. Claire Osborn-Wright (Application)

A Certificate in Real Estate Law will be awarded to J.D. students who have satisfactorily completed:

  1. At least 12 credit hours of designated course work, including:
    1. At least 2 of the following courses:
      • Florida Condominium Law (2 or 3 credits);
      • Florida Construction Law (3 credits);
      • Land Use Planning (3 credits);
      • Mortgage Foreclosure (2 credits);
      • Real Estate Development & Finance (3 credits) (skills course); or
      • Real Estate Transactions (2 credits); and
    2. Any of the following courses to reach the total of 12 credit hours:
      • Administrative Law (2 or 3 credits);
      • Bankruptcy (3 credits);
      • Corporate Finance (3 credits);
      • Environmental Law (2 or 3 credits);
      • Essential Concepts of Business for Lawyers (1 or 2 credits);
      • Family Wealth Management (3 credits);
      • Federal Income Taxation (4 credits);
      • Interviewing Counseling and Negotiation (2 credits);
      • Legal Accounting (3 credits);
      • Legal Issues for Startups, Entrepreneurs, and Small Businesses (2 credits);
      • Mortgage Foreclosure (1 credit);
      • Negotiations (1 credit);
      • Seminar: Contracts Drafting (2 credits);
      • State & Local Taxation (2 credits); or
      • Transactional Skills (3 credits); and
    3. One of the following:
      1. A four (4) credit hour Civil Practice Externship in real estate (this is the preferred method of attaining the Real Estate Certificate); or
      2. An additional 4 credit hours (for a total of 16 credit hours) from among the designated doctrinal courses above.
Tax Law – Director, Prof. Mark Wolff (Application)

A Certificate in Tax Law will be awarded to J.D. students who have satisfactorily completed:

  1. Academic Credit Hours
    • Students must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours of designated course work, including:
    • Required Courses (total 10 credits):
      • Federal Income Taxation (4 credits); and
      • Federal Estate and Gift Taxation (3 credits); and
      • Corporate Taxation (3 credits); and
    • Elective Courses (to reach the total of a minimum of 12 credit hours including required courses):
      • Advanced Problems in Taxation (2 credits)
      • Comparative International Taxation: Aspects of Law & Policy (3 credits);
      • Elder Law (3 credits);
      • Estate Planning (3 credits);
      • Family Wealth Management (3 credits);
      • Federal Tax Practice and Procedure (2 credits);
      • Guardianship Law (3 credits);
      • Legal Accounting (3 credits);
      • Partnership Taxation (3 credits);
      • Secured Transactions (3 credits);
      • Selected Issues in Taxation (2 or 3 credits); or
      • Taxation of International Transactions (4 credits); and
  2. CLE Credits
    • Students must complete a minimum of 12 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits through one of the following options:
    • 12 CLE’s from Tax Section of the Florida Bar
      • Students can obtain the required 12 CLE credits from the Tax Section of the Florida Bar only if at least 6 CLE credits are completed in person at an approved event, e.g., the Mark J Wolff Annual Tax Symposium; or
    • Combination of CLE credits
      • Students can complete the required 12 CLE credits by obtaining 6 CLE credits from the Tax Section of the Florida Bar completed in person at an approved event and obtaining the additional 6 CLE credits from American Bar Association Tax Section, only if students secure advance pre-approval for the CLE from the Tax Law Certificate Director and provide proof of attendance.
  3. Tax Clinic or VITA Program Participation
    • Students must complete one of the following:
      • One semester of the Tax Clinic (4 credits); or
      • At least 25 hours of volunteer service in the St. Thomas Benjamin L. Crump College of Law Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Students must provide certification of the hours of tax return preparation services to the Tax Law Certificate Director.