AALS has launched a series that will highlight a different member school and focus on a recent program or accomplishment in order to showcase the rich variety of approaches to legal education that makes up the American legal academy. A list of past highlights is available below.

Member School Highlight – Florida State University College of Law

Location: Tallahassee, Florida
Founded: 1966
Joined AALS: 1969
Dean: Erin O’Hara O’Connor

Founded in 1966, Florida State University College of Law is a nationally recognized public institution approaching 60 years of excellence in legal education. FSU Law combines academic rigor with exceptional value, which is alluring to its 153 first-year JD students. At the heart of FSU Law’s success is its faculty. FSU Law faculty members are leading scholars, thought leaders, and engaged mentors whose work influences courts, policymakers, and academic discourse across disciplines. The faculty brings a sophisticated conceptual grounding to the classroom, connecting scholarship to practice and ensuring students understand how legal theory shapes real-world outcomes.

Located in the heart of Florida’s capital, the College offers unparalleled access to courts, government agencies, and leading practitioners. Through close faculty mentorship and immersive learning experiences, FSU Law prepares graduates to lead with integrity, innovation, and impact—across the state, the nation, and the world.

“As we approach our 60th anniversary, Florida State University College of Law stands at an exciting point in its history. Our faculty continue to distinguish themselves nationally through their scholarship and mentorship, advancing ideas that shape law and policy while inspiring our students to lead with integrity, states Erin O’Hara O’Connor, Dean of Florida State University College of Law. “We remain focused on turning every dollar into outcomes that matter: stellar student opportunities, strong bar passage rates, and lasting professional success. For six decades, FSU Law has been defined by academic excellence, a collaborative community, and a steadfast commitment to public service. We plan to continue preparing students to lead with integrity in a rapidly changing legal landscape—expanding opportunity, elevating scholarship, and ensuring that FSU Law continues to be a place where ideas flourish and lawyers are inspired to serve with purpose.”

Florida State University College of Law’s Election Law Center hosting a program titled “Bush v. Gore at 25: The Legacy and Future of Election Law,” moderated by the center’s Faculty Director, Michael Morley.

The FSU College of Law is proud to house the Election Law Center, a statewide hub for research, education, and public service dedicated to advancing trust and integrity in the democratic process. Established in 2023 and formally codified into Florida law in 2025, the Center provides nonpartisan, evidence-based analysis of election law and administration for policymakers, election officials, and the public.

Led by Professor Michael Morley, Faculty Director, and Maureen Vinson Wagner, Executive Director—both nationally recognized leaders in election law and administration—the Center also provides FSU Law students with hands-on learning opportunities through externships, research fellowships, and scholarships that connect academic study to real-world practice. By engaging directly with the legal and policy challenges of election administration, students gain practical experience while contributing to informed, nonpartisan reform efforts.

Through partnerships with government agencies and civic organizations, the Center conducts major initiatives and serves as a forum for statewide and national dialogue. Its recent event, “Bush v. Gore at 25: The Legacy and Future of Election Law,” brought together distinguished scholars, judges, and practitioners to examine one of the most consequential cases in American democracy.