These courses are designed for anyone in legal academia or the legal writing community who wants to deepen their expertise in rhetorical theory, expand their scholarly toolkit, or strengthen their approach to inclusive advocacy. They are especially well‑suited for:

• Legal writing faculty, both new and experienced, who want to advance their scholarly development or enhance the rhetorical foundations of their teaching.
• Doctrinal faculty who are interested in integrating rhetorical inquiry into their scholarship or classroom instruction.
• Visiting, contract, or non‑tenure‑track faculty who are building a scholarly profile for the job market or preparing for promotion and tenure review.
• Aspiring legal academics, including fellows, practitioners exploring academia, or graduate students looking to strengthen their research and teaching portfolio.
• Practitioners who want to expand their expertise in social justice or civil rights advocacy or enhance their ability to represent diverse clients and interests.

No prior training in rhetorical theory is required for the foundational courses, making the program accessible to participants at a wide range of experience levels. Advanced courses are available for those who have completed the prerequisite foundational work and want to explore multicultural rhetoric in greater depth.

Foundational Scholarly Development

Rhetorical Criticism for Legal Writing Faculty

Instructor: Brian Larson, Ph.D | 16 Weeks | Hybrid (Live + Asynchronous)

• Grounding in major rhetorical theories
• Application to legal-rhetorical artifacts
• Development of research prospectus, draft scholarship, or teaching materials
• Structured peer and faculty feedback
• Certificate in Legal Rhetorical Scholarship

*No prior training in rhetorical theory required for this foundational course.  Enrollment is limited to preserve depth of engagement.

Foundational Applied Framework

The Practical Application of Critical & Comparative Rhetoric

Instructor: Teri A. McMurtry-Chubb | 8 Weeks | Asynchronous

• Historicizing Western legal reasoning
• Identifying and interrupting bias
• Designing multicultural analytic frameworks
• Applying frameworks to judicial opinions and advocacy documents
• Certificate in Critical and Comparative Rhetoric

*No prior training in rhetorical theory required for this foundational course.  Enrollment is limited to preserve depth of engagement.

Advanced Multicultural Rhetoric Courses

Instructor: Teri A. McMurtry-Chubb | 4 Weeks Each | Asynchronous

Indigenous Rhetoric | African Diasporic Rhetoric | Asian Diasporic Rhetoric | Muslim & Arab Rhetoric | Latiné Rhetoric | Queer Rhetoric

• Deeper study of rhetorics introduced in The Practical Application of Critical and Comparative Rhetoric
• Designing multicultural analytic frameworks specific to the multicultural rhetoric course
• Applying specific multicultural rhetoric to judicial opinions and advocacy
• Advanced Certificate in specific multicultural rhetoric course (i.e. Advanced Certificate in Indigenous Rhetoric)

*Practical Application of Critical and Comparative Rhetoric is a prerequisite for advanced courses.  Enrollment is limited to preserve depth of engagement.

CLE credits credits may be awarded upon completion of all course components.

Course fees must be paid in full before the course start date. Please see our FAQs for detailed information on our cancellation and refund policy.

Can I apply these courses towards a Law degree at Stetson University?

No. The courses within the legal communication program do not carry academic credit and cannot be applied toward any degree programs at Stetson University College of Law. Participation in these courses will not result in a degree, alumni status, or earned academic credit at Stetson University or Stetson University College of Law, nor will it be recorded on their transcripts. Additionally, it does not guarantee admission to Stetson University, Stetson University College of Law, or any other institution.

What is a digital badge?

Digital badges are online credentials that visually showcase verified skills or achievements. They include metadata about who issued the badge, what was required to earn it, and evidence of completion, and can be shared on platforms like LinkedIn. This credential allows participants to:

• Display their completion publicly on LinkedIn
• Signal advanced training in legal rhetorical scholarship and inclusive advocacy
• Demonstrate sustained professional development to hiring and promotion committees
• Join a growing national network of Institute alumni

How much CLE credit will I earn?

Stetson Law has applied to the Florida Bar for CLE credits for each of the courses within the program. While Stetson Law does not apply for or pay for CLE credits in states other than Florida, we will provide attorneys with the materials needed to apply for CLE credits in other states. Attorneys should contact their state's Bar association with specific questions about obtaining CLE credits for these courses.

Are accommodations available if needed?

Stetson is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We encourage learners with disabilities or other special needs to contact the Office of Professional Education at [email protected] as early as possible if accommodations or support may be required to fully participate in this course.

What is your cancellation/refund policy?

Stetson Cancellation: If Stetson University College of Law needs to cancel a course for any reason, participants will be notified at least 24 hours in advance by phone or email. In the case of a course cancellation, a full 100% refund will be issued to each registered participant.

Attendee Cancellation: Stetson Law will provide a refund, minus a $75 cancellation fee per course, for any cancellation requests received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the fourteenth (14) business day before the course start date. Business days are Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. No refunds will be granted for cancellations received within thirteen (13) business days of the course start date or for cancellations made after the course begins. Additionally, once you access the online course materials, you will no longer be eligible for a refund.