Attend Law School near downtown tampa
We’re building a legacy as a legal institution that empowers individuals to influence their communities and change the world. The juris doctor curriculum at our Tampa Bay campus helps students master the knowledge, skills and ethics needed to pass the bar exam and practice law. Our challenging academic programs include a curriculum that blends classroom knowledge with real-life, hands-on legal experience. Graduates feel equipped and prepared for the practice of law, and proud of their hard-earned accomplishment. The sprawling Tampa Bay campus rests in Riverview's scenic country setting, but is just 15 minutes from downtown Tampa.
About the Tampa Bay Campus
WMU-Cooley Law School's Tampa Bay campus is located at 9445 Camden Field Pkwy, Riverview, Florida 33578, about 15 minutes inland on the west coast of the Sunshine State. The campus is just minutes from beautiful beaches, historic sites, professional sports, cuisine and nightlife choices, and family-friendly attractions such as Busch Gardens, the Florida Aquarium and the Lowry Park Zoo.
The facility opens at 8 a.m. each day and offers ample free parking right on campus. You can call our Tampa Bay campus at (813)-419-5100.
Tampa Bay Campus Leadership
Daniel Matthews — Associate Dean
Associate Dean Daniel Matthews joined the WMU-Cooley faculty in 2003 from the Oakland County, Michigan, law firm of Cox, Hodgman & Giarmarco, P.C., where he specialized in taxation, corporate law, and estate planning. Dean Matthews also served as a judicial clerk to the Hon. Richard F. Suhrheinrich, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. Dean Matthews's articles have been published in The Tax Lawyer, Whittier Law Review, University of Miami Law Review, Detroit College of Law Review, Michigan Tax Lawyer, Laches, and Mertens, Law of Federal Income Taxation. Matthews teaches Taxation, Business Organizations and Wills, Estates and Trusts in the J.D. program.
Katherine Gustafson — Assistant Dean
Assistant Dean Katherine Gustafson joined WMU-Cooley Law School in 2008 as a visiting professor and coordinator for the Academic Resource Center. In 2014, she joined WMU-Cooley as a full-time faculty member. Gustafson has served as a legal research specialist and instructor for LexisNexis and was previously an attorney with Mahjoory, Mahjoory, and Beery, PLC, where she worked primarily on personal injury, criminal defense, and family law matters. At WMU-Cooley, Dean Gustafson teaches Introduction to Law and Research & Writing.
Daniela Mendez — Campus Director
Daniela Mendez joined WMU-Cooley’s Tampa Bay Campus in 2019 after serving as an assistant public defender for Florida’s 13th Judicial Circuit. Mendez is responsible for schedules, campus supervision, career and professional development, registration, financial aid, graduation, veteran education benefits, and international student programs. Mendez is a magna cum laude graduate of WMU-Cooley and previously worked as a legal intern with the WMU-Cooley Innocence Project. In addition to her law degree from WMU-Cooley, Mendez earned a bachelor’s degree in criminology from the University of South Florida and a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Central Florida.
Tampa Bay Campus Student Organizations
Expand your leadership skills by joining one of the student organizations. The following organizations have chapters at our Tampa Bay campus:
- ACLU Club of WMU Cooley Law
- Black Law Student Association (BLSA)
- Caribbean Law Students Association (CLSA)
- Christian Legal Society (CLS)
- Federalist Society (FedSoc)
- Florida Association of Women Lawyers (FAWL)
- Help Save the Next Girl (HSTNG)
- Phi Alpha Delta (PAD)
- Phi Delta Phi (PDP)
- Saint Thomas Moore Society (STMS)
- Student Bar Association (SBA)
- Sports and Entertainment Law Society (SELS)
- Sexuality and Gender Acceptance (SAGA)
Schedule Options
If you’re willing to put in the hard work, WMU-Cooley has a variety of schedule options designed to make your dream of going to law school possible. Our flexible schedule options have helped thousands of law students in Florida, and all over the country, reach their potential. You can choose from several traditional schedule options or, if you are on the fast-track, you can jump into an accelerated two-year option. Full-time, part-time and evenings are some of the many options you can also consider.
Students attending law school at our Tampa Bay campus have the option to begin their legal education three times a year, in January, May or September. WMU-Cooley operates on a "rolling admissions" system, which means we process law school applications when they are received. Click below to learn more.
Law School Scholarships
Legal education is an investment in you, which is why we’re prepared to reward academic excellence through a generous scholarship program, with awards up to 100 percent of tuition for up to 90 credits. Find out more about scholarship opportunities by clicking below.
Living in Tampa
If Tampa is your law school destination of choice, WMU-Cooley is a fantastic option for your legal education. Tampa is the second largest city in Florida and boasts many attractions, a thriving arts and cultural community, and a beautiful landscape. There are many housing options available for those hoping to move to Tampa to attend law school.
If you’re new to the area, you’re also probably looking for places to study. There are several hidden hideaways in this lively city. Here are five recommendations to add to your list.
