At Florida State University’s College of Law, success isn’t pursued in isolation — it’s built on a culture of support and care that students say is unmatched.
From faculty and staff who go the extra mile to peers who step in as mentors, the FSU Law community ensures that no student navigates law school alone.
A recent connection between two students, one just beginning law school and one preparing to graduate, illustrates how this community of support defines the FSU Law experience.
Incoming first-year student Nate Birdsong had already committed to another law school when he received a late admission offer to the FSU College of Law. For many students, such a sudden shift could have been overwhelming, but FSU Law’s reputation for excellence, combined with its welcoming environment, was enough to make Birdsong reconsider.
To help ease the transition, the FSU Law Admissions Office connected Birdsong with Andrew Barrineau, a third-year student who once faced a similar situation. What started as a simple introduction quickly became a meaningful mentorship.
Barrineau didn’t just answer questions—he helped Birdsong track down books and class outlines, offered advice from his own experiences, and even provided a temporary place to store belongings while Birdsong finalized his housing.
“When Andrew reached out to me, it was surprising and really helpful,” Birdsong said. “Choosing a law school is such a huge decision and knowing someone had been in my shoes made me feel like I wasn’t alone. It confirmed I was making the right choice to come here.”
“Choosing a law school is such a huge decision and knowing someone had been in my shoes made me feel like I wasn’t alone. It confirmed I was making the right choice to come here.”
– Nate Birdsong, first-year College of Law student
Stories like Birdsong’s and Barrineau’s, along with that sense of student connection and support, explain why The Princeton Review recently ranked the FSU College of Law fourth nationally for Best Student Quality of Life. From faculty and staff outreach to peer mentorship, FSU Law fosters a collaborative environment.
“Now that I’m here, I see it everywhere—in faculty members, staff, professors and other students,” Birdsong said. “As a 1L, when things feel uncertain, just knowing that support exists is huge.”
Barrineau agrees.
“Things that could be a lot harder elsewhere are easier here because we look out for one another,” he said. “It feels like we’re all doing law school together instead of me against you.”
Birdsong says he hopes to offer the same kind of support to future first-year students that Barrineau gave to him. That pay-it-forward spirit is woven into the fabric of FSU Law, where each new class benefits from the generosity and guidance of those who came before.
This cycle of mentorship and support reinforces why FSU Law is not just a place to earn a degree—it is a place to grow, belong and build a network that lasts long after graduation.