Julia A. Metts joined Levin Papantonio Rafferty in 2020 following a successful tenure as the Director of Trial Programs at Stetson University College of Law. As the Director, Ms. Metts was responsible for managing, coaching, and training the members of Stetson’s nationally recognized Trial Team. She also taught Evidence and Trial Advocacy.

Ms. Metts was not only a Professor at Stetson, she is a December 2004 graduate of the law school. As a member of Stetson’s Trial Team, Ms. Metts was a finalist at the National Trial Competition in Houston, Texas. She was also a national champion in 2004 when she and her co-counsel won the National Institute for Trial Advocacy Tournament of Champions Competition in Los Angeles, Calif. She was a proud member of Stetson’s award-winning Dispute Resolution Board.

After graduating from Stetson Law in 2004, Ms. Metts began her career as an Assistant State Attorney with the State Attorney’s Office in the Fifth Judicial Circuit. During the first 14 years of her career, Professor Metts actively tried misdemeanor, felony, and career criminal cases. It was during this decade of trial practice that Professor Metts was able to use the skills she learned as a student at Stetson Law to successfully try a large number of cases.

In addition to her experience in the courtroom, Ms. Metts managed local county offices and trained young lawyers and law enforcement officers across Florida. While serving as an Assistant State Attorney, Ms. Metts began working as an adjunct professor and trial team coach at Stetson Law. In the summer of 2017, she returned to Stetson Law full time, accepting the position of Director of Trial Programs.

Ms. Metts regularly lectures on the topics of persuasive presentations and advocacy skills. These lectures range in scope from persuasive report writing for law enforcement officers, effective cross-examinations for defense attorneys, and general persuasive presentation techniques for any audience.

Since joining Levin Papantonio Rafferty, her practice area has been focused on Mass Torts Litigation projects.