He received his J.D. from the University of Florida in 1972, and his LL.M. from the University of Miami in 1973, majoring in tax. For 36 years he has been an associate professor at Stetson University. Copeland has extensive experience in the areas of taxation and estate planning and for 39 years has had his own law practice specializing in the purchase and sale of businesses, probate, guardianship, sale of real estate, and adoptions. He is an active speaker in the Florida Bar Association, Florida Institute of CPAs, at estate planning meetings for numerous churches, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, insurance companies, and others.