University of Miami School of Law

Miami Law

The University of Miami School of Law is located in Coral Gables, Fla. It is part of the main campus of the parent university. The law school has a beautiful campus in a subtropical environment. It is at the crossroads of the Americas. Despite the high tuition and the 55% full-time, long-term legal employment rate, Miami may be a consideration for applicants who plan to practice law in Florida.

History

Dean Austin Rasco was an important figure in the founding of the University of Miami School of Law. He served as dean from 1928 until he died in 1931 and was instrumental in securing approval for the law school from the Florida Supreme Court. Dean Rasco also helped to collect books for the school's library and cultivated a strong faculty. Thanks to his efforts, the law school was able to get off to a successful start.

Admissions

The University of Miami School of Law offers a high-quality legal education in a collaborative community dedicated to excellence. Their students become lawyers, advocates, entrepreneurs, negotiators, and leaders who make a difference in their communities.

The University of Miami School of Law only admits students who have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and students may begin their studies at the law school only in the fall semester.

Statistics

Admissions Stats
Class of:	2020-2021	2021-2022
25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT	156 - 159 - 161	157 - 160 - 163
25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA	3.3 - 3.53 - 3.71	3.42 - 3.63 - 3.77
Acceptance rate	51.4%	30.1%
Applications received	3041	4333
Acceptances	1562	1303
Matriculants	502	452

The University of Miami has a 1L class size of 392. Out of the 4,333 people who applied, 1,303 were offered admission. Of that offered admission, 379 were accepted, meaning the yield was 29.09%. The median LSAT for the incoming class was 160, with the 25th and 75th percentile at 157 and 163, respectively. The median GPA was 3.63, with the 25th and 75th percentile at 3.42 and 3.77, respectively.

As a private law school, Miami is more expensive than its two primary competitors, the University of Florida and Florida State University. However, most of Miami's student body comes from out of state. For the class of 2015, 42% come from outside Florida. Close to 10% of Miami students drop out after their first year, and almost 2% stop after their second year.

Application Dates

Important Application Dates and Deadlines for the 2022-2023 Academic Year

September 1, 2022 - JD application open date
October 1, 2022 - FASFA open date
November 4, 2022 - Binding Early Decision Program deadline
January 15, 2023 - JD priority application deadline

Note: Applications received after this date will continue to be accepted and reviewed on a seat-available basis until July 31, 2023.

February 1, 2023 - FAFSA priority application deadline
July 31, 2023 - JD application deadline

Application Process

The admission process at Miami Law is based on the potential of applicants to excel in their legal studies. To ensure that they admit a class of highly talented and select students, they consider various factors such as academic achievements and LSAT scores, undergraduate institution and course rigor, work experience, extracurricular activities, and community service. Additionally, the degree-granting institution must be accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, or the applicant must have an equivalent degree from an international institution.

Binding Early Decision Program

The Binding Early Decision Program at Florida State University College of Law is open to residents of Florida or current students or alums of any undergraduate or graduate school in Florida. If you do not meet these requirements, you may request special consideration from the Admissions Committee. To apply, you must submit a completed JD application through the LSAC website, indicate your interest on the application form, and submit the Binding Early Decision Program Agreement. You will be notified of your admission and scholarship offer, if any, by November 21, 2022.

Cost of Attendance

The cost of attendance for a domestic student at Northeastern University for the 2017-2018 school year is $29,781.00 for both the Fall and Spring semesters. This price includes tuition, fees, room and board, and other expenses. If a student lives off-campus, the cost is $16,165.00 for each semester. If a student lives with a parent or relative, the cost is $8,921.00 for each semester.

Direct Costs
	Fall Semester
Tuition	$ 29,150.
Required Fees	$ 631
Health Insurance	$3,593
Total Direct Costs	$ 33,374.

Indirect Costs
Living Expenses	Fall Semester
Room	$ 8,215.00.
Meals	$ 3,641.00
Books & Supplies	$ 1,007.00
Personal	$ 1,173.00
Transportation	$ 1,874.00
Total Indirect Costs	$ 15,910.00
Total COA	$ 49,284.00

The tuition cost listed is for full-time enrollment in 11 credits. The room cost reflects a 10% increase in the 2020-2021 international room allowance, as agreed upon. Costs for married students accompanied by their families will be higher. Your eligibility for aid does not increase based on your spouse or dependents; it is determined based on your status as a professional student living off campus or with parents. The expenses listed above do not include transportation to and from the home country and the United States, the cost of purchasing an automobile, an extravagant choice of entertainment or free-time activities, any increase in tuition or fees for the next academic year, or any additional tuition or fees that may result from completing your studies in more than two semesters. The University of Miami reserves the right to change any provisions, including but not limited to the tuition and fees, at any time, with or without notice.

Transfer Students

The University of Miami School of Law welcomes and encourages applications from students who have compiled vital records at other ABA-approved law schools and wish to transfer. Applications are reviewed as soon as all required documents have been received. While one standard indicator of the potential for admission for transfer applicants is prior performance in law school, undergraduate records and LSAT scores are also considered in the admissions process. To be considered for transfer, Miami Law applicants are usually required to have at least a 3.00 law school GPA or to be in the top third of their class at an ABA-accredited law school. Exceptions may be made for students from highly competitive institutions. The usual number of acceptable transfer credits is 27 to 30. The maximum number of acceptable transfer credits is 32. Therefore, to earn a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami School of Law, a minimum of 56 additional credits over four full-time semesters is required. Typically, 30 credits are required for transfer; however, if fewer credits comprise the entire first year, the full-time curriculum at the applicant's school, the application will be considered. Transferring with less than two years of law study remaining is highly unusual. While no part-time program is offered at Miami Law, competitive transfer applicants from part-time programs who have completed the entire first-year, part-time curriculum at their home school may be considered for transfer into the full-time division. All previously stated factors are considered in the review process. The University of Miami School of Law is committed to enhancing the diversity of its student body and encourages applications from members of all minority and underrepresented groups. To read a fantastic article about transferring, click here.

Financial Aid

Financing law school can be difficult, but planning and taking advantage of available options can be much easier. Federal loans are a great way to finance law school, and external scholarships are available. Being frugal will also help you make the most of your money. Educate yourself about the options available and choose the best plan.

Scholarship Programs

Employment Prospects

Miami Law

Graduates from the University of Miami earn a median salary of $86,000 if they work in the private sector. If they enter the private sector, they can expect to make around $50,000. A majority (64.1%) of law graduates from the University of Miami go on to work for law firms, while 1.6% clerk for a judge and 10.2% go into public interest. Approximately 71.3% of University of Miami law graduates pass the bar on their first try.

Academics and Curriculum

The Miami Law academic program is rigorous and provides students with a foundation in the intellectual underpinnings of law and a profound understanding of the international dimensions of legal practice. This preparation allows students to pursue a variety of career opportunities.

Areas of Study

BUSINESS LAW

Study the intersection of law and business.

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

Learn to analyze the constitution and its modern-day implications.

CRIMINAL LAW

Gain invaluable experience in one of the nation's most comprehensive litigation skills programs.

ENTERTAINMENT, ARTS, AND SPORTS LAW

Explore our extensive curriculum and build your network in the Magic City.

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

Pursue environmental law in one of the most unique ecosystems in the world.

ESTATE PLANNING

Challenge yourself in an interdisciplinary field.

FAMILY LAW

Discover how the law applies to familial issues through clinical experience.

HEALTH CARE LAW

Navigate complex laws in a rapidly growing industry.

HUMAN RIGHTS LAW

Carve your own path and follow your passion.

IMMIGRATION LAW

Learn to navigate immigration law and policy at the crossroads of the Americas.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW

Study at the new hub of entrepreneurship and innovation.

INTERNATIONAL LAW

Gain an international perspective in one of the most global cities in the United States.

LITIGATION, ARBITRATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Develop your advocacy skills through practice.

MARITIME LAW

Navigate the laws of the sea in the cruise capital of the world.

REAL ESTATE LAW

Build your expertise in the most dynamic real estate market in the U.S.

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC INTEREST

Become a champion for systemic change and help individuals in need.

TAX

Meet the increasing demand for tax law expertise.

TECHNOLOGY LAW

Explore how technology challenges legal frameworks in an emerging tech hub.

The University of Dayton School of Law has over 300-course offerings, making it one of the largest law schools in the country. 77% of their upper-level courses have less than 25 students, and their student-to-faculty ratio is 7:1. They have over 320 faculty members, all of whom are highly qualified and experienced in their respective fields. Students seeking a legal education will find plenty to choose from at the University of Dayton School of Law.

Miami Law's 1L program is unique because it offers a variety of electives and courses that students can take as soon as their first year. The program also has a smaller class size, which allows for more individualized attention from the faculty. This combination of opportunities and support prepares students well for their legal careers.

The Juris Doctor at Miami Law is a full-time program that provides students with the skills and foundation they need to understand and practice law. The program is rigorous and requires three years of full-time study. The introductory program helps first-year students develop the technical skills they need to understand the law. The program also provides students with a broad understanding of legal institutions' political, commercial, and social dimensions.

Experiential Learning

Experiential education is very important to Miami Law's mission. This is because it allows students to apply the theory they learn in the classroom to real-world legal problems. No matter what area of law students want to pursue, they can gain practical experience and develop core skills used by lawyers through one of their clinics, practicum courses, externships, Litigation or Transactional skills courses, or other innovative programs.

Miami Law Clinics

The Miami Law clinical program is an excellent resource for students who want to gain experience in various legal practice areas. The program is taught by full-time faculty who are highly experienced and knowledgeable in their field, as well as excellent teachers when it comes to clinical pedagogy.

The clinic experience allows students to lead cases and handle all aspects under close faculty supervision. This includes developing strategy, interviewing clients and witnesses, negotiating with opposing counsel, drafting pleadings, contracts, or police reports, conducting trials or arbitrations, and other lawyering activities. The skills gained in the clinic are transferable to any setting, and the experience is often transformative for students and clients.

The clinics at the University of Miami offer high-quality legal services to clients from some of Miami’s most under-resourced communities using delivery models that reach clients who would not otherwise have access to counsel. In addition to working with individual clients, their clinics include a law reform or community education component. Recognizing that complex problems require multi-disciplinary solutions, their clinics routinely engage in cross-clinic collaboration and interdisciplinary partnerships with University of Miami faculty and students in other disciplines like medicine, psychiatry, engineering, education, and communications.

BANKRUPTCY ASSISTANCE CLINIC

The Eleanor R. Cristol and Judge A. Jay Cristol Bankruptcy Pro Bono Assistance Clinic at Miami Law offer pro bono legal services to low-income individuals dealing with bankruptcy.

CHILDREN & YOUTH LAW CLINIC

The Children & Youth Law Clinic (CYLC) is an in-house, live-client clinic representing children in foster care and former foster youth in dependency, health care, mental health, disability, independent living, education, immigration, and other general civil legal matters.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CLINIC

The Environmental Justice Clinic's work sits at the intersection of civil rights, environmental, poverty, and public health law, tackling issues in South Florida, including climate change, displacement, contamination, environmental health, municipal equity, and more.

HEALTH RIGHTS CLINIC

The Health Rights Clinic is a medical-legal partnership with the UM Miller School of Medicine. Students participating in the Health Rights Clinic represent multiple clients in different legal matters related to health.

HUMAN RIGHTS CLINIC

The Human Rights Clinic (HRC), part of Miami Law’s Human Rights Program, works to promote social and economic justice globally and in the U.S. Students gain firsthand experience in cutting-edge human rights litigation and advocacy at the local, national, regional, and international levels.

IMMIGRATION CLINIC

Established in the fall of 2009, the Immigration Clinic provides a challenging opportunity for students to advocate for immigrants in various complex immigration proceedings.

INNOCENCE CLINIC

The Innocence Clinic is dedicated to identifying and correcting wrongful convictions and is committed to exonerating innocent individuals and combating injustice.

INVESTOR RIGHTS CLINIC

The Investor Rights Clinic is a one-semester clinic staffed by second and third-year law students who represent under-served investors in securities arbitration claims against their brokers before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

STARTUP CLINIC

The Startup Clinic (formerly "Startup Practicum") connects University of Miami School of Law students with new ventures needing legal assistance.

TENANTS' RIGHTS CLINIC

The Tenants' Rights Clinic is designed to allow law students to represent low-income tenants in litigation and administrative hearings.

Practicums

The experiential curriculum at Miami Law is constantly evolving to provide students with diverse professional skills and practice areas. Practicums are courses that combine the in-depth study of a particular subject area with practical work experience. This hands-on learning might involve actual law reform work supervised by Miami Law faculty or outside placements doing litigation, transactional, or policy work with practitioners who are experts in their field.

Litigation Skills

The Litigation Skills program at Miami Law offers students the opportunity to learn about trial advocacy and pre-trial skills. Using realistic case files and simulations, students can practice their lawyering skills weekly in small sections and get feedback from highly experienced federal and state court lawyers and judges. As a capstone, students can become Certified Legal Interns under Florida’s student practice rule and litigate real cases with outside agencies.

Transactional Skills

The Transactional Skills program at Miami Law offers students the opportunity to learn about and practice skills such as client communication, negotiation, contract drafting, and due diligence. The program is anchored by two courses, Transactional Drafting and Deal Skills, which give students feedback from experienced transactional lawyers.

Externships

Miami Law’s externship courses allow students to gain practical legal experience while participating in a class focused on professional identity formation and practice skills. Students work with public interest organizations, government agencies, judges, and in-house law departments in any practice area they choose. The program helps students develop the professional skills they need to become successful attorneys.

Centers and Programs

The Miami Law School offers unique learning opportunities for students to get hands-on experience in various fields. These include the Center of Ethics and Public Service, Law Without Walls, and the Human Rights Program.

Quality of Life

There is no better place for law students than Miami. The city is full of culture and opportunity, and it's a great place to network, find internships and externships, and turn your professional aspirations into practice. Miami Law students will benefit from being at the door of strong ties to institutions and organizations where thousands of alumni practice law. This provides incredible opportunities for hands-on legal training.

Synopsis

Miami is a great place to find job opportunities. The city constantly grows and provides many networking, internship, and externship opportunities for professionals. These are great ways to gain experience in your desired field.

Contact Information

University of Miami School of Law
Office of Admissions
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 248087
Coral Gables, FL 33124-8087

Street Address:
1311 Miller Drive
Suite F203
Coral Gables, FL 33146

Email Address: admissions@law.miami.edu
Phone Number: 305-284-6746
Office Hours: Monday-Friday from 9am-5

https://admissions.law.miami.edu/apply/jd/index.html

Summary

Established	1928
Location	Coral Gables, FL
Dean	David Yellen
2022 US News Ranking	73
LSAT Median Score	160
GPA Median Score	3.63
Bar Passage Rate	71% (2022)
Employment Rate	41% (2022)
Cost	$29,781.00 Fall Semester $29,781.00 Spring Semester
Average Debt	$144,027
Application Deadline	February 15, 2023

Forum and Discussion

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Reference

The University of Miami School of Law
https://www.law.miami.edu/
Rank #73
LSAC Guide
How to Learn to Do Well on a Law School Exam
Success in Law School - A Unique Perspective
The Guide to Law School Loans
Guide to Fee Waivers

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