Quality. Opportunity. Value.
“We truly are a different kind of law school.”
Florida International University College of Law Office of Admissions & Financial Aid Rafael Diaz-Balart Hall | 11200 SW 8th Street, RDB 1055 | Miami, FL 33199 T (305) 348-8006 | F (305) 348-2965 law.fiu.edu @fiulaw
FIU College of Law
Where do you want to be?
Quality. Opportunity. Value.
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Welcome
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Administration & Faculty Curriculum Academic Programs International Studies
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O pportu nity
Career Planning & Placement Externships Clinics
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Pathways to the Profession Academic Enrichment
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Join Us
Class Profile Tuition Scholarships & Financial Aid Application Checklist
“Our faculty wholeheartedly supports our students and is committed to helping them become successful, professional, practice-ready attorneys.”
Six years ago, I left my position as U.S. Attorney to come to FIU Law because I believe this is a place of promise. We are committed to providing a first-rate legal education, which we couple with a robust set of experiential learning programs. From six in-house clinics to judicial, criminal, and civil externship programs, our students apply what they learn in the classroom to real legal work. This gives our students an advantage when entering the legal marketplace and allowed our 2013 graduating class to rank in U.S. News’ top 60 law schools for full-time, long-term legal jobs. We are a close community. We emphasize quality over quantity; we treat our students like individuals. Our faculty wholeheartedly supports our students and is committed to helping them become successful, professional, practice-ready attorneys. We will do everything we can to help you achieve your individual goals.
Welcome. The Florida International University College of Law provides students with entry to the legal profession through a high-quality, dynamic, and affordable legal education. At FIU Law, students are immersed in an intimate learning environment. They develop lasting bonds with their peers and a faculty of teacher-scholars who are dedicated to helping students succeed. FIU Law offers an accomplished faculty, modern curriculum, and dedicated students. Located in the largest legal market in Florida, we provide our students with a wide array of experiential learning opportunities, enhancing their education, and allowing them to hone their professional skills before even obtaining their degrees. We are the only public law school in South Florida. Our graduates enter the profession with a first-rate legal education, less burdened by debt. This provides them with the financial flexibility to pursue a wider
Welcome
Welcome
— Dean R. Alexander Acosta
FIU Law is a diverse, rapidly ascending institution of academic excellence. Since 2009, we have risen more than 60 spots in U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of the nation’s top law schools. No other law school I know of has advanced so quickly in such a short period of time. Other national magazines have recognized us as among the most diverse and best value law schools in the nation. But rankings only tell part of the story.
variety of career paths.
Read on and discover why FIU Law is where you want to be.
I encourage you to visit FIU Law. We truly are a different kind of law school with much to offer.
The only thing missing is you. R. Alexander Acosta, Dean of the College of Law
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Where do you want to be?
Where What your classmates are saying:
“At FIU Law, you will learn inside the classroom, gain experience outside the classroom, and enter the legal profession in a position to chart your own course on your own terms.�
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Quality
Quality
trumps quantity
Small Entering Class Size
Average 1L day division class size
32
Average 1L evening division class size
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Administration & Faculty Angelique Ortega Fridman Legal Writing Charles C. Jalloh Comparative Law, Contract Law, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure & Litigation, International Human Rights, International Law Charles R.P. Pouncy Banking, Capital Markets & Securities, Commodities Law & Regulation, Civil Rights/Social Justice, Corporate Finance, Professional Responsibility Christyno L. Hayes Comparative Law, Legal Writing Cyra Akila Choudhury Civil Rights/Social Justice, Comparative Law, Family Law, Feminist Theory/Gender, International Labor & Migration, International Human Rights, Islamic Law, Jurisprudence David D. Walter Appellate Litigation, Arbitration/Mediation Dionne Anthon Legal Writing
Ediberto Román Antitrust, Civil Rights/Social Justice, Contract Law, Immigration & Nationality Law, Indigenous Peoples & the Law, International Human Rights, Poverty Law, Remedies, Constitutional Law, Civil Law, Civil Rights Elizabeth Price Foley Bioethics, Civil Litigation, Constitutional Law, Federal Courts, Health Law, U.S. Supreme Court Eloisa C. Rodriguez-Dod Comparative Law, Elder Law, Real Property, Trusts & Estates Eric R. Carpenter Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure & Litigation, Evidence, Feminist Theory/Gender, Military Justice, National Security H.T. Smith Civil Litigation, Criminal Procedure & Litigation, Trial Advocacy H. Scott Fingerhut Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure & Litigation, Trial Advocacy Hannibal Travis Antitrust, Comparative Law, Entertainment & Sports Law, First Amendment, Intellectual Property, International Human Rights, Internet Law, Media Law
Juan Carlos Gomez Clinical Legal Education, Immigration & Nationality Law, Poverty Law, Professional Responsibility Kalyani Robbins Administrative Law, Natural Resources Law, Land Use, Biodiversity & Ecosystems Management, Energy Law, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Environmental Law, Real Property Kerri L. Stone Contract Law, Employment Discrimination, Feminist Theory/Gender, Labor & Employment Law Laverne Pinkney Education Law, Family Law Leonard P. Strickman Constitutional Law, Education Law & Policy, Legal Education Louis N. Schulze, Jr. Legal Education, Educational Psychology, Criminal Law Mary Gundrum Immigration Law, Family Law
Michelle D. Mason Clinical Legal Education, Health Law, Legal Education Noah Weisbord Comparative Law, Criminal Law, International Law Phyllis Kotey Criminal Law, Evidence, Florida Constitutional Law, Judicial Ethics R. Alexander Acosta Civil Litigation, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure & Litigation, Education Law & Policy Raul Ruiz Bar Preparation Rosario Schrier Legal Writing Ryan B. Stoa Environmental Law Scott F. Norberg Bankruptcy, Contract Law Stanley Fish Constitutional Law, First Amendment, Jurisprudence, Media Law
Quality
Quality
Howard M. Wasserman Civil Litigation, Entertainment & Sports Law, Evidence, Federal Courts, First Amendment, Media Law
José Gabilando Banking, Capital Markets & Securities, Civil Rights/Social Justice, Contract Law, Corporate Finance, Cuban Legal Studies, Feminist Theory/Gender, Taxation
Ila Klion Appellate Litigation, Legal Writing J. Janewa Osei-Tutu Contract Law, Intellectual Property, International Law
80+ Over 80 course titles offered beyond the foundation curriculum 6
Jerry W. Markham Banking, Capital Markets & Securities, Commodities Law & Regulation, Corporate Finance Joëlle A. Moreno Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Arbitration/Mediation, Criminal Procedure & Litigation, Evidence, Scientific & Forensic Evidence John F. Stack, Jr. Administrative Law, Conflict of Laws, Florida Constitutional Law, National Security Jorge L. Esquirol Comparative Law, International Business Transactions, International Law, Jurisprudence, Latin American & Caribbean Law
M.C. Mirow Comparative Law, International Law, Latin American & Caribbean Law, Legal History, Real Property, Trusts & Estates M. Michele Anglade Civil Rights/Social Justice, Feminist Theory/Gender Marci A. Rosenthal Legal Writing Manuel Gómez Arbitration/Mediation, Civil Litigation, Comparative Law, Cuban Legal Studies, International Litigation & Arbitration, International Law, Judicial Reform, Latin American & Caribbean Law Megan A. Fairlie Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure & Litigation, International Human Rights, International Law, Professional Responsibility
Stephen K. Harper Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure & Litigation, Death Penalty Tawia Baidoe Ansah International Law, Law & Literature Teresa C. Stanton Law Library Thomas E. Baker Constitutional Law, Federal Courts, First Amendment, U.S. Supreme Court Tony Santos Investor Advocacy, International Law Victor M. Uribe-Uran Indigenous Peoples & the Law, Judicial Reform, Latin American & Caribbean Law, Legal History Read more about or faculty’s work: law.fiu.edu/faculty
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Full Time (Day) Division Foundation Curriculum
What your classmates are saying:
“Before class, I spend time reviewing and discussing the material with classmates. A great thing about FIU Law is that students here are friendly. We are competitive, but not hypercompetitive. It is easy to build a support system and friendships with classmates.”
First Year / Fall Constitutional Law...............................................4 Contracts....................................................................4 Torts...............................................................................4 Legal Skills & Values I..........................................3 Total............................................................................15
First Year / Spring Civil Procedure.......................................................4 Property......................................................................4 Criminal Law.............................................................3 Intro to Int’l & Comp. Law................................3 Legal Skills & Values II.........................................2 Total............................................................................16
Joint Degrees
« Business Administration « Criminal Justice « Environmental Studies « International Business « Latin American & Caribbean Studies « Psychology « Public Administration « Social Work
Center for Professionalism & Ethics Lawyers owe a duty to their clients, the courts, and opposing counsel to act professionally and in an ethical manner. FIU Law recognizes this duty and stresses professionalism and ethics throughout its curriculum. Through the Center for Professionalism & Ethics, students are introduced to the concepts of professionalism and ethics required for the effective practice of law. The Center sponsors programs designed to reinforce these concepts and to complement the lawyering skills students learn in class. The Center embraces and models accountability and civic responsibility, and strives to ensure that each student becomes an ethical member of the Bar. 8
Upper-Level Required Courses Professional Responsibility Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution (2 courses) International & Comparative Law Legal Skills & Values III Graduate Seminar Pro Bono Practice
Part Time (Evening) Division Foundation Curriculum
Quality
Quality
Law students interested in interdisciplinary studies may take advantage of FIU Law’s Joint Degree Program. Those pursuing a joint degree will have the opportunity to study both law and another discipline in a way that allows each to enhance and complement the study of the other. Joint degree candidates may obtain both degrees in less time than it would take to obtain them individually. Joint degrees offered include master’s degrees in:
First Year / Fall
Curriculum Intellectual Property Certificate Intellectual Property Law is a vibrant and growing area of practice. According to a 2012 U.S. Department of Commerce report, IP-intensive industries supported 40 million jobs, and merchandise exports of IP-intensive industries accounted for $775 billion, or 60.7% of total U.S. exports. Intellectual Property Law is relevant to business and global trade, and intersects with a number of other fields, including human rights, public health, and global development. FIU Law offers a certificate in Intellectual Property Law. To obtain the certificate students must: «E arn at least 15 credits from the Intellectual Property course list; «T ake at least two courses or seminars from the Entrepreneurship course list; and «T ake the Intellectual Property Survey Course
Day Division During the first two semesters, day division students will complete all 31 credits of the Foundation Curriculum. The day division is divided into two sections: A & B. Students in these sections take courses in the morning and afternoon. Evening Division During the fall and spring semesters of the first year and the fall of the second year, evening students will complete all 31 credits of the Foundation Curriculum. FIU Law also offers summer courses for evening and day division students. Twilight Option The Twilight Option allows day-division students to plan their schedule so courses are taken in the midafternoon and evening. The curriculum is otherwise identical to the day division.
Contracts...................................................................4 Torts..............................................................................4 Legal Skills & Values I..........................................3 Total...........................................................................11
First Year / Spring Civil Procedure......................................................4 Property.....................................................................4 Legal Skills & Values II........................................2 Total...........................................................................10
second Year / Fall Constitutional Law..............................................4 Criminal Law............................................................3 Intro to Int’l & Comp. Law................................3 Total...........................................................................10
Upper-Level Required Courses
Professional Responsibility Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution (2 courses) International & Comparative Law Legal Skills & Values III Graduate Seminar Pro Bono Practice 9
Academic Programs Board of Advocates The Board of Advocates (BOA) is a student-run organization that heads the Appellate Advocacy, Negotiation & Mediation, and Trial Advocacy Teams. It is designed to develop students’ advocacy skills in a variety of legal contexts. BOA teams compete in regional, national, and international competitions.
Appellate Advocacy (Moot Court)
FIU Law Review
Legal Skills & Values (LSV)
Students selected as members of the Negotiation & Mediation Team work in teams to prepare and then mediate an agreement on multiple issues with opposing counsel. Students receive substantial classroom instruction on a variety of negotiation and mediation techniques and strategies.
The FIU Law Review is a student-run organization responsible for producing a journal of scholarly legal works. As a symposium-based law review, issues are composed of articles addressing a particular area of the law, with authors often participating in a live symposium before publication. The FIU Law Review is committed to facilitating FIU Law’s growth and impact in the legal community.
Students learn the keys to effective lawyering through a series of three required courses focusing on legal analysis, research, writing, oral communication, and professionalism. These courses simulate legal problems which teach students how to recognize and address legal issues from inception through resolution. Throughout the courses, faculty members emphasize the importance of professionalism to being an effective attorney.
FIU Law Review membership is contingent on the successful completion of the Foundation Curriculum and the annual write-on competition. The write-on competition consists of a written case note and Bluebook examination. First-year academic performance is also considered when extending invitations.
In LSV I, students learn to locate, read, understand, and apply primary and secondary sources of law. Students continue to develop their research, analytical, and communication skills in LSV II, as they shift their focus from objective communication to persuasive writing and oral advocacy. The LSV III curriculum builds upon the research, analysis, and communication foundation that students developed in the first two courses. Assignments in LSV III include cover letters and resumes, contracts, client and attorney correspondence, negotiations, and pretrial motions and memoranda.
Trial Advocacy Program The Trial Advocacy Program is an intensive course of study that includes Trial Advocacy and Advanced Trial Advocacy. Students learn the legal mechanics and human dynamics of trying a lawsuit, including how to develop a case theme and theory, present a persuasive opening statement and closing argument, conduct direct and cross examinations, introduce exhibits, make objections, and understand the dynamics of jury selection. In lieu of a written final exam, students participate in a mock jury trial before a sitting judge and experienced trial lawyers.
The write-on competition takes place immediately following the conclusion of spring semester exams for traditional first-year students and following summersemester exams for transfer students. Evening division students are eligible to participate in the competition following their second spring semester.
Quality
Quality
Students, working in two-person teams, prepare an appellate brief and deliver an appellate oral argument in competition format as a means of making the Moot Court Team. Students receive substantial classroom instruction in persuasive brief writing, oral advocacy, and in the relevant appellate rules and procedures.
Negotiation & Mediation
What your classmates are saying:
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“I was able to perform well as a law clerk because of the training I received at FIU Law. The threesemester Legal Skills & Values requirement, allows students to develop advanced writing and research skills.”
Consecutive wins at the ABA Southeast Negotiation Competition 10
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International Studies International & Graduate Studies The practice of law is becoming increasingly global. The Office of International and Graduate Studies offers a variety of programs to introduce students to the international aspects of law and legal practice, including: « Study abroad programs « Student exchange programs « Visiting researcher and professor opportunities « Advanced-standing J.D. for foreign lawyers (JDAS) « LL.M. post-graduate program for foreign lawyers
LL.M. for Foreign Lawyers What your classmates are saying:
“The FIU LL.M. program for international lawyers attracted my attention because it takes place in Miami, a gateway for international law and business, and it provides its students with great professors, scholars, and successful international lawyers while still providing the best value around.”
Unique to FIU Law, students take a first-year Introduction to International & Comparative Law course. This course introduces students to public international law, international economic law, and comparative law. Exposure to the law of nations in the international component of the course poses critical jurisprudential questions on the nature of law, the role of enforceability, and the prospects for constructing an international society. The comparative component compares and contrasts the common law system that prevails in the United States with civil law systems, especially as they have evolved in Latin America. Together the course provides the foundation for later advanced study in these and other topics as part of the upper-level curriculum. To add to students’ knowledge of international law, each course in the Foundation Curriculum includes an international law component.
The LL.M. is a residential program where students live and study in Miami. The LL.M. graduate has studied law in English in the United States and knows not only the content of U.S. law, but also the daily life and culture of the country from personal experience. See the world: law.fiu.edu/international-grad
Quality
Quality
International & Comparative Law
The LL.M. is a post-graduate course of study for lawyers who have completed their first law degree in another country. It is composed of 24 credits and is based entirely on coursework that runs one academic year: from August to May. It does not have subject specialties, and the courses taken by LL.M. students are determined on an individual basis.
Summer Study Abroad The capital of the Southern province of Andalusia, Spain, Seville has both historical weight and modern relevance. With three UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the thirdlargest Old Town in Europe, it is simply a beautiful place to learn. FIU Law partners with Universidad de Sevilla each year for the summer abroad program to bring students a real understanding of Spanish legal culture. Faculty from both sides of the Atlantic teach intensive courses in both U.S. and Spanish law. Classes emphasizing comparative studies will examine the laws of both nations and utilize Seville’s historical connections to the world. Courses are taught in English. Knowledge of the Spanish language is useful, but not necessary. The program is open to all students from ABA-accredited law schools who have completed at least one year of study. 12
#1 Ranked Best Environment for Hispanic law students Hispanic Business Magazine
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Where do you want to be?
Where wants to be seized
What your alumni are saying:
Opportunity
Opportunity
“FIU Law has been able to recruit some of the most renowned practitioners in their respective fields as professors. The practical experience they provided, coupled with the academic training and qualifications of a remarkable faculty, prepared me for the practice of law.”
Getting a quality legal education in Miami—the largest legal market in Florida and a gateway to the global marketplace—helps maximize your employment prospects after graduation. Why? Because you will have the opportunity to gain real legal experience while here. Many of the nation’s largest law firms have a presence in Miami. There are more than 250 judges in Miami-Dade and Broward counties combined. The criminal law bar in South Florida is the largest in the state. Opportunities like these allow you to connect with a vast network of legal professionals and gain valuable experience while you study. The opportunity—and the work—is out there.
Go get it.
77%
E mployment Success
Of our 2013 graduates secured full-time, long-term legal jobs.* #2 in Florida *Bar pass required & J.D. advantage; excludes graduates pursuing additional degrees or not seeking employment
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What your alumni are saying:
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“Serving as a judicial law clerk opened the door to many professional development opportunities. I was able to create a network of professionals in the legal field who have helped in the development of my legal career. Today, I am able to serve as a mentor to others who are pursuing the same path.�
Since 2009, FIU Law alumni have accepted 31 federal or state appellate clerkships, including 6 at the U.S. Court of Appeals.
The Abraham S. Ovadia 09’ Career Planning & Placement Office (CP&P) is focused on placement. The Office provides students and alumni with the services and resources necessary to discover the legal career that fits them best. CP&P has cultivated outstanding relationships with leading law firms, public service employers, federal agencies, and courts throughout Florida and across the nation. On-staff attorney/advisors with practical legal experience provide students with comprehensive and personalized career counseling. An online database of job listings and employer information helps students search for positions, and the Office offers a robust on-campus interview program in both the fall and spring. CP&P also facilitates student participation in numerous job fairs to ensure they find the career that is perfect for them.
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Opportunity
Opportunity
Career Planning & Placement
Our graduates practice from coast to coast, including in these jurisdictions: California Florida Georgia Maryland Massachusetts Michigan
New Jersey New York North Carolina Pennsylvania Texas Washington, D.C.
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Become Practice Ready
What your alumni are saying:
Legal Externship Program public defenders, learning the criminal justice system from the inside, and develop their legal skills by representing defendants or the State of Florida in actual criminal cases.
Last year, 120 students—more than 50% of those eligible to participate—took advantage of this successful program. The following are the available externship options.
Civil The Civil Externship Program allows students to explore careers with governmental, public interest, or corporate entities. This is a program for those interested in legal services, nonprofits, administrative agencies, governmental agencies, and in-house counsel positions.
Criminal South Florida has some of the of the largest state attorney and public defender offices in the state. This affords FIU Law students a tremendous opportunity. The Criminal Externship Program helps students gain a better understanding of criminal law and the criminal justice system. Externs work alongside prosecutors and
Judicial There are more than 250 judges in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Through the Judge Aaron B. Cohen Judicial Externship Program, students work with judges and magistrates, draft memoranda of law and other documents in chambers, and participate in day-to-day court operations.
Expand Your Skill Set and Build Your Professional Reputation Externships Criminal Civil « Finance « Environmental « Child Welfare « Public Interest « Federal « Compliance Judicial Judge Aaron B. Cohen Judicial Externship Program
C linics Carlos A. Costa Immigration & Human Rights Clinic Death Penalty Clinic Family & Education Law Clinic Immigrant Children’s Justice Clinic Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic Small Business Clinic
Opportunity
Opportunity
One of FIU Law’s greatest strengths is its Legal Externship Program. Students in this Program earn credit and gain practical legal experience, making them better prepared for the practice of law. Additionally, students are able to build relationships with employers and expand their professional networks.
“When I entered FIU Law, my ultimate goal was to pursue a leadership position within the federal government. I am honored to be amongst a group of brilliant future leaders. Being a Presidential Management Fellow is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity which I am confident will launch my career.”
A dvocacy Programs Board of Advocates Appellate Advocacy (Moot Court) Negotiation & Mediation Program Trial Advocacy Program
Academic Offerings
24 Alumni Named Rising Stars by Super Lawyers Magazine in 2014 18
Certificate in Intellectual Property Law International & Graduate Studies Pathways to the Profession Academic Excellence Program Joint Degrees - Masters in: « Business Administration « Criminal Justice « Environmental Studies « International Business « Latin American & Caribbean Studies « Psychology « Public Administration « Social Work
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Clinical Programs: Helping the Community While Gaining Experience FIU Law offers students the opportunity to work as lawyers under the supervision of licensed attorneys through its legal clinics program. Like a law firm within the law school, these clinics allow upper-division students to represent individuals and community organizations in need of legal assistance.
Carlos A. Costa Immigration & Human Rights Clinic Assists individuals who are seeking asylum because of political persecution, relief under country-specific immigration legislation, and immigrant worker victims of wage theft.
Assists court-appointed defense counsel in gathering documents, interviewing witnesses and clients, analyzing discovery, investigations, legal research, drafting pleadings and memoranda, assisting with strategic decisions, and in developing integrated theories of defense in death penalty cases.
Family Law Clinic The education advocacy project assists parents in obtaining access to adequate special education for their children and children faced with school disciplinary proceedings as a result of disabilities. The family cases include: contested and uncontested divorces; establishment, modification and enforcement of child and spousal support; custody and visitation; international child abduction; and domestic violence.
Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic In partnership with the FIU College of Medicine, assists families in four Miami-Dade County neighborhoods with health-related cases. The clinic also undertakes policy advocacy projects to improve client access to health care.
Immigrant Children’s Justice Clinic Assists unaccompanied minors who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected.
Small Business Clinic Provides basic corporate legal assistance to for-profit small businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profit organizations that cannot afford to pay market rates for legal services. 20
Opportunity
Opportunity
Death Penalty Clinic
What YOUR ALUMNI are saying:
“FIU Law equipped me with the training and experience that I need to succeed in the legal industry. The College’s proximity to county, state, and federal courts, along with its location in Florida’s largest legal market, gives students access to a wide variety of opportunities. I am very happy I chose FIU Law. It was a truly rewarding experience.”
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Where do you want to be?
Where
What your classmates are saying:
“The faculty at FIU Law provides encouragement and support to the students. They are there every step of the way and are committed to helping us succeed.”
As the only public law school in South Florida, your education will not only be exceptional, but affordable as well.
Value
Value
comes in many forms
Our unrivaled value gives you the financial flexibility to pursue your career goals on your own terms and enhances your post-law school quality of life. In an era where the cost of legal education is rising amidst an evolving professional landscape, FIU Law’s core mission – to provide access to the legal profession through a contemporary, high-quality educational program – resonates more loudly than ever.
Are you listening?
40 One of the Top 40 Best Value Law Schools in America PreLaw Magazine
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Pathways to the Profession In what areas of law do you want to practice? What types of clients do you want to serve? What fundamental skills do you want to build during your law school years to achieve those professional goals?
58% Of students receive scholarships or grants
Your journey into the practice of law will include course work designed to provide you with the requisite legal knowledge to be a lawyer. Your journey will also include programs to help you develop the other skills necessary to being a successful, professional, and ethical member of the bar.
Value
Value
Answering these questions lays the framework for developing a coherent plan for your law school experience. FIU Law’s Pathway to the Profession Initiative is designed to help guide you to your chosen career goals. The program begins the summer prior to entering FIU Law, and continues after you graduate. The faculty, administrators, and alumni at FIU Law are here to help you plan your own individualized strategy.
Pathways offered include: « Alternative Dispute Resolution « Bankruptcy Law « Business Law « Citizenship & Migration « Civil Litigation « Commercial Law « Criminal Law « Environmental Law « Estate Planning & Probate « Family Law « Health Law « Intellectual Property « International & Comparative Law « Labor & Employment Law « Public & Regulatory Law « Real Estate Law
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What your classmates are saying:
“Like many students at FIU Law, I am working during my 3L year. The law school has an evening division, which allows students, including day-division students like myself, to build a flexible class schedule. This flexibility allows me to put what I learn in the classroom to use in the real world.”
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Think Differently? There’s a law school for that. And it’s right here, right now. Our value goes beyond tuition. At FIU Law, you and your goals matter. Our small class sizes allow you to leverage the resources available to you and maximize your opportunities to succeed. We welcome creative thinkers and driven, entrepreneurial-minded professionals. We don’t settle, and neither should you.
11:1 Student-to-faculty ratio
Academic Excellence
What your classmates are saying:
“FIU Law does so much to help students transition into the legal profession. FIU Law keeps the class sizes small, which means you get a lot of personal attention. It also provides students with a wealth of opportunities to gain practical experience. In my final year I am participaing in a clinic where I work on real cases under the supervision of a licensed attorney. In today’s legal market, getting practical experience while in law school can make a huge difference in the world, and every student at FIU Law who wants that sort of experience can get it.”
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FIU Law’s Academic Excellence Program (AEP) provides students with resources to help them succeed in law school, conquer the bar examination, and develop strong practice skills. Starting the first semester, the AEP acts as an extended orientation, detailing academic expectations and introducing students to the methods used in law school examinations. Applying lessons from the science of educational psychology, the AEP integrates contextualization, self-regulated learning, and formative assessments to allow students to hone personalized study skills so that they can fully maximize their academic results.
Value
Value
Academic Excellence Program
Student Organizations In addition to a rigorous course of study, FIU Law students have the opportunity to enhance their educational experience by participating in studentled organizations. The primary student organization is the Student Bar Association. There are more than 30 additional organizations, each promoting various activities for you and your classmates.
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Top 5 Reasons Your Classmates Are Here
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*
Small class sizes and a dynamic, cooperative academic environment
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Faculty who are both brilliant legal minds and engaging legal educators Join Us 28
Our location in Miami, Florida, a vibrant intenational city with a robust legal community
Success in law school and beyond requires more than intellectual ability and a strong work ethic. It requires students to take control of their studies and their career paths.
Tuition
You must learn to take a proactive approach to building relationships with members of the faculty and your peers, and must take steps to cultivate your professional networks. The administration, faculty and staff at FIU Law are committed to helping you find your path in law school and beyond.
Annual (Out-of-State)
Annual (In-State) Day $21,345 Evening $14,460 Student Fees $398 (per year)
Day $35,590 Evening $24,109 Student Fees $399 (per year)
Per Credit Hour In-State $688 Out-of-State $1,148
3.11
3.76
151
158
(75%)
(25%)
(75%)
LSAT *
3.58
156
MEDIAN
MEDIAN
*As of 10/31/14; excludes LL.M. Candidates
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Alumni reputation in the profession for being hard-working and adept
5
The ability to obtain a high-quality, modern legal education at an exceptional value
(25%)
GPA*
Join Us
3
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Scholarships & Financial Aid
Application Checklist To apply for admission, you must create an account with the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) at lsac.org and submit the following documents before the application deadline of May 1:
Join Us
Merit Scholarship Program Full-time applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships at the time of application review. Merit scholarships are awarded based on undergraduate GPA and LSAT score. Scholarship offers are presented to admitted students in their admissions offers. Priority consideration is given to eligible candidates who apply for admission by March 15. Merit scholarships are renewable each year. First Generation Scholarships The First Generation Scholarship Program provides scholarships to those students who are the first in their immediate family to attend professional school. All first generation admitted students are encouraged to respond to the call for essays. Graduate Need Grant Awards are based on financial need and are available to both full-time and part-time students. You must complete a FAFSA to be considered. Funds are limited and it is strongly recommended that you submit your FAFSA as early as January 1 and before the FIU Law priority deadline of February 15. Students must be registered for no less than 9 credits to qualify.
Transfer Students If you are currently attending a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) then you may apply for a transfer to FIU Law. You must have completed at least one full-time semester or two part-time semesters, be in good standing at your current institution, and have a class rank (if applicable) in the upper one-third of your first-year class. Explore more scholarship opportunities: law.fiu.edu/students/scholarships
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65% Diversity in 2014 incoming class
Join Us
« Application for admission « Application fee ($20, non-refundable) « LSAT score(s) «O fficial transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended « Personal statement (two pages, double-spaced) « Two letters of recommendation « Résumé (optional)
FIU Law offers a wide variety of financial aid opportunities to help our students finance their legal education. Applicants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for federal loans and our institutional need-based grants. Visit fafsa.ed.gov and apply as early as January 1 using the FIU School Code 009635.