Florida A & M University College of Law

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Florida A & M University College of Law History

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Florida A & M University College of Law was established in 2000 and is a public institution. The campus is in an urban area of Orlando. The primary mission of the law school is to cultivate, through its faculty professionalism, respect, and responsibility toward others. Students have access to federal, state, county, city, and local agencies, courts, correctional facilities, law firms, and legal aid organizations in the Orlando area. Facilities of special interest to law students is the state of the art moot court room.

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Florida A & M University College of Law Academics

All upper-division students are eligible to participate in clinics. Some clinics have prerequisites such as Evidence or Trial Practice. Clinics offer 6 to 12 credits. All upper-division students are also eligible to participate in seminars worth 2 credits. All upper-division students are eligible to participate in internship programs. Internships usually are awarded 1 or 2 credits depending on the student effort required. The Academic Support Program provides tutorial assistance to students.

To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 90 total credits, of which 62 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required courses. All students must take clinical courses. The orientation program for first-year students is mandatory.

In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0 and have completed the upper-division writing requirement.

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Florida A & M University College of Law Unique Programs

Library

The law library contains 303,000 hard-copy volumes and 25,000 microform volume equivalents, and subscribes to 760 serial publications. Such on-line databases and networks as CALI, CIS Universe, Infotrac, Legal-Trac, LEXIS, LOIS, NEXIS, OCLC First Search, WESTLAW, CCH Business and Tax, RIA, and HeinOnline are available to law students for research. Special library collections include Virgil Hawkins Collection. Recently, the library increased the size from 10,000 square feet to 42,000 square feet. The ratio of library volumes to students is 771 to 1. The ratio of seats in the library to students is 1 to 1.

Special Consideration

Requirements are not different for out-of-state students.

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Florida A & M University College of Law Admissions

In the fall 2007 first-year class, 1037 applied, 295 were accepted, and 172 enrolled. Figures in the above capsule and in this profile are approximate. The median LSAT percentile of the most recent first-year class was 50; the median GPA was 3.01 on a scale of 4.0.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and take the LSAT. The most important admission factors include academic achievement, LSAT results, and writing ability. Candidates are interviewed.

Applicants should submit an application form, LSAT results, transcripts, TOEFL, an application fee, 2 letters of recommendation, and personal statement. Notification of the admissions decision is on a rolling basis. Check with the school for current application dealines. The law school uses the LSDAS.

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Florida A & M University College of Law Financial Aid

In a recent year, about 85% of current law students received some form of aid. The average annual amount of aid from all sources combined, including scholarships, loans, and work contracts, was $18,500; maximum, $23,500. Federal Aid is based on need. Scholarships are based on merit. Required financial statement is the FAFSA. Check with the school for current application deadlines. There is a grant available for black students in the day program based on merit that has the possibility of renewal each year. First-year students are notified about their financial aid application at time of acceptance.

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Florida A & M University College of Law Students

About 59% of the student body are women; 60%, minorities; 41%, African American; 3%, Asian American; 15%, Hispanic; and 1%, Native American. The majority of students come from Florida (98%). The average age of entering students is 31; age range is 21 to 66. About 14% of students enter directly from undergraduate school, 18% have a graduate degree, and 86% have worked full-time prior to entering law school. About 3% drop out after the first year for academic or personal reasons; 97% remain to receive a law degree.

Students edit the Florida A&M University College- Law Review and the newspaper, The FAMU Lawyer/ Moot court competitions include the American Bar Association (ABA) Moot Court Competition, Frederick Douglas Moot Court Competition, and Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition. Other competitions include the BMI Cardozo Entertainment Communications Law Moot Court Competition, and Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition. Law student organizations include the Student Bar Association, Black Law Students Association, and Women’s Law Caucus. Local chapters of national associations include the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International Hispanic American Law Students Association, and Federalist Law Society. Campus clubs and other organizations include the Criminal Law Association; Christian Legal Society; and Enterntainment, Arts and Sports Law Society.

The law school operates on a traditional semester basis. Courses for full-time and part-time students are offered both day and evening. New full- and part-time students are admitted in the fall. There is a summer session.