College of Law

Florida International University, College of Law History

Florida International University College of Law was established in 2000 and is a public institution. The 584-acre campus is in an urban area of Miami Dade County, Florida. The primary mission of the law school is to serve the citizens of the State of Florida, particularly south Florida, by providing access to the legal profession through a high quality educational program. Students have access to federal, state, county, city, and local agencies, courts, correctional facilities, law firms, and legal aid organizations in the Miami area. Housing for students is in wing of residence hall. All law school facilities are accessible to the physically disabled.

Florida International University, College of Law Academics

Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 6 credits credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.A.L.A.C.S. (Juris Doctor/Master of Latin American and Caribbean Studies), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.I.B. (Juris Doctor/Master of International Business), J.D./M.P.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration), J.D./M.S. Psych (Juris Doctor/Master of Psychology), J.D./M.S.C.J. (Juris Doctor/Master of Criminal Justice), J.D./M.S.E. (Juris Doctor/Master of Environmental Studies), and J.D./M.S.W. (Juris Doctor/Master of Social Work).

Clinics, open to second- and third-year students, include Community Development Clinic, Criminal Law Clinic, Immigration and Human Rights Clinic, and Juvenile Justice Judicial Clinic. All second-, third-, and fourth-year students are eligible to enroll in a seminar. Seminars include Critical Race Theory, Constitutional Theory, and Islamic Law. Internships may be done under the supervision of a professor, most done in international or foreign settings. Research programs include the Legal Skills and Values program. All students are required to complete 30 hours of community service with a pro bono organization. Special lecture series include the Faculty Colloquia Series. Study abroad is available in Sevilla, Spain. The College of Law has a comprehensive tutorial and remedial program, which is headed by the Assistant Dean of the Academic Support Program. The most widely taken electives are Evidence, Business Organizations, and Sales.

To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 90 total credits, of which 31 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Introduction to International and Comparative Law, Legal Skills and Values I and II, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of 2 Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution courses, International and Comparative Law, Legal Skills and Values III, and Professional Responsibility. The required orientation program for first-year students 3 days including coaching by legal writing instructors on writing briefs and preparing for class in a series of mock classes.

In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0, have completed the upper-division writing requirement, that must be completed as part of a seminar.

Florida International University, College of Law Unique Programs

Library

The law library contains 204,000 hard-copy volumes and 72,000 microform volume equivalents, and subscribes to 1500 serial publications. Such on-line databases and networks as CALI, CIS Universe, Infotrac, Legal-Trac, LEXIS, Mathew Bender, NEXIS, OCLC First Search, RLIN, WESTLAW, and Wilsonline Indexes are available to law students for research. Special library collections include Focus on Cuba, Latin America, and Caribbean materials; Focus on international and comparative law; national security and human rights. Recently, the library moved to a new 3 story building. The ratio of library volumes to faculty is 6800 to 1 and to students is 451 to 1. The ratio of seats in the library to students is 1 to 2.

Special Consideration

The law school recruits minority and disadvantaged students by participation and sponsorship in minority targeted events, application fee waiver programs, and direct mailing campaigns. Requirements are not different for out-of-state students. Transfer students must have one year of credit and have attended an ABA-approved law school.

Florida International University, College of Law Admissions

In the fall 2007 first-year class, 2135 applied, 583 were accepted, and 193 enrolled. Fourteen transfers enrolled. The median GPA of the most recent first-year class was 3.29. The lowest LSAT percentile accepted was 151; the highest was 157.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and take the LSAT. Minimum acceptable GPA is 2.0 on a scale of 4.0. The most important admission factors include GPA, LSAT results, and writing ability. No specific undergraduate courses are required. Candidates are not interviewed.

The application deadline for fall entry is May 1. Applicants should submit an application form, LSAT results, transcripts, a personal statement, a nonrefundable application fee of $20, and 3 letters of recommendation. Notification of the admissions decision is on a rolling basis. The latest acceptable LSAT test date for fall entry is February. The law school uses the LSDAS.

Florida International University, College of Law Financial Aid

The average annual amount of aid from all sources combined, including scholarships, loans, and work contracts, is $26,438; maximum, $42,765. Awards are based on need and merit. Required financial statement is the FAFSA. The aid application deadline for fall entry is February 1. First-year students are notified about their financial aid application at time of acceptance.

Florida International University, College of Law Students

About 47% of the student body are women; 54%, minorities; 8%, African American; 2%, Asian American; 41%, Hispanic; 1%, Native American; and 49%, foreign nationals 1%, whites 43%. The majority of students come from Florida (94%). The average age of entering students is 25; age range is 19 to 51. About 24% drop out after the first year for academic or personal reasons; 81% remain to receive a law degree.

The primary law review is the Florida International University College of Law, Law Review. The student newspaper is Ipsissima Verba. Moot court competitions include the Wechler First Amendment Moot Court Competition, Orseck Memorial Moot Court Competition, and the National Moot Court Competition. Other competitions include the ABA Negotiations Competition, Bedell Trial Advocacy Competition, and ATLA Trial Competition. Law student organizations include the Black Law Students Association, Student Bar Association, and Hispanic Law Students Association. Local chapters of national associations include Phi Alpha Delta.

The law school operates on a traditional semester basis. Courses for full-time students are offered days only and must be completed within 6 years. For part-time students, courses are offered evenings only and must be completed within 6 years. New full- and part-time students are admitted in the fall. There is a 12-week summer session. Transferable summer courses are offered.