LLM

425 West Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1601, USA
Phone: 850.644.3787 | Website: www.law.fsu.edu

Introduction

Florida State University College of Law provides students with a sophisticated legal education. The school encourages close working relationships among students and faculty; expert faculty members are accessible to students and teach them outside of the classroom as well as inside the classroom. Our faculty adds value by delivering a program of study that prepares students to enter the worlds of law, business, or government at the highest possible level. Florida State University College of Law inhabits a strong sense of community; students are proud of the law school and of one another.

Florida State offers students a wealth of legal employment opportunities. Located in Tallahassee, a city with more than 500 law firms and numerous government agencies, Florida State University College of Law is just steps away from the state Capitol, the Florida Supreme Court, and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida.

Law School Enrollment

More than 700 students are currently enrolled at the Florida State University College of Law. Of those, 12 students are enrolled in Florida State's LLM programs. The school encompasses students from a wide variety of backgrounds. The student body represents 31 states, 19 countries, and 164 colleges and universities. Since 2004, the College of Law has been designated one of the nation's top law schools for Hispanic students.

Physical Facilities

The physical facilities of Florida State University College of Law consist of Roberts Hall, the connected Research Center, the Rotunda and Village Green, which is comprised of four restored houses, and the Advocacy Center. All of the law school's classrooms are either new or recently remodeled. Classrooms are equipped with technology podiums that allow professors to present multimedia lectures. A strong wireless infrastructure allows students to utilize the Internet throughout campus.

Florida State University College of Law students have 24/7 access to the Research Center, which houses one of the most comprehensive collections of legal materials. The distinctive feature of the Research Center is that its faculty proactively trains students and other faculty members to produce highly sophisticated, cost-effective legal research. For example, the Research Center offers specialized courses in efficient research relating to environmental law, economics, business and tax law, and international law. The law school's Research Center was also significantly remodeled in 2011. Highlights include an improved student area for studying and collaboration.

Our 50,000-square-foot Advocacy Center is devoted to using the third year of law school to better prepare students for immediate entry into the legal profession. It houses five courtrooms for advocacy training, suites of offices for our business faculty and environmental faculty, and offices for the faculty and students serving clients in our Public Interest Law Center.

Housing

The university has limited on-campus housing specifically for graduate students. There also is ample non-university housing within walking distance of the law school. The law school's Office of Student Affairs offers a roommate referral service available to all students.

LLM Programs/Areas of Specialization

Florida State University College of Law offers two LLM programs: one in the area of environmental law and policy and one in American law for foreign lawyers.

Environmental Law and Policy

Building on its highly ranked environmental law program, Florida State University College of Law offers an LLM in Environmental Law and Policy. The degree offering gives JD holders the opportunity to concentrate in or enhance their knowledge of environmental law, land use law, natural resources law, and energy law.

Incoming students are matched with program faculty members who will mentor them and help design a curriculum that will best suit their interests, educational backgrounds, and professional needs. Students have the option to enroll in the program on a part-time basis.

Students in the master's program work closely with the law school's nationally recognized faculty members, who teach a broad range of courses in the fields of environmental law, natural resources law, land use law, and energy law.

In addition to a rich array of courses taught by legal experts, students benefit from Florida State's location in Tallahassee. Students may take advantage of related courses offered by other departments at Florida State, which is a major research university. Florida's capital city gives LLM students diverse opportunities to work with government agencies, administrative tribunals, public interest organizations, the state legislature, and leading private law firms.

Application Information

• Applications accepted October 1 for all terms
• Application deadlines: November 1 for spring term, June 1 for fall term
• Application fee: $30
• One letter of recommendation required, no more than three accepted
• Two official transcripts required from each law school attended, whether the applicant received a degree from that law school or not, including any prior LLM programs
• Complete and updated résumé or CV required
• Essay required
• Legal writing sample required
• Tuition: Students in the LLM in Environmental Law and Policy program pay the same tuition and fees as those in the JD program. For the 2012–2013 academic year, tuition and fees per credit hour are $656.38 for in-state students and $1,323.45 for out-of-state students.

Contact Information

For additional information about this program, please visit the College of Law website, or contact:

David L. Markell 
Steven M. Goldstein Professor and Associate Dean for Environmental Programs
425 West Jefferson Street
Tallahassee, FL 32306
USA

Phone: 850.644.7781
Fax: 850.644.7282
E-mail: EnvironmentalPrograms@law.fsu.edu

American Law for Foreign Lawyers

The LLM in American Law for Foreign Lawyers provides foreign graduate students trained in law the opportunity to develop an understanding of the American legal system and the role of law in the United States. Students may also design their curriculum to gain in-depth knowledge of United States law in fields such as commercial law, environmental law, intellectual property, administrative law, international law, and other areas. Students benefit not only from working with the law school's outstanding faculty and students, but also by establishing professional relationships with other LLM students from around the world.

This small, select program assures that every student will receive personal attention and counseling. Each student works with a faculty adviser to design a curriculum that best meets the needs and goals of the student. LLM students are fully integrated into the Florida State University law school community, beginning with a program that includes not only classes to introduce LLM students to the American legal system and the culture of legal study in the United States, but also social events to initiate relationships with faculty, administrators, and other students in the law school community.

Students must successfully complete at least 24 credits in order to attain the degree, which is normally completed in one year. All students are required to take two mandatory classes in the fall semester: a class on American legal research and writing and a second course giving an introduction to American law. The remainder of the program is full elective, allowing students to specialize in areas of the law where they desire to attain additional expertise.

Students also have the opportunity, depending on their performance in the LLM program, to apply as a transfer student to the College's JD program. Accepted JD transfers will receive credit for their LLM year, allowing students to ordinarily complete the JD program in two additional years.

Most states have requirements for foreign law school graduates that include criteria beyond an LLM degree, and those states allowing LLM graduates to sit for the bar may require that those students take certain types of classes during the LLM program. The College of Law offers academic counseling, including a written manual on understanding bar requirements, for LLM students seeking to tailor their curriculum to meet the requirements necessary to take the bar examination in particular jurisdictions. For specific questions on the requirements for bar admission in particular states, students should consult the bar admission agency in the jurisdiction involved.

Application Information

• Application deadline: May 15
• Application fee: $30
• Two letters of recommendation required, at least one should be from an academic instructor familiar with the student's work
• Official TOEFL® or IELTS™ score required
• Two transcripts from each postsecondary school required
• Certification of Financial Responsibility form and proof of financial support required
• Written personal statement required
• Tuition: Most students in the LLM in American Law for Foreign Lawyers program pay the same fees as out-of-state JD students. The total out-of-state tuition and fees estimated for the 2012–2013 academic year are $31,762.80. Students from Latin American and Caribbean nations are often eligible for in-state tuition. In-state tuition and fees for the 2012-2013 academic year are estimated at $15,753.12.

Contact Information

For additional information about this program, please visit the College of Law website, or contact:

David E. Landau
Assistant Professor and Associate Dean for International Programs
425 West Jefferson Street
Tallahassee, FL 32306
USA

Phone: 850.644.3288
Fax: 850.644.1677
E-mail: InternationalPrograms@law.fsu.edu

Student Services and Organizations

Students have the opportunity to participate in many extracurricular organizations. More than 30 student and service organizations allow students to become leaders at the law school and active participants in the legal community. The Student Bar Association serves an active student government role and coordinates many law school-sponsored social activities, community projects, and programs. The Student Bar Association received the 2010 Public Interest National Achievement Award from the Law Student Division of the American Bar Association and in 2012 received the Henry J. Ramsey, Jr. Diversity Award. In 2008, 2009, and 2012 the Law Student Division selected Florida State as the "SBA of the Year."

Career Services

The law school provides assistance to law students, graduates, and legal employers through its Placement Office. Florida State's successful and enthusiastic alumni remain very engaged in the law school. Students have access to a list of more than 600 alumni who have volunteered to be available to answer questions about job search strategies and networking. Students also are encouraged to take advantage of the law school's individual career counseling services. Faculty members also are engaged in helping LLM students with their career-related needs.

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