RDB 1055
Miami, FL 33186
Phone: 305.348.8006; Fax: 305.348.2965
E-mail: lawadmit@fiu.edu; Website: law.fiu.edu
The Florida International University College of Law is South Florida's only publicly supported law school. Established in 2000, FIU College of Law is a member of the AALS. The international allure of the city of Miami and the diverse character of the institution is reflected in the curriculum which integrates important developments in the globalization of both public and private law.
The FIU College of Law academic program takes a unique approach to both international and comparative law by incorporating these perspectives into all domestic law classes and boasts of an impressive faculty of experts in various fields of law. FIU College of Law focuses in the preparation of high-caliber, ethical, and effective attorneys for the general practice of law while also encouraging a strong commitment to public service and community relations.
The FIU College of Law's academic program, while devoted to all the traditional components of an excellent American legal education, also emphasizes international and comparative law. To this end, the required curriculum includes a three-hour, first-year course titled Introduction to International and Comparative Law. Further, all domestic law courses include an international or comparative law dimension. This pervasive approach to international and comparative law encourages students to analyze legal systemic, political, economic, social, and other cultural differences that may contribute to different legal treatment of comparable problems in different countries. The College of Law also offers a foreign summer program in Sevilla, Spain.
As Miami's premier public research university, FIU offers a broad range of high quality, graduate-level degree programs. Law students interested in interdisciplinary study may take advantage of several joint-degree programs, including the following: JD/Master of Business Administration, JD/Master of International Business, JD/Master of Latin American and Caribbean Studies, JD/Master of Public Administration, JD/MS in Psychology, JD/Master of Social Work, JD/MS in Criminal Justice, and JD/Master of Science in Environmental Sciences.
In addition to a strong doctrinal program, the College of Law's Clinical Program advances the law school's goals of educating lawyers for the ethical and effective practice of law and of promoting community service through the representation of real clients. Presently, there are eight clinics available—the Carlos A. Costa Immigration and Human Rights Clinic; the Community Development Clinic; the Investor Advocacy Clinic; the Consumer Bankruptcy Clinic; the Education Advocacy Clinic; the Environmental Clinic; the Health, Ethics, Law and Policy Clinic; and the Immigrant Children's Justice Clinic—as well as externships in Criminal/Civil Law and the Florida Judiciary. The curriculum also emphasizes instruction in the legal skills and values of the profession. The Legal Skills and Values Program combines demanding traditional instruction in legal research and writing with an introduction to other lawyering skills, like interviewing and counseling, and issues of professionalism.
Moreover, as a public, urban law school, the College of Law is committed to serving the community of which it is a part by educating future lawyers who will understand the value—to the community and to themselves personally—of helping those in need. In recognition of this important mission, students must satisfy a community service requirement.
The FIU College of Law offers both a full-time day and part-time evening program. The review of applications is done on a rolling basis. An LSAC Credential Assembly Service report, three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement are required.
While a prospective student's academic record and LSAT performance are weighted heavily in the evaluative process, the Admissions Committee considers other factors, including leadership ability, commitment to public service, command of global issues, work history, military service, any history of criminality or academic misconduct, and evidence of obstacles that an applicant may have overcome (for example, English is not the applicant's native language, discrimination, economic or family hardship, and severe medical conditions, etc.). The Admissions Committee encourages each applicant to answer all questions with candor, detail, and, where appropriate, to give specific examples of relevant background experiences.
Transfer students from other ABA-approved law schools may apply if they are in good standing at their current institutions. Visit our website at law.fiu.edu for additional information.
The primary financial aid resources available to students are loans and need- or merit-based scholarships. Students must apply for financial aid (FAFSA) to be considered for any type of loan or need-based scholarship. No separate application is needed for merit-based scholarships. Eligible students will be considered based on the information provided in their admission application. Financial aid is granted on an annual basis, and awards are subject to student eligibility and availability of funds. Tuition is comparable to other Florida state-supported law schools at $473 per credit for Florida residents and $932 per credit for nonresidents. An additional $24,776 (approximate) can be expected to cover room and board, books, transportation, and personal expenses. Please call 305.348.8006 for further information.
The Law Library supports the law school curriculum, the research needs of its students and faculty, and the public's interest in access to critical legal materials. It contains over 220,000 volumes in book and microform format, over 4,000 digitized books, and an electronic archive of 1.6 million pages of historic codes, statutes, and regulations. The Law Library provides law students with a full range of electronic legal information resources, including Westlaw, LexisNexis, HeinOnline, BNA, CCH, and other web-based databases.
When performing background, factual, and/or interdisciplinary research, law students draw upon the Green Library on FIU's Maidique campus, which offers access to more than 1.5 million volumes and extensive electronic resources. The Law Library is staffed by six full-time and two part-time professional librarians, two of whom have law degrees. In addition to a comprehensive collection of core US materials, the library has an extensive collection of international, comparative, and foreign law materials, with a particular focus on Latin America and the Caribbean, international trade, and the workings of international tribunals and multilateral institutions.
The Career Development Office (CDO) provides a multitude of expert services and professional resources to assist students and alumni in finding employment and launching careers in the legal profession. The CDO continues to cultivate outstanding relationships with many leading employers, in Florida and nationwide, including a host of public service employers, federal agencies, and the Courts.
Professional and personal satisfaction is critical to any successful legal or law-related career. The CDO dedicates its considerable energies and resources to assisting students with developing individualized short- and long-term career strategies that allow students to successfully navigate through a broad spectrum of career options. The CDO serves as a resource for students and informational bridge between students and employers based in the South Florida community, regionally, and throughout the nation.
CDO Services include the following:
The CDO is committed to providing students with the tools necessary to pursue a wide range of career opportunities and to make informed career-related decisions.
Success in law school involves more than just intellectual curiosity and a sense of purpose. It involves the refining of time management skills, handling stress proactively, and forging relationships with faculty and peers. It also involves making the best possible use of available services and opportunities. Students bring a wealth of distinctive educational and professional experiences to the College of Law. However, they all share a common interest and goal: service to the law school, the local community, and the profession. Together with the support of the faculty and the administration, students have created a number of organizations and cocurricular activities reflective of this commitment. In its brief but productive history, the College of Law has established a thriving clinical and externship program, award-winning moot court and trial advocacy programs competing locally and nationally against teams throughout the country, and 23 student organizations, including the Student Bar Association.
The Florida International University College of Law Admissions Committee seeks to enroll a diverse group of students who have demonstrated academic and personal achievement. While a prospective student's academic record and LSAT performance are weighted heavily in the evaluative process, the Admissions Committee considers other factors, including leadership ability, commitment to public service, command of global issues, work history, military service, any history of criminality or academic misconduct, and evidence of obstacles that an applicant may have overcome (for example, English is not the applicant's native language, discrimination, economic or family hardship, severe medical condition, disability, etc.).