Florida State University College of Law
The information on this page was provided by the law school.
Official Guide to ABA-Approved JD Programs
Florida State University College of Law is Florida’s best and one of the nation’s best in terms of students gaining employment after law school. From incoming orientation through graduation and beyond, we strategize your job search process with you because preparing our graduates to succeed in their careers is the most important thing we do.
The College of Law alumni network is a primary reason why our graduates fare so well in the legal job market. Our alumni are extremely engaged in helping to connect students with job opportunities. From practicing attorneys to business and government leaders, alumni frequently appear as guest lecturers or adjunct professors. Many participate in networking lunches, coming to campus or engaging virtually. Many host receptions in their communities to help students network. Almost 1,000 alumni have specifically volunteered to serve as Career Mentors, helping our students with job placement in Florida and around the world.
Florida State’s location in Tallahassee also gives students an advantage in the job market. Tallahassee is home to 1,000-plus law firms, state and federal courts, numerous state agencies, the Governor’s Office, and the Florida Legislature. Access to these employers for part-time work gives our students many opportunities to gain experience in areas of the law that interest them and to increase their credentials. This experience helps them get jobs around the world.
As a Florida State law student, you will have access to extensive clinical offerings. Our externship program offers students options in a wide variety of substantive areas and locations. These opportunities allow students to work alongside attorneys in Tallahassee, throughout Florida and the U.S., and even internationally.
As a Florida State law student, you also will have access to our outstanding faculty and career professionals in our Career Services and Professional Development Office, who are dedicated to helping students find jobs. Many of our professors have worked at prestigious national law firms. We have a faculty that is very much at “the cutting edge.” They are productive and successful, and want you to be, too. Our students like their experiences at our law school and the careers we help them launch.
The JD Program
The College of Law's three-year curriculum for the Juris Doctor degree begins with traditional courses and expands to include the latest in theoretical and interdisciplinary analyses.
The first-year curriculum provides the foundation in history, doctrine, process and analysis that students need to fully appreciate more specialized courses offered later in law school. In the second and third years of law school, our program is almost entirely elective. It includes a wide range of courses and approaches. Some of our classes are purely theoretical and doctrinal. Some focus on particular industries, such as health, pharmaceuticals, and entertainment and sports law. We also offer many opportunities for experiential learning and other courses designed to enable students to be sophisticated entrants into the worlds of business, government and law practice.
In addition to our especially strong programs in business, environmental law and international law, we have one of the best criminal law programs in the region. Students can also take advantage of one of nine joint-degree programs, offered in cooperation with other colleges, schools and departments at Florida State University.
We have live-client clinics in family law, children’s advocacy, and law and business. We also have extensive externship offerings throughout Florida and elsewhere.
Finally, our co-curricular organizations provide students a wealth of ways to earn credit for “hands-on” legal activities. Our Mock Trial and Moot Court programs prepare students to be trial and appellate advocates, and our three student-run scholarly journals give students additional opportunity to hone their research and writing skills.
Student Life
Career Placement and Bar Passage
Learn more about career placement at Florida State University College of Law
Tuition and Aid
Tuition & Fees
As a state university, our tuition and fees are established by the Florida Legislature and are subject to change at any time. Please note that Florida State University College of Law does not have a tuition guarantee policy. Florida residents benefit from a competitive in-state tuition rate and most non-residents are eligible to reclassify as Florida residents for tuition purposes after their 1L year.
Scholarships
College of Law first-year scholarships are awarded to students on the basis of merit, considering both the LSAT/GRE score AND cumulative GPA. The majority of our entering students receive first-year scholarships.
Admitted students are automatically considered and are notified upon admissions if they are awarded a scholarship. All first-year scholarships are for three years. Scholarship awards, or a lack of scholarship award, is non-negotiable.
Second- and third-year students may apply for a variety of scholarships each spring. Most scholarships disburse during the fall and spring semesters, with limited exceptions for summer disbursements.
Loans
In addition to our scholarship assistance program, students at the College of Law finance their legal education in large part through the Federal Direct Loan program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Education. Specifically, these loans include the Federal Stafford Unsubsidized Loan and the Graduate Student PLUS Loan.
Federal loans typically have lower interest rates, multiple repayment options, longer repayment periods, and other protections. Also, their credit requirements are less stringent than private loans.
The Florida State University now processes all federal loans through the Federal Direct Loan program. Current students must be registered for at least 6 credit hours to be eligible for student loans.
Admission Decisions: Beyond the Numbers
Applications are evaluated from October through August by the admissions committee. Decisions are made on a rolling basis and priority consideration is given to the strongest applications submitted by the priority deadline of March 15th. Applications completed after March 15th but by the final deadline of July 31st may not receive a timely decision.
To determine whether or not your application is complete, applicants should regularly check their online status checker. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the application is complete by the posted deadline.
Petitioning for Reconsideration
Applicants who have been denied admission can request reconsideration only in situations where the applicant has new, significant information that was not available at the time of the original application or during the timeframe in which your application was under review by the Admissions Committee. Examples of significant information include: an improved LSAT score or GRE score, a significant increase in grade point average.
A written request must include an explanation of the new information as well as valid reasons warranting reconsideration. The request must be e-mailed within 30 days of the date of denial to the Admissions Committee with “Request for Reconsideration” in the subject line.
The Admissions Committee's decision on a petition for reconsideration is final. Further petitions will not be accepted.
