University of Miami School of Law Overview
The University of Miami School of Law is an ABA-accredited private law school in Coral Gables, Florida. The school began accepting students in 1926 and graduated its first class in 1929.
Miami Law has a longstanding reputation for academic excellence, and its tax law course is one of the best in the US. Other areas of study the school is famous for include corporate law, international law, sports law, entertainment law, and environmental law.
The school also provides everything students need to pursue a career in international law, comparative law, and transnational practice. Students can get their JD via a full-time three-year program or maximize their time with a dual-degree program.
Dual-degree programs allow students to acquire a Juris Doctor (JD) and another degree at the same time. Some of Miami Law’s dual-degree programs are:
- JD and Master of Business Administration
- JD and Master of Professional Science in Marine Affairs
- JD and Master of Public Health
- JD and Master of Music in Music Business and Entertainment Industries
- JD and Master of Arts in Communication
Students get top-quality education in small classes with a 9:1 faculty-to-student ratio. The small classes ensure students have easy access to faculty members for one-on-one consultations.
Aside from scholastic learning, the University of Miami School of Law excels at training students for real-world legal practice. It accomplishes this by teaching practical and trial skills through its:
- Practicums
- Externships and fellowships
- Litigation skills program
- Judicial clerkships
- Moot court and mock trials
The school’s moot court program is so effective, PreLaw Magazine (Fall 2016) ranked it 14th out of 200 in the US. Miami Law’s clinical program is also one of the best in the country. It provides hands-on experience in environmental justice, health rights, children and youth law, human rights, tenants’ rights, immigration, investor rights, and bankruptcy.
Through the Miami STREET Law Program, students can give to society by imparting critical thinking and legal analysis skills to local teens. For an even more wholesome education, the school has exchange and summer programs that send students to Berlin, Dublin, China, Vietnam, Rio de Janeiro, and Zurich.
Miami Law’s quality education contributes to the institution’s high bar passage rate, which surpasses the state average. Also, most graduates find satisfactory JD-required employment within a year of graduating.
Compared to other US law schools, Miami Law is rich in diversity. The Princeton Review (2020 Law School Rankings) ranked it #5 for Most Diverse Faculty, while the National Jurist Magazine (Spring 2020) considers it the 5th Best School for Hispanics.
The 2021 class consists of 50% females and 50% minorities. Plus, 58% of the class speaks more than one language. That said, attending the University of Miami School of Law can be pricey. Fortunately, the institution offers assistance through various financial aids and scholarships.
University of Miami School of Law Rankings
Various bodies create law school rankings every year. The rankings indicate which law schools are the best in the US for education and more. Checking the ranking of a school before applying will give you an idea of its quality and how hard it is to gain admission.
Top-ten law schools are typically more competitive and expensive. On the upside, graduates from such schools have access to some of the most attractive employment opportunities. Still, none of this means graduates from lower-ranked schools cannot have fulfilling careers.
The US News and World Report 2021 ranks Miami Law as the 67th best law school in the US. PublicLegal’s 2020 Raw Data Law School Rankings places the school at #64.
Even though these rankings are not within the top ten, the school’s bar passage rate is higher than the state average. Also, its 2020 statistics indicate that over 80% of graduates that year gained employment within ten months of graduating.
University of Miami School of Law Admissions
What is the University of Miami School of Law’s Acceptance Rate?
The University of Miami School of Law’s recent acceptance rate is 54.35%, which is a slight drop from its 2019 acceptance rate of 54.7%. Since more than 50% of applicants get in, admission into the school is marginally competitive.
To determine which applicants to accept, each law school has its own set of requirements. At the University of Miami School of Law, these requirements are a candidate’s LSAT score and GPA. The school considers GPAs because it shows how hard an applicant is willing to work in school.
To get in, you need a minimum GPA of 3.15, but your chances will be better if your GPA is between 3.36 and 3.60.
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is an exam that tests your reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, and logical reasoning. You need these skills to cope with the law school curriculum. You can get into the University of Miami School of Law with an LSAT score of at least 154, but your chances will be better if you score between 157 and 160.
Because the LSAT provides a more accurate idea of your ability to cope with legal education, law schools prioritize it over GPA. In other words, if your GPA is unsatisfactory, a high LSAT score can still get you admitted.
You can further increase your chances of admission by supporting your GPA and LSAT with a persuasive personal statement and letters of reference from noteworthy recommenders. Miami Law also considers a candidate’s community service, work experience, and extracurriculars.
For more on the University of Miami School of Law’s acceptance rate, see the box below.
University of Miami School of Law LSAT Percentiles
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2023 Entering Class Profile
What is the Tuition for the University of Miami School of Law?
What are the Living Expenses at the University of Miami School of Law?
What are the Housing Options at the University of Miami School of Law?
Bar Passage Rates at the University of Miami School of Law
Application Deadlines
What Materials do I Need When Applying to the University of Miami School of Law?
The University of Miami School of Law requires you to submit applications along with the following materials:
- Résumé
- LSAT
- GPA
- Recommendation letters
- Personal statement
More information can be found on the school’s website. You can submit these materials electronically or as hard copies as soon as the school begins accepting applications. The school won’t process your application until the materials are complete.
When does the University of Miami School of Law begin accepting applications?
Miami Law begins receiving electronic applications on September 1.
How are Applications to the University of Miami School of Law Submitted?
You can submit your application electronically via the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS). Applicants can also submit hard copies by downloading documents here.
Does the University of Miami School of Law Have an “Early Admission” or “Early Decision” Process?
Miami Law does not have an early admission process. Instead, it processes applications on a rolling basis throughout the year.
How Much is the Application Fee and When is the Deadline?
Does the University of Miami School of Law Grant Interviews?
Interviews are not part of the admission process at Miami Law. Your personal statement is your only chance to convince the admissions committee of your suitability for admission.
Employment After the University of Miami School of Law
Students apply to high-ranking law schools because getting lucrative jobs after graduating is easier. While Miami Law is not a top-ten law school, most of its graduates have no trouble getting well-paid jobs soon after graduating. Currently, twenty thousand of the school’s alumni are practicing law in the US and internationally. A significant number also have successful careers in other fields.
For over six years, the University of Miami School of Law’s graduate job placement rate has been higher than or equal to the national average job placement rate.
From the 2021 class, 83.5% of graduates landed a job within nine months of graduating. Of these, 62% became law firm employees, while others started their own firms. In addition, 17% went into the business world, while 13% became government employees.
A total of 3% pursued careers in public interest, while 2% either sought further degrees or pursued a career in academia. Most of these employed graduates remained in Florida, while 8% relocated to New York and the District of Columbia.
According to a 2021 report, Miami Law graduates in the private sector earn a median salary of $75,000. This figure is a significant improvement over 2021’s reported median salary of $60,000 for those in the private sector. Those in the public sector earned significantly less with a median salary of $45,000 in 2017 and 2020.
To put you on the right path toward achieving your goals, Miami Law’s attorney advisors provide individual career counseling. The school also runs several job-related programs.