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University of Miami Law School: Requirements and Acceptance Rate

August 25, 2023
Contents

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Reviewed by:

Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University

Reviewed: 03/11/23

Do you want to join a law school that’s known for its exceptional mix of diverse perspectives and opportunities? If so, read on to learn more about how to get into the University of Miami Law School!

Established in 1928, the University of Miami School of Law has a long history of producing excellent lawyers and providing them with the very best education and experience.

With over 300 law courses, more than 320 distinguished faculty, 10 legal clinics, eight practicum courses, and five law review journals, UM is dedicated to creating leading lawyers that are ready for today’s spectrum of career opportunities. 

If you’d like to reap all of UM’s benefits, this guide will go over its admission requirements and deadlines, acceptance rate, tuition costs, and more!

University of Miami Law School Admission Requirements

The University of Miami Law School aims to accept students with the most potential for excellence in the study of law. To ensure the entering class is highly talented, UM requires the following

GPA Requirements

To apply to the University of Miami Law School, you will first need to complete an undergraduate degree at any accredited college/university. While the specific major you choose doesn’t matter, the GPA you get does! UM has a median GPA of 3.63.

Ensure you choose a major based on your interest in the subject rather than the prestige you believe it will hold. Law school admission committees will prefer an arts degree with a high GPA over a science degree with a low GPA!

Try to also diversify your transcript by taking elective courses outside of your major field of study. This will show the committee you are talented in multiple disciplines, making you a more well-rounded candidate.

LSAT Requirements

Every applicant must take the LSAT in order to apply to the University of Miami School of Law. To ensure your application is not delayed, it is recommended you take the LSAT in the summer or fall of the year before the one you wish to matriculate in. 

The median LSAT score of past accepted UM students is 160.

UM has also begun accepting GRE scores in lieu of the LSAT. For students wishing to write the GRE, you cannot also write the LSAT. If you have already taken the LSAT or plan to before your application deadlines, this score will automatically appear on your record and be considered over your GRE.

A Personal Statement

While your LSAT and GPA are arguably the most important parts of your application, your personal statement humanizes you by letting the admissions committee know more about your values and goals.

While the University of Miami provides no specifications on how long this statement should be, most personal statements are around two pages long.

Your personal statement can include relevant information about yourself, such as work experience, leadership roles, community service, your interest in law, your inspiration, or unique circumstances that provide you with different perspectives on law.

A Resume

Students must also submit a resume detailing their work, volunteer, and academic experience, as well as any awards or honors they’ve received. 

While you likely won’t have direct legal experience, you should include any extracurriculars you pursued that allowed you to develop your critical thinking, leadership, time management, collaboration, and communication skills.

Letters of Recommendation

Your scores and resume will generally speak for your academic potential. But admissions committees will also want to hear it from mentors who witnessed your academic excellence firsthand. 

Accordingly, UM requires prospective students to submit two to four letters of recommendation as part of their application. At least one of these letters should be written by a faculty member who is familiar with your academic performance and has evaluated you on a significant aspect of your academic work. 

If you’ve been out of school for a few years and are unable to ask for letters of recommendation from past professors, you may submit letters of recommendation written by employers that have worked closely with you since graduation.

University of Miami Law School Acceptance Rate

The University of Miami has a promising acceptance rate of 30.1%!

University of Miami School of Law Application Deadlines

Applying to law schools can be overwhelming, and it’s easy to miss important deadlines. To ensure you don’t miss any, here are key dates you should keep in mind.

Source: University of Miami Law School

While the final deadline to submit your application is July 31st, it’s recommended you submit your application before the January 15th first priority deadline. After this, there will be limited seats available, and you will be more likely to be rejected or waitlisted.

If you’re sure the University of Miami Law School is the perfect fit for you, you may want to consider submitting a binding early decision application instead of a regular one. 

While this application is due earlier and means you cannot accept any other offers, admissions committees are generally more lenient in their decisions for these applicants. So, if you have a lower GPA or LSAT score, this option can help you still secure a spot in this school!

University of Miami Tuition

Tuition for the University of Miami School of Law costs $57,078 a year. To help students pay for tuition, UM offers various grants and scholarships to its law students. All incoming students are eligible for merit-based scholarships. 

Some of UM’s most extensive scholarships are:

  • The Chaplin Family Scholarship: awarded every three years to an outstanding entering law student and covers the full cost of tuition for a three-year JD program.
  • The Harvey T. Reid and Sola Mentschikoff Awards: awarded to outstanding members of the entering JD class that exhibit academic excellence and the potential to make substantial contributions to the legal field. This award covers the full cost of tuition for up to 88 credits, an annual stipend of $1000, and the full cost of tuition for one summer semester.
  • The I. Eric and Grace Leef Endowed Scholarship: awarded every third year to an outstanding entering law student and covers the full cost of tuition for up to 88 credits, an annual stipend of $1000, and the full cost of tuition for one summer semester.
  • The White and Case Scholarship: awarded to students showing academic excellence and covers the full cost of tuition for 88 credits, an annual stipend of $1000, and the full cost of tuition for one summer semester.
  • The Miami Scholars Public Interest Program: awarded to students who have demonstrated interest in public service. These students are awarded full or partial tuition scholarships and a stipend for public interest work performed during the summer of their first or second year.

With various merit-based scholarships to be awarded, it’s essential you maintain a high GPA in your undergrad to not only be considered a competitive applicant but to have the option of attending law school for free!

University of Miami University Rankings

The University of Miami Law School ranks 73rd in the nation. However, don’t let this lower ranking fool you into thinking UM doesn’t provide its students with a high-quality education and strong preparation for the workforce!

UM has a rigorous academic curriculum, various opportunities for experiential learning, and provides high job security for its grads. In fact, in 2021, 89% of all UM graduates were employed within 10 months of graduation.

Miami is also an excellent location to pursue your legal education because it is a hotspot for employment opportunities, networking, internships, and externships that can turn your aspirations into reality!

FAQs: University of Miami Law School

For any remaining questions, here are the answers to frequently asked questions about the University of Miami Law School. 

1. Is the University of Miami a Good Law School?

Yes, the University of Miami is located in an area with various employment and networking opportunities and has a world-class faculty, diverse course offerings, and a substantial number of experiential learning opportunities for its law students.

2. What LSAT Do I Need for the University of Miami?

You should aim for a 160 on the LSAT to be considered competitive at the University of Miami.

3. What GPA Do I Need for the University of Miami?

A GPA of 3.63 will put you at the median GPA of past accepted UM students.

4. What is the Tuition for Miami Law School?

Full-time tuition costs $57,078 a year at UM. However, this law school offers various scholarships to help ease the financial burden of these high costs.

5. What Is University of Miami Ranked?

The University of Miami is the 73rd best law school in the nation.

6. What is the University of Miami School of Law Known For?

UM is best known for its diverse experiential learning and clinical opportunities.

Final Thoughts

After going over how to get into the University of Miami Law School, you should hopefully have a better idea of whether or not it’s the perfect school for you to begin your legal journey and kickstart your career!

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