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Reviewed by:
Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University
Reviewed: 11/28/23
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 on par with the best law schools in the US.
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 who 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!
The University of Miami has a promising acceptance rate of 33.5%! In a recent admissions cycle, 1,344 students were accepted from a pool of 4,016 applicants.
To give you a better idea of the University of Miami’s law school acceptance trends, here is the admissions data from the past few years:
Source: ABA Required Disclosures
With an acceptance rate of 33.5%, it is moderately difficult to get into the University of Miami Law School. The acceptance rate has decreased by about 20% in the past five years, showing that they are becoming more selective as their applicant numbers increase.
Source: University of Miami
Miami Law provides plenty of program variety for you to choose from! Here are the standard law programs offered by the University of Miami:
Source: University of Miami Law School
The University of Miami Law School ranks 71st in the nation. However, don’t let this ranking fool you into thinking UM doesn’t provide its students with a high-quality education and strong preparation for the workforce!
Here are some of Miami Law’s other notable rankings:
As you prepare your application for Miami Law, it’s helpful to be aware of recent class averages so you know what to aim for. Here are some admission stats from the most recent incoming class.
Successful applicants at Miami Law have a median undergraduate GPA of 3.72. You should aim for a score equal to or higher than this for the best chance of admission.
Ensure you choose an undergrad 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.
The median LSAT score of past accepted Miami Law students is 162. A score equal to or higher than this will put you in good standing to be accepted. To improve your score, be sure to create a solid study plan and take practice tests.
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.
UM has also begun accepting GRE scores in lieu of the LSAT. Although they do not release median GRE scores, we predict the average GRE score to be around 316. A score of 158 on both GRE sections is equal to a 162 on 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.
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:
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 who have worked closely with you since graduation.
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. As this statement essentially replaces interview questions, you should be thorough in your response.
Your personal statement can include relevant information about yourself, such as work experience, leadership roles, community service, your inspiration, or unique circumstances that provide you with different perspectives on law and contribute to your interest in law.
For some inspiration, take a look at this example personal statement written for Boston University:
“‘Earthquake in Haiti.’ That is what the text from my aunt read. I went to dinner thinking this has happened before, not too big of a deal, and then after went to the dorm and turned on the TV. It was arresting. I sat in front of CNN transfixed for 3 hours as if it was 10 minutes. I could not believe that just 5 days before I was with my grandparents at their house in Delmas, Haiti with my mom, dad, and sister.
I am Haitian-American. Even though I was born in Chicago and lived in its suburbs most of my life, Haiti is a place I am deeply connected to through culture and family. The place where I lived when I was young and gave me the mix of languages, which got me sideways glances on the first day of 1st grade in the US when I introduced myself in French with, “Bonjour, je m’appelle Jean-Phillip.” It set me apart in my life but also made me a part of something. This relationship and the feeling of straddling different spaces would lead me to my interest in Race and Ethnicity and its impact on how people interacted in political and social worlds, especially immigrant populations. The pride I feel at the history of the first independent Black nation is immense, as it is for many Haitians, but so is the frustration with the failure to meet its true potential. To see it in such chaos and disaster tore at me and brought me closer to the Haitian reality. The reality of a small beautiful country filled with strong people who live with stark inequality. On my visits, my feelings of undeserved privilege have always been reinforced.
In the days after the earthquake my thoughts were of my grandparents who my family had not been able to contact. Seeing the destruction of a market nearby my grandparents’ house crushed our hopes. I sat and watched news stories helpless. I did not know what I could do to help. While in my dazed state, my friend Arlene called me to ask if we could reboot our Haitian student group. She asked and I assumed the role of President of the Haitian Student Organization and began working closely with the Yale administration to plan a concert fundraiser to support Haiti immediately. We also knew that keeping attention on Haiti, even a few weeks after, would be essential to helping Haiti in the long run. We spearheaded a committee to work on a Haitian awareness week, which brought the Haitian Prime Minister and aid workers as well as continued fundraising. My parents left to go back to their original home to help those who they could and see our family. They knew they would hear stories of many lost friends. Our story was lucky in comparison. My grandparents were shaken but alive. In this whole ordeal one moment stuck out to me. My grandmother on my mom’s side found one of her many cell phones to call us and let us know she was okay a few days after the earthquake and then against the wishes of my mom found a way to deliver a phone to my dad’s mom, who was visiting her old home for a month, so that he could speak to his family. It was an amazing moment of selfless giving. She knew my dad needed that conversation.
I drew strength from this and other moments as I balanced being a counselor, being a student, and being on our relief advisory committee. During one of the committee meetings with an administrator and graduate students from the Yale Forestry school there was a remarkable incident when the well-intentioned idea of a hunger dinner was raised and the idea of having the dining area decorated as a refugee camp was discussed. All at once I felt that these people who I was working with to help Haiti were trying to get my approval for something that would be another disaster. Asking me to support a hunger dinner that would portray all of Haiti as a refugee camp was ridiculous to me. I knew I had to speak up; I dismissed the idea of the refugee camp immediately. Even though I was not experiencing the trauma directly, I attempted to fathom the feelings felt and channeled them, along with my own, to be a fervent defender of the dignity of the Haitian people.
When I graduated in May that same grandmother who had found that cell phone was there to see me graduate as if nothing had happened, maybe slightly skinnier, with the rest of my family alongside her. Even though I told my parents I would have no problems driving alone from Yale to our home in Chicago, my grandmother scoffed and said of course she was going with me. As a teacher now, I draw from that example. Giving of myself in small ways so that others can stand on me and being an advocate for my Dominican immigrant students has been incredible. Teaching them how to advocate for themselves and navigate within a system that often misunderstands and disadvantages them has lead me beyond just being their “No Excuses” science teacher. I have had so many opportunities and support in my life and giving back seems like the only reasonable option. Being a voice for those who are voiceless is an axiom that I carry with me as I think about my role as a teacher and citizen. I am ready now to acquire the additional skills and knowledge necessary to support and provide access for those people.”
Why this personal statement worked: This essay opens with an engaging hook to immediately draw the reader into the story. The author then goes into detail about his cultural and familial connection to the earthquake in Haiti. He masterfully weaves personal details about his identity with stories of his empathy and passion for justice.
This statement also works because it uses concrete examples and stories to demonstrate qualities about the applicant. He doesn’t just tell his readers that he’s a compassionate person; he instead talks about the efforts he took to try and help those affected by the disaster and how it has led to his interest in law. Detail is key!
Tuition and fees for the University of Miami School of Law come to $62,406 for one academic year. However, including other indirect costs, you can expect to pay roughly $101,518 for nine months at Miami Law. This in on par with how much law school tends to cost in the US.
Here is a full cost breakdown of all the items you’ll need to budget for if you attend UM Law School:
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 notable scholarships are:
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!
The final deadline to apply for the University of Miami Law School’s JD program is July 15. However, the JD priority application deadline is January 15. After the priority deadline, applications will be assessed on a seat-available basis.
To ensure you don’t miss any important deadlines, here is a general timeline you should keep in mind:
Source: University of Miami Law School
Even though the final deadline is in July, you should submit your application before the January 15 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!
The University of Miami’s first-time bar passage rate in the most recent cycle was 69.84%. Out of 378 first-time takers, 264 passed. Compare this rate with the ABA weighted average pass rate, which is only 66.36%.
If you’re overwhelmed by the task of applying to law school, don’t worry. Here are some easy tips to get into the University of Miami Law School. These Miami Law admission tips will not only give you a better chance of getting in, but will also help make the process easier for you!
The answer to what the University of Miami Law School is looking for is strong academics! To get into the University of Miami, you should aim for a 3.8 GPA and a minimum LSAT score of 162.
Miami Law highly values academic excellence, so keep your grades up and secure strong recommendation letters that can speak to your intellectual ability.
In addition, the University of Miami values diversity and seeks to admit students “who demonstrate a broad range of experiences and perspectives.” Be sure to highlight your diverse experiences through your personal statement and extracurricular activities!
For any remaining questions, here are the answers to frequently asked questions about the University of Miami 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.
You should aim for a 162 on the LSAT to be considered competitive at the University of Miami.
A GPA of 3.72 will put you at the median GPA of past accepted UM students.
Full-time tuition costs $61,100 for each academic year at UM. However, this law school offers various scholarships to help ease the financial burden of these high costs.
The University of Miami is the 71st-best law school in the nation.
UM is best known for its diverse experiential learning and clinical opportunities.
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!
