Future lawyers flock to Florida for its sunny weather and law schools with low tuition fees. As a result, the state has a competitive job market and a high density of law firms. If you’re looking at a graduate school education in Florida and know you’re going into law, you’ll want to narrow your choices to the best law schools in Florida to increase your job prospects after graduation.
From private universities like Barry University School, St. Thomas University, Ave Maria School, Nova Southeastern University, Florida Southern College, to public schools like Miami Law, Florida AM University College, Florida has a number of options.
Top 5 Law Schools in Florida
- 1. University of Florida—Levin College of Law
- 2. Florida State University
- 3. University of Miami
- 4. Florida International University
- 5. Stetson University
These Florida law schools are among the top law schools in the United States and have highly-ranked law programs. Keep reading to see what makes each school stand out.
U.S. News Top Law School Ranking: #21
Tuition: $21,803 (in-state)
Average GPA: 3.84
Average LSAT Score: 165
Acceptance Rate: 19.8%
Bar Passage Rate: 87.7%
What does the University of Florida Levin College of Law have going for it besides a healthy daily dose of Vitamin D? Try the #1 Tax Law program and #8 Environmental Law program among public law schools. It’s also the #1 law school in Florida. Not too shabby for a school that’s considered a great return on investment.
In your first year at UF Law, you’ll learn foundational areas of the law and develop essential competencies needed to be a lawyer. During the second and third years of law school, you’ll have the opportunity to join an array of activities including law journals, law review, and moot court teams.
Once you graduate, you can take advantage of the University of Florida’s extensive global alumni network if you need help finding a job. If you’re interested in social justice, UF Law provides funding for students who wish to work with government entities and public interest organizations during the summer.
Getting accepted to the best law school in Florida won’t be easy. With an acceptance rate of 19.8%, you need to focus on your LSAT score and GPA and make sure your UF law school application is in great shape.
U.S. News Top Law School Ranking: #48
Tuition: $20,693 (in-state)
Average GPA: 3.73
Average LSAT Score: 161
Acceptance Rate: 29.7%
Bar Passage Rate: 88.4%
You can’t beat the location of Florida State University College of Law—the campus is right across the street from the Florida Supreme Court and one block away from the Florida Capitol. It’s no wonder FSU Law is ranked the #1 law school for government careers.
Florida State is committed to the success of their students. This Florida law school has one of the most extensive clinical externship programs in the United States. The result is an 88% first-time Bar passage rate (compared to the average 71%). More than half of FSU Law students are employed at graduation, primarily across Florida, but alumni can also be found nationwide.
Florida State makes a law degree affordable and accessible. In-state tuition fees are just over $20,000. National Jurist consistently ranks this law school as one of the nation’s best value law schools.
If you’re hoping to be part of the 15% of students receiving grants of more than full tuition at FSU Law, focus on your LSAT score. First-yeat law scholarships are awarded to students on the basis of merit, considering the LSAT score AND cumulative GPA. If it’s too late to bring your undergrad GPA up, you can still sign up for an LSAT date and prep with the best LSAT course.
U.S. News Top Law School Ranking: #72
Tuition: $55,936
Average GPA: 3.53
Average LSAT Score: 159
Acceptance Rate: 51.4%
Bar Passage Rate: 80.1%
Get a top-ranked law degree and live your best life in South Beach when you attend the University of Miami School of Law. This law school in Florida has one of the best faculty to law students ratio (7:1) in the United States and it’s not uncommon to be on a first-name basis with your law professors. That’s a huge perk, considering this law school attracts some of the best lawyers in Miami to teach.
If location is a major determining factor in choosing a law school—be it the best law school in the United States or just in Florida—you can’t beat this one. South Florida has become a leading financial hub, perfectly complimenting the University of Miami’s top tax law program.
Don’t worry if you’re not sure what law you want to practice when you’re applying to Miami Law. When you are ready, you can focus your studies with concentrations in areas such as social justice law, litigation & dispute resolution, environmental law, or immigration, asylum and citizenship law. There are also opportunities join the law review.
With an impressive first-time Florida bar passage rate and a promising law school acceptance rate, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep Miami Law on your list of law schools in Florida.
U.S. News Top Law School Ranking: #88
Tuition: $21,820 (in-state)
Average GPA: 3.65
Average LSAT Score: 158
Acceptance Rate: 29.1%
Bar Passage Rate: 94.4%
The Florida International University College of Law is ranked a Best Value Law School thanks to its low in-state and out-of-state tuition fees for both its full-time and part-time law programs and an incredibly high first-time bar passage rate.
Students at FIU Law can gain real legal experience through its Semester-In-Practice Program. Third and fourth-year law students receive full-time practical experience for a semester at a private firm, a corporation, a non-profit, legal services organization, or a government agency in Florida, the U.S., or even abroad.
With a moderate average LSAT score of 158 and a bar passage rate more than 20% higher than the state average, FIU Law graduates are poised to dominate the Florida legal scene upon graduation.
U.S. News Top Law School Ranking: #111
Tuition: $45,802
Average GPA: 3.44
Average LSAT Score: 155
Acceptance Rate: 52.1%
Bar Passage Rate: 77.5%
As the first law school in Florida, Stetson University College of Law is no stranger to making history. This Florida law school also pushed the state into requiring pro bono service by students and faculty and is one of the few law schools to share space with a working court—Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal. Not surprisingly, Stetson Law is ranked #2 for its trial advocacy program.
Stetson Law students can apply for its full-time or part-time program and graduate in nearly the same time, plus or minus a year. The application deadline for both programs is in May, allowing you to choose an LSAT date in the fall or early in the year.
Can Law Schools Close?
When extenuating circumstances arise, law schools can end up closing. Take Florida Coastal School as an example. The school was cut off from the federal student loan program due to a lack of financial resources.
Florida Coastal Law School is currently operating under the American Bar Association’s Teach-Out Plan which allows remaining students to complete their studies at other law schools but receive a J.D. from Florida Coastal School. No new students are being enrolled.
How Do I Get Accepted to a Law School in Florida?
Whether you’re applying to the best law school in Florida or another part of the country, the process is the same. The first step in the law school admissions timeline is to take the LSAT. Although there are no required LSAT scores for law school, all of them have median LSAT scores that give you a pretty good indication of how you compare to their previous incoming class. Remember, law schools want to attract the best of the best, so make sure you give yourself the ultimate shot by getting a high LSAT score.
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