LAWDAY:JD - Juris Doctor (Day)

Other Curricular Offering: JD and MA in Latin American and Caribbean Studies Joint Degree Pathway

An agreement approved by the University Graduate School, between the FIU College of Law and the Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs allows students to pursue simultaneously the Juris Doctor (JD) and MALACS degrees, thereby saving considerable time over pursuing each degree separately. Students must meet the entrance requirements for both the JD and MALACS programs. Fifteen credits from the law school curriculum will be allowed toward the MALACS program and will constitute a MALACS concentration in International and Comparative Law. Nine credits from the MALACS program will also count toward the law school curriculum requirements. All other requirements to receive either the JD or MALACS degree must be met. Additional information on the joint degree program is available on the College of Law and MALACS web sites.

Admissions Requirements for the Juris Doctor (JD)

Application Procedures
Read the following instructions carefully before completing the application. To apply for admission you must provide the following documents before the application deadline. Applications for admission will not be processed more than one year in advance of the date for which entrance is sought.

(1) Application for Admission: A completed Application for Admission must be accompanied by a $20.00 nonrefundable application fee. The application must be completed in full and signed. Completed applications will be considered on a rolling basis beginning mid September/early October. The deadline for submission of a completed application is June 30. Applications received or completed after this date will be considered as class space permits.

How to apply:

--Visit LSAC.org and create an account.

--Follow the links to retrieve our application from the list of all ABA accredited law schools.

--Supplemental documents may be attached to your LSAC application. If you need to submit additional electronic documentation after submitting your application, you may do so by emailing them to lawadmit@fiu.edu

--For questions or problems with your account please contact LSAC via e-mail at LSACinfo@LSAC.org or call 215.968.1001.

(2) Test Scores: All Applicants seeking admission to FIU Law must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or GRE. 

--Admissions Test Scores (LSAT) – Applicants can choose to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and register with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS). FIU Law will not accept LSAT scores earned prior to June 2020. Students must sit for the LSAT no later than June to be considered for admission in August of the same year.

--Admissions Test Scores (GRE): Applicants sitting for the GRE, should select Florida International University College of Law as a recipient of the GRE results using the ETS school code: 4431. Applicants may submit either the LSAT or GRE as part of their application, but not both tests. If an applicant has an existing reportable LSAT score, a GRE score will not be considered in lieu of the existing LSAT. GRE scores may be utilized only when a reportable LSAT does not exist. To register for the GRE, visit their website here. Determine if you qualify for the GRE Fee Reduction Program. If you have any questions about utilizing a fee waiver, please contact GRE Institutional Services at GRE_Fee_Reducation@ets.org or 1-609-771-7092.

If you have already taken a GRE General Test, make sure there is a reportable GRE General Test score in your ETS account and order an Additional Score Report be sent to us.  When registering, you may have already designated our College of Law as a recipient and a score report may automatically be sent to us. Students must sit for the GRE no later than June to be considered for admission in August of the same year.

NOTE: The Admissions Committee will consider your highest GRE score, but will see all your reportable scores (Including the GRE and LSAT).

--Optional Test Score (JD Next): Applicants are encouraged to supplement their LSAT or GRE score with their JD-Next course completion. FIU Law will consider successful completion of the JD-Next course as part of the law school’s holistic decision-making process. If you plan to include the JD-Next scores as a part of your application, please email us at lawadmit@fiu.edu to hold your application until the scores are received. You can learn more about JD-Next here: https://www.aspenpublishing.com/programs/jd-next

(3) Official Transcripts: Official transcript from each undergraduate, graduate and professional school you attended must be sent directly to LSAC. All candidates must have been awarded a baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year institution prior to enrollment at FIU Law. Prior to matriculation, admitted students must request that their undergraduate, graduate and professional schools submit a final official transcript to FIU Law’s Director of Admissions and to LSAC.

(4) Academic Honors, Extracurricular Activities and Work Experience:  Applicants have the option of submitting a resume/curriculum vitae. Your resume/curriculum vitae should include examples of professional, academic, civic and extracurricular accomplishments (e.g. employment history, honors and awards, community service, extracurricular activities, foreign language proficiencies, military service, etc.).

(5) Recommendations: Applicants must submit one letter of recommendation, and may submit an additional letter if they desire. We recommend that current college students or recent graduates submit an academic recommendation. Letters of recommendation should attest to the applicant’s character and preparedness for law school. FIU Law prefers that all letters of recommendation be submitted through LSAC.

(6) Personal Statement: The Admissions Committee requires a personal statement. In no more than three typed, double-spaced pages, please discuss your reasons for pursuing a legal education and your goals or future plans upon graduation. You may discuss any obstacles that you have overcome (for example, English is not your native language, discrimination, economic or family hardship, severe medical condition, etc.).

(7) Interviews: Interviews are not required for admission consideration and will not be factored into the Admissions Committee’s final decision regarding your application. However, FIU Law encourages you to visit our community. Individual appointments and group informational sessions are scheduled throughout the year. To schedule a visit, please complete the campus visit reservation form.

(8) Transfer Students: Students attending an ABA accredited law school may apply for transfer to FIU Law if they are in good standing at their current institutions and their academic rank (if applicable) is in the upper-third of their first-year class. Transfer credit will not be awarded for correspondence courses or for work not done in residence at an ABA accredited law school.

(9) International Candidates: Foreign transcripts must be submitted to the Credential Assembly Service of the Law School Admission Council for transcript authentication and evaluation.

Candidates for whom English is not their first language must take the Test of English as a Foreign language (TOEFL). Information on the TOEFL may be found at www.ets.org/toefl.Scores must be sent directly to the FIU College of law Office of Admissions. Candidates who receive a 159 LSAT score or better may request a waiver of the TOEFL examination from the Office of Admissions.

Note: No transfer credit will be granted for previously completed coursework.

(10) J.D. for Foreign Lawyers: J.D. with Advanced Standing (JDAS): FIU Law offers the possibility of advanced standing for students who already hold a first degree in law from a country outside the United States. The J.D. with advanced standing program permits students to obtain credit for legal studies they have done elsewhere in the world. Students may receive up to 30 hours of credit towards the J.D. for prior legal studies in another country. Students may also receive credit towards the J.D. for coursework done while completing a graduate degree in law, such as an LL.M. here in the United States at an ABA accredited law school. The total amount of credit towards the J.D. is assessed on an individual basis.

(11) Residency Classification: This form (available here) must be completed in full if you claim Florida residency for tuition purposes. If you have any questions about the form or its contents please contact the Office of Admissions at 305.348.8006. Please NOTE: residency status will be updated ONLY if the applicant is admitted.

Committee Decision-Making Process

FIU Law’s Admissions Committee seeks to enroll a group of students who have demonstrated academic and personal achievement. FIU Law wishes to advance the intellectual growth of its students as well as their development of skills and values useful to the ethical, professional, and effective practice of law.

A prospective student’s academic record (undergrad GPA and LSAT or GRE score) weighs heavily in the evaluative process. In addition to these academic markers, the Admissions Committee also considers other factors, including leadership ability, commitment to public service, command of global issues, work history, military service, and any history of criminality or academic misconduct. Evidence of obstacles that an applicant may have overcome (English is not the applicant’s native language, discrimination, economic or family hardship, severe medical condition) are also considered. The Admissions Committee encourages each applicant to answer all questions candidly and with specificity.

Qualifications for Admission to the Bar

At FIU Law, every effort is made to admit students of high moral character. FIU Law reserves the right to question an applicant concerning the applicant’s prior record and conduct, insofar as it may be relevant to the character of the applicant.

In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

You are strongly encouraged to fully disclose – to both FIU Law and to the state bar for which you are applying – any incident(s) which may have a bearing on your eligibility for admission into the College of Law or a state bar respectively. The failure to disclose any incident that may reasonably be deemed to reflect on an applicant’s character and fitness to practice law may be viewed by both the Florida Board of Bar Examiners and FIU Law as a serious omission. Such omissions may be treated as a lack of candor on the part of the applicant, and may result in your application being rejected by FIU Law, or exclusions from the Florida Bar and other state bars.

Other Curricular Offering: JD and MBA Joint Degree Pathway

Under the joint degree pathway, a student can obtain both degrees in significantly less time than it would take to obtain both degrees if pursued consecutively. Essential criteria relating to the joint degree pathway are as follows: 

(1) For law students, enrollment in the MBA program is required no later than the completion of 63 credit hours in the JD program. For MBA students, enrollment in the JD program is required no later than the third semester after beginning the MBA program.  For purposes of this paragraph, a summer session is counted as half a semester.

(2) A student must satisfy the curriculum requirements for each degree before either degree is awarded. The College of Business will allow 12 credit hours of upper level business and commercial law courses to be credited toward both the MBA and JD degrees. These 12 credit hours of law classes will be in lieu of the Legal Environment of Business course (3 credit hours) and three of the elective courses (totaling 9 credit hours) required for the MBA degree. A student may obtain a concentration in the MBA program in accordance with the College of Business curriculum requirements for concentrations. Reciprocally, law students may receive 9 hours of credit toward the satisfaction of the JD degree for courses taken in the MBA curriculum upon completion of the MBA degree with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

(3) A student enrolled in the joint degree pathway may begin the student’s studies in either college, but full-time law students must take the first two semesters of law study consecutively and part-time law students must take the first three semesters of law study consecutively. Students admitted to one college but electing to begin study in the other college under the joint degree pathway may enter the second college thereafter without once again qualifying for admission so long as they have notified the second college before the end of the first week of the first semester in the second college and are in good academic standing when studies commence in the second college.

(4) A student enrolled in the joint degree pathway will not receive either degree until the student has satisfied all of the requirements for both degrees, or until the student has satisfied the requirements of one of the degrees as if the student had not been a joint degree pathway candidate.

(5) Students in the joint degree pathway will be eligible for the graduate teaching assistantships and research assistantships in the College of Business on the same basis as other MBA students, subject to the guidelines and restrictions set by the College of Business.

For additional information, contact the Chapman Graduate School of Business at (305) 348-0148 or the Law School Admissions Office at (305) 348-8006.

Admissions Requirements for the JD and Master of Business Administration (MBA) Joint Degree Pathway

(1) Candidates for the pathway must meet the entrance requirements for and be accepted by both colleges. The College of Business may accept LSAT scores in lieu of GMAT or GRE scores for candidates from the College of Law as part of the admission requirement in the MBA. Both colleges must be informed by the student at the time of application to the second program that the student intends to pursue the joint degree.

(2) The joint degree pathway is not open to students who have already earned one degree.

Other Curricular Offering: JD and MIB Joint Degree Pathway

The faculties of the College of Law and the College of Business at Florida International University have approved a joint degree pathway culminating in both a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, awarded by the College of Law, and a Master of International Business (MIB) degree, awarded by the College of Business. Under the joint degree pathway, a student can obtain both degrees in significantly less time than it would take to obtain both degrees if pursued consecutively. Essential criteria relating to the joint degree pathway are as follows:

(1) For law students, enrollment in the MIB program is required no later than the completion of 63 credit hours in the JD program. For MIB students, enrollment in the JD program is required no later than the time that the student has completed one-half of the MIB curriculum.

(2) A student must satisfy the curriculum requirements for each degree before either degree is awarded. The College of Business will allow 9 credit hours of upper level international and comparative law courses to be credited toward both the MIB and JD degrees. These 9 credit hours of law classes will be in lieu of the International Business Law course (3 credit hours) and any two other courses (totaling 6 credit hours) in the MIB curriculum. Reciprocally, law students may receive 9 hours of credit toward the satisfaction of the JD degree for courses taken in the MIB curriculum upon completion of the MIB degree with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

(3) A student enrolled in the joint degree pathway may begin the student’s studies in either college, but full-time law students must take the first two semesters of law study consecutively and part-time law students must take the first three semesters of law study consecutively. Students admitted to one college but electing to begin study in the other college under the joint degree pathway may enter the second college thereafter without once again qualifying for admission so long as they have notified the second college before the end of the first week of the first semester in the second college and are in good academic standing when studies commence in the second college.

(4) A student enrolled in the joint degree pathway will not receive either degree until the student has satisfied all of the requirements for both degrees, or until the student has satisfied the requirements of one of the degrees as if the student had not been a joint degree candidate.

(5) Students in the joint degree pathway will be eligible for the graduate teaching assistantships and research assistantships in the College of Business on the same basis as other MIB students, subject to the guidelines and restrictions set by the College of Business.

For additional information, contact the MIB office at (305) 348-3279 or the Law School Admissions Office at (305) 348-8006.

Admissions Requirements for the JD and Master of International Business (MIB) Joint Degree Pathway

(1) Candidates for the pathway must meet the entrance requirements for and be accepted by both colleges. Both colleges must be informed by the student at the time of application to the second program that the student intends to pursue the joint degree.

(2) The joint degree pathway is not open to students who have already earned one degree.

Other Curricular Offering: JD and MS in Construction Management Joint Degree Pathway

Florida International University (College of Engineering and Computing and College of Law) offers a joint degree pathway culminating in both a Juris Doctor degree, awarded by the College of Law, and a Master of Science in Construction Management (MSCM) degree, awarded by the College of Engineering and Computing.

Under this joint degree pathway, a student can obtain expertise in both fields (construction and law) in significantly less time than it would take to obtain both degrees if pursued consecutively.

Essential criteria relating to this joint degree pathway are as follows.

(1) For law students, enrollment in the MSCM program is required no later than the completion of 63 credit hours in the J.D. program. For MSCM students, enrollment in the J.D. program is required no later than the end of the first semester after beginning the MSCM program. (A summer session is counted as a full semester.)

(2) The College of Engineering and Computing will allow 9 credit hours of law courses to be credited toward both the MSCM and J.D. degrees. These [9] credit hours of law classes will be in lieu of the three elective courses required for the MSCM degree. Foundation courses must be completed as required and explained in the catalog and cannot be substituted with any College of Law courses. The students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in each of the three law courses for inclusion in their MSCM degree program. Reciprocally, law students may receive 9 hours of credit toward the satisfaction of the J.D. degree for courses taken in the MSCM curriculum upon completion of the MSCM degree curriculum with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. These 9 credit hours of construction management courses will be in lieu of electives required for the J.D.

(3) A student enrolled in the joint degree pathway may begin the student's studies in either College, but full-time law students must take the first two semesters of law study consecutively and part-time law students must take the first three semesters of law study consecutively. Students enrolled in the MSCM program must be enrolled at least in one course in any given semester during his/her entire course of study. Students admitted to one College but electing to begin study in the other College under the joint degree pathway may enter the second College thereafter without once again qualifying for admission so long as they have notified the second College before the end of the first week of the first semester in the second College and are in good academic standing when studies commence in the second College.

(4) A student enrolled in the joint degree pathway can receive either degree if the student has satisfied all of the requirements for that degree.

Admissions Requirements for the JD and Master of Science (MS) in Construction Management Joint Degree Pathway

(1) Candidates for the pathway must meet the entrance requirements for and be accepted by both Colleges. Both Colleges must be informed by the student at the time of application to the second program that the student intends to pursue the dual degree.

(2) The joint degree pathway is not open to students who have already earned one degree.

Other Curricular Offering: JD and MS in Criminal Justice Joint Degree Pathway

The faculties of the College of Law and the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida International University have approved a joint degree pathway culminating in both a Juris Doctor degree (JD), awarded by the College of Law, and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree (MSCJ), awarded by the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Under the joint degree program, a student can obtain the degrees in significantly less time than it would take to obtain both degrees if pursued consecutively. Essential criteria relating to the joint degree pathway are as follows:

(1) A student must satisfy the curriculum requirements for each degree before either degree is awarded.  The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice will allow 12 credit hours of College of Law criminal law and jurisprudence courses to be credited toward both the MSCJ and JD degrees. These 12 credit hours of law classes will be in lieu of four elective courses.  Reciprocally, law students may receive 9 hours of credit toward the satisfaction of the JD degree for courses taken in the MSCJ curriculum upon completion of the MSCJ degree with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Subject to prior approval, law school students are normally allowed 6 credit hours from graduate level courses offered by other units of the University as counting toward the JD degree.

(2) A full-time law student enrolled in the joint degree pathway may spend the first year in either the College of Law or the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice.  A part-time law student enrolled in the joint degree pathway may begin the student’s studies in either program, but must take the first three semesters of law study consecutively.  Students admitted to one program may enter the second program thereafter without once again qualifying for admission so long as they have notified the second program before the end of the first week of the first semester in the second program and are in good academic standing when studies commence in the second program.

(3) A student enrolled in the joint degree pathway will not receive either degree until the student has satisfied all of the requirements for both degrees, or until the student has satisfied the requirements of one of the degrees as if the student had not been a joint degree pathway candidates.

Admissions Requirements for the JD and MS in Criminal Justice Joint Degree Pathway

(1) Candidates for the pathway must meet the entrance requirements for and be accepted by both programs. Both programs must be informed by the student at the time of application to the second program that the student intends to pursue the joint degree.

(2) The joint degree pathway is not open to students who have already earned a JD or a MSCJ.

(3) For law students, enrollment in the MSCJ program is required no later than the completion of 63 credit hours in the JD program. For MSCJ students, enrollment in the JD program is required no later than the completion of 24 credit hours in the MSCJ program.

Other Curricular Offering: JD and MS in Environmental Studies Joint Degree Pathway

The faculties of the College of Law and the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education at Florida International University offer a joint degree pathway culminating in both a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, awarded by the College of Law, and a Master of Science in Environmental Studies (MS-ES) degree, awarded by the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education. Under the joint degree pathway, a student can obtain both degrees in significantly less time than it would take to obtain both degrees if pursued consecutively. Essential criteria relating to the joint degree pathway are as follows:

(1) For law students, enrollment in the MS-ES program is required no later than the completion of 63 credit hours in the JD program. For MS-ES students, enrollment in the JD program is required no later than the completion of 24 credit hours in MS-ES program.

(2) A student must satisfy the curriculum requirements for each degree before either degree is awarded. For the MS-ES degree, students must meet the requirement of the non-thesis option. The College of Arts, Sciences, and Education will allow 6 credit hours of foundation law courses and up to 9 credit hours of upper level environmental law courses to be credited toward both the MS-ES and JD degrees. These law classes will count toward the non-EVR Environmental Studies elective credits allowed under the MS-ES non-thesis option program. Reciprocally, law students may receive 9 hours of credit toward the satisfaction of the JD degree for courses taken in the MS-ES curriculum upon completion of the MS-ES degree curriculum with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

(3) The College of Arts, Sciences and Education will recognize any significant, environment-related law review or research project completed with a letter grade of ‘B’ or better for the JD program toward the 3 credit hour course, course and the attendant ‘Project’ required for the MS-ES non-thesis option program. For the purpose of this program, a project is defined as a substantial analysis and proposal for change of a real-world environmental problem, and requires preparation of a report and presentation as part of the required Environmental Studies Graduate Seminar class.

(4) A student enrolled in the joint degree pathway may begin the student’s studies in either college, but full time law students must take the first two semesters of law study consecutively and part-time law students must take the first three semesters of law study consecutively. Students admitted to one college but electing to begin study in the other college under the joint degree pathway may enter the second college thereafter without once again qualifying for admission so long as they have notified the second college before the end of the first week of the first semester in the second college and are in good academic standing when studies commence in the second college.

(5) A student enrolled in the joint degree pathway will not receive either degree until the student has satisfied all of the requirements for both degrees, or until the student has satisfied the requirements of one of the degrees as if the student had not been a joint degree candidate.

(6) As non-thesis option MS-ES students, students in the joint degree pathway will not normally be eligible for the graduate teaching assistantships in the Environmental Studies Department.

Admissions Requirements for the JD and MS in Environmental Studies Joint Degree Pathway

(1) Candidates for the pathway must meet the entrance requirements for and be accepted by both colleges. Both colleges must be informed by the student at the time of application to the second program that the student intends to pursue the joint degree.

(2) The joint degree pathway is not open to students who have already earned one degree.

Admissions Requirements for the Juris Doctor (JD) and Master of Social Work (MSW) Joint Degree Pathway

(1) Candidates for the pathway must meet the entrance requirements for and be accepted by both the College of Law and the School of Social Work. Both schools must be informed by the student at the time of application to the second school that the student intends to pursue the joint degree pathway.

(2) The joint degree pathway is not open to students who have already earned one degree.

Other Curricular Offering: JD and MSW Joint Degree Pathway

For law students, enrollment in the M.S.W. program is required no later than the completion of 63 credit hours in the J.D. program. For M.S.W. students, enrollment in the J.D. program is required no later than the completion of 30 credit hours in MSW Program.

A student must satisfy the curriculum requirements for each degree before either degree is awarded. The School of Social Work will allow 9 credit hours of approved law courses to be credited toward both the M.S.W. and J.D. degrees. These 9 credit hours of law classes will be in lieu of Social Work electives and must be selected from an approved list of law classes. Reciprocally, law students may receive 9 hours of credit toward the satisfaction of the J.D. degree for courses taken in the M.S.W. curriculum upon completion of the M.S.W. degree curriculum with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

A full-time law student enrolled in the joint degree pathway may spend the first year in either the College of Law or the School of Social Work. A part-time law student enrolled in the joint degree pathway may begin the student’s studies in either the College of Law or the School of Social Work, but must take the first three semesters of law study consecutively. Students admitted to one school but electing to begin study in the other school under the joint degree program may enter the second school thereafter without once again qualifying for admission so long as they have notified the second school before the end of the first week of the first semester in the second school and are in good academic standing when studies commence in the second school.

A student enrolled in the joint degree pathway will not receive either degree until the student has satisfied all of the requirements for both degrees, or until the student has satisfied the requirements of one of the degrees as if the student had not been a joint degree pathway candidate.

There are no majors associated with this program.