Making the Most of Florida Law Schools

Explore FL law schools to earn a degree that could boost your business
By Emmet McMahan Making the most of Florida law schools requires you to understand that a law degree is not just for lawyers. It is also useful for many other professionals including administrators, business investors and politicians. The most common law degree awarded in the United States is the Juris Doctor (J.D.), which is usually granted through a three-year graduate program.
 

A law school in Florida must be accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) before the state bar association will allow a graduate to sit for the bar exam. The ABA specifies precise requirements of accredited schools, including factors such the contents of its library and the minimum amount of instruction time. In addition to completing the required course work, there are three important credentials to strive for while in law school:

1. Membership in the law review of Florida law universities; this membership is based on grades and writing ability, and many employers may include this in their hiring criteria.
2. Moot court; this experience can distinguish students as effective oral advocates and provide practical legal training.
3. Membership in the Order of the Coif; this is based on grade point average.

Find out the ranking for law schools in FL

A law school's ranking is extremely important to an attorney's career. Graduates of the most elite laws schools typically fill prestigious positions such as clerkships for the Supreme Court.
Try: The Prelaw Handbook provides a variety of sources that rank law schools and also has many other resources for choosing a law school. U.S. News & World Report regularly publishes its ranking of law schools.

Research law universities in Florida according to their courses of study

Many online sites describe the specific areas of specialization for various law schools. These sites frequently provide additional resources about each law school to determine if it is a good fit for you and your business career.
Try: LawyersAid13.net provides the particular mission of each law school, including specific aspects of the curriculum. The Vocational & Technical Education Center maintains a list of law schools in Florida suitable for technical vocations such as paralegals and court reporters.

Learn more about the Florida law school admissions process

You can improve your chances of being admitted to a law school by knowing which criteria the admissions boards most value. Highly-ranked law schools typically accept only a small percentage of the total applicants.
Try: ApplyingToSchool provides a detail description of the typical admissions process for law schools and uses Florida State as an example. The University of Florida provides specific advice for its pre-law students on admission to its law school.

• A student graduating from a lower-tier Florida law college may wish to concentrate on job opportunities in that school's home market as local businesses typically employ area alumni. A lower-tier FL law school may also have a national scope when it caters to a specific type of student, such as a historically black or Christian university.