The Florida International University College of Law Admissions Committee seeks to enroll a diverse group of students who have demonstrated academic and personal achievement. The College of Law wishes to advance the intellectual growth of its students as well as their development of skills and values useful to the ethical, effective practice of law. In addition to academic excellence, the Admissions Committee values applicant experience demonstrating leadership ability, commitment to public service and command of global issues. The Committee encourages each applicant to answer all questions with candor, detail and, where appropriate, specific examples of relevant background experiences.

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.

Application for Admission

A completed Application for Admission form must be accompanied by your $20.00 nonrefundable application fee (check or money order, U.S. currency only). This form must be completed in full and signed. Completed applications will be considered on a rolling basis beginning in late October. The deadline for submission of a completed application is June 1, 2003. Applications received or completed after this date will be considered only under extraordinary circumstances at the discretion of the Admissions Committee members.

Admissions Test Scores (LSAT)

All applicants seeking admission to the FIU College of Law must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and register with the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS). Please contact LSDAS at Law Services, Box 2000, Newtown, PA 18940-0998, telephone number (215) 968-1001 or visit their web site at www.lsac.org to obtain a registration packet. FIU LSDAS Code: 5831

The FIU College of Law will not accept L.S.A.T. scores earned prior to June 1999. Students must sit for the L.S.A.T. no later than February 2003 for Fall 2003 application consideration.

Official Transcripts

An official transcript from each undergraduate, graduate and professional school attended must be sent directly to Law Services (LSDAS). All candidates must have been awarded a baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year institution prior to enrollment at the FIU College of Law.

Prior to matriculation, admitted students must request that their undergraduate, graduate and professional schools submit a final official transcript to the College of Law Director of Admissions.

Academic Honors, Extracurricular Activities and Work Experience

Applicants have the option of submitting a resume/curriculum vitae in lieu of completing Parts D and E of the application. Your resume/curriculum vitae should include examples of professional, academic, civic and extracurricular accomplishments (e.g. employment history, honors and awards, community and extracurricular activities, foreign language proficiencies, military service, etc.).

Recommendations

Three letters of recommendation are required. For current college students or recent graduates at least two of the three must be academic recommendations. Letters of recommendation should attest to the applicant's character and preparedness for law school study and the practice of law. The FIU College of Law prefers that these recommendations be submitted through LSDAS. Should you opt not to submit the letters of recommendation through LSDAS, please have your references submit evaluations on business letterhead, in a sealed envelop directly sent to the FIU College of Law Admissions Office.

International undergraduate and graduate students who register only for the LSAT must request that their letters of recommendation be directly sent to the Office of Admissions at the Florida International University College of Law.

Transfer Students

Prior to submitting a transfer application,prospective students should consult the American Bar Association rules addressing the accreditation process.

Students attending a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) may apply for transfer to the FIU College of Law if they are in good standing at their current institutions and their academic rank is in the upper-third of their first-year class.

Applicants who have received law degrees from another institution or bachelor ’s degrees in conjunction with a law program are not eligible for transfer.Transfer credit will not be awarded for correspondence courses or for work not done in residence at an ABA-accredited law school.A maximum of 31 semester hours can be transferred.

Applicants must submit the following information:

• A completed law school application by June 1,2003
• A letter of good standing from the Dean or Registrar of the current law school,including class rank
  (if class rank is available)
• An official law school transcript showing full first-year academic record
• A copy of the LSAT/LSDAS Report on file at the current law school
• Three letters of recommendation are required at least one letter of recommendation must be submitted by a current law school faculty member
• A personal statement articulating reasons for wanting to transfer to the FIU College of Law

Interviews

Interviews are not required for admission consideration and will not be factored into the Admissions Committee's final decision regarding your application. However, the FIU College of Law encourages you to visit our community. Individual appointments and group informational sessions are scheduled throughout the year. Please contact the Director of Admissions 1(305)348-8006 or visit our web site (www.fiu.edu/law) for further information.

International Candidates

International candidates must also comply with the following requirements.
Foreign transcripts must be submitted for translation and evaluation to a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).To view a complete listing of NACES approved agencies visit www.NACES.org/or call the Office of Admissions.

Candidates for whom English is not their first language must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language. Please contact T.O.E.F.L.at TOEFL-TSE Services,Educational Testing Services, P.O.Box 6151,Princeton,NJ,08541-6151,telephone number (609)771-7100,web site www.toefl.org. Candidates must request that scores be sent directly to FIU College of Law.Candidates must request that scores be sent directly to the FIU College of Law Admissions Office. (Candidates who receive a 155 LSAT score or better may request a waiver of the TOEFL examination from the Office of Admissions.)

If you have any further questions regarding the application process, please contact:

Alma O. Miró
Director of Admissions and Financial Aid
FIU College of Law
University Park, GL 475
305-348-8006
lawadmit@fiu.edu