collageNova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
NSU Shepard Broad College of Law has been climbing its way up national rankings. Its Trial Advocacy Program recently moved up to #50 on the US News and World Report ranking; additionally, its Health Law Program is ranked #54. Most notably, the Legal Research and Writing Program ranked #18. It is not easy to outrank the nations’ hundreds of law schools and programs in any of these categories. Indeed, it is a testament to the school’s devoted and preeminent faculty, many of whom have published extensively in their fields.
More than half of the law school graduates pass the bar exam. The curriculum is very practice-centered, equipping students with the skills and training necessary for academic and professional success. Like any good law school, clinical and experiential education is embedded into the curriculum. Students acquire hands-on experience through various in-house clinics, such as the Adults with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (AIDD) law clinic.
As one of Florida’s rising-star law schools, Shepard Broad College is a great starting point for the aspiring lawyer.
Florida Coastal School of Law (Jacksonville, FL)
The Florida Coastal School of Law is the first in the country to offer a fully online LL.M. in US law for international lawyers. Additionally, its mission is centered on student outcomes, offering a unique and innovative Practitioner Clinic, described as a “hybrid between a clinic and externship,” as well as many resources for boosting academic and professional success.
Through the Practitioner Clinic program, students partner with active legal practitioners to work on pro bono cases, serving the broader community. Combining a focus for student outcomes with a commitment to serving the underserved, Coastal Law can boast that it “walks the talk” when it comes to its professed mission.
Despite being a young school, over 6,000 have graduated from Coastal Law. Many graduates have become lawyers, legal practitioners, and advocates worldwide, proving that Harvard Law or Yale Law are not the only places where one can start an impactful and meaningful career in law; even the smallest and lesser-known gems can help forge this path.
Florida A&M University College of Law (Orlando, FL)
The first and only historically black college on the list, Florida A&M University College of Law is committed to serving the needs of underserved populations in Florida and beyond. Over 80% of its graduates are members of the Florida Bar.FAMU College of Law faculty have published groundbreaking research on the intersections of law, gender, race, and social justice, on entertainment law and business, and in nearly every other imaginable area of law. Numerous alumni have been appointed as judges in judicial courts throughout the country. Current FAMU Law students earn accolades and awards before they even graduate, and over half of those who take the bar exam pass.
The school prepares its students through rigorous coursework on the emerging trends in law and through clinical and experiential education. Simulation courses constitute a core component of experiential education. Legal clinic offerings include a comprehensive Homelessness and Legal Advocacy clinic that helps low-income individuals navigate the legal system.
Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law (Orlando, FL)
The second school on this list located in one of the most vibrant cities in Florida, the Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law is one of the most diverse law schools in the country, earning an A+ grade from PreLaw Magazine. The school is ideal for any student looking for high-quality and rigorous education, high employment prospects, and rich professional development experience.
In recent years, Barry Law’s Moot Court and Mock Trial teams have won national competitions. Dean and founding faculty member of the law school, Leticia M Diaz, won the “Woman of the Year” award at the 47th Annual Women’s Achievement Awards in 2019. She also won the Lifetime Achievement Award for Diversity at the Orlando Business Journal’s Diversity in Business Awards and is the Cuban-American woman to hold a high position at an ABA-accredited law school In the US.
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