Why Florida International University?
Florida International University College of Law is Miami's public law school, known for its dynamic, globally-attuned curriculum and strong emphasis on experiential learning and community engagement.
Florida International University is a selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 22.6%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.80 GPA and 160 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.66–3.89 GPA and 156–162 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 142 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Florida, Colorado, and Georgia — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, Florida International University admitted 15 transfer students into the 2L class, with a median 1L GPA of 3.41 (25th–75th percentile: 3.37–3.68). 4 1Ls transferred out.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #77
- Median GPA
- 3.80
- 25th–75th: 3.66–3.89
- Median LSAT
- 160
- 25th–75th: 156–162
- Acceptance rate
- 22.6%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 142
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 15
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students Florida International University admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- 3.37
- Bottom quartile
- Median
- 3.41
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- 3.68
- Top quartile
4 1Ls transferred out of Florida International University in the same cycle — context for how portable Florida International University's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.
Top employment markets
- 1Florida
- 2Colorado
- 3Georgia
Where the most recent graduating class concentrated employment, per the school's ABA 509 employment summary. Use this as a signal of where the alumni network and OCI recruiting pipeline are strongest.
Signature clinics
Clinical programs that define Florida International University's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why Florida International University" essay where they align with your interests.
- Business Innovation & Technology ClinicProvides basic corporate legal assistance to small businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profit organizations.
- Community Lawyering ClinicOffers legal services to clients in areas such as guardianship, immigration, wills, and family law, often collaborating with interdisciplinary teams.
- Immigration & Human Rights ClinicProvides legal representation in immigration and human rights cases.
- Balanced Justice Project's Litigation & Mitigation ClinicAssists individuals involved in serious criminal matters, particularly those involving juveniles tried as adults, foreign nationals, and death penalty cases.
- Pro Se Litigant Project (Family Division)Offers 'low bono' legal assistance to low-income families representing themselves in Miami-Dade family court.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- FIU Law Review— Flagship law journal publishing legal scholarship on important and timely legal and policy issues.
- Latin American & Caribbean Law Review— Publishes legal scholarship focused on Latin America and the Caribbean, and its diaspora in the United States.
- World Arbitration and Mediation Review— Focuses on international arbitration and mediation.
- African Journal of Legal Studies— Focuses on legal scholarship related to Africa.
Faculty highlights
Well-known faculty grouped by primary specialty. If a professor's scholarship aligns with your interests, name them in your essay and reference a specific paper or course.
- Manuel A. GómezInternational Arbitration, Comparative Complex Litigation, International Law
- Kerri StoneEmployment Law, Employment Discrimination, Labor Law
- Jorge L. EsquirolComparative Law, Commercial Law, International Trade Law
- Howard M. WassermanCivil Procedure, Federal Courts, Civil Rights, First Amendment
- Elizabeth Price FoleyConstitutional Law, Bioethics, Health Care Law
- Cyra Akila ChoudhuryInternational and Comparative Family Law, Law and Technology, Islamic Law
- Noah WeisbordInternational Criminal Law, Crime of Aggression
- M.C. MirowLatin American Legal History, Comparative Constitutional Law
- Antony PageCorporate Law, International Securities Regulation
- Michelle D. MasonClinical Legal Education, Experiential Learning, Professionalism and Ethics
What makes Florida International University distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·It is the only public law school in South Florida, offering a unique connection to Miami's diverse legal market.
- ·A pervasive approach to international and comparative law, including a required first-year course and integration into domestic law classes.
- ·Offers a Master of Science in the Law of Technology (MSLT) degree, focusing on the convergence of law, science, and technology.
- ·The Juris Master (JM) program provides specialized concentrations for professionals, such as Banking and Education.
- ·Housed in the 153,000 square-foot Rafael Diaz-Balart Hall, designed by architect Robert A. M. Stern, featuring teaching courtrooms and a three-story law library.
Using this for your "Why Florida International University" essay
Strong "Why X Law School" essays are concrete and specific to the school — not interchangeable templates. Use these facts to anchor your essay, then layer on what you've found from the school's own faculty pages, clinical program descriptions, and journal listings.
Important note: admissions committees actively reject AI-written personal statements and "Why X" essays. Use this page as research material to write your own essay — never as a template to copy. Authentic, specific, personally-grounded reasoning is the only thing that wins these essays.
Frequently asked about Florida International University
What is the median GPA and LSAT at Florida International University?▾
Florida International University's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.80 and a median LSAT of 160. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.66–3.89 GPA and 156–162 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is Florida International University's acceptance rate?▾
Florida International University's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 22.6%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does Florida International University offer?▾
Florida International University's notable clinical programs include: Business Innovation & Technology Clinic, Community Lawyering Clinic, Immigration & Human Rights Clinic, Balanced Justice Project's Litigation & Mitigation Clinic, Pro Se Litigant Project (Family Division). Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does Florida International University publish?▾
Florida International University's notable student-edited journals include: FIU Law Review, Latin American & Caribbean Law Review, World Arbitration and Mediation Review, African Journal of Legal Studies.
Where do Florida International University graduates work?▾
Florida International University graduates concentrate employment in Florida, Colorado, Georgia, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does Florida International University admit?▾
Florida International University admitted 15 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, with a median 1L GPA of 3.41.
Schools similar to Florida International University
Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.
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- https://law.fiu.edu/academics/experiential-learning/clinics/
- https://law.fiu.edu/academics/journals/
- https://law.fiu.edu/faculty/directory/
- https://law.fiu.edu/about/degrees-programs/
- https://law.fiu.edu/about/
Generated from public sources via search-grounded AI on 4/27/2026. If any fact looks wrong, click through to verify and let us know.