Why Florida State University?
Florida State University College of Law offers a dynamic legal education with strong programs in business, environmental, and international law, uniquely leveraging its location in the state capital for unparalleled practical experience.
Florida State University is a very selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 19.6%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.93 GPA and 165 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.60–3.99 GPA and 159–166 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 113 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 State University admitted 17 transfer students into the 2L class, with a median 1L GPA of 3.37 (25th–75th percentile: 3.23–3.61).
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #34
- Median GPA
- 3.93
- 25th–75th: 3.60–3.99
- Median LSAT
- 165
- 25th–75th: 159–166
- Acceptance rate
- 19.6%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 113
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 17
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students Florida State University admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- 3.23
- Bottom quartile
- Median
- 3.37
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- 3.61
- Top quartile
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 State University's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why Florida State University" essay where they align with your interests.
- Children's Advocacy ClinicRepresents children in foster care, juvenile delinquency, health care, special education, and disability cases.
- Business Law ClinicStudents represent business and social entrepreneurs on the FSU campus, gaining hands-on experience.
- First Amendment ClinicProvides students with hands-on experience in First Amendment legal issues.
- Bankruptcy Pro Bono ClinicOffers free legal services to qualifying individuals dealing with financial problems and bankruptcy cases.
- International Human Rights Advocacy ClinicFocuses on advocating for human rights issues internationally.
- Claude Pepper Elder Law ClinicProvides legal assistance to low-income elderly clients.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Florida State University Law Review— General legal scholarship, publishing four issues annually.
- Journal of Land Use & Environmental Law— Focuses on environmental and land use law, published twice a year.
- Journal of Transnational Law & Policy— Publishes articles in international law, including human rights and comparative law.
- FSU Business Review— Focuses on business law scholarship.
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.
- Mark SeidenfeldAdministrative and Regulatory Law, Law and Economics
- Nat SternConstitutional Law
- Wayne LoganCriminal Law
- Donna R. ChristieEnvironmental, Energy and Land Use Law
- David L. MarkellEnvironmental, Energy and Land Use Law
- Frederick M. AbbottInternational Law, International Intellectual Property Law
- Shawn BayernBusiness Law
- Joseph M. DodgeTax Law
- Paolo AnninoPublic Interest Law, Children's Advocacy, Family Law
- Rima NathanClinical Professor, Family Law
What makes Florida State University distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·Located in Tallahassee, across from the Florida Supreme Court and one block from the Florida Capitol, providing unique practical opportunities.
- ·Offers an extensive clinical externship program with placements in over 100 offices in Florida and beyond.
- ·Provides nine joint graduate pathways, including a popular J.D.-M.B.A. program.
- ·Features a 50,000-square-foot Advocacy Center with five courtrooms for advocacy training.
- ·Home to specialized centers such as the Stoops Center for Law & Business and the Center for Environmental, Energy and Land Use Law.
- ·The Research Center proactively trains students and faculty in sophisticated, cost-effective legal research.
Using this for your "Why Florida State 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 State University
What is the median GPA and LSAT at Florida State University?▾
Florida State University's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.93 and a median LSAT of 165. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.60–3.99 GPA and 159–166 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is Florida State University's acceptance rate?▾
Florida State University's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 19.6%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does Florida State University offer?▾
Florida State University's notable clinical programs include: Children's Advocacy Clinic, Business Law Clinic, First Amendment Clinic, Bankruptcy Pro Bono Clinic, International Human Rights Advocacy Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does Florida State University publish?▾
Florida State University's notable student-edited journals include: Florida State University Law Review, Journal of Land Use & Environmental Law, Journal of Transnational Law & Policy, FSU Business Review.
Where do Florida State University graduates work?▾
Florida State University graduates concentrate employment in Florida, Colorado, Georgia, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does Florida State University admit?▾
Florida State University admitted 17 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, with a median 1L GPA of 3.37.
Schools similar to Florida State 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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