Message from the Dean
Welcome to the University of Miami School of Law. Situated in one of the world’s most vibrant, multicultural metropolitan areas, we are at the forefront in training legal professionals of a rapidly changing world. Graduates of this law school are among the best in the profession.
South Florida is deeply immersed in global commerce. Through a richly varied curriculum, we strive to prepare graduates to deal with the international dimensions of the practice of law, while also providing them with an excellent grounding in legal theory and the skills necessary for successful practice. Standing at the intersection between the United States and Latin America, we are one of the top law schools for the study of transnational law as well as one of the main producers of bilingual law graduates in the country.
In addition to our prominence in international law, we are also widely known and respected in the areas of tax law, estate planning, employment law, public interest law, and ocean and coastal law, among others. Our distinctive and award-winning clinical programs provide invaluable hands-on experience, and serve as exceptional training grounds for students as well as centers for public interest research and service. Each year, hundreds of law students and faculty members participate in pro bono efforts to help people from Miami and beyond - a tradition that our graduates continue throughout their careers.
Our graduate programs provide opportunities for advanced study, individual research, and specialization leading to the degree of Master of Laws (LL.M.) in taxation, estate planning, comparative law, inter-American law, international law, ocean and coastal law, and real property development.
The School of Law is comprised of distinguished men and women who collectively share a remarkable range of interests and expertise, and reflect our commitment to excellence in legal education. They value the opportunity to teach, and are the foundation of our innovative curriculum with its wide selection of courses and opportunities for interdisciplinary study. Our faculty members publish actively, and are highly regarded around the world as scholars whose work defines, shapes and directs significant issues across legal systems.
Our student body is extraordinarily active and diverse. Twenty-five percent of our law students are minorities, reflecting a commitment to fostering a more diverse legal profession. Florida is our base, yet nearly two-thirds of our students come from outside the state and nearly half of them speak one or more foreign languages. Hispanic Business Magazine once again selected the University of Miami School of Law as one of the top ten U.S. law schools for Hispanics. Our alumni are a remarkable collection of leaders in every area of the legal profession. The president-elect of the American Bar Association this year is, for example, one of our graduates.
We invite you to become a part of our community and to help us shape the law and legal markets of the future.
Paul R Verkuil,
Acting Dean
