Parents & Partners

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Parents and Partners of Miami Law Students

As prospective law students transition from undergraduate school or the working world into the academic rigors of law school, the University of Miami School of Law views parents, partners, and other family members as invaluable support groups. To help you aid new law students in their success at Miami Law, we have provided the resources and links in the Parents & Partners section of our site for your use.

Law School Process: The Basics

In case you are not familiar with the law school process, here are a few things you should know:

• Law School typically takes three years:
• The first year is planned out (except for one elective in the second semester), but the second and third years allow flexibility in class choice.
• The University of Miami does not offer an evening or part-time program.
• Miami Law only admits first-year students in the fall semester.
• The law school year generally runs from mid-August to mid-May with a break in the winter and the spring. Evening summer sessions are optional.
• In the first year, the typical day varies from student to student. However, in general, the earliest classes begin at 8 a.m. and the latest classes begin at 5 p.m.
• Some students spend many hours studying in the library while some prefer to study off campus. In addition to studying during the week, many students are engaged in law school work in the evenings and on the weekends. Generally, most students treat their law studies like a full-time job.
• The University of Miami School of Law does not allow students to work their first year. In their second and third years, if a student chooses, he or she may work up to 20 hours per week.
• The majority of students receive some kind of financial aid. There are scholarships, fellowships, and loans available to those who qualify.
• Law students often spend their summers clerking for judges, interning at firms, working at public interest organizations, etc. Most lawyers will tell you that summer work experience creates networking opportunities that are essential to law education and finding a job following law school. There are also summer abroad options, usually taken after the first year.