Honors and Awards
Honors
Class rank and honors (including Order of the Coif) will be determined by the cumulative grade-point average.
Degree Honors
For those students entering prior to the Fall 2001 semester, the degree of Juris Doctor will be awarded with honors under the following circumstances: summa cum laude—final cumulative grade-point average of 3.80 or higher; magna cum laude—3.50 or higher; cum laude—3.00 or higher.
For those students entering their first year in the Fall 2001 semester, the degree of Juris Doctor will be awarded with honors under the following circumstances: summa cum laude—final cumulative grade-point average of 3.80 or higher; magna cum laude—3.50 or higher; cum laude—3.20 or higher.
For those students in subsequent entering classes, the Law School reserves the right to set separate grade-point averages and/or class standing requirements for the award of these honors.
The designations at the Commencement Ceremony are based on the cumulative grade-point average at the end of the previous semester and are only preliminary. The award of honors is determined exclusively by the final cumulative grade-point average.
Order of the Coif
Students who graduate in the top 10% of the class (Fall, Spring and Summer graduating classes combined) and who meet other requirements may be elected in the prestigious Order of the Coif. Students should be aware that having more than 25% of all courses without traditional letter grades will render them ineligible for Order of the Coif.
Dean’s List
Full-time students who complete nine or more graded credits will be awarded a Dean’s List certificate for any semester in which their grade-point average for the semester’s work is in the top 20% of their class. Part-time students who complete seven or more graded credits will be awarded a Dean's List certificate for any semester in which their grade-point average for the semester’s work is in the top 20% of their class. Students with a grade of “I” in the semester will not be eligible for Dean’s List except for those students previously approved for an “I” in Individual Research or Law Review Writing. Resumes and employment applications must specify the semester(s) for which a student received a Dean’s List certificate.
If a student was denied a Dean's List certificate because of an "I" and the grade-point average remains in the top 20% once the grade is received, the Dean's List certificate will be awarded retroactively. It is the responsibility of the student to request that the Office of the Registrar review his or her grade-point average for Dean's List eligibility.
Awards for Outstanding Performance
The School of Law participates in two award programs:
The CALI Excellence for the Future Award recognizes academic excellence and may be awarded to a student in each course, workshop or seminar who has exhibited excellence in class performance, attendance and final grade.
The Dean's Certificate of Achievement Award is a certificate that may be presented to the top one or two students in each course, workshop and seminar that is taught by a member of the regular faculty or a full-time instructor at the University of Miami School of Law.
