Mentoring and Networking Opportunities for Students

The importance of networking cannot be overemphasized. Given the fact that students rarely have the opportunity to interact with busy practitioners in a close setting, networking and mentoring affords our student a unique and meaningful experience. Miami Law provides an array of opportunities for students.

Networking Guides

The Office of Career and Professional Development publishes a Networking Guide and a Networking Guide for International Students.

Networking Opportunities

  • Miami Law is an academic partner with the American Society of International Law (ASIL), which gives students access to robust career development resources and programs and complimentary registration at many ASIL events. 
  • The Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (APALSA) partners with the Asian Pacific American Bar Association on a resume critique workshop and mentorship panel.
  • The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) also pairs 1Ls with upper-level students every year. Many BLSA members also participate in the KMMF mentorship opportunities and the mentoring program organized by Leadership Council on Legal Diversity.
  • Business Law Society regularly hosts networking and mentoring events sometimes in collaboration the Business Law Review, Intellectual Property Law Society, and other organizations.
  • Every year, Health Law Association participates in the AHLA Mentoring Program, an ongoing opportunity for mentorship. The program matches law students interested in health law with health law attorneys.
  • The Cuban American Bar Association Mentor Program (CABA) matches mentors with law students based upon the student's interest. CABA also hosts receptions for mentors and participating students and invites students to participate in many of its events throughout the year.
  • The Entertainment & Sports Law Society has a member-to-member mentoring program which pairs 1Ls with upperclassmen (2L, 3L and LLMs) with similar interests.
  • First-Generation Law Students Association (FGLA) provides the "1L of a Match" program that pairs 1Ls with upper-level students. FGLA also offers a LinkedIn profile and resume building workshop.
  • Hispanic Law Students Association partners with the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) to participate in the HNBA's signature Speed Mentoring Program.
  • The Inter American Law Review has a mentorship program that pairs current members of the journal with alumni of the journal.
  • The John W. Kozyak Minority Mentoring Program (KMMF) pairs minority students with community attorneys and members of the judiciary who serve as mentors throughout students' law school careers. Meeting at mentors' offices, in the courtroom, and at community events, mentors and students often continue their relationships as professionals after graduation.
  • Leadership Council on Legal Diversity is an organization of hundreds of corporate general counsels and law firm managing partners who collaborate to build and maintain programs in support of diverse law students and lawyers across the life span of their professional development.
  • The Miami-Dade Bar Student Chapter (MDB) co-sponsors "Different People Different Paths" with the FGLA, where 1L students learn about careers in law. MDB also regularly hosts an "AM" (Ask Me Anything) shortly after orientation for incoming 1Ls.
  • OUTLaw Peer to Peer Mentoring pairs 1L LGBTQ students with 2L or 3L students.
  • The South/West Asian and North African Law Students Association (SWANALSA) has established a mentorship program that pairs first year students with alumni and second/third year students.
  • The Young Lawyers Division of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers (Miami Dade FAWL) has a Law School Mentoring Program, which works with FAWL chapters in establishing partnerships with Florida law school FAWL chapters to mentor students and young lawyers. MDFAWL also has a Speed Networking and Mentoring Event every year.
  • The Family Law Litigation Committe of the ABA's Litigation Section provides mentoring, networking and leadership opportunities to law students interested in exploring litigation.  You don't need to pursue a career in family law to join the Family Law Litigation Committee.

Job Fairs

Job fairs give students increased access to network with a broad range of employers and help accommodate employers unable to travel to University of Miami School of Law for on-campus interviews.

Legal Grounds

Legal Grounds is a weekly community building event that allows students to socialize both amongst themselves as well as with administration and faculty. The Bass Bricks are transformed into a hub for discussion of courses, academics, post-grad opportunities, upcoming events, and more. Legal Grounds also provides an opportunity for the whole law school community to enjoy coffee and bagels in an informal setting.

It occurs every Thursday from 8:30-10:00 a.m. on the Bass Bricks and is sponsored by LAFAC.

“Coffee and bagels are the great equalizers! Legal Grounds is one of the few opportunities during the class week where you can informally pal around with administration and faculty and pick their brains about anything like current events or things that are happening during class.”
-Alice Kerr, J.D. '20 

“Legal Grounds is a great way to bring students, administrators and faculty together in an informal setting. I met a fantastic 1L student during Legal Grounds last week and have since offered him a position as my research assistant in the Human Rights clinic.”
-Carrie Bettinger–Lopez, Director of the Human Rights Clinic and Professor of Law

Networking with Alumni

The University of Miami School of Law Young Alumni Committee hosts a monthly Table of Eight dinner which offers Miami Law young alumni an invitation to dine with a distinguished Miami Law alumnus. Seating is limited to seven young alumni on a first-come, first-served basis. (These are not fundraising events and the event covers the meal and related charges.) For more information contact alumni@law.miami.edu, 305-284-3470.

In addition to LinkedIn, you can find fellow attorney alumni by doing an advanced search in Martindale-Hubbell, or by using the NALP Employer Directory.  These contacts are typically easier to mkae becuase you share a similar educational background with them.

Networking In South Florida

Mentorship and networking opportunities take place regularly on campus, at law firms, local venues, and virtually.

At Breakfast with the Bench, students will have the opportunity to enjoy breakfast with state and federal judges in South Florida to learn more about judicial internships and postgraduate clerkships. Breakfast with the Bench is open to all 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls, and LLMs and is free to students. For information contact Amy Perez at aperez@law.miami.edu.

At Evening with Esquires, students have the opportunity to enjoy dinner with local attorneys representing different fields of law in South Florida. In the past we have invited lawyers practicing in the following areas of the law: Real Property, Trusts & Estate, Environmental / Maritime, Family Law, Tax Law, Entertainment Law, Sports Law, Business and Corporate, Bankruptcy, Intellectual Property Law, Litigation, and Criminal Law. Evening with Esquires is open to all 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls, and LLMs on a first-come, first-serve basis (this event fills up, so RSVP quickly), and is free for students to attend. We host Evening with Esquires in the Spring semester. For information, please email aperez@law.miami.edu.

“It was my pleasure to participate in what was an excellent event!  I am happy to continue to participate in future events of this kind/nature and to mentor any students interested in the family law area. Thanks for the opportunity!”
- Lisa Bennett, Esq., Attended Evening With Esquires

“Thank you so much for organizing these events...I look forward to attending many more similar ones in the future. These are great opportunities.”
- Joseph Wasserkrug, Attended Evening With Esquires