University of Miami School of Law

Introduction

Situated in one of the world’s most vibrant, multicultural metropolitan areas, the University of Miami School of Law stands at the crossroads of the Americas—a location that lends students an international perspective; exceptional career-building opportunities in courts, corporations, and clinics; and rewarding careers.

No other law school in the nation is located in an area that affords this exceptional mix of diverse opportunities to train legal professionals for a rapidly changing world. Miami Law is strongly committed to its LLM programs, and we welcome applicants from around the world to join our legal community. Graduates of Miami Law are among the best attorneys with more than 20,000 alumni throughout the United States and in nearly 70 countries. Many practice from corporate to public interest; in large firms, private practice, and government service; or as sole practitioners.

Miami Law is also highly regarded for our faculty’s overall academic and professional quality. Our faculty members take great pride in developing good working relationships with students and are available to discuss course material as well as questions related to the study of law in general. Miami Law has one of the largest number of faculty members teaching or researching in the area of international law of any American law school.

Physical Facilities

Miami Law is located on the University of Miami’s main campus and is within a 10-minute walk from key spots at the university, such as the state-of-the-art fitness center, the local post office, concert halls, the campus bookstore, the university’s art museum, the student health center, and the campus food court.

At the center of Miami Law is the law library. With over 630,000 volumes and volume-equivalents and a wide array of electronic resources, Miami Law’s library is one of the most comprehensive resources for legal research in the Southeast. The library has liberal hours, energetic and experienced reference librarians, and seating for individual and group study. A strong wireless infrastructure allows students to utilize the Internet throughout all buildings and on our courtyard, the Bass Bricks.

In addition to the law library, there is access to the university’s flagship Otto G. Richter Library, as well as to collections at the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine and the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. In addition, faculty offices are located in the law library, which facilitates meetings and interactions between students and faculty.

The University of Miami also has a variety of cultural offerings. On campus is the Lowe Art Museum, the first art museum in South Florida and home to one of the most important collections in the Southeast. In addition, right across from the law school is the Maurice Gusman Concert Hall, a 600-seat venue where there are more than 100 concerts and events presented each year. There is also a larger venue on campus—the Watsco Center—an 8,000-seat facility where there are concerts, lecture series, and university and sporting events.

Housing

There is no on-campus housing for law students. Since Miami is a large, metropolitan city it is full of diverse housing options and locations in which to live. There are a variety of housing options within walking and commuting distance of the law school. The Office of Student Recruiting offers a roommate referral service to help incoming law students find roommates, and there is an apartment and relocation guide on Miami Law’s website to assist incoming students in finding housing.

LLM Programs/Areas of Specialization

Specialized Program: Intensive Legal English + LLM

The Intensive Legal English + LLM Program is for qualified law students who need to improve their English proficiency before they immerse themselves into an LLM program. Miami Law requires applicants to the regular LLM program to have a minimum TOEFL score of 92, IELTS score of 7.0, or 125 on the Duolingo English Test (for applicants whose native language is not English and whose undergraduate education is from outside the U.S.). Applicants with scores both above and below the target scores may apply to this program. Students are fully integrated into the Miami Law community and participate in the school’s academic networking and social events. All classes are taught at Miami School of Law.

Degree Details

• 3 semesters
• This program starts in the spring semester in January. During the first semester, students focus on achieving the English-language and communication skills necessary to be successful in the LLM program in the fall.
• Full-time
• Applicants must meet all admission requirements to be considered for admission.

Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law

Available only at the University of Miami School of Law, and taught by prominent faculty and practicing attorneys, students study this combined graduate degree to focus on areas of law that in today’s world are expanding, converging, and at times intersecting. Hands-on, practical learning teaches students how to negotiate and draft transactional agreements within the specific entertainment, arts, and sports industries. They gain skills of high value, which can provide the tipping point for attorneys contending for jobs in very competitive areas.

Students get a wide range of skills in the interconnecting areas of entertainment, arts, and sports law while honing their specific areas of interest with a choice of three specializations: the entertainment law track, the sports law track, and the arts law track.

For domestic students, some coursework is track-specific and other courses are applicable across all tracks, providing a well-rounded but field-specific curriculum to match individual interests. For graduates of non-US law schools interested in sitting for the New York bar exam, there is an option to do a special course of study.

Degree Details

• The program includes a required practicum for additional training in the workplace, tutorials, student mentors, site visits, and a guest-speaker series.
• The degree requires 24 credits for US-trained students and 26 credits for foreign-trained students.
• Full-time, part-time, and joint-degree enrollment options are available.

Contact Information

To learn more, visit the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law website, or contact our office:

Phone: 305.286.8750
Email: easl@law.miami.edu

Estate Planning LLM

The Heckerling Graduate Program in Estate Planning offers a unique curriculum that provides in-depth, practical coverage of the tax and nontax issues central to estate and individual planning. Today’s changing legal and economic environment, combined with the shifting demographics of our population, has created a demand for attorneys to deal with not only the tax implications of wealth transfers but also the related nontax, investment, and business succession planning issues. This program is ideally positioned to meet this growing need for sophisticated estate planning professionals.

In order to enable law graduates and attorneys to rapidly acquire a high level of technical expertise, the program follows a traditional semester-long course format in the fall, covering core topics in taxation and estate planning, and a unique one-week modular course format in the spring. The spring courses focus on advanced-level estate planning topics and are taught by preeminent estate planning experts from around the nation.

Degree Details

• Hands-on, practical experience is available through a drafting course that culminates in the preparation of an estate plan under the guidance of an experienced practitioner.
• Unparalleled networking opportunities with estate planning professionals are available at the annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning.
• The degree requires a total of 30 credits.
• Full-time, part-time, and joint-degree study options are available.
• Student scholarships are available.

Contact Information

To learn more, visit the Heckerling Graduate Program in Estate Planning website, or contact our office:

Phone: 305.284.4918
Email: ladams@law.miami.edu

International Arbitration

The University of Miami School of Law’s White & Case International Arbitration LLM Program provides a unique, individualized educational opportunity for a small group of top-quality students wishing to acquire an in-depth grounding in the field as a platform for a successful career. The school is prominently positioned, both academically and geographically, for the study of international arbitration since Miami is a well sought-after venue for resolving disputes through arbitration. The School of Law has created a unique infrastructure for interaction with local and international professionals who have extensive knowledge and experience in international arbitration as well as a wide network of contacts, particularly in the Americas.

The program offers specialized theoretical and practical courses in commercial and investment arbitration taught by an internationally renowned faculty composed of world-class arbitrators, including Jan Paulsson, Gary Born, Albert Jan van Berg, and Carolyn Lamm. In addition, there is a broad selection of related international and alternative dispute resolution subjects, including course offerings with a focus on Latin America for future practitioners wishing to pursue a career involving interests in that region.

Degree Details

• Students have the opportunity to participate in international arbitration internship opportunities with leading international arbitration firms in Miami and beyond, as well as in English- and Spanish-language international arbitration moot court competitions around the world.
• The program provides personalized and effective student mentorship and career advising.
• Student experience is enriched by the International Arbitration Institute’s networking activities, lectures, and publications.
• The degree requires a total of 24 credits.
• Spring and fall admission is possible.
• Full-time and part-time study options are available.
• Student scholarships are available.

Contact Information

To learn more, visit the White & Case International Arbitration LLM website, or contact our office:

Phone: 305.284.5402
Email: intl-llm@law.miami.edu

International Law

This program provides students with the specialized background and training necessary to recognize, understand, and manage problems arising in the international legal order, including those relating to international trade, investment, business, environmental problems, and the protection of human rights. The area’s economy and social life are firmly tied to international trade, immigration, and tourism, reflecting the current globalized world.

Degree Details

• If you are a foreign-trained lawyer, the specialization in US & Transnational Law for foreign-lawyers is likely a better option for you.
• A three-semester LLM with Intensive English is also available for US and transnational law students.
• The degree requires a total of 24 credits.
• Full-time, part-time, and joint-degree study options are available.
• Student scholarships are available.

Contact Information

To learn more, visit the International Law LLM website, or contact our office via phone or email:

Phone: 305.284.5402
Email: intl-llm@law.miami.edu

Maritime Law

Miami is the ideal city to study maritime law. The city is the cruise capital of the world, and the metropolitan area is one of the world’s largest privately owned and operated free trade zones. Students can focus on international law of the sea (the laws governing scarce ocean resources along with their implementation in a global context), admiralty law (working with a firm with a maritime law practice, or working in-house with a shipping company or cruise line), or marine and environmental law and policy (understanding the competing interests of development and the protection of the marine and coastal ecosystems).

Degree Details

• The degree requires a total of 24 credits.
• Student scholarships are available.

Contact Information

To learn more, visit the Maritime Law LLM website, or contact our office:

Phone: 305.284.5402
Email: intl-llm@law.miami.edu

Real Estate/Property Development

The Robert Traurig-Greenberg Traurig LLM in Real Property Development provides an advanced educational opportunity for lawyers dedicated to working in the real estate field. The program is designed both for recent law school graduates and for practitioners interested in redirecting or fine-tuning their practice, as well as for law students interested in a JD/LLM degree. Miami Law also offers this program online as a part-time distance-learning program available 24/7 from anywhere in the world.

The program explores the subjects necessary to develop an understanding of land acquisition, finance, regulation, tax law, construction law, residential and commercial development, closings, negotiation, planning strategies, and drafting. These subjects are covered by faculty that include top professors and scholars in the field, adjuncts who are partners of prominent law firms, and general counsels of major real estate companies—experts from all over the United States.

Degree Details

• The program provides various site-visiting opportunities.
• A six-week internship is required for full-time students.
• The degree requires a total of 30 credits.
• Full-time, part-time, online, and joint-degree study options are available.

Contact Information

To learn more, visit the Robert Traurig-Greenberg Traurig LLM in Real Property Development website, or contact our office:

Phone: 305.284.1754
Email: rpdinfo@law.miami.edu

Taxation

In today’s world, tax issues are inescapable, increasingly complex, and constantly changing. Miami Law’s program focuses on building a better tax lawyer who develops the “tax sense” necessary to resolve tax problems with confidence. The location in Miami—the pivot point between South America, North America, and Europe—enables the LLM program to draw upon the region’s diverse perspectives and career-building opportunities. Several courses are co-taught by US and non-US tax lawyers to introduce students to problem-solving when multiple jurisdictions are involved. The curriculum also offers strong high net worth and international courses.

Degree Details

• An International Tax Concentration is available.
• Tax Tuesdays provide a space for practitioners and students to present and discuss areas of practice or current issues in tax.
• The degree requires a total of 26 credits.
• Full-time, part-time, joint-degree, and triple JD/MBA/LLM study options are available.
• At the discretion of the director, part-time applicants may commence in any semester.
• Degree option is available to US and foreign-trained lawyers.

Contact Information

To learn more, visit the Graduate Program in Taxation website, or contact our office:

Phone: 305.284.1754
Email: taxllm@law.miami.edu

Taxation of Cross-Border Investment

This degree program is ideal for students who expect international tax law to play an important role in their professional careers, have a solid foundation in their own domestic tax system, and have enough experience to bring their own questions to the program. Specifically, the degree will benefit

• foreign attorneys who are practicing, or intend to practice, in or with Latin America in order to develop the niche market of structuring investments in and by Latin America; and
• non-US/foreign lawyers who are ready to delve into a more sophisticated tax practice and are looking to understand enough US tax law to work well with US tax lawyers.

Degree Details

• Tax Tuesdays provide a space for practitioners and students to present and discuss areas of practice or current issues in tax.
• The degree requires a total of 28 credits, including introductory courses in US tax and legal system.
• Full-time, part-time, and online study options are available.
• This degree option is available to non-US lawyers only.

Contact Information

To learn more, visit the Graduate Program in Taxation of Cross-Border Investment website, or contact our office:

Phone: 305.284.5567
Email: taxllm@law.miami.edu

US and Transnational Law for Foreign-Trained Lawyers

Specifically designed for the foreign law graduate, the US & Transnational Law for Foreign-Trained Lawyers is Miami Law’s general LLM program. This program welcomes attorneys from all over the world to continue the study of law in a context that emphasizes American common law and its impact in the global economy. Specifically the degree benefits lawyers from around the globe who are looking to:  

• Learn about the U.S. and common law legal system 
• Have the flexibility to take classes from a vast course catalog with the option to either specialize further in their area of interest or explore other areas of interest including Business law, International and Transnational Law, Intellectual Property Law, Immigration law, and more! 
• Learn how to research, write, and argue like a U.S. lawyer 
• Improve their legal English skills  
• Explore the field of international law outside their own country.  
• Qualify to take a U.S. Bar Exam, in states like New York and Florida and/or explore the opportunity to earn a J.D.

Degree Details

• This program is a specialization within the International Law LLM.
• Three-semester LLM with Intensive English is also available for US and Transnational Law students.
• The degree requires a total of 24 credits.
• Full-time, part-time, and joint-degree study options are available.
• Student scholarships are available.

Contact Information

To learn more, visit the US & Transnational Law for Foreign-Trained Lawyers webpage, or contact our office via phone or email:

Phone: 305.284.5402
Email: intl-llm@law.miami.edu

Online LLM Programs

Online LLM in Real Estate/Property Development

The Robert Traurig-Greenberg Traurig LLM in Real Property Development is also accessible in an online format to offer the same academic excellence and convenience for the working professional. Enroll part-time, starting in the fall or spring, with no career interruption, commuting, or fixed class hours. No special software or computer skills are necessary.

Degree Details

• The degree requires a total of 30 credits.
• Part-time
• On-Campus Requirement: Students in the program are required to be on campus, in Miami, twice during the course of their entire studies. This entails coming to campus once during a fall semester for approximately 1.5 weeks and once during a spring semester for approximately 1.5 weeks.

Contact Information

To learn more, visit the Robert Traurig-Greenberg Traurig LLM in Real Property Development website, or contact our office:

Phone: 305.284.1754
Email: rpdinfo@law.miami.edu

Online LLM in Taxation of Cross-Border Investment

This degree program is also accessible in an online format and is specifically for foreign attorneys who are practicing, or intend to practice, in or with Latin America, and non-US/foreign lawyers who are ready to delve into a more sophisticated tax practice and are looking to understand enough US tax law to work well with US tax lawyers.

Degree Details

• This degree requires a total of 28 credits plus an introductory course in the US legal system.
• Part-time
• This degree option is available to non-US lawyers only.

Contact Information

To learn more, visit the Graduate Program in Taxation of Cross-Border Investment website, or contact our office:

Phone: 305.284.5567
Email: taxllm@law.miami.edu

General Application Details for All LLM Programs

Applications must include the following:

• Two letters of recommendation
• Personal statement
• Résumé
• Official transcripts and diplomas from all colleges and universities attended
• Minimum TOEFL of 92, IELTS of 7.0, or 125 on Duolingo English Test (for applicants whose native language is not English and whose undergraduate education is from outside the U.S.)
• $60 application fee

Tuition information is available here

Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis, but some programs have priority deadlines in place that applicants should be aware of. Please also note that each program may have additional application/admission requirements; it is highly recommended that you contact the LLM program of your interest or go to the program’s webpages for detailed information.

Student Organizations, Programs, and Services

Miami Law has more than 50 student organizations that provide members with personal, academic, and career support. All encourage student involvement and leadership and provide networking and career opportunities with alumni and other members of our legal community. The school’s leadership works closely with student organizations and facilitates or cosponsors a broad array of special programs and events throughout the year. In addition, Miami Law offers a wide array of opportunities in the form of academic programs, centers, institutes, and student services that support student interests, enrich their academic and professional formation, and increase student exposure to the community locally and globally.

Law Reviews

The University of Miami has six law reviews:

• Business Law Review
• Inter-American Law Review
• International and Comparative Law Review
• National Security and Armed Conflict Law Review
• Race and Social Justice Law Review
• University of Miami Law Review

Clinics

• Bankruptcy
• Children and Youth Law
• Environmental Justice
• Health Rights
• Human Rights
• Immigration
• Innocence
• Investor Rights
• Startup Clinic

HOPE Public Interest Resource Center

HOPE is the first stop for students interested in developing legal advocacy skills and finding ways to use advocacy to provide access to justice for others. This dynamic center coordinates various opportunities for students, including the Miami Public Interest Scholars Program, the HOPE Fellows Program, and the Pro Bono Legal Research Project.

Center for Ethics and Public Service (CEPS)

Founded in 1996, the School of Law’s Center for Ethics and Public Service (CEPS) is an interdisciplinary program devoted to the values of ethical judgment, professional responsibility, and public service in law and society. The center’s goal is to educate law students to serve their communities as citizen lawyers, and it operates educational programs in the fields of ethics education, professional training, and community service, such as the Historic Black Church Program, the Environmental Justice Clinic, and the Oral History Documentary Film Project.

LawWithoutWalls (LWOW)

The mission of LawWithoutWalls is to offer an exciting and unique opportunity for students to collaborate across institutions and countries. They will gain business, entrepreneurial, investigative research, and team-building skills, as well as invaluable experience and insight into the world of law and business. LWOW teams include 100 students from 30 law and business schools around the world with academic, business, entrepreneur, and legal mentors.

Mindfulness in Law Program

The school, through its nationally acclaimed Mindfulness in Law Program, offers law students numerous opportunities to learn and practice mindfulness—a tool that has become increasingly important in the high-stress environment of law. Students can participate in weekly events and take mindfulness workshops, as well as credit-bearing law school classes, to learn mindfulness tools for enhancing focus and concentration, emotional resilience, and well-being.

Career Services

Miami Law boasts a variety of career services to help students and graduates, both US and international, reach their professional goals. Our school has a Career Development Office (CDO) with advisors who are former practicing attorneys with a wide range of legal backgrounds. For international students, the CDO has a dedicated international LLM advisor who has expertise in counseling this specific group of students. The office organizes workshops, career and job fairs, and a mock interview program, in addition to bringing guest speakers throughout the year to assist students with their job-search and professional-development needs.

Contact Information

University of Miami School of Law
Office of Admissions
1311 Miller Drive Suite F203
Coral Gables, FL 33146

School Website