JD International Applicant Information

Incoming international students are required to complete the Statement of Financial Responsibility. For reference, the cost of attendance can be accessed here.

Assessment Test

All students applying for admission to the University of Miami School of Law Juris Doctor program are required to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), Graduate Record Examination (GRE), or JD-Next Test.

Evaluation of Foreign Undergraduate Transcripts/Degrees

The University of Miami School of Law requires all applicants who have completed more than one year of post-secondary education outside the US (including its territories) or Canada to submit their transcripts through LSAC's Credential Assembly Service. The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) will complete a Foreign Credential Evaluation, which will be incorporated into an applicant’s Credential Assembly Service report. Students applying to the Juris Doctor program must possess a bachelor's degree from a US regionally accredited institution or an equivalent degree from an international institution. The evaluation from the Credential Assembly Service will determine whether international degrees meet this requirement. 

Questions about the JD Credential Assembly Service can be directed to LSAC at 215-968-1001 or www.lsac.org

English Language Proficiency Test (TOEFL/IELTS) 

Applicants whose native language is not English and whose undergraduate education occurred outside the US must submit results from an English language proficiency test. Miami Law accepts scores from either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The minimum required TOEFL score for admission is 580 paper-based, 237 computer-based, and 92 internet-based. The minimum required IELTS score for admission is 7.0. LSAC's institutional code to electronically report the TOEFL score is 8395. No institutional code is needed for the IELTS. Scores from either test will be included in the authentication and evaluation feature of the LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service report. Miami Law also offers an Intensive Legal English program option for qualified law students who need to improve their English proficiency before commencing their LLM studies. 

Advanced Standing Credit for Law Study in a Foreign Law School

Foreign-trained lawyers who attended an accredited law school outside the United States may receive credit for courses completed at their degree-granting institution that parallel elective courses offered at the University of Miami School of Law. Graduates of civil law schools are generally not awarded as many advanced standing credits as graduates of common law schools. Nevertheless, applicants must present all the documents required for admission, including the results of an assessment test. The law school's decision regarding the amount of advanced standing credits awarded will be sent to the applicant prior to registration. The Committee may require a more detailed transcript evaluation in order to grant advanced standing. 

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Practicing Law in the United States: Important Notice for All International Applicants

International applicants are responsible for contacting the Board of Bar Examiners of the state where they desire to practice law to determine their eligibility to sit for that state's bar examination. Access the National Conference of Bar Examiners website here or visit Miami Law's page on Bar Admissions Information for Foreign Lawyers

International students must be aware that successfully completing the JD program, and even admission to a state bar, does not automatically grant the right to practice law in the United States. It is possible that international graduates who have the same academic qualifications as US citizens may be unable to work here. Thus, all international students are urged to carefully examine current immigration regulations and consult with a United States Consulate before committing to a significant financial outlay. 

International students must also consider that US law students complete internships during the summer months. Special employment rules prevail for students in the United States on an F-1 visa. For more information on the rules relating to the employment of F-1 students, please consult a United States Consulate. 

Immigration Information

For individuals who are neither a US citizen nor a permanent resident, it is important to review and comply with the following information. 

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  • Visa Eligibility

    One must obtain a visa (most likely an F-1 student visa) to enter the United States as a law student. Before soliciting an F-1 visa, each student must obtain an I-20 Form from the University of Miami Office of International Admissions. Please keep in mind that receipt of an I-20 Form does not guarantee that a visa will be issued. The discretion to issue a visa rests with the United States government (through the US Citizenship and Immigration Services and Consulates). Moreover, a student who is issued a visa may be denied entry into the country. Access more detailed information at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas.html.

    To obtain an I-20 Form, international students must complete a Statement of Financial Responsibility and provide a bank letter confirming the applicant, their family, or a sponsor retains sufficient funds to cover educational and living expenses for one year of study in the United States. The bank verification letter must be in English and state the amount of funds available in US currency. Moreover, the bank verification letter must be dated within six months of the start of the academic year. Thus, Miami Law cannot accept bank letters dated prior to March.  

    Students who receive a scholarship from the University of Miami must submit a bank letter confirming sufficient funds to provide for their living expenses and any portion of educational expenses not covered by the University of Miami scholarship. Since it usually takes a minimum of two weeks to receive the I-20 Form, Miami Law encourages students to submit the Statement of Financial Responsibility and bank verification letter as soon as possible after March and no later than two months before enrollment. 

    For scholarship recipients from an entity other than the University of Miami, the scholarship letter can replace the bank letter. If, however, the scholarship is a partial scholarship only, then submission of a bank letter confirming the applicant has sufficient funds to cover all educational and living expenses not covered by the scholarship is required. 

  • Obtaining the Visa

    The law school will send the I-20 Form to each applicant’s designated address. Well before departing for the United States, each international student should present their I-20 Form ( along with their passport, photograph, and application form) to the nearest US Consulate. Miami Law recommends requesting an unlimited-entry visa. Do not come to the University with a B-2 (tourist) visa or through the Visa Waiver Program, as it will not be possible to change the status to an F-1 visa without returning to one’s home country. 

  • University Requirements and Services

    1. Upon arrival at the University of Miami, international students must present a copy of their visa to the Office of International Student and Scholar Services. International students cannot begin attending classes without documentation of compliance with immigration requirements. 

    2. All international students must enroll in the University-sponsored health insurance program. The annual premium for this coverage is added to each student's fees. All new students must provide proof of immunization against measles, mumps, and rubella. In addition, all international students are required to submit proof of a tuberculosis (TB) test within 6 months of registration. A proof of immunization form (Immunization Compliance Form) is available upon request at the Student Health Center. The Health Center's e-mail and website addresses are: 

    Email:studenthealth@miami.edu 
    Website:http://studenthealth.studentaffairs.miami.edu/  

    3. The University's Department of International Student and Scholar Services exists to meet the unique needs and interests of international students. International Student and Scholar Services administrators assist with cultural familiarization, orientation to the University, academic and personal matters, responsibilities of non-immigrant students, and compliance with immigration regulations. All new international students are required to participate in the Orientation Program prior to enrollment. For any questions or concerns following admission to the Law School, please contact this office directly at 305-284-2928 or isss@miami.edu.  

    4. International students are encouraged to join the Council of International Students and Organizations (COISO), the parent organization of all international groups operating on campus. COISO is designed to help international students with social and living adjustments at the University and in the Greater Miami area. COISO currently sponsors over 25 individual country student organizations and represents over 1500 international students. COISO also sponsors several major University programs that highlight the varied cultures represented by the international student body at the University, including International Week and United Nations Day. 

    5. The Office of Admissions is available to answer any questions related to the JD program. Please call 305-284-6746 or email admissions@law.miami.edu

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