Maritime Law

Navigate the Laws of the Sea in the Cruise Capital of the World  

Maritime Law combines federal and international laws which govern contracts, offenses, and injuries occurring on, in, or near navigable waters. Our students explore admiralty law, coastal law, international law, and law of the sea and can delve deeper by pursuing an LL.M. in Maritime Law. Students have a unique opportunity to learn from renowned faculty and local maritime legal experts and benefit from our strategic location in Miami, the global headquarters of Carnival, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean cruise lines. PortMiami, the busiest cruise port in the world, is minutes away from our campus. With more recreational boats registered here than any other state, Florida is the ideal location to study Maritime Law.

Cards

Experts

Our LL.M. in Maritime Law is one of four programs of its kind in the country and the only one in the state of Florida. 

Cruise Capital

PortMiami, known as "Cruise Capital of the World,” is the busiest cruise port in the world in both passenger traffic and cruise lines and FL seaports account for the largest tonnage of cargo than any other state. 

Rosenstiel

The law school draws upon the expertise of the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science, one of the leading academic oceanographic and atmospheric research institutions in the world.

Courses

*Course list is not exhaustive and does not set out a path of study.

  • Administrative Law
  • Admiralty Law
  • Coastal Law
  • Comparative Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Conservation, Tourism, and Development
  • Crimes at Sea
  • Fisheries and Wildlife: Law & Policy
  • International Law
  • Law of the Sea
  • Legal Environment of the Cruise Industry
  • Administrative Law
  • Admiralty Law
  • Coastal Law
  • Comparative Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Conservation, Tourism, and Development
  • Crimes at Sea
  • Fisheries and Wildlife: Law & Policy
  • International Law
  • Law of the Sea
  • Legal Environment of the Cruise Industry
  • Legal Protection of the Ocean and Its Biodiversity
  • Legislation
  • Marine Ecology and the Law
  • Marine Insurance
  • Maritime and Coastal Legal and Policy Issues in Miami
  • Maritime Arbitration
  • Maritime Personal Injury
  • Piracy, Terrorism, and Drug Smuggling in the
  • Maritime Domain
  • Port Safety and Security
  • Practical Skills for Lawyers
  • Principles of Legal Analysis
  • Professional Responsibility for US and Multinational Practice
  • Protection of Living Marine Resources
  • Regulatory Compliance, Corporate Governance, and Sustainability
  • Salvage, Treasure & Preservation of Underwater Cultural Heritage
  • Taxation of Shipping
  • The Supreme Court and Admiralty
  • Wetland Regulation and Permitting

 

Academic Programs and Concentrations

Joint Degrees

International Opportunities

  • International Moot Court Program - The only one of its kind in the U.S., Miami Law offers a unique and comprehensive program in which students travel and compete, in Spanish and English, in competitions around the world. Some have included:
    • International Maritime Law Arbitration Moot Competition
    • Judge John R. Brown Admiralty Moot Court Competition

Extracurricular Opportunities

Internships and Externships

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  • Hands-On Learning Opportunities

    **List is not exhaustive and is intended to provide examples of past externships and internships.

    • Carnival Cruise Line
    • Foreman Friedman, PA.
    • Horr, Novak & Skipp, P.A.
    • Oceana 
    • Royal Caribbean International Cruise Line
    • Svitzer
    • U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Legal Office
    • U.S. Customs and Border Patrol
    • U.S. Department of Justice, Environmental Crimes Section (Washington, DC)
    • U.S. Department of Justice, Environmental Enforcement Section (Washington, DC)
    • U.S. Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resource Division (Washington, DC)
    • U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Aviation, Space & Admiralty Litigation
    • U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration-MARAD (Washington, DC)
    • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-EPA (Washington, DC)
    • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Washington, DC)

Faculty

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  • Meet Our Faculty Experts

    • Charles Anderson teaches Maritime Arbitration
    • Raúl J. Chacón Jr. is a partner with the Miami office of Manning Gross + Massenburg LLP.  Chacón’s practice focuses primarily on defense of clients in a variety of marine matters, which involve personal injury, products liability, premises liability, and commercial litigation issues.
    • William G. Dwyer is Chief Prosecutor of the Coast Guard and was the Staff Judge Advocate (General Counsel) for U.S. Southern Command in Doral Florida. 
    • José Vicente Guzmán teaches Introduction to Maritime Law in Latin America.
    • Michael Karcher practices in the areas of admiralty and maritime law, specializing in recreational yachts, marine environmental law and insurance issues.
    • John Kimball, Senior Counsel at Blank Rome LLP, Admiralty and Maritime Law in New York, is listed in Best Lawyers in America, and teaches "Maritime Arbitration."
    • Bernard H. Oxman is one of the world's top experts on the laws of the sea.
    • Robert E. Rosen teaches The Legal Environment of the Cruise Industry.
    • Daniel Suman's research focuses on coastal management in Latin America, planning and enforcement in Marine Protected Areas, and public participation in environmental planning.

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