1. Miami's Strategic Location
Miami is the gateway between the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Many American, European, and Asian companies have their Latin American regional headquarters here. Moreover, Miami is home to one of the world's largest privately owned and operated free trade zones, has the third-largest U.S. airport for international passengers, and is the world's cruise capital.
Miami also has the second-largest number of foreign banks in the United States, a large representation of foreign consulates, 25 international trade offices, 40 binational chambers of commerce, and many non-governmental organizations with headquarters or offices here. Take a virtual tour icon to read more about living in Miami for law school.
2. 70+ Years of Experience Focusing on Foreign-Trained Law Students
Since the 1950s, Miami Law has offered LL.M. programs for foreign-trained lawyers, making it one of the most established LL.M. programs in the U.S. This gives students access to the real expertise and knowledge of the staff. LL.M. programs at Miami Law have always been small and selective to provide a superior experience for both students and faculty. The LL.M. Programs are tailor-made to each student's academic and professional needs. Each LL.M. student creates a course of study that matches his or her career goals.
"While the study of core U.S. law subjects like contracts, torts, civil procedure, and constitutional law provided me the building blocks of my U.S. legal career, the focus on international law subjects made my experience at Miami Law feel like a natural progression in a process that had started earlier in a different legal system."
Horacio Gutierrez, J.D. '98
Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, Derecho (Law) '88
Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of The Walt Disney Company
3. Number of Students Who Prepare to Take U.S. Bar Exam and/or Stay to Do the J.D. (or S.J.D.)
If a foreign-trained law student or lawyer's long-term goal is to teach law or pursue a judicial career in their home country, Miami Law offers an S.J.D. Program. If a graduate's goal is to practice law in Florida or the U.S., he or she should consider doing a joint LL.M. to J.D transfer program at the University of Miami School of Law. Each year a group of University of Miami LL.M. graduates sit for the New York Bar Exam. Unlike other LL.M. programs, the number of foreign lawyers who stay on to do their J.D. is very high for a few reasons:
- They have other LL.M. students who move on with them from the LL.M. to do the J.D. and this creates a supportive group of classmates.
- LL.M./J.D. students work with academic advisors who meet with them and advise them on everything from transferring to the J.D., to choosing the necessary courses to be able to take their desired U.S. Bar Exam.
- International students are comfortable here - being foreign is an advantage with job opportunities in the area.
4. Career Development for International Students
The Office of Career and Professional Development Office (OCPD) is staffed with professional counselors who are former practicing attorneys. This includes an experienced career advisor exclusively dedicated to foreign-trained law students. The law school also provides career guides specifically for foreign-trained attorneys.
5. Strength of Faculty & International Law Courses
The University of Miami School of Law offers extensive courses in each of the major areas of international and foreign law, including courses in Spanish. These courses are intended for law students trying to improve their knowledge of technical Spanish. The University of Miami School of Law has one of the largest faculties that teach or do scholarly research in international and foreign law of any American law school.
6. A Nationally and Internationally Ranked Institution
The law school enjoys being part of The University of Miami, a top-ranked university with many highly regarded and ranked graduate programs. Miami Law students have access to exceptional faculty and campus resources. In fact, Miami Law's LL.M. programs are widely regarded as the nation's best. A few listings include:
7. Diverse Student Body - International Students Fit In
The flavor of Miami is well reflected in the school, and foreign students have an easy time belonging and being part of the campus and larger community. In a typical year, Miami Law’s international LL.M. programs include about 40 students from 20+ countries around the globe. The law school has graduated over 22,000+ alumni living and working in 85 countries worldwide. In 2022 PreLaw Magazine ranked Miami Law as one of the best law schools for diversity. In addition, the School of Law was cited by Hispanic Business Magazine as a place that promotes and encourages a diverse community where Hispanic students can thrive.
8. Experienced Staff Who Understands International Students
Miami Law faculty and staff can relate to international students from the inside out. This is because many people who first came to the U.S. as international students now work at Miami Law. This includes Caroline Bradley, Associate Dean for International and Graduate Programs; Paula Arias, Director of International Moot Court Program; Sandra Friedrich, Assistant Dean, International LL.M. Programs and Director of the White & Case International Arbitration LL.M. Program and Miami Law's International Arbitration Institute; and Yazmyne Vasquez Eterovic, Associate Director of Career Development and Career Advisor for International LL.M. Students.
9. Research Assistantship Opportunities
Some LL.M students are selected to serve as research assistants to international Faculty during the academic year.
10. Law Library
The University of Miami School of Law is home to one of the largest legal research libraries in the Southeast United States, with an impressive international law collection. The foreign and comparative collection has extensive English, European Union, and Latin American materials, including what is generally regarded as the best collection of materials on the Caribbean anywhere. The library has a specific Foreign / International Law Librarian - available to assist students with research.
