Florida International University

The law school is located on the parent university's main campus in western Miami, which is about 15.5 miles from downtown Miami (about 25+ minute drive depending on traffic). There is a U.S. Bankruptcy Court, U.S. District Court, as well as a Dade County District Court, and the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.

Miami has a population of about 400,000 and has a very large legal community. There are about 19 large law fimrs (250+ attorneys), 36 medium sized firms (50 - 249 attorneys), and 77 smaller firms (10 - 49 attorneys) in the Miami area. Although, there are only about 50 alumni practicing in Miami the school is very new and this number will increase substantially in the next few years.

Overall, Miami is a great place to study law. There are many ways to relieve stress from the rigors of law school just a few miles away and there are a great legal resources downtown i.e. numerous federal and state courts to watch practicing attorneys in action.

	Florida International University
Public or Private	Public
Tuition Resident: Non-Resident:	$9,289 $23,532
Acceptance Rate	24.6%
State Bar Pass Rate	Florida, July 2008 90.6% (Avg. Bar pass rate for Florida, 82.5%)
Employment Rate after 9 mos. from Graduation	91.5%
Employment Rate at Graduation	21.4%
Average Salary for Graduates in the Private Sector	$60,000
Student Body Population	307
LSAT score bottom 25th percentile of incoming class	153
LSAT score top 25th percentile of incoming class	157
Median LSAT of incoming class	155
Bottom 25th percentile of incoming class undergraduate GPA (UGPA)	2.97
Top 25th percentile of incoming class UGPA	3.58
Median UGPA	3.28

The Florida International University, or FIU as it is commonly known, College of Law is a fourth tier law school that began classes in 2002. The law school is located on the main FIU campus in western Miami, Florida. The law school offers a full time day program as well as a part time evening program that can be finished in 4 years with two summer sessions. There are three clinics at the law school: the Carlos A. Costa Immigration and Human Rights Clinic, the Community Development Clinic (a very ingenius program offering a wide range of free legal services to local small businesses and organizations), and the Criminal Law Clinic. There are several joint degree programs in conjunction with the parent university: JD/MBA, JD/MIB (Masters in International Business), JD/MALACS (Masters of Latin American and Carribean Studies), JD/MPA (Masters of Public Administration), JD/MSES (Masters of Science in Environmental Studies), JD/MSW (Masters in Social Work), JD/MSPsych. The International and Comparative Law Program gives students the opportunity to study international law and take courses from the distinguished visiting latin american professor the school sponsors each year.

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The law school's grading system employs a 4.0 scale with a corresponding letter grade i.e.:

A = 4.0
A- =3.67
B+ = 3.33
B = 3.0
B- = 2.67
C+ = 2.33
C = 2.0
C- = 1.67
D+ = 1.33
D = 1.0
D- = .67
F = 0.0

The grading curve for most first year courses reccomends that each professor have the following grade distribution for each course unless a deviation is approved by the associate dean of academic affairs (i.e. it is basically a requirement):

A and A- = at least 5% and at most 15% of the course grades

B and above = at least 35% and at most 45% of the course grades

B- and above = at 45% and at most 55% of the course grades

The mean grade for most first year courses must be between a 2.47 and 2.67 (from a little above a C+ to a B-). Overall, the first year grading curve seems pretty reasonable for a fourth tier law school. Most students will get a B- and above; this is much better than some fourth tier law schools. However, the mean grade requirement seems as though there will be a significant amount of students that will receive around a C even though grades of a C and lower are given at the professor's complete discretion. Nontheless, this grading curve is still much better than many other lower ranked law schools.

For most second and third year, with more than 15 sutdents, the law school reccomends that each professor have the following grade distribution for each course unless a deviation is approved by the associate dean of academic affairs (i.e. it is basically a requirement):

A and A- = at least 10% and at most 20% of the course grades

B and above = at least 45% and at most 55% of the course grades

B- and above = at 45% and at most 55% of the course grades

For upper division courses the curve is easier and makes up for the slightly more difficult first year curve. Overall, the curve is fair as compared with other lower ranked law schools and will positively affect a graduates ability to earn an associate position as compared with other similarly situated law schoools.