First-Year Applicant Information

PictureThank you for considering Florida State Law. We believe that our law school offers students a unique opportunity to match the principles and theories of a legal education with the day-to-day practice and application of the law.

First-year students are offered admission for entry only in the fall semester. Prior to commencing law study, an applicant must hold, or expect to receive, a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

We invite you to find out more specific information about our admissions procedures by going to the following links, or just scrolling down through the page.

LSAT & Credential Assembly Service
All applicants for admission must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) administered by Law School Admission Services. The LSAT is administered four times per year. Test dates and deadlines can be found at http://www.lsac.org/. You should arrange to take the test as early as possible and no later than the February preceeding the August for which you are seeking admission. Scores that are more than four years old will not be considered by our Admissions Committee. If you take the LSAT more than once, the Committee will consider the highest score.

Applicants must also register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and must arrange to have official transcripts from each undergraduate institution attended sent directly to CAS. CAS will then prepare a summary of each applicant's undergraduate work for its report to the College of Law.

Applicants who have done graduate work should submit transcripts of that work directly to CAS. LSAT applications are contained in the LSAT/CAS Information Book and are available at most undergraduate colleges and law schools or may be obtained directly from the Law School Admission Council, Box 2000, Newtown, PA 18940-0993, (215)968-1001.

Personal Statement
Besides your GPA and LSAT score, your personal statement is the most important part of the application process. It is your opportunity to distinguish yourself from every other applicant. You may either discuss factors that otherwise would not come out in the application process or elaborate on specific aspects of your application. Consider this to be an interview on paper. Describe who you are and what you have done that makes you uniquely qualified to study and practice law.

  • Write about yourself. What you have done and how you have done it tend to be more important than what you think. For example, describe how you have overcome tremendous obstacles or how you have excelled in student government rather than your theories on life or the American political system. Overused topics such as "Why I Wanted to be a Criminal Lawyer Since the Age of Two" or "How I Will Seek Social Justice for the Poor" generally are ineffective unless you can convincingly demonstrate your claims.
  • Be specific. Simply listing your achievements and experiences does not add anything to your application. Use examples and explain your contribution when appropriate. Make sure that the admissions committee understands the significance of what you have chosen to discuss. This is no time to be overly modest. Highlight your strengths, maintaining a positive, confident tone without being arrogant. You should comment on any irregular grade trends or circumstances that affected your academic performance or test score; however, while explaining or accounting for a low GPA or LSAT score is acceptable, limit this to a few paragraphs or less. Do not waste your entire statement apologizing for your weaknesses.
  • Avoid grammatical and spelling errors on all parts of the application. Law schools also are evaluating your writing ability. How you say it is just as important as what you say.
  • Be brief, comprehensive, organized and factual. Write clearly and concisely. Tell your story or make your point in as few words as possible; verbosity is not valued. Florida State Law allows up to four double-spaced typewritten pages.
  • Read and follow the instructions carefully, noting any specified topics or word limits.

Like the other factors in the admissions process, even a wonderful essay will not compensate for poor grades, low LSAT scores or a weak application. A memorable essay, however, may tip the scales in favor of a borderline candidate.

Letters of Recommendation
As part of your application package, all applicants must submit two letters of recommendation for review by the Admissions Committee. We prefer that these letters be from college professors who can attest to your abilities to enter a competitive professional program. If you have been out of school for some period of time, letters from a work situation can be helpful.

We recommend that your letters be submitted through the LSAC letter of recommendation service that serves all member schools. This service is included in your CAS registration subscription. Your letters will be copied and sent to us along with your CAS Report.

If a letter writer wishes to write specifically about your qualifications for Florida State Law, he or she must send the letter directly to our Admissions Office, accompanied by the form located in our application packet.

To be considered, all letters must be received by the application completion deadline of April 15.

Resume Guidelines
A detailed resume gives you an opportunity to share information about yourself to the Admissions Committee. Your resume should provide specific information about educational, professional and social backgrounds. It should be concise, easy-to-read, grammatically correct, well composed and formatted. Below are some suggestions as to what to include in your resume.

Personal Data
Name, Address, Phone Number and E-mail Address

Education
List previous high school and university institutions you have attended, the dates attended and the degrees received.

Work/Volunteer Experience
List your work, military services and volunteer experiences in chronological order. Provide a brief job description and give beginning and ending dates for each position. Clearly identify those positions that were paid, internships and those in which you volunteered.

Extra-Curricular/Civic Activities
List any extra-curricular or civic activities in which you have participated. Give dates and a brief description of the activity.

Special Skills or Attributes
List skills or attributes that enhance your ability to work with others. For example: Do you speak a foreign language? Do you know sign language? Are you skilled in athletics, art, music or speech? Do you know how to use computers or special equipment?

Publications
List any works you have had published and the dates published.

Professional Affiliations and Honors/Awards
Are you a member of any professional organizations? Did you receive academic honors from your college or university? Have you received honors from a community service or social group?