V I E W B O O K 2 0 1 5 - 2 0 16

FLAGSHIPFLORIDA’S

UF LAW

M OV I N G T H E W O R L D F O RWA R D.

2 U F L A W

WELCOMET H E S T U DY O F L AW S H O U L D E N R I C H T H E R E S T O F YO U R L I F E

and the lives of those you touch. The Fredric G.

Levin College of Law, Florida’s oldest public law

school and its most prestigious, prepares students

for a lifetime of legal excellence and leadership.

They study among accomplished students,

professors and practitioners. Graduates join an

alumni network whose legacy of legal, civic and

commercial leadership spans more than 100 years.

Scan the QR code with your mobile device

to link to the Levin College of Law admissions

site. (To download app, visit www.mobile-

barcodes.com/qr-code-software/.)

L O O K I N S I D E

V I E W B O O K 3

4 YOUR PATH

6 STUDENTS

8 ALUMNI

10 LEADERS

12 CONNECT

14 CAREER

16 FACILITIES

18 RESOURCES

20 CAMPUS

22 UNIVERSITY OF

FLORIDA

24 COMMUNITY

26 CURRICULUM

• ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE

RESOLUTION

• BUSINESS LAW AND

TAXATION

• CRIMINAL JUSTICE

• ENVIRONMENTAL AND

LAND USE LAW

• ESTATES AND

TRUSTS

• FAMILY LAW

• INTELLECTUAL

PROPERTY LAW

• INTERNATIONAL AND

COMPARATIVE LAW

• PUBLIC SERVICE

• SKILLS AND

ENRICHMENT

39 ADMISSIONS

47 FINANCIAL AID

C O N T E N T S

AT T H E L E V I N C O L L E G E O F L AW W E N U R T U R E F U T U R E L E A D E R S

and elite professionals for the legal world and beyond.

Our mission statement explains how: Exceptional

faculty, staff and students are committed to “excellence

in educating professionals, advancing legal scholarship,

serving the public, and fostering justice. We aspire to

prepare lawyers to serve their clients, the justice system,

and the public with a high level of accomplishment and a

commitment to the highest ideals of the legal profession.”

“YOU WILL FIND A STIMULATING INTELLECTUAL ENVIRONMENT HERE

THAT HELPS YOU DEVELOP THE SKILLS REQUIRED FOR THE HIGHEST

LEVELS OF LEGAL PRACTICE: CRITICAL THINKING, CLEAR WRITING,

LEADERSHIP AND TEAMWORK. DURING THESE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF

MY DEANSHIP, I ALSO HAVE BEEN CONTINUALLY IMPRESSED BY THE

POWER AND PASSION OF THE UF LAW GATOR NATION. THIS ALUMNI

NETWORK IS THE BEST IN THE NATION, PROVIDING GUIDANCE AND

COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER. WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR

LOYAL ALUMS, UF LAW IS COMMITTED TO YOUR PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS

FROM ENROLLMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AND BEYOND.

—LAURA ROSENBURY, DEAN

4 U F L A W

YOUR PATH

B U I L D I N G A S T R O N G F O U N D AT I O N

U F L AW ’ S L I V E LY C A M P US A N D E X PA N S I V E ,

STAT E - O F -T H E -A RT FAC I L I T I E S match excellent teaching and scholarship with exquisite value.• Consistently ranked among the top 50 law schools

in the nation, UF Law is ranked the best Florida law school, No. 24 among all public law schools and No. 47 overall by U.S. News & World Report among 203 American Bar Association-approved law schools. The Graduate Tax Program is ranked No. 1 among public schools and tied with Georgetown for second overall. Environmental and Land Use Law tied for seventh among publics and is 16th overall.

• UF Law ranked third among the nation’s law schools in the number of graduates placed in law firms sized 51-100.

• UF Law is the third most affordable among the nation’s top 50 law schools, based on American Bar Association data for tuition and fees plus annual expenses. That’s one reason we say UF Law is one of the best values in legal education.

• Internationally recognized faculty are known for excellence in teaching and scholarship. The average student evaluation of teaching for the faculty each semester is over 4.2 on a 5-point scale.

• UF Law offers a diverse curriculum with a broad range of opportunities for study. After the first year, more than 100 courses are available to students.

• It is one of only five law schools in the country to house an academic research and resource center devoted to the study of race and race relations.

• UF Law is the oldest public and the most prestigious law school in Florida with 20,000 dedicated, powerful and engaged Gator law alumni.

• UF Law’s diverse and experienced faculty use leadership skills in a variety of ways to meet challenges facing legal education.

V I E W B O O K 5

T H E F I R ST U F L AW C L A S S O F 3 8 ST U D E N T S Q UA L I F I E D I N 19 0 9 with

at least two years of high school. Today, nearly 1,100

students come to UF Law with degrees from institu-

tions ranging from Duke to Princeton to the Univer-

sity of Michigan. As students, they excel at regional,

national and international competitions in tax, com-

mercial arbitration and environmental law as well

as appellate and trial advocacy. And as graduates,

they outpace the rest of the state with a 90.6 percent

passage rate on the July 2014 Florida Bar exam.

“UF LAW IS MORE THAN A LEGAL INSTITUTION, BUT A LEGAL FAMILY.

THE ONGOING SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE FROM FACULTY AND

ADMINISTRATION BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM HAS

FACILITATED MY GROWTH AND CONFIDENCE AS A FUTURE LEGAL

PRACTITIONER.”

—DEVON VICKERS (3L), BACHELOR OF ARTS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND SOCIOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA (2012); MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA (2013);

LAW CLERK FOR COFFEY BURLINGTON (SUMMER 2015); INTERNAL VICE PRESIDENT, MOOT COURT; STUDENT RECRUITMENT TEAM (2014-2016).

6 U F L A W

STUDENTS

F I R S T- R AT E Q U A L I F I C AT I O N S

V I E W B O O K 7

T H E S T U D E N T B O D Y D U R I N G T H E 2 0 1 4 - 2 0 1 5

A C A D E M I C Y E A R was composed of 943 students, 847 of whom are J.D. students from throughout the nation.• The student body consisted of 59 percent men and

41 percent women.• Students enrolled at the Levin College of Law have

undergraduate degrees representing more than 70 institutions, including Auburn University, Boston College, The Citadel, Cornell, College of William & Mary, Davidson, Emory, Georgetown, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, Rice, Spelman, Tufts, United States Military Academy, University of Alabama, University of Arizona, University of California – Los Angeles, University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Illinois – Urbana, University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, University of Minnesota, and the University of Pennsylvania.

• Many students come directly from earning a bachelor’s degree, although others have experience in the working world, including the fields of accounting, agribusiness, art, business and finance, criminal justice, education, engineering, film and video production, mhealth care, journalism, local and federal government, medicine, military, nonprofit organizations, marketing and real estate.

U F L AW S T U D E N T S L E A D T H E N AT I O N

The collaborative environment in the classroom and study sessions leads to national and international distinction:• The International Commercial Arbitration Moot Team

finished in the top eight of nearly 300 teams at the 2014 Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna, Austria.

• The Florida Tax Moot Court Team placed first in the 2011 and 2012 National Moot Court competitions.

• The Florida Trial Team was the 2011 National Champion at the National Criminal Trial Competition sponsored by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

• Graduates consistently outpace the rest of the state on the bar exam. Bar passage rate for first-time takers on the July 2014 Florida Bar exam was 90.6 percent.

THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, I NVOLVEMENT AN D SUPPORT OF UF L AW

ALUMNI DISTINGUISH THEM as one of the most powerful

alumni networks in the nation. Nearly 22,000 alumni

have graduated since the college’s founding, represent-

ing UF throughout Florida, the nation and worldwide.

Among them are more American Bar Association

presidents than those from any other law school in the

past 30 years, dozens of state and federal judges and

lawmakers, Florida governors, and nationally promi-

nent lawyers, executives and academics.

ALUMNI

“YOU GO TO LAW SCHOOL BECAUSE A LAW DEGREE IS ONE OF

THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPONS ON EARTH BECAUSE IT GIVES

YOU THE POWER TO RIGHT A WRONG, AND WHO ELSE BUT A

LAWYER CAN LOOK AT AN INJUSTICE AND DO SOMETHING

ABOUT IT? I HOPE YOU CAN FOLLOW YOUR DREAM.”

—STEPHEN N. ZACK (JD 71), AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT 2010-2011

T H E P O W E R O F T H E G AT O R N AT I O N

8 U F L A W

MEET THE GATOR NATION

• Five alumni have served as American Bar Association presidents since 1973; that’s more than any other law school during the same period.

• UF Law is fourth among public law schools (eighth overall) for the number of degrees granted to sitting federal judges as of 2015, according to Federal Judicial Center data.

• Eighteen Levin College of Law alumni have served on the Florida Supreme Court.• Four graduates have served as governors of Florida. Hundreds more have served in

the Florida Cabinet, as state senators and representatives, president of the Senate and speakers of the House.

• Thirteen graduates became presidents of colleges and universities, including UF.• Thirteen graduates have served as deans of law schools, including three who led their

alma mater.• Since The Florida Bar’s inception in 1950, the majority of its presidents have been

UF Law graduates.

FOUR CONSECUTIVE GATORS LE AD THE FLORIDA BAR, THE NATION’S SECON D LARGEST STATE BAR. FROM LEFT ARE GW YN N E YOUNG (JD 74), SCOT T HAWKINS (JD 83), EUGENE K. PET TIS (JD 85), EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOHN F. “JACK” HARKN ESS (JD 69) AN D MAYAN N E DOWNS (JD 87). BILL SCHIFINO (JD 85) IS PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE FLORIDA BAR, BECOMING THE SIX TH UF LAW GR ADUATE TO LE AD THE BAR SINCE 2008.

V I E W B O O K 9

Eugene K. Pettis (JD 85), 2013-2014 president of The Florida Bar, is a regular on campus, and he’s not

alone. ABA presidents, Florida Bar presidents, federal and state judges aren’t merely produced at UF Law. They return regularly,

where they interact with students and ease the transition from

academics to a legal career and membership in the Gator Nation.

UF LAW ALUMNI LEAD THE NATION as legislators, members

of Congress, public servants and federal, state and county

judges as well as in the private sector. And it’s no coinci-

dence that so many presidents of The Florida Bar and the

American Bar Association call themselves Gators. Success-

ful graduates give back time and money to UF Law, which

improve the education for future graduates, and have built

the largest law school endowment in the state and one of

the biggest in the nation. They also network with and

mentor current students, the next generation of leaders.

“ANY SUCCESS I HAVE TODAY CAN BE ATTRIBUTED DIRECTLY

TO THE OPPORTUNITIES MY EDUCATION HAS GIVEN ME AT THE

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA. I ENJOY BEING THE ONLY GATOR ON

THE COURT, AND I LIKE BEING AROUND STUDENTS AND HEARING

FROM THEM ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS.”

—JORGE LABARGA (JD 79), CHIEF JUSTICE, FLORIDA SUPREME COURT

T H E R E A C H O F T H E G AT O R N AT I O N

10 U F L A W

LEADERS

STRENGTH ON TH E BENC H

• As the alma mater of hundreds of federal, state and county judges, UF Law takes enormous pride in the accomplishments and wisdom of its graduates on the bench. Not only do these individuals dedicate their lives in service to society, they also serve on the judging panels of trial team and moot court competitions to educate the next generation of UF lawyers in the subtleties of oral advocacy.

• The Jurist-In-Residence Program brings a working judge to the Levin College of Law campus for a week each year to interact with and instruct Levin College of Law students. Students gain firsthand instruction on judicial process, substantive law, trial and appellate advocacy and the day-to-day practice of law.

• U.S. District Judge Stephan P. Mickle (JD 70) is among those who graduated from UF Law and went on to distinguished judicial careers. The first African-American to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in 1965, he then earned his master’s degree followed by a UF Law degree and would eventually become the first African-American federal judge for the Northern District of Florida.

• Justice Jorge Labarga (JD 79), chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court, is the latest in a long line of UF Law graduates to lead the state’s judiciary. Labarga is the 16th Gator lawyer to serve as a Florida Supreme Court chief justice.

STRENGTH I N G OVERN M ENT

• Carol M. Browner (JD 79) was the longest serving administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and most recently served as President Barack Obama’s director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy.

• Mark Prater (LLMT 87) engages legislation and policy as chief tax counsel for Senate Finance Committee Republicans.• John H. Hankinson Jr. (JD 79) is at the heart of efforts to recover from the Gulf oil spill as executive director of the

EPA’s Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force.• Osvaldo Luis Gratacós (JD 00) is vice president, compliance advisor ombudsman for the World Bank.

Carol Browner (JD 79), former director of the White House

Office of Energy and Climate Change

Policy, delivers a White House

briefing.

V I E W B O O K 11

PH

OT

O B

Y G

ET

TY

IM

AG

ES

STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM INTERACTION WITH DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI ,

who get involved in mentoring and externship programs and as

guest lecturers and symposia speakers on campus. Alumni at

the Levin College of Law are leaders in the legal profession, the

judiciary, business, government, public service and education

at state, national and international levels. Each year, these legal

professionals are cited as the nation’s best in publications such

as The National Law Journal and Best Lawyers in America as

they make their mark on society and the legal profession.

“AT HOL L AN D & KN IGHT WE G O FOR TH E BEST OF TH E BEST. WE ARE

LO OK I NG FOR MATUR E, P R ACTICE - R E ADY YOUNG L AW YERS WHO C AN

I M M EDIATELY DELIVER CLI ENT SERVICES I N A THOUGHTFUL WAY. WE

BEL I EVE I N TH EI R P ROFESSIONALI SM , AN D WE KNOW TH E VALUES

THAT ARE I N STI LLED I N TH EM AT UF L AW. AS AN ALUM NA , I KNOW TH E

VALUE OF TH E GATOR NATION .”

—MARTHA BARNETT (JD 73), HOLLAND & KNIGHT SENIOR PARTNER AND FORMER CHAIRWOMAN; PAST PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, 2000-2001

T H E S U P P O R T O F T H E G AT O R N AT I O N

12 U F L A W

CONNECT

STRONG ALUM N I TI ES

• While most Levin College of Law alumni practice with law firms throughout Florida and the nation, many also serve as counsel to government agencies, corporations and a wide array of public service organizations.

• Strong alumni ties in these areas of the law provide excellent internship, externship and clerking opportunities for UF Law students. In addition, Levin College of Law alumni play a key role in the provision of quality and affordable legal education at UF, mentoring students and sharing their areas of expertise as adjunct instructors, guest speakers, jurists-in-residence, journal advisors and as coaches for trial team.

ENTR EP R EN EURSH I P

As employment data from the past few years has indicated (and you can read the latest on page 15) more than half of recent law graduates work in private law firms, many with fellow Gator grads. Of those, some entrepreneurial graduates have

opened their own firms within a few years of graduation in major metropolitan areas such as New York City, while several maintain

active practices in cities throughout Florida, including Gainesville. Plenty of alumni are named shareholders and partners, such as Fredric G. Levin (JD 61), UF Law’s namesake; Ladd Fassett (JD 79), former chairman of the UF Law Center Association Board of Trustees; Eugene Pettis (JD 85), 2013-2014 president of The Florida Bar, and many other notable alumni.

V I E W B O O K 13

TH E UF L AW GATOR NATION

MOUNTAIN 252 MIDWEST

545

SOUTHEAST16,141

WEST681

NORTHEAST1,015

Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico,

Virgin Islands, Guam, Military

75 SOUTHWEST438

ArgentinaBahamasBelgiumBoliviaBrazilCanadaChileChinaColombiaCosta RicaCzech RepublicEcuador

El SalvadorFranceGeorgiaGermanyGhanaHungaryIndonesiaIraqIsraelJapanSouth KoreaLithuania

LuxembourgMexicoNetherlandsNetherlands

AntillesNew ZealandPakistanPeruPolandRussiaSlovakiaSouth Africa

SpainSwedenSwitzerlandTaiwanThailandTrinidad and

TobagoTurkeyUgandaUkraineUnited KingdomVenezuela

GLOBAL GATORS 210

Top legal figures such as Florida

Chief Justice Jorge Labarga (JD 79)

regularly visit the UF Law campus.

BEGINNING IN THE FIRST YEAR OF LAW SCHOOL the Center

for Career Development’s professional counselors — all

with J.D.s and legal practice experience — offer students

help developing their professional identities, planning

their career searches and establishing marketing tech-

niques that will serve them throughout their careers.

RESO URC ES I NC LUDE :

• Workshops on practical career skills, from polishing

a résumé to “working a room” to handling callback

interviews as well as seminars on career path exploration and

becoming a successful professional.• On-campus interviews with employers

seeking students to fill summer associate jobs as well as full-time, permanent positions.• Individual counseling to formulate a career path and determine

appropriate job-search strategies.• Interview skills development, including mock interviews.• On- and off-campus networking events to meet and learn from

legal professionals from law firms, government agencies, public interest organizations, corporations, the judiciary and the military.

• Job search aids, career exploration materials and employment and salary data nationally and from recent graduates to help assess career options.

• Job search tips and news about CCD programs through the

center’s ListServs and newsletters, with updates in the center’s weekly publication.

• Mentoring programs for students and recent graduates.• Assistance with applying for postgraduate judicial clerkships.• An online job bank listing part time and full-time positions

available to students and alumni, résumé books, job search links and resources, online appointment scheduling and more.

• Downloadable resource materials, samples and forms.

EM P LOYER R ESOURC ES

The Center for Career Development makes it easy for employers to interview and hire UF Law students and alumni. Employers post their hiring needs at no cost. The college brings employers — including many top national law firms — to campus to interview students in one of the largest on-campus recruiting programs in the Southeast. UF Law has videoconference interview facilities and participates in multiple off-campus recruiting events in cities such as Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Chicago and New York City to help students market themselves to out-of-state employers. Employer diversity initiatives also deliver information about summer associate diversity programs, employer receptions and diverse employment resources.

REP RESENTATIVES OF L AW FI RM S, JUDGES AN D G OVER N M ENT OFFICES COM E TO UF L AW I N TH E SP RI NG AN D FALL TO I NTERVI E W STUDENTS AS SUM M ER ASSOCIATES AN D P ERMAN ENT EM P LOYEES .

14 U F L A W

CAREER

P R ACTIC AL EXP ERI ENCE

Nothing strengthens a résumé like experience. UF Law helps students gain practical, hands-on skills through:• The Externship Program, in which students earn academic

credit, provides valuable experience in private corporations, every level of government, the judiciary and nonprofit organizations. Pro Bono and Community Service Projects connect law students with organizations seeking volunteers for public interest projects.

• Part-time or summer employment opportunities are available in law firms, businesses or as teaching or research assistants. These can be found through the Symplicity online job posting system, résumé books, on-campus Interviewing or numerous off-campus job fairs and receptions.

• Alumni serve as mentors for students in a wide array of practice areas and geographic locations.

• Students represent actual clients in clinical programs under the supervision of faculty or practicing attorneys. Students can earn Florida Supreme Court certification as certified legal interns. Clinical programs include the Conservation Clinic, Criminal Clinics, the Mediation Clinic and the Virgil D. Hawkins Civil Legal Clinics.

Students gain hands-on experience working for lawyers and judges and earning law school credit,

including at such new sites as the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and the Senate Office of Legislative Counsel (both in Washington, D.C.); Stuart Weitzman, LLC (New York City); Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic (Boston); the

American Medical Association (Chicago); and many more.

F I E L D W O R K E X T E R N S H I P S

V I E W B O O K 15

EMPLOYMENT SUCCESS RATE BREAKDOWNEmployed 266 86.6%Enrolled in Academic Program 12 3.9%Start Date Deferred 2 0.7%Not Seeking Employment 1 0.3%Unemployed 26 8.5%Total Class Size 309 Employment Status Unknown 2 (Not calculated in

percentages)EMPLOYMENT BY FIELD Academic 3 1.1%Business/Industry 32 12%Government 49 18.4%Law Firm 159 59.8%Public Interest 5 1.9%Clerkships 13 4.9%Employer Type Unknown 5 1.9%

SALARY DATA**

Average $67,004 Median $60,000

E M P L O Y M E N T S TAT I S T I C S

*As of March 15, 2015 (percentages based on 307 out of 309 known graduates). **Salary information received from 209 out of 266 employed graduates.

UF L AW P ROVI DES L AW STUDENTS WITH P R ACTIC A L

EXP ERI ENCE AN D P ROFESSIONAL CONTACTS . FOR SUM -

M ER 2015, A TOTAL OF 223 STUDENTS WERE P L AC ED

I N EX TERN SH I PS . Opportunities abound for students in the circuit’s criminal, civil and federal courthouses. Hospital organiza-tions, health care and high-tech-related firms are also on the rise in Gainesville and can serve as destinations for student externships. Students work for local, state and federal government agencies; judges in federal and state trial and appellate courts, including the Florida Supreme Court and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals; non-profit organizations and private corporations.

M U LT I M I L L I O N - D O L L A R E X PA N S I O N S I N T H E L A S T D E C A D E have

transformed the Levin College of Law. The new facilities include: a

free-standing legal advocacy center with an expansive courtroom;

a law library that is the largest in the Southeast and among the

top 20 in the country; comfortable, modern classrooms equipped

with advanced technology; and a ceremonial classroom for con-

ferences, receptions and special sessions. The facilities are built

around the Marcia Whitney Schott Courtyard, where students

meet daily to exchange information, attend events and, most

importantly, make lifelong friends and colleagues.

T H E M A R T I N H . L E V I N A D V O C A C Y C E N T E R C O U R T R O O M is the core of

a $6 million, 19,500-square-foot stand-alone building, which boasts an impressive two-

story grand foyer and glass entry. The courtroom serves a teaching function enhanced

by large monitors overhead, phone and Internet connections, and tiered seating, which

gives 98 students a clear view of the proceedings. The courtroom includes a bench

for accommodating seven judges, a jury box and attorneys’ tables. The courtroom also

features a judge’s chambers and jury deliberation room. The center, which is named in

honor of Martin H. Levin (JD 88), son and former colleague of Pensacola attorney and college

namesake Fredric G. Levin (JD 61), places the Levin College of Law at the forefront of major law

colleges providing students with sophisticated facilities and services.

S TAT E O F T H E A R T C O U R T R O O M

16 U F L A W

FACILITIES

The Florida Supreme Court judges student trial and moot court competitions in UF Law’s impressive Martin H. Levin

Advocacy Center courtroom.

V I E W B O O K 17

DESIGNED TO BLEND TRADITION WITH TECHNOLOGY, the Lawton

Chiles Legal Information Center offers rare books alongside

high-speed data ports and ergonomic study areas. The foyer

opens to spacious rooms with leather arm chairs and views of

azaleas and moss-heavy oaks. It is the largest in the South-

east and among the top 20 nationwide. Students have access

to 3.5 million-plus volumes in other UF libraries and 43 mil-

lion titles held by libraries throughout the world. Students can

access databases that provide federal and state statutes and

codes, periodicals, news articles and background materials.

“THE ALUMNI NETWORK ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS WHAT SOLD ME ON

UF LAW. I HAVE MADE SEVERAL CONNECTIONS IN LAW SCHOOL THAT

HAVE LED TO VALUABLE EXTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE IN FLORIDA, AND I

CONTINUE TO MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH UF LAW GRADUATES OUTSIDE

OF THE STATE WHICH MAY LEAD TO FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES.”

—LINDSEY TERCILLA (3L), BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN JOURNALISM, THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA (2013); LAW CLERK AT ELDER AND ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEYS, PA

(SUMMER 2015) ; STUDENT RECRUITMENT TEAM (2013-2015).(2013-2015).

W O R L D C L A S S F A C I L I T I E S

18 U F L A W

RESOURCES

H IGH -TECH CL ASSROOM S

• Lecture halls include classroom inputs for laptops, DVD players, projectors and audio. Video recording and streaming services are also available.

• Spessard L. Holland Law Center is a multi-purpose building that creates a warm and comfortable learning atmosphere for faculty and students with more than 80 faculty offices as well as classrooms and small lecture halls.

• Bruton-Geer Hall is a student-life hub where students visit administrative offices, chat over coffee and food in the cafeteria or study before class in lounge areas.

• The law library houses more than 600,000 volumes in open-stack displays. An open reserve area gives students access to course reserves and study aids.

V I E W B O O K 19

STUDENTS ARE EXPOSED TO AN ENRICHING INTELLECTUAL ENVIRONMENT

with visits, lectures and seminars from the crème of the legal

community. Students have multiple opportunities to interact with

visitors, who range from U.S. Supreme Court justices, federal judges

to federal regulators; Florida Supreme Court justices, American Bar

Association presidents to leading scholars; successful practitioners

and prominent political figures. Every year UF Law students learn

the value of preparation as they stand before moot court and trial

team panels made up of federal and state judges. Every semester

students gain knowledge and practical skills that will propel them

on their course as future leaders of the profession.

20 U F L A W

“AN INCREDIBLY STRONG ALUMNI NETWORK IS ONE THING THAT SETS UF

LAW APART FROM OTHER SCHOOLS. THE CONNECTIONS WE MAKE HERE

WITH ATTORNEYS AND JUDGES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE HUGE

BENEFITS FOR UF LAW GRADS.”

—BRIAN WARE (2L), BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE, THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA (2014); PHI DELTA PHI LEGAL

HONOR SOCIETY (2015)

A W E L L- R E S P E C T E D E D U C AT I O N

CAMPUS

Students are exposed to new faces, fresh ideas, and the research and

professional experiences of people who are shaping the law.

V I E W B O O K 21

THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IS A MAJOR RESEARCH UNIVERSITY,

hosting 16 colleges and 200 graduate programs, drawing

students from more than 130 countries and every U.S.

state. UF is a member of the prestigious Association of

American Universities and is recognized as one of the

nation’s leading research universities by the Carnegie

Commission on Higher Education.

U F AT T R A C T S W O R L D - C L A S S orchestras, plays, operas, ballet performances and

art exhibitions. Students also can join in numerous casual events such as barbecues, game

nights and extracurricular activities running the gamut from intramural team sports and

recreational clubs to outdoor activities. The university offers students health and fitness

programs in spacious, clean and well-equipped facilities. The University of Florida boasts

national champion sports teams that rank among the best in the nation each year. The

Gator football team is the most popular and UF Law students receive priority status for

tickets to each home game at The Swamp, the legendary football stadium within walking

distance of the law school. Alumni networking during football tailgates and law student seating

blocks combine the benefits of a big university with the intimacy of a law school.

U N I V E R S I T Y O F

T O P -T I E R U N I V E R S I T Y

22 U F L A W

FLORIDA

The university’s unusually comprehensive

and diverse curriculum offers UF Law students paths for hundreds of tailored joint degree

programs.

V I E W B O O K 23

THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA CAMPUS OCCUPIES 2,000 ACRES, located

mostly within the city of Gainesville. As the county seat of Alachua County,

Gainesville is home to state circuit courts, a federal courthouse, the Alachua

County Criminal Justice Center, and the Alachua County Family and Civil Jus-

tice Center. Representatives of federal and state agencies as well as numerous

law firms regularly appear at UF Law events and sponsor social occasions to

which students are invited. Gainesville ranks as one of the best values and

best places to live in the nation thanks to its low cost of living, dynamic arts

community, lush natural environment and status as hometown of a major

university. Gainesville was named the No. 3 college town in Livability.com’s

“Top 10 College Towns 2013;” ranked No. 1 among “Cities on the Rise” by

Nerdwallet.com; included in the “Where to Live Next” list by Smithsonian

Magazine; and one of National Geographic’s “50 Best Places to Live and Play.”

• I N TH E H E ART OF TH E SUN SH I N E STATE, Gainesville has dazzling winter weather with

plentiful sun and mild temperatures. The average temperature in January is a high of 67 and a low of 44.

• A social scientist projects through 2018 that Gainesville will be the No. 1 American city for the growth

of creative-class jobs, including for knowledge workers like lawyers. Innovation Square, for instance, is

the downtown home to a growing cluster of information technology and biotech entrepreneurs.

• Gainesville is well-known for its music scene and has spawned bands and musicians, including Tom

Petty and the Heartbreakers, Steven Stills, Don Felder and Bernie Leadon of The Eagles, Against Me!,

Less Than Jake, Hot Water Music, John Vanderslice, CYNE, Sister Hazel, and For Squirrels.

• The sports drink Gatorade was invented in Gainesville to fuel the Gator football team.

• With a population of about 127,000 (and 253,000 in the county), Gainesville is a busy college town with

lots to do on campus and off. Nearly 65 percent of the county is dotted with scenic lakes, wetlands and trails,

which give students numerous opportunities for cycling, canoeing, hiking, golf, camping, bird-watching and fishing.

COMMUNITY

24 U F L A W

E V E R Y P AT H S TA R T S W I T H P A S S I O N

In Gainesville you can enjoy festivals and performing arts

programs; national-caliber theaters; museums and

performing arts; the largest collection of crystal clear springs in the world; and

sandy beaches just two hours away on either coast by

car to Tampa-St. Petersburg, Orlando, Jacksonville

and Tallahassee.

V I E W B O O K 25

JOH

N M

OR

AN

P R A C T I C E M A K E S P E R F E C T. UF Law is committed to providing you with the

tools needed to engage in the highest levels of legal practice. The required

first-year curriculum emphasizes the foundational skill of critical thinking.

You will also learn how to conduct legal research, identify and apply legal rules,

and express your analysis clearly. Our upper-level curriculum offers a variety

of courses and clinics focused on advanced legal reasoning, interviewing and

counseling, trial practice, negotiation, legal research, legal writing and document

drafting. Many courses blend substantive law instruction with skills training,

such as Business Transactions and Document Drafting, Criminal Litigation,

and Entrepreneurship Law Practicum. Below, students practice what they have

learned during a moot court session inside the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center

courtroom, a classroom and courtroom all in one.

Starting in spring 2016, UF Law students may also choose to take part in a two-year

pilot program offering students a semester away, working for a firm or agency in

select areas – South Florida, Washington, D.C., or Tallahassee, Florida. Classroom

study blends with professional experience while allowing students to remain

registered full-time at UF Law.

C HART YO UR PATH I N D OZEN S OF ARE AS OF L AW using UF Law’s innovative curriculum

roadmaps (http://www.law.ufl.edu/academics/degree-programs/juris-doctor/curriculum-roadmaps).

The roadmap is a guide to the terrain, but it doesn’t choose your route for you. So with roadmap in hand,

you may also want to consult an associated faculty member who can offer academic counseling, or an

alumnus or employer whose opinion and judgment you trust. The following are just a few of the many

options available to you. Think of what comes next as roadmaps to your future.

M A P Y O U R F U T U R E

26 U F L A W

CURRICULUM

V I E W B O O K 27

R E Q U I R E D C O U R S E S F I R S T Y E A R

• Appellate Advocacy

• Civil Procedure • Constitutional Law • Contracts• Criminal Law

• Introduction to Lawyering

• Legal Research • Legal Writing • Property • Torts

R E Q U I R E D C O U R S E S S E C O N D Y E A R

• Legal Drafting • Professional Responsibility

Starting as 2Ls, students can tailor their J.D. curricula to career goals in practice areas ranging from criminal

justice to environmental law to public service.

T H E R E Q U I R E D F I R S T - Y E A R C U R R I C U L U M emphasizes practical lawyering by teaching

students to conduct legal research, identify and apply legal rules, and express their analysis clearly.

Meanwhile, in spring 2016, UF Law students will take part in a two-year pilot program

offering students a semester away, working for a firm or agency in select areas – South Florida,

Washington, D.C., or Tallahassee, Florida. Classroom study blends with professional

experience while allowing students to remain registered full-time at UF Law.

28 U F L A W V I E W B O O K 2928 U F L A W

Alternative Dispute ResolutionT H E I N S T I T U T E F O R D I S P U T E R E S O L U T I O N A C T I V E LY

E N C O U R A G E S A N D E N H A N C E S T E A C H I N G , R E S E A R C H

A N D S E R V I C E in alternative dispute resolution. Institute

faculty teach a multitude of courses, including mediation,

negotiation and mediation advocacy. The institute

sponsors training, symposiums and prominent speakers on

alternative dispute resolution.

The Institute for Dispute Resolution provides resources

for an alternative dispute resolution team that competes

with law schools regionally and nationally. A student

group also participates in the campus-wide Conflict

Resolution Initiative.

The County Mediation Clinic combines classroom

training and practical experience with attorneys and

judges to prepare students for the growing field of

alternative dispute resolution. The clinic gives students

the opportunity to co-mediate actual small claims court

cases during the semester. Disputes include neighbor

conflicts, landlords-tenants, auto repairs as well as credit

card and other debts. Under Florida Supreme Court rules

an intensive instructional seminar is mandatory for each

participating student. Successful completion of the clinic

allows students to apply to become certified Florida

Supreme Court county mediators.

Business Law and TaxationT H E U F L AW TA X P R O G R A M I S R A N K E D N O . 1

A M O N G P U B L I C U N I V E R S I T I E S I N T H E N AT I O N and

tax expertise runs alongside the business and

corporate law curriculum for a powerful one-two

punch. UF Law’s Gator Nation excels in business

statewide. UF Law graduates are entrepreneurs, and

they rise to the top of elite enterprises. Business

and tax-focused law firms bring scores of alumni

to campus each year to recruit students who

land summer internships and full-time work after

graduation. In 2014, UF Law bolstered an already-

powerful business area with a new faculty member

expert in LLCs, financial regulation, private equity

funding and investment banking. Also consider:

• Joint degrees in accounting, business administration,

management, real estate, finance and many other

business-related areas are available across campus.

• The Tax Moot Court Team has achieved prominent

victories in national competitions.

• The International Commercial Arbitration Moot

(ICAM) Team competes with law schools from

around the world in Vienna each year.

28 U F L A W V I E W B O O K 29V I E W B O O K 29

• Students participate in a number of business moot court

competitions each year, including the Securities Law Moot

Court competition and Antitrust moot court competition. .

• The Association for Law & Business student group hosts

speakers and programs for those interested in pursuing a

career in business law.

• Innovative advanced courses such as: Business Law

Capstone: In House Practice, in which in-house counsel

discuss drafting specific business law documents.

• The LL.M. in International Taxation features a renowned

tax faculty, a curriculum of great breadth and depth,

distinguished students from around the world and the

benefits stemming from the Graduate Tax Program.

• A limited number of students are enrolled in the Doctor of

Juridical Science (S.J.D.) in Taxation. The degree involves

extensive study, research and writing over a three- to five-year

period. UF Law was the first to offer such a program in the U.S.

Criminal JusticeE X P E R I E N C E D FA C U LT Y A N D C L I N I C A L P R O G R A M S H O N E

S K I L L S F O R A C O M P R E H E N S I V E L E G A L E D U C AT I O N I N

C R I M I N A L J U S T I C E . FA C U LT Y M E M B E R S :

• Prosecuted serial killer Ted Bundy;

• Are nationally recognized experts in mental health and the law;

• Influenced the Supreme Court with reasoning on the Cruel

and Unusual Punishments Clause;

• Participated in criminal justice reform on the

Florida Innocence Commission.

“VIRTUALLY ALL COMMERCIAL

TRANSACTIONS AND EVEN MANY

PERSONAL INTERACTIONS HAVE

A TAX ASPECT TO THEM. I ENJOY

BOTH INTRODUCING TAX TO J.D.

STUDENTS WHO ARE NERVOUS

ABOUT TAKING THEIR FIRST

TAX CLASS AND EXPLORING

ADVANCED TAX TOPICS WITH

LL.M. STUDENTS WHO ARE ON

THE VERGE OF BECOMING TAX

PRACTITIONERS.”

— CHARLENE LUKE, PROFESSOR

TA X L A W

30 U F L A W

• The Criminal Justice Center provides criminal-practice

training and serves as an incubator for scholarship, talks

and conferences.

• The Criminal Justice Certificate Program offers a

concentration in the area of criminal law through specified

course-work, clinical programs, independent studies,

summer externships, networking opportunities and

participation in the student-run Criminal Law Association.

• The Criminal Defense Clinic gives certified legal interns

the opportunity to defend indigent clients charged

with criminal offenses through the Office of the Public

Defender. Students gain experience and skills transferable

to any area of litigation, including client and witness

interviewing; writing and arguing motions; and preparing

for and conducting hearings and trials.

• The Prosecution Clinic gives certified legal interns the

opportunity to practice law under the direct supervision

of licensed assistant state attorneys. Students aid

prosecution of criminal cases, including intake,

investigation, discovery, pretrial proceedings, trial and

sentencing. A goal is for the intern to try at least one jury

trial by the end of the semester.

• The Center for International Financial Crimes Studies

provides graduate instruction, research and policy

analysis, academic symposia, grant supervision and

consulting services on money laundering, forfeiture,

corporate security, offshore finances, cybercrime,

organized crime and international financial crimes. It

co-sponsors the annual International Symposium on

Economic Crime at Cambridge University, England.

“AS A UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA COLLEGE

OF LAW ALUMNAE AND CRIMINAL LAW

PRACTITIONER, I AM EXCITED TO LEAD

THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER! THE

CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER UNITES THE

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF CRIMINAL

LAW. CRIMINAL LAW PROFESSORS

AND PRACTITIONERS LEAD STUDENTS

THROUGH HANDS-ON CRIMINAL

PRACTICE IN CRIMINAL CLINICS AND

EXTERNSHIPS. STUDENTS ALSO HAVE A

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE

A SPECIALIZED INTEREST IN CRIMINAL

LAW BY EARNING A CRIMINAL JUSTICE

CERTIFICATE. THE CENTER PROVIDES

MENTORSHIP AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR

PROGRAMMING TO LAUNCH STUDENTS

ON THEIR CHOSEN CAREER PATHS.”

—MONIQUE HAUGHTON WORRELL, PROFESSOR; DIRECTOR, CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER; DIRECTOR, CRIMINAL LAW CLINICS

C R I M I N A L L A W

V I E W B O O K 31

Environmental and Land Use LawT H E E N V I R O N M E N TA L A N D L A N D U S E L AW

P R O G R A M E D U C AT E S F U T U R E L AW Y E R S T H R O U G H

A N I N N O VAT I V E A P P R O A C H that combines the study

of land use law with environmental law. The dynamic

program harnesses a rich curriculum, a conservation

clinic, a study-abroad program and a major student-run

environmental conference with seasoned law professors.

Among the scholars are experts with experience in

the Environmental Protection Agency, Florida water

management, energy issues, national water law and editor

of a treatise cited regularly by the U.S. Supreme Court.

• The Certificate in Environmental and Land Use Law

provides a valuable credential indicating completion

of a rigorous and tailored course of study, including

specified core courses, electives and a legal skills

experience.

• Conservation Clinic students work in teams to

serve clients on issues such as land acquisition and

conservation; ordinance and comprehensive plan

drafting; protected area management planning,

legislative reform proposals; institutional framework

design and dispute resolution systems design; and

conservation mediations. Each summer the clinic offers

a for-credit program jointly with the University of Costa

Rica Environmental Law Clinic.

“MASS INCARCERATION HAS

EXHAUSTED STATE BUDGETS

AND DECIMATED COMMUNITIES.

MY SCHOLARSHIP AND

TEACHING INVOLVE EVALUATING

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS

FOR MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS.

TOGETHER, MY STUDENTS AND

I QUESTION THE WISDOM AND

EFFECTIVENESS OF MENTAL

HEALTH COURTS, SENTENCING

REFORM, SUBJECTIVIZED

DEFENSES, AND OTHER

MEASURES. THE EXCHANGE

OF IDEAS IS DYNAMIC AND

INSPIRATIONAL.”

— LEA JOHNSTON, PROFESSOR

C R I M I N A L L A W

32 U F L A W

• The Environmental Moot Court Team attends the

national Environmental Moot Court Competition at Pace

Law School each year where students brief and argue a

case, competing against roughly 70 teams from law schools

around the country.

• The Costa Rica Study Abroad program offers students the

unique opportunity to study international and comparative

environmental law from a Latin American perspective.

• LL.M. in Environmental and Land Use Law students spend

a year of individualized study on the UF Law campus as post-

J.D. scholars developing in-depth expertise. The program

capitalizes on the university’s expertise in disciplines related

to the practice area, including wildlife ecology, environmental

engineering, urban and regional planning and interdisciplinary

ecology.

Estates and TrustsTHE CONVERGENCE OF STATE DEMOGRAPHICS, THE TOP TIER STATUS

OF UF LAW, THE STATURE OF OUR PROFESSORS, AND THE NATIONAL

RECOGNITION of our exceptional Tax LL.M. contribute to a

strong estates and trusts curriculum, which includes the

Estate Planning Certificate Program.

The Camp Center for Estate Planning integrates teaching,

training, research, scholarship and public service with the

goals of advancing estates and trusts knowledge, law, policy,

professionalism and skills.

“UF LAW PROVIDES AN

OUTSTANDING ENVIRONMENT

FOR TEACHING, LEARNING

AND RESEARCH. THE QUALITY

OF THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM,

ESPECIALLY IN THE AREAS

OF ESTATE PLANNING AND

TAXATION, IS GREATLY

ENHANCED BY OPPORTUNITIES

FOR FACULTY AND STUDENTS

TO INTERACT WITH PRACTICING

LAWYERS, JUDGES AND

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.”

—GRAYSON M.P. MCCOUCH,GERALD SOHN PROFESSOR OF LAW

E S TAT E S A N D T R U S T S

V I E W B O O K 33

“AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER

OF CHILDREN LACK ACCESS

TO MEDICAL CARE, FOOD,

ADEQUATE SHELTER AND

PRIMARY EDUCATION. THROUGH

OUR CURRICULUM, STUDY

ABROAD PROGRAMS, CLINICAL

WORK, SPEAKER SERIES AND

CONFERENCES, UF LAW’S

CENTER ON CHILDREN AND

FAMILIES SEEKS TO ADVANCE

CHILDREN’S RIGHTS BY

SUPPORTING STUDENTS WHO

ARE WORKING TOWARD LEGAL

REFORM AND SOCIAL CHANGE.”

—SHANI M. KING, PROFESSOR; CO-DIRECTOR, CENTER ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

F A M I LY L A W

Family LawW I T H T H E I N C R E A S I N G C O M P L E X I T Y O F D I V O R C E L AW

A N D C H I L D R E N ’ S L AW , T H E R I S E O F T H E N O N T R A D I T I O N A L

FA M I LY, A N D T H E L A N D M A R K D E C I S I O N S O F T H E S U P R E M E

C O U R T, family law is one of the fastest growing and most

complex practice specialties. This creates a new demand for

well-rounded and well-trained family specialists.

The Family Law Certificate Program was established so students

can pursue a coherent, sequential course of study through

clinical and traditional classroom offerings, making them more

sophisticated and more competitive in the market for new lawyers.

The Certificate in Family Law can now be earned through several

“pathways”. Curriculum guides lead learners through general

family law, juvenile justice, civil practice, or public interest

educational tracks. In addition, if you have a particular area of

interest, our renowned faculty will work with you to develop a

program of study to fit your goal. The general certificate gives

students interested in family law but unsure about a specific

practice area, broad exposure and the flexibility to select courses

of interest. Courses are selected each semester with advisement

from the faculty and staff of the Center on Children and Families.

Highlights of the program include:

• Opportunities for practical family law training and to

participate in scholarship, talks and conferences featuring

leading family law and children’s rights academics and

practitioners.

·

34 U F L A W

• Opportunities to author amicus briefs in the Florida district

courts of appeal, The Florida Supreme Court and the United

States Supreme Court.

• Opportunities to author policy briefs related to families and

children that are relied upon by policymakers.

• The Gator Team Child Juvenile Law Clinic. As certified

legal interns, students advocate on behalf of children in

delinquency, dependency, administrative and educational

matters. Students learn invaluable practical, transferable and

fundamental advocacy skills such as interviewing, counseling

and negotiation, and are trained to operate effectively in

a law office, and to effectively navigate bureaucracies,

agencies and court systems on behalf of their clients.

• The Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Clinic (IPVAC).

This clinic is a multidisciplinary clinic at the Levin College

of Law which provides indigent victims of domestic, dating

and sexual violence with legal representation, mental health

counseling, and case management needs. This Clinic is

the first clinic of its kind in the nation. In IPVAC, students

interview and counsel clients, draft pleadings and conduct

discovery. They also engage in motion practice and conduct

trials on behalf of clients.

• The Family Advocacy Clinic. In this clinic, under the

supervision of a faculty member, students represent indigent

clients as lead counsel. They interview and counsel clients,

draft pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, and other legal

documents, as well as conduct discovery, argue motions,

negotiate, and advocate at mediation and sometimes take

cases to trial.

• The Family Law Society, which provides a forum for

students interested in family law to socialize and learn

more about the field and career opportunities, and

conducts networking events involving local judges and

family law practitioners.

Intellectual Property LawG A I N I N G A C E R T I F I C AT E I N I N T E L L E C T U A L

P R O P E R T Y L AW I N T R O D U C E S S T U D E N T S T O A

B U R G E O N I N G F I E L D that includes patents, trade

secrets, copyrights and trademarks. Expanding

global trade increases demand for lawyers skilled in

prosecuting, defending and challenging intellectual

property rights on a global scale. Meanwhile, the

technology boom requires patent lawyers as well as

lawyers trained in related fields such as antitrust, media,

cyberlaw and general commercial law. The demand also

continues to grow for those who can adapt or create

doctrine in new fields — such as genetic engineering,

accessing and downloading Internet materials, and

disputes involving domain names, metatags and

hyperlinks — in addition to application of these laws in

more traditional industries and the creative arts.

The Journal of Technology Law and Policy is a

student-edited journal published twice a year (also

online) that focuses on legal and policy aspects of

technology issues.

·

“THE INTERNET PUSHES THE

BOUNDARIES OF OUR LONG

ESTABLISHED METHODS OF

LEGAL REGULATION. MOREOVER,

TECHNOLOGY IN GENERAL POSES

MANY CHALLENGES TO EXISTING

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

PARADIGMS AND DOCTRINES. I

EXPLORE THESE ISSUES WITH AN

EYE TOWARD ASSISTING COURTS

AND LEGISLATORS ACHIEVE A

REASONABLE BALANCE WHEN

WEIGHING OR ASSESSING POLICY

AND DOCTRINAL APPROACHES TO

THESE PROBLEMS.”

—ELIZABETH ROWE, PROFESSOR; DIRECTOR, PROGRAM IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW

I N T E L L E C T U A L P R O P E R T Y L A W

V I E W B O O K 35

The Intellectual Property & Technology Law

Association provides a forum for students interested

in intellectual property law to socialize and learn more

about the field and career opportunities, and has

conducted an intellectual property & computer law

symposium.

International and Comparative LawR O B U S T S T U D Y A B R O A D P R O G R A M S , C O U R S E W O R K ,

A J O U R N A L , A M O O T C O U R T T E A M A N D L L . M .

P R O G R A M S form the backbone of UF Law’s international

advantage. The law school trains its primary international

focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. Students benefit

from decades of international experience and involvement by

faculty as well as enrichment courses that bring to campus

leading international professors, judges, attorneys and

government officials to teach courses dealing with current

legal issues.

The International and Comparative Law Certificate

Program helps prepare students for practice in this new

global legal environment by teaching the international

aspects of every area of the law.

The law school co-sponsors summer law programs in

Paris and Montpellier, France; and San Jose, Costa

36 U F L A W

Public serviceU F L AW I S T H E P E R F E C T L A U N C H I N G P A D F O R

A C A R E E R I N P U B L I C S E R V I C E , whether political,

governmental or public interest. Well-connected faculty

and alumni join with an active student body to impart the

knowledge, skills and sophistication required to thrive in the

public sphere.

The Center for Governmental Responsibility at the University

of Florida Levin College of Law is a legal research and public

policy center. Faculty at CGR teach primarily at the College of

Law and conduct grant and contract-funded external research

of the areas of environmental law, democracy and governance,

privacy issues, international trade, and social policy. CGR

provides law students experiences researching, analyzing

and developing good public policy through applied research

on matters of public importance. Its mission is to enhance

opportunities for students to become leaders and contributors

to their communities. CGR has a long history of programs,

collaborations, training and research throughout Central and

South America as well as Poland. CGR recently celebrated four

decades as one of Florida’s senior research and policy centers.

The University of Florida Journal of Law and Public Policy

is an interdisciplinary student publication devoted to public

policy implications of legal issues. Students publish three issues

a year and sponsor a spring symposium.

The Public Interest Law Fellowship Program gives students,

supervised by licensed attorneys, hands-on experience as

advocates for the poor and serve nonprofit and government

Rica. Students can travel across the world through ABA-

approved exchange programs such as:

• Leiden University in the Netherlands

• University of Montpellier in France

• Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany

• Bar Ilan University in Israel

• Tel Aviv University in Israel

• LUISS Guido Carli, Rome, Italy

The Jessup Moot Court Team explores issues of public

international law and international humanitarian law and

competes nationally and internationally.

Florida Journal of International Law is published three

times per year and contains scholarly works with global

perspectives by students, professors and practitioners on

public and private international law topics.

The LL.M. in Comparative Law gives graduates of

non-U.S. law schools in-depth expertise in global legal

issues including trade, environmental and land use law,

human rights and constitutional reform, and brings a

richly diverse array of foreign lawyers to campus to study

alongside J.D. students.

The LL.M. in International Taxation gives students

access to the nation’s No. 1 tax program among public

universities with a one-year deep dive into the practices

and policies of international taxation law.

V I E W B O O K 37

“THE EDUCATION I RECEIVED

FROM FLORIDA GAVE ME THE

OPPORTUNITY TO BE A LAWYER,

TO BE A TEACHER, TO BE A

WRITER. IT’S IMPOSSIBLE FOR

ME TO REPAY WHAT THAT HAS

MEANT TO MY LIFE IN TERMS OF

ALLOWING ME TO HAVE JOY IN

THE THINGS THAT I DO AND TO

SEE THAT I’VE MADE AN IMPACT.”

—JON MILLS (JD 72), DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR GOVERNMENTAL RESPONSIBILTY; PROFESSOR; DEAN EMERITUS; AND FORMER FLORIDA HOUSE SPEAKER

G O V E R N M E N TA L R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y

agencies such as Florida Institutional Legal Services, Southern Legal

Counsel, Three Rivers Legal Services, the state’s Guardian ad Litem

program and the 8th Circuit Public Defender’s Office.

UF Law professor Jon Mills (pictured right) is a unique asset to

students embarking on a career in public service. A former Florida

House speaker, Mills has argued numerous high-profile cases

and has been in the thick of momentous public policy fights since

returning to his alma mater as professor, dean and founding director

of the Center for Governmental Responsibility. Mills served on the

Florida Constitutional Revision Commission, was lead counsel in the

case to prevent the release of race car driver Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s

autopsy photos, and, most recently, appeared before the Florida

Supreme Court where he successfully argued for placing a medical

marijuana referendum on the ballot.

Skills and enrichmentS T U D E N T S E N H A N C E T H E I R S K I L L S , E A R N C R E D I T A N D G A I N

E X P E R I E N C E T H R O U G H C O - C U R R I C U L A R O R G A N I Z AT I O N S and

100 recognized extra-curricular student organizations. These pertain to

disparate practice areas. A few of them are:

• The Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court Team, which

participates in intramural, state and national appellate

competitions sponsored by organizations and firms.

• The Trial Team, which competes in intramural, state, regional and

national competitions sponsored by individuals, groups and law firms.

• Florida Law Review, which publishes as many as five times a

year and includes articles by students and legal scholars who are

specialists in various areas of the law.

38 U F L A W

“ONE THING I KNOW FOR SURE IS

THAT WHEN STUDENTS SIGN UP

FOR A COURSE ON CRIME, RACE,

AND LAW, THEY ARE TAKING A

LEAP OF FAITH. THE LEAP IS

THAT THE SUBJECT MATTER, ON

WHICH MANY ALREADY HAVE

DEEPLY HELD OPINIONS, WILL

BE PRESENTED IN A WAY THAT

IS INTELLECTUALLY RIGOROUS,

HISTORICALLY HONEST, AND

DIALOGUE-ENHANCING. WE

COVER LOTS OF GROUND IN THE

COURSE, INCLUDING CAPITAL

PUNISHMENT, RACIAL PROFILING,

HATE CRIMES AND VOIR DIRE.”

—KATHERYN RUSSELL-BROWN, CHESTERFIELD SMITH PROFESSOR OF LAW; DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF RACE AND RACE RELATIONS; ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER

ADMISSIONS

R A C E A N D R A C E R E L AT I O N S

The Center for the Study of Race and Race Relations is one of five

such academic research and resource centers in the nation attached

to a law school devoted to the study of race and race relations. The

center works with groups engaged in a wide range of activities to

create and foster dialogue on race and race relations and promote

historically and empirically based thinking, talking, research,

writing and teaching. Twice a year the center sponsors conferences

featuring intellectual leaders in the field.

AN E - DI SCOVERY P OWER HOUSE

E-Discovery, the extraction of electronic information for use in legal

cases, is a growing area and UF Law is a national leader in e-discovery

education for students and mid-career professionals. UF Law offers

a basic e-discovery course and a specialized course on the types of

search and review gaining increased prominence in the field. Students

are exposed to advanced software and management skills with hands-

on practice and exercises with actual data.

The UF Law E-Discovery Project is a multidisciplinary endeavor

supporting civil litigation through courses, research and the

development of information retrieval methods and tools. Conferences

and continuing legal education deliver e-discovery skills training to

practicing attorneys and litigation-support professionals.

The International Center for Automated Information Research

is an interdisciplinary, international information policy research

center among UF’s Levin College of Law, College of Engineering

and Warrington College of Business. The center funds innovative

research on information technologies and knowledge management

benefiting students, faculty and professionals in legal, accounting

and financial services.

V I E W B O O K 39

B E C AU S E L E G A L C A R E E R S A R E S O VA R I E D, law schools do not recommend any

particular undergraduate major, but instead expect students to possess the

skills necessary for effective written and oral communication and critical

thinking. For additional information about pre-law study, law school and the

legal profession, consult the ABA-LSAC Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law

Schools, published annually by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC)

and the American Bar Association. The guide is available during registration

for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or at www.lsac.org.

ADMISSIONS

J U LY - A U G U S T

• Create your secure LSAC.org account by July 1• Register for LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) by July 15• Register for the October 2015 LSAT by Aug. 28• Contact your recommenders and evaluators• Work on your Academic Admissions Statement

S E P T E M B E R - O C T O B E R

• Late registration for the October 2015 LSAT by Sept. 9• UF Law online application becomes available at LSAC.org

on Sept. 1• October 2015 LSAT Administration on Oct. 3• October 2015 LSAT scores released on Oct. 29• Register for the December 2015 LSAT by Oct. 30• Ask your Registrar’s office to mail your official transcripts to LSAC• Review your Academic Summary Report in your LSAC Account• Admissions Committee starts reviewing applications

N O V E M B E R - D E C E M B E R

• Late registration for the December 2015 LSAT by Nov. 11• Optimal time to submit UF Law application in early November• Dec. 2015 LSAT Administration on Dec. 5• Send updated transcripts with fall grades to LSAC

J A N U A R Y - F E B R U A R Y

• Submit FAFSA for 2016-17 starting on Jan. 1• December 2015 LSAT scores released on Jan. 6• Register for the February 2016 LSAT by Jan. 7• Late registration for the February 2016 LSAT by Jan. 15• Send file updates to LSAC and complete your CAS file by Feb. 1• February 2016 LSAT Administration on Feb. 6

M A R C H - A P R I L

• February 2016 LSAT scores released on March 3• UF Law recommended file completion deadline is March 15

M AY - J U LY

• Deposit deadline is May 15• Register for Orientation• Submit official undergraduate

transcript• Submit immunization form • June LSAT Administration on June 13• Application deadline is July 15

J . D . A P P L I C AT I O N FA L L 2 0 1 6 D E A D L I N E

March 15, 2016: Strongly recommended

completion deadline

July 15, 2016: Application deadline

Take the LSAT no later than June 2016

P R E P A R AT I O N F O R L A W S C H O O L

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A D M I S S I O N S S TA N D A R D S

Faculty Admissions PolicyThe admissions policy of the University of Florida Levin College of Law advances the mission of the college: excellence in educating professionals, advancing legal scholarship, serving the public and fostering justice. The Levin College of Law has a responsibility as a state institution to educate lawyers who will serve the legal needs of all citizens and communities in Florida. The college of law seeks to admit and enroll students who will distinguish themselves in serving the state, region and nation through the practice of law, formulation of public policy, legal scholarship and other law-related activities. Legal education is enhanced in a student body composed of people with different backgrounds who contribute a variety of viewpoints to enrich the educational experience. This diversity is important because lawyers must be prepared to analyze and interpret the law, understand and appreciate competing arguments, represent diverse clients and constituencies in many different forums, and develop policies affecting a broad range of people. The college of law seeks to admit and enroll students who, collectively, bring to its educational program a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, interests and perspectives. The breadth and variety of perspectives to which graduates of the college are exposed while in law school will enable them to provide outstanding service in many different public and private capacities.

Furthermore, through its admissions process, the college of law seeks to admit students who will excel academically, attain the highest standards of professional excellence and integrity, and bring vision, creativity

and commitment to the legal profession. The college of law gives substantial weight

to numerical predictors of academic success like LSAT scores and

undergraduate grade point average. Numbers alone, however, are not dispositive. The college considers all information submitted by applicants. Factors such as the difficulty of prior academic programs, academic

honors, letters of recommendation from instructors, or graduate training

may provide additional information about academic preparation and potential.

In some cases, demonstrated interest, prior training or a

variety of experiences may indicate that an applicant is particularly well-suited to take advantage of specialized educational opportunities. Information about work experience, leadership, community service, overcoming prior educational or socioeconomic disadvantages or commitment to serve those for whom legal services have been unavailable or difficult to obtain may show that an applicant is in a unique position to add to the diversity of the law school community or to make significant contributions to the practice of law.

Selection ProcessThe Admissions staff and the Faculty Admissions Committee base their selection on the applicant’s academic credentials, including LSAT score, UGPA, writing skills and breadth of studies. Additional criteria considered include the applicant’s work and other life experience, leadership experience, depth of particular interest, and any other aspect of an applicant’s background suggesting suitability for the study and practice of law.

Timing of Admissions DecisionsCompletion of the application by the recommended deadline of March 15 is strongly advised in order to place applicants in the best possible position for admission and scholarship consideration. Applications completed after March 15 may not be guaranteed a timely decision and could affect an applicant’s potential for scholarships or grants.

UF Law will continue to accept and review applications after March 15 through the final deadline of July 15, making offers on a space-available basis. Therefore, while UF Law will accept the June 2016 LSAT, it is strongly recommended that applicants take an earlier exam as this will place them in the best possible position for admission and scholarship consideration. UF Law reviews files on a modified rolling admissions basis and applicants could be notified of a decision as early as November, with notifications continuing through late July.

The Levin College of Law’s Application Status Online (ASO) allows applicants to view their current application status as well as announcements from the Office of Admissions. The ASO also contains applicants’ contact information and a record of required materials received such as the résumé, admissions statement, and letters of recommendation. Please visit ASO at: www.law.ufl.edu/admissions/prospective-students/jd-application-procedures/applicant-status-online-aso.

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Ineligibility for AdmissionApplicants who have received a law degree (or bachelor’s degree combined with a law program) from a U.S. institution are not eligible for admission to the Levin College of Law.

Applicants who have attended another law school and are ineli-gible to return as a continuing student or are not in good stand-ing (including, but not limited to, having been academically dis-missed), are not eligible to apply to the Levin College of Law.

Prior Law School AttendeesAn applicant who has attended another law school must submit a written statement describing the attendance, a complete transcript, and a statement from the dean indicating class rank and certifying the applicant is in good standing and eligible to return to the institution as a continuing student. Those not in good standing (including, but not limited to, having been academically dismissed) or ineligible to return as continuing students are not eligible to apply to the Levin College of Law. In addition, credit is not given for correspondence courses or other work completed in residence at a non-ABA-accredited law school.

Petitioning for ReconsiderationAn applicant who has been denied admission can request reconsideration only in cases where the applicant has learned of significant additional information that was not available at the time of the original application. The Admissions Committee’s original decision would have been based upon all academic and non-academic information included in the original application.

Information about events, such as grades or awards, occurring after the March 15 file completion deadline cannot be considered. The committee’s decision on a petition for reconsideration is final and is not subject to further appeal.

A written request must include an explanation of the new information as well as valid reasons warranting reconsideration, and should be submitted to: Assistant Dean for Admissions, University of Florida Levin College of Law, 141 Bruton-Geer Hall, P.O. Box 117622, Gainesville, FL 32611-7622.

J . D . A P P L I C AT I O N P R O C E S S

I. Required Documents Levin College of Law LSAC Online ApplicationJuris doctor applicants are required to use the Levin College of Law LSAC online application available at www.LSAC.org.

LSAT AND CAS REPORTAll applicants are required to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). LSAT scores are valid for five years. In the absence of documentation that a candidate was ill, or that some other unusual condition occurred during one of the tests, all LSAT scores are considered. Applicants should discuss score differentiation in an addendum. While all scores are considered, the Admissions Committee will note the highest overall LSAT score.

Applicants are required to register with LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS), which standardizes undergraduate records and provides them to law schools where candidates apply. Registration is valid for five years from the date that the LSAT/CAS registration form is processed. Applicants must ensure that undergraduate transcripts from each college, university or high school/university dual enrollment program attended are on file with the CAS, and that they have selected the University of Florida Levin College of Law as one of the law schools to which the CAS Report should be sent. Sending a transcript from only one institution attended is not sufficient even if the transcript contains grades from previous institutions.

Upon submission of the online application, the CAS report will be requested automatically and will become available to the Levin College of Law as soon as the CAS file is complete. The CAS report contains the LSAT score(s) and transcript information. Applicants should send updated transcripts to the CAS well in advance of the Levin College of Law’s March 15 completion deadline. The Credential Assembly Service requires two to three weeks to process transcripts.

Important Note for Foreign-Educated Applicants:The Levin College of Law requires that foreign transcripts be submitted through the CAS, which will authenticate and evaluate these transcripts. Foreign-educated applicants must take the LSAT; the Levin College of Law does not require the TOEFL for the J.D. program.

T H E L AW S C H O O L

C O D E F O R T H E

U N I V E R S I T Y O F

F L O R I D A L E V I N

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I S 5 8 1 2 .

ADMISSIONS

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Applicants who completed any postsecondary work outside the U.S., its territories or Canada must use the CAS for the evaluation of foreign transcripts. The one exception to this requirement is foreign work completed through a study-abroad, consortium or exchange program sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian institution where the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcript.

PERSONAL STATEMENT (OR ACADEMIC ADMISSIONS STATEMENT)The Levin College of Law seeks to enroll a class with varied backgrounds and academic skills. Such diversity contributes to the learning environment of the law school, and historically has produced graduates who have served all segments of society and who have become leaders in many fields of law. To better assess such qualities, the Levin College of Law requires each applicant to submit a Personal Statement or an Academic Statement. Candidates who submit a Personal Statement are welcome to address any topic. Those who submit an Academic Statement should focus on academic skills, interests and experiences gained during undergraduate and post-graduate work and/or in a professional work setting.

RÉSUMÉAll applicants are required to submit a professional résumé or curriculum vitae (CV), which should include specific factual information about education, honors and awards, extracurricular or community activities, publications, work history, military service and/or foreign language proficiencies. Time frames should be clearly defined and descriptions should be detailed. The college strongly prefers that applicants upload résumés or CVs via the LSAC online application website.

CHARACTER AND FITNESS AND THE NEED FOR FULL DISCLOSUREQuestions 1 and 2 in the Character and Fitness section of the application require candidates to report (#1) any disciplinary action taken against them at any college or university and/or (#2) any academic probation, warning, suspension and/or dismissal. Questions 3-5 are about specific violations of law, including any traffic violation resulting in a fine over $200, or which resulted in revocation or suspension of a candidate’s driver’s license.

Applicants must respond completely and accurately to all questions on the law school application.

Applicants answering “yes” to any question must provide both a detailed explanation for each response and official documentation from the college/university or court documenting the final disposition of each occurrence. Official documents must clearly identify the agency that is providing the disposition of the incident. Official documents obtained from an online source must include a Web address (URL).

It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide all documentation for each “yes” response. Students uncertain about their academic and/or disciplinary history should contact the Student Judicial Affairs office at each college or university attended. (Current or former UF students should contact Student Judicial Affairs at 202 Peabody Hall, P.O. Box 114075, Gainesville, FL 32611, phone 352-392-1261).

Admission to the Levin College of Law is contingent upon the accuracy of required information furnished as part of the application process. Failure to furnish required information or misrepresentation of such information can result in the withdrawal of an offer of admission prior to matriculation, dismissal from the college after matriculation, rescission of the student’s degree after graduation, and/or forfeiture of all fees and charges paid and academic credit earned. Any such failure to disclose or any misrepresentation may result in an investigation by the Law School Admission Council’s Misconduct and Irregularities in the Admission Process Subcommittee. It may also affect admission to a state bar.

After submitting the application, applicants are required to immediately notify the Levin College of Law of any changes in data that occur either prior to a decision or matriculation. This includes information required by questions 1-5 in the Character and Fitness section of the application.

Applicants should be aware that, in conducting character and fitness investigations, state bar authorities frequently request copies of candidates’ applications for admission to law school to determine if the information is accurate and demonstrates full disclosure. Discrepancies or omissions may call into question the applicant’s fitness for admission to a state bar, since they reflect on the applicant’s character, ability to follow directions, trustworthiness, honesty and reliability.

Each state establishes bar registration and admissions standards for individuals who wish to practice in that state. One important aspect of admission to practice is an evaluation of an applicant’s character and fitness to practice

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law. States subject applicants to the bar to a rigorous character and fitness investigation before admission to practice. Applicants are strongly encouraged, prior to matriculation, to contact the Board of Bar Examiners in the states where they intend to practice to determine the rules that will apply to their bar admission in those states, including what constitutes proof of sufficient character and fitness.

The Levin College of Law strongly prefers that applicants who answer “yes” to any of the character and fitness questions combine their explanation and all official documents into one attachment and upload it via the LSAC online application website.

II. Optional Documents DIVERSITY STATEMENTLawyers serve critical roles in our society. As our society becomes increasingly diverse, the Levin College of Law requires a broadly diverse student body to achieve its mission of excellence in education, research and service. Broad diversity encompasses life experiences, socioeconomic background, ethnicity and race, gender and other attributes and provides multi-cultural learning opportunities.

Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to submit a statement describing the diverse skills they have de-veloped, including relevant specific life experiences, and how such skills and experiences would foster diversity at the Levin College of Law. Applicants should focus on their interests, unique abilities, and personal background (including, but not limited, to information about socio-economic background, first generation status, gender, ethnicity and race and other relevant attributes).

The Diversity Statement should not exceed two double-spaced pages and should be in a font no smaller than 12 points. Text from the Academic Admissions Statement should not be repeated in the Diversity Statement. The Levin College of Law strongly prefers that applicants up-load the Diversity Statement via the LSAC electronic ap-plication website.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION AND EVALUATION FORMSThe Levin College of Law strongly encourages candidates to submit up to four letters of recommendation. Recommenders should evaluate in detail the applicant’s academic performance and skills, academic activities, community service, and/or employment.

Please note that the Levin College of Law does not consider personal recommendations (for example, those from family, friends or persons who have never taught or supervised the applicant in a professional setting).

The Levin College of Law will also accept up to four LSAC Evaluations. Since letters of recommendation and evaluations are not required, action will proceed with or without these items once all required materials are received. While the Levin College of Law is unable to acknowledge receipt of letters, candidates may verify receipt of documents using the Application Status Online at: www.law.ufl.edu/admissions/prospective-students/jd-application-procedures/applicant-status-online-aso.

Candidates have two options for submitting letters of recommendation:• LSAC Letter of Recommendation (LOR) Service: The

Levin College of Law strongly prefers that letters be submitted through the LSAC LOR Service included with the CAS registration.

• Submit letters directly to the Levin College of Law: Letters submitted directly to the Levin College of Law should be on letterhead and accompanied by the cover form available in the “Forms” tab of the LSAC online application website.

ADDENDA AND OTHER MATERIALSApplicants who wish to discuss any unique issue may submit a separate one-page addendum with their application. This document may include, but need not be limited to, information about poor grade progression, history of standardized testing, linguistic barriers, or a personal or family history of educational or socioeconomic disadvantage.

ADMISSIONS

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The Levin College of Law strongly prefers that applicants upload any addenda, including Character and Fitness explanations/documentation, via the LSAC online application website. The following should not be included with the application: writing samples, newspaper/magazine articles, photographs, CDs, DVDs, audio cassettes or videotapes. These items will not be evaluated as part of the application and will not be returned to the applicant. It is strongly recommended that applicants keep copies of their applications for reference.

III. Application Fee, Residency Affidavit and Other Required Supplemental DataWithin 5 business days after submission of the online application, the Levin College of Law will send an email acknowledging receipt of the application. This email will provide instructions regarding payment of the non-refundable $30 application fee and the completion of the required University of Florida Supplemental Admission Information and Residency Affidavit. Submission of the application fee and the supplemental forms will be done via the University of Florida Graduate Admissions online system.

The graduate admissions process at the University of Florida involves two offices, the UF Graduate Admissions Office and the Levin College of Law. The UF Graduate Admissions Office coordinates the graduate programs of all schools and colleges of the university, including the UF Levin College of Law. Certain materials, i.e., transcripts and character and fitness documents, may be required by both offices. In addition, applicants with character and fitness disclosures may also need to provide further

documentation to the UF Office of Student Conduct and Conflict

Resolution for its review in order to finalize admission

to the University of Florida.

Please note that the UF Levin College of Law does not have any jurisdiction over residency matters. Final decisions on residency

matters are determined by the University’s

Graduate Admissions Office in

accordance with Florida State Statute, 222.17. Be advised that the University’s Graduate Admissions Office may request additional supporting documentation to verify residency classification for tuition purposes. Applicants may contact UF Graduate Admissions Office directly with concerns or questions at 352-392-1365, www.admissions.ufl.edu/residency/qualifying.html.

The Levin College of Law will waive the $30 application fee for JD and Transfer candidates who received an LSAC Fee Waiver. The $30 application fee will automatically be waived for LSAC fee-waived candidates upon submission of the UF Law LSAC online application.

UF Law offers merit-based application fee waivers by invitation only to JD candidates whose profiles typically meet or exceed both a 160 LSAT score and a 3.50 undergraduate GPA. Invitations to apply to UF Law using a merit fee waiver are emailed to those candidates who are registered for LSAC’s Candidate Referral Service (CRS) and meet the above criteria. Invitations are sent to those candidates whose credentials have been verified through LSAC after the scores of each LSAT administration have been released beginning with the June administration.

Application fees are non-refundable. The $30 application fee cannot be refunded to candidates who might qualify for a waiver, but apply before receiving the invitation. Also, please note that the fee waiver process begins anew each application cycle and the information above is effective at the beginning of each cycle. A fee waiver is only valid for that particular application cycle.

T R A N S F E R A N D V I S I T O R A P P L I C A N T S

General Requirements for all Transfer and Visitor ApplicantsGeneral Requirements for all Transfer and Visitor Applicants

Students attending a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) may apply for transfer or to visit the Levin College of Law (see Additional Requirements on next page).

The general requirements for transfer and visitor applicants are the same as the requirements for those applying for entry to the first year J.D. program:

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1. Levin College of Law LSAC Online Application

2. CAS Report

3. Academic Admissions Statement and Résumé

4. Character and Fitness Questions/Need for Full Disclosure

After the LSAC online application is submitted, the CAS report is automatically requested.

Transfer and visitor applicants must submit an Academic Admissions Statement that includes the reasons for wanting to attend the Levin College of Law and focuses on the law school academic experience.

In addition, all transfer and visitor applicants should carefully review sections I and III of the “J.D. Application Process” above for detailed instructions about the LSAC Online Application, the CAS Report, the Academic Admissions Statement, the résumé, the character and fitness questions and the need for full disclosure.

Transfer and Visitor Applications TRANSFER APPLICANTS

S P R I N G 2 0 1 6

Application available September 1, 2015File and complete by Oct. 1, 2015

S U M M E R 2 0 1 6

Application available January 1, 2016File and complete by March 1, 2016

F A L L 2 0 1 6

Application available May 1, 2016File by July 1, 2016Complete by July 15, 2016

Visitor Applicants and DeadlinesS P R I N G 2 0 1 6

Application available September 1, 2015File and complete by Dec. 1, 2015

S U M M E R 2 0 1 6

Application available January 1, 2016File and complete by April 1, 2016

F A L L 2 0 1 6

Application available May 1, 2016File and complete by July 1, 2016

Additional Requirements for Transfer ApplicantsIn addition to the general requirements described above, transfer applicants must comply with the following requirements.

GOOD STANDING AND ACADEMIC RANK

To be eligible for consideration, applicants must be in good standing at their current

institution and their academic rank must be in the top third after completion of the required first

year, full-time curriculum.

Applicants who have received law degrees from another institution or bachelor’s degrees in conjunction with a law program are not eligible for transfer. Transfer credit will not be awarded for correspondence courses or for work done in residence at a non-ABA accredited law school. No more than 29 hours of credit may be transferred.

TRANSFER CERTIFICATION FORMAll transfer applicants must submit a Transfer Certification Form, which is available through LSAC’s online application service. The form must be completed by the applicant’s law school after the first year grades and rank have been posted and should be sent directly to the UF Law Office of Admissions by the file completion deadline. The form must be accompanied by an official law school transcript.

ADMISSIONS

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If submitting transcripts electronically, please note that the University of Florida only accepts transcripts that are transmitted via eSCRIPT-SAFE or AVOW (Parchment) transcript services to admissions@law.ufl.edu. Otherwise, an official paper transcript must be mailed to: University of Florida Levin College of Law, Office of Admissions. P.O. Box 117622, Gainesville, FL 32611.

Upon receipt of a completed application, the Admissions Committee will evaluate transfer applications based on the following:• Space availability• Admission standards for transfer candidates• Applicant’s current law school record• Applicant’s reasons for requesting a transferAdditional Requirements for Visitor Applicants In addition to the general requirements described above, visitor applicants must comply with the following requirements.

LETTER OF PERMISSION AND GOOD STANDINGApplicants who have completed two years (four semesters) of study at an ABA-accredited law school may apply for visitor status at the Levin College of Law if they are in good standing and eligible to return to that school. Visitor applicants must submit a letter from the dean of the applicant’s law school granting permission to the student to attend the UF Levin College of Law, certifying that the student is in good standing and that the law school will apply credits earned at the Levin College of Law to the student’s degree from that law school. This letter must be accompanied by an official law school

transcript showing all academic work to date. The Levin College of Law does not offer

part-time status. Visitors must enroll for at least 12 semester hours

for up to two terms in the law school. They may not enroll in language or graduate-level courses in other UF departments.

OPTIONAL DOCUMENTS FOR TRANSFER

AND VISITOR APPLICANTSTransfer and visitor applicants

are welcome to submit a Diversity Statement and letters of

recommendation and evaluations. See section II of the “J.D. Application Process”

above, for details.

U F L A W A D M I N I S T R AT I O N :L A U R A A N N R O S E N B U R Y Dean and Professor of Law

A M Y M A S H B U R N

Associate Dean, Academic Affairs

LY R I S S A L I D S K Y Associate Dean, International Studies

M I C H A E L F R I E L , Associate Dean and Director, Graduate Tax Program

R A C H E L I N M A N Associate Dean, Student Affairs

S H A R O N R U S H Associate Dean, Faculty Development

C L A I R E G E R M A I N Associate Dean, Legal Information Center

D E B R A S TA AT S Associate Dean, Administrative Affairs

M I C H E L L E A D O R N O C O H E N Assistant Dean, Admissions

R O B B I R R E N K O T T Assistant Dean, Career Development

D E B R A A M I R I N Senior Director, Communications

C O N TA C T I N F O R M AT I O N : L E V I N C O L L E G E O F L A W : Mailing address: P.O. Box 117622, Gainesville, FL 32611-7622 Street address: 309 Village Drive Gainesville, FL 32611

S T U D E N T A F FA I R S / F I N A N C I A L A I D : (352) 273-0620 • students.svc@law.ufl.edu

A D M I S S I O N S : (352) 273-0890 • admissions@law.ufl.edu

D E A N ’ S O F F I C E : (352) 273-0600

L L . M . I N C O M PA R AT I V E L AW P R O G R A M : (352) 273-0775 • llmcomp@law.ufl.edu

L L . M . I N E N V I R O N M E N TA L & L A N D U S E L AW : (352) 273-0777 • elulp@law.ufl.edu

L L . M . I N TA X AT I O N : (352) 273-0680

Rules, policies, fees, dates and courses described herein are subject to change without notice. The Levin College of Law and the University is committed to nondiscrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, gender (including identity and expression), sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, and veteran status as protected under the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act. The Prospectus is available in an alternate format. Call Levin College of Law Admissions Office at (352) 273-0890. For TDD phone access, call Florida Relay Service at (800) 955-8771 (TDD).

Produced by the Communications Office, Levin College of Law; Richard Goldstein & Whitney Smith, Editors; Design by JS Design Studio

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F I N A N C I A L A I D

Entering first-year students may qualify for a scholarship or

grant based upon merit, need or merit/need as determined

by a Financial Aid Committee. Students selected for more

than one scholarship will receive the award of greatest value.

Most students qualify for Federal Stafford Loans and Federal

Graduate PLUS loans, which must be applied for annually using

the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Private

loans also may be available based upon credit. Transfer students

are eligible for federal aid, but not for law school aid until they

have been evaluated at the Levin College of Law for at least one

semester.

Scholarships M E R I T - B A S E D : Awards for entering students are based on

information collected in the application for admission. To be

considered for merit and merit/need-based scholarships,

applicants must show high achievement. Scholarship

decisions are made starting in December and completed by

April. Recipients are notified by letter.

N E E D - B A S E D G R A N T S : For consideration for need-based

grants, the Financial Aid Office must be in receipt of the results

of your FAFSA and a valid EFC (Expected Family (student)

Contribution) by March 15. It is recommended that students

complete their FAFSA several weeks before this deadline to allow

time for the federal processor to send your Institutional Student

Information Record (ISIR).

C O N T I N U I N G S T U D E N T S C H O L A R S H I P S : Students will

be notified when scholarship applications are available.

Continuing students can apply for these scholarships after

completion of their first year.

LoansF E D E R A L : Law students are eligible to apply for Federal Direct

Unsubsidized Stafford Loans and Federal Direct PLUS Loans

through the Federal Direct Student Loan Program. Students

applying must complete a Free Application for Federal Student

Aid (FAFSA). Completion qualifies the student for consideration

in federal loan program. Apply electronically — “FAFSA on the

Web” — at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The application period begins

Jan. 1 and the ISIR should be received electronically from the

federal processor (no photocopies) by March 15 to ensure

timely processing of loans. Students attending at least half-

time may qualify for as much as $20,500 in unsubsidized funds

each academic year. Students also may apply for the Federal

Graduate Plus Loan to help cover the cost of attendance.

For more information on these loans, visit www.law.ufl.edu/

student-affairs/current-students/financial-aid/.

P R I VAT E : The interest rate and guarantee fee on private loans

vary according to the lender and are credit-based. You may

borrow up to the cost of attendance set by the school minus

any other financial aid you are receiving. The Financial Aid

Office is not allowed to endorse any Private Lenders but offers

information at www.sfa.ufl.edu/programs/loans/alternative-

loans/, which may help students research alternative loans.

2 0 1 5 - 2 0 1 6 F E E S / E X P E N S E S

The tuition/fees for one semester credit hour for

2015-2016 is $743.31 ($22,299.30 for 30

hours) for Florida residents and $1,296.80

per credit hours ($38,904.00 for 30

hours) for non-residents as defined in

the UF undergraduate catalog. Tuition

for the LL.M in taxation and the LL.M.

in international taxation is $815.81

per credit hour for Florida residents

and $1,461.30 per credit hour for

non-residents. Expenses vary, but UF

law students can anticipate annual costs

of $17,330 in addition to tuition with the

breakdown as follows:

B O O K S / S U P P L I E S : $ 1 , 8 5 0

C L O T H I N G / M A I N T E N A N C E : $ 7 0 0

C O M P U T E R / C E L L P H O N E : $ 1 , 3 6 0

F O O D : $ 4 , 2 3 0P E R S O N A L : $ 2 7 0

R O O M : $ 7 , 6 7 0T R A N S P O R TAT I O N : $ 1 , 1 0 0

O R I E N TAT I O N : $ 1 5 0 (entering students only)

FINANCIAL

Levin College of LawP.O. Box 117622Gainesville, FL 32611-7622

NON-PROFITORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDGAINESVILLE, FLPERMIT NO. 94

L O O K I N T O

Y O U R F U T U R E

W W W . L A W . U F L . E D U