Attendance, Participation, Conduct and Class Participation
In keeping with the American Bar Association’s (ABA) standards of accreditation, the Bar certification requirements of many states, and sound educational policy, the School of Law requires regular and prompt class attendance. Students are expected to prepare for class, to participate in class discussions, conduct themselves professionally, and to comply with all classroom policies. A student who is not in regular attendance is not in compliance with ABA standards, may not receive credit for the course and may not be certified by the Dean to the Bar.
Student participation in extracurricular activities or outside employment does not justify absences from regular courses.
Each instructor establishes their own attendance policy. A student who is absent from class must complete an absence form available on the website for the Dean of Students, which is forwarded to the instructors of the classes missed. Notice must be given before the absence, or if not known in advance, immediately thereafter. However, this notice in no way alters the attendance policy of each instructor in his or her class. Students are responsible for knowing and complying with each instructor’s written attendance policies.
Working While in Law School
The School of Law expects students to devote substantially all of their working hours to the study of law. Students may not accept any employment during their first year with the exception of serving as a faculty research assistant in the spring semester. Students seeking exceptions to this policy must make a written request to the Dean of Students.
Recording Class Lectures
Absent express permission from your professor, students are expressly prohibited from recording any classes. Some class sessions may be recorded at the discretion of the instructor and may be available to students enrolled in the course. Students are expected to follow University policies and maintain the security of passwords used to access recorded lectures. Recordings may not be reproduced, shared with those not in the class, distributed or uploaded to other online environments. Students who violate this policy will be referred to the Dean of Students and subject to disciplinary action under the Honor Code.
Course Load for Upper-Level Students
Fall & Spring Semesters
Typically, full-time students must enroll in a minimum of eleven (11) credits and a maximum of sixteen (16) credits (unless in their last semester they require fewer credits to graduate). Students seeking to enroll in more than 16 credits, must complete the “17+ Credits Form” on the Law Registrar’s website. Requests for 17+ credits will be evaluated by the Dean or Vice Dean. Credit overloads are granted only in exceptional circumstances.
Summer Session
The Summer Session offers upper-class courses in a variety of subjects. A maximum of seven (7) credits may be taken in any summer session. Students taking six (6) or seven (7) credits in the summer are considered full-time students.
Distance Learning
While the School of Law offers some distance learning courses within the J.D. program, only a minority of the program may be completed online. Distance learning courses may be offered in either synchronous or asynchronous formats and may entail special course-based requirements. Students enrolling in such courses are responsible for understanding and complying with specific course requirements as described in the course description in CourseLink.
Several state boards of bar examiners have promulgated rules limiting the number of distance learning courses students may take while in law school. It is important that students contact the state board of bar examiners in the state(s) in which they are interested in being admitted to ascertain what limitations, if any, distance learning will have on their ability to sit for the bar exam. Click here for contact information for all the state boards of bar examiners.
The American Bar Association (ABA) sets forth rules regulating academic credit towards the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. Students may not take more than 50 percent of their overall credits through distance education (44 credits).
Adding and Dropping Courses
Students may add or drop courses in CaneLink during the Add /Drop period as set in the Academic Calendar.
A student may add an independent study/law review writing no later than October 15 for the Fall semester or March 15 for the Spring semester. For summer term, this date will be set by the Academic Calendar.
For short courses, a student may drop the course no later than the second day after the short course has begun.
Anonymous Grading
An anonymous grading number (“AGN”) will be issued each semester in advance of the examination period and must be used on all examinations. Students may not use their name, C number, Social Security number, or any other identifying information on their examinations. Click here for more information. Some examinations are given in class and others are take-home. This is solely at the discretion of the faculty member. For more information, click here.
Students can find their AGN by following the instructions below:
- Login to Student Link using your law school username (this is your email address, excluding the @students.law.miami.edu) and password (the default password is your C number with a capital “C”). You can also find StudentLink on the top left of the CourseLink page.
- Select “View Your Anonymous Grading Number” from the center panel.
- Click on the applicable term, and you will be able to view your Midterm and Final Exam AGN numbers.
Examination Accommodations
Only students who have applied for and been granted accommodations through Accessibility Services at the University of Miami School of Law may receive accommodations on law school assessments. Students are required to notify the Office of Accessibility Services of any in-class assignments or quizzes scheduled during the semester and any date changes at least 48 business hours before the testing date. If you have questions or need assistance accessing the website, please contact Accessibility Services at access@law.miami.edu.
Examination Modification for Foreign LL.M. and Visiting International Exchange Student
Examination modifications for Foreign-Trained LL.M. and International Exchange Students in final examinations or timed and graded assessments, a foreign-trained LL.M. or International Exchange student will be given additional time to complete the exam, if:
- English is not the student’s native language; and
- The student does not have a J.D. or equivalent degree, a bachelor’s or equivalent degree, or a graduate degree, from a university in the United States or other English-speaking country, or from a university program (J.D., bachelor’s or graduate degree or equivalent) where the medium of instruction is English.
In final examinations or timed and graded assessments of more than two hours, the additional time given will be one hour. In final examinations or timed and graded assessments of less than two hours, the additional time given will be thirty (30) minutes. Students who receive additional time also may bring a hard-copy translation dictionary to the exam.
Additional time will not be given for final papers or take-home exams of six hours of length or more. Additional time also will not be given for LL.M. courses (LL.M. courses are labeled as such under special attributes in Courselink).
LL.M. students will cease to receive additional time in any kind of examination or assessment after they transfer to the LL.M./J.D. Joint Degree program.
Eligibility for the extra time modification is determined by the Assistant Dean for International Law Programs for all foreign-trained LL.M. and International Exchange students irrespective of their specific LL.M. program. Foreign-trained LL.M. and International Exchange students will receive a notification of their eligibility for extra time modifications at the beginning of their LL.M. or International Exchange studies.
Rescheduling an Exam
Each semester, after drop-add period ends, the Law Registrar’s Office will review petitions for rescheduling of Final Examinations. Students must complete and submit the Rescheduling Exams Due to Conflict form no later than four (4) weeks prior to the beginning of the exam period each semester. Students may not contact their professors directly to reschedule an exam as this may compromise the anonymous grading system.
Rescheduling of an examination will be granted only in circumstances satisfying the criteria set forth below.
Examination Conflict
Examination schedule conflicts are defined as follows: two exams in one day, three examinations in three consecutive days, four examinations in five consecutive days, or a take-home exam that is administered at a set time which overlaps with, or ends immediately before or within two hours of, an in-class examination.
Emergency/Religious Conflict
A student will be granted an adjustment in his or her examination schedule in the event of a personal illness requiring the care of a physician, pregnancy or childbirth, death or serious illness in the student’s immediate family, or because of religious prohibitions certified by an appropriate religious professional.
Grades and Grading
Grading Scale
- A 4.00
- A- 3.70
- B+ 3.30
- B 3.00
- B- 2.70
- C+ 2.30
- C 2.00
- C- 1.70
- D 1.00
- F 0.00
Symbols Used to Indicate Course Status
- I Incomplete
- IP In Progress
- W Withdrawn
- NG No Grade
- S Satisfactory/Pass
- U Unsatisfactory/Fail
- AU Audit
- H Honors
The grade of I is used, solely with the permission of the professor, to indicate that a paper, project or clinical work is still in progress at the conclusion of the semester and that additional time has been authorized to complete the work. The grade of I will be replaced by the course grade when submitted by the professor.
Students must adhere to drop/add/W deadlines listed in the Academic Calendar.
The grade of NG is assigned by the Law Registrar indicating that the instructor has not indicated the student's grade. An NG not replaced by a passing grade, or by a "W", prior to the student's graduation shall be changed to an F.
Pass/Fail Grading Program
In pass/fail courses, students either receive credit for the class with a grade of “S” (Satisfactory) or do not receive credit with a grade of U (“Unsatisfactory”). In some pass/fail courses, faculty may award a grade of “H” (Honors”) for top grades. A grade of “H” counts as an A in a student’s grade point average.
For regularly-graded courses, a faculty member may allow students to elect to be graded on a pass/fail basis by the date listed on the Law School Academic Calendar. Students may elect to take only two courses pass/fail. For these courses, the grading works as follows:
- Students will receive an “H” (Honors) if they earn an A in the course. Students earning an H in a pass/fail course will receive 4.0 quality points in the applicable courses for purposes of calculating their grade point averages.
- Students who receive a grade of “C” or higher will receive an “S” (Satisfactory”) on their transcripts, with no impact on their grade point average.
- Students who earn a “C-” or below will receive the letter grade for that class, regardless of pass/fail designation. A grade of C- or D will impact the student’s grade point average.
Audit of Courses
Students may audit a course with the written permission of the instructor provided that:
- There is physical space in the classroom (the class cannot be full to capacity); and
- The student agrees to comply with all of the classroom policies, including attendance, and completion of assignments up to, but not including, final exams or alternative final assessments. Failure to satisfy these requirements may result in an unsatisfactory notation on the students’ transcripts.
- The course is not a graduation requirement.
Students attempting to audit a course should send a copy of the written permission of the instructor via email to the Law Registrar’s office (lawreg@law.miami.edu) prior to the deadline to add a course for the semester in which the student plans to audit the course.
No grade or academic credits will be recorded for work that a student completes for a class that he/she is auditing. In the event the student successfully audits the course, they will receive an AU designation on their transcript for the course; if the student fails to comply with the class policies, they will receive a U designation for the course.
A student who has enrolled in a course as an auditor may not thereafter receive credit and a grade for that course by taking the examination or submitting other required work.
Audited courses count toward a law student’s total credit cap and may not exceed 17 credits. Courses taken for credit and courses taken as an audit carry the same credit load when calculating a student’s total credit load.
Repetition of Offering
No course in which a student has received a failing grade, or credits from that course, may be used to satisfy any degree requirement.
When a failed course is repeated, the grade received each time the course is taken will be reflected on the student’s transcript and included in the student’s cumulative grade-point average.
A student who has received a failing grade in a required first-year or professional responsibility course must repeat and successfully complete that course.
No course in which a student received a final passing grade may be repeated for credit.
Dissemination of Grades
The School of Law disseminates grades in a manner that ensures privacy and accuracy. Students obtain their grades from CaneLink.
First-Year Grade Distribution
Students in required first-year courses are graded in accordance with the following grade distribution:
- The combined total number of “A,” “A-” and “B+” grades awarded in each course shall equal or exceed 20 percent of the number of students graded in that course; and
- The combined total number of grades of B or higher awarded in each course shall equal or exceed 45 percent of the number of students graded in that course.
The sum of “C-,” “D,” and “F” grades in first-year courses shall not be less than 5 percent nor more than 15 percent of the number of students graded in that course, (subject to waiver for a particular course in unusual circumstances by vote of the Faculty or the Vice Dean prior to the submission of grades).
Feedback on Grades
Any student has the right to review their examination. Requests must be made within one semester of the completion of the examination. Faculty members shall establish any reasonable procedure they deem appropriate for review of the examination. Students should check their syllabi for guidance.
First year students who are still enrolled in the semester following an examination are required to meet with faculty to discuss any examination that received the grade of C-, D or F to review the examination and receive recommendations for academic support. These meetings should occur not later than the following dates:
- Fall Semester Grades – thirty (30) days after the distribution of Fall Semester grades, or thirty days after the start of the Spring Semester, whichever is later.
- Spring Semester Grades – thirty (30) days after the first day of classes in the Fall Semester of the following year.
Change of Grades
A final grade submitted to the Law Registrar’s Office cannot be changed by a faculty member, or anyone else, to reflect a re-evaluation of the student’s examination answers or other work unless deemed appropriate through the Grade Appeals Process. If, however, an arithmetical or transmittal error is discovered, the error will be corrected. Requests to have such errors corrected must be made by the instructor, and the Vice Dean’s decision communicated to the Law Registrar’s Office before the end of the semester immediately following the semester or summer session in which the error was made.
Grade Appeals
Grades are generally final, and a law student cannot seek substantive reevaluation or reassessment of academic performance. However, law students can appeal a grade to the School of Law’s Grade Appeals Board on these grounds:
- Administrative or computational error in the calculation of the grade;
- The application of arbitrary or capricious grading standards;
- The assignment of grades based on criteria beyond academic performance, including (but not limited to) violations of the University’s Non-Discrimination policy, the University’s anti-harassment or anti-retaliation policies, and other policies clearly defined in the Faculty Manual or University Bulletin; and
- Substantial and unreasonable deviation from stated course requirements, policies, or grading criteria.
Appeals must be filed within 30 academic days of the grade being posted or published to the student. Please follow the instructions on the Registrar’s Office site to file a grade appeal.
Academic Honors & Awards
Some student organizations at the University of Miami School of Law give awards to students. Click here for more information about these awards and other awards and honors.
Honors
Class rank and honors (including Order of the Coif) will be determined by the cumulative grade-point average. The Law Registrar’s Office determines class rank after all grades are received for the Fall and Spring semesters. The only ranking of the 1L class comes after the entire first year.
All J.D. students whose cumulative grade-point average falls within the top 20% of the class will receive an individual numerical ranking. Students whose cumulative grade-point average falls within the top 33% or top 50% will be so notified that they fall within this percentage band. The balance of the class will not be ranked.
Degree Honors
Students earning a J.D. degree will be awarded with honors based on final class rank as follows:
- Summa cum laude – awarded to the top 2%
- Magna cum laude – awarded to the next 10%;
- Cum laude – awarded to the next 33%.
Any projections of Latin honors prior to the certification of final grades are preliminary and nonbinding. The award of Latin honors will be determined exclusively by the final class rank.
For students who receive their degrees in July and December, eligibility for honors will be determined based upon what the student’s class rank would have been in comparison with those students who graduated the previous May.
Transfer students and students awarded advanced standing credits who receive 17 or more credits toward their J.D. degree from a school other than Miami Law are only eligible for cum laude degree honors.
Order of the Coif
J.D. students who graduate in the top 10% of the class (Summer, Fall, and Spring, graduating classes combined) and who meet other requirements of the Order will be elected to the national Order of the Coif Honor Society. Students should be aware that having more than 25% of all courses without traditional letter grades will render them ineligible for Order of the Coif. For this purpose, “courses without traditional letter grades” include all courses taken outside the School of Law (including, but not limited to, first-year courses taken by a transfer student at another law school).
Dean's List
Full-time J.D. students who complete nine (9) or more graded credits will be awarded a Dean’s List certificate for any semester in which their grade-point average for the semester’s work is in the top 20% of their class.
Awards for Outstanding Performance
The School of Law participates in three special award programs.
- The CALI Excellence for the Future Award is a certificate presented to the top student in each course if the instructor chooses to participate.
- The Dean’s Certificate of Achievement is awarded to one or, in exceptional circumstances, two students in each class who has/have excelled. This award applies to courses taught by full-time faculty and instructors. The Dean’s Certificate may be awarded to the same student who receives the CALI Award.
- The Director’s Award is a certificate which may be presented to the top student in each LL.M course if the instructor chooses to participate.
Academic Standards
Candidates for the J.D. degree are expected to satisfy minimum performance standards as described below. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.000 or better to be in good academic standing.
Academic Referral and Oversight
Academic Referral Program for First Semester of the First Year
Students who have a GPA below 2.000 at the end of the first semester of the first year will be placed on Academic Referral for the following semester; will not be permitted to take the first-year elective; and will not be permitted to register for Summer term courses.
Students whose GPA is below 2.300 but not below 2.000 at the end of the first semester of the first year may voluntarily elect to participate in the Academic Referral Program.
Academic Referral Program for Spring Semester of First Year
Each student on Academic Referral is required to have at least one meeting with his or her assigned Academic Achievement Program adviser. This meeting must take place within the first few weeks of the semester. A student on Academic Referral who has not met with his or her assigned Academic Achievement Program adviser will notbe permitted to register for the following semester until the required meeting takes place.
Coordination with Financial Aid requirements:
Federal regulations governing student financial assistance programs stipulate that continued eligibility for federal (Title IV) funds depends on students’ Satisfactory Academic Progress toward a degree. This is a separate policy for receipt of federal aid. You may refer to the Satisfactory Progress Policy on the Office of Financial Aid’s website for further information.
The Academic Achievement Program offers counseling relating to effective strategies for academic preparation for success in Law School. These programs are voluntary, but students on Academic Referral are strongly urged to participate.
Academic Oversight
A student is subject to Academic Oversight if he or she has a cumulative GPA below 2.70 or a GPA for any one semester below 2.500. Oversight is not a form of Academic Referral, and a student on Academic Oversight is considered to be in good standing.
Each student with a cumulative GPA below 2.5 is required to have at least one meeting with his or her assigned Academic Achievement Program adviser each semester that the student is subject to Academic Oversight. A student who has not met with his or her assigned Academic Achievement Program adviser will not be permitted to register for the following semester until the required meeting takes place.
Academic Oversight First Semester of the First Year
If a J.D. student’s first semester GPA is below 2.5, the student is required to successfully complete Advanced Legal Foundations the following Fall semester.
The student is also required to complete both substantial writing requirements prior to their final semester. In their final semester, the student must successfully complete 4 credits of Bar Preparatory courses.
Academic Oversight Beginning in the Second Semester of the First Year
If any J.D. student’s cumulative GPA is 2.7 or below at any time after their first semester, the student must successfully complete 4 credits of Bar Preparatory courses in their final semester.
Notice
The Vice Dean of Academic Affairs will notify any student who is placed on Academic Referral or Academic Oversight.
Dismissal
Beginning after the second semester of the first year, any student who has a cumulative GPA below 2.000 will be dismissed. No student who has a cumulative GPA below 2.000 upon completion of the coursework required for her or his J.D. degree will be permitted to graduate. The Vice Dean of Academic Affairs will notify any student who is dismissed.
Effect of Dismissal on Summer Enrollment
A student who enrolls in a summer course and is notified during the course that he or she is dismissed may not complete the course, may not take the examination, and will not receive a grade.
Academic Relief
Right to Petition for Reinstatement
A student (other than a student on Academic Referral as a result of a prior reinstatement) who has been dismissed for academic reasons may petition for reinstatement. Petitions should be submitted to the Dean of Students, who will forward them to the Reinstatement Committee. The student may be reinstated only if the student "sits out" (i.e., is not enrolled for credit in any classes) for at least two (2) regular semesters. A petition can be granted only if the petitioner completed at least one semester with a GPA of 2.000 or higher.
Timing of Petition
All petitions for reinstatement must be submitted by October 15 for students requesting reinstatement for the Spring semester, and by March 15 for those students requesting reinstatement for the Summer or Fall Semesters.
Reinstatement Committee
Petitions will be reviewed by a Reinstatement Committee that is comprised of the Dean, the Dean for Academic Affairs, and the faculty Chair of the Academic Standards Committee.
Rights of Petitioners
A student who petitions has a right to appear in person before the Reinstatement Committee to present their case and to answer questions. If the student desires, an advisor of their choice may accompany them. The Committee may restrict the amount of time allotted for the petitioner's presentation. The pendency of a petition does not give the petitioner any right to attend classes or to register.
Leave of Absence
At any time after completing the first semester, a student in good academic standing may apply for a leave of absence of up to two (2) semesters. Students who wish to take a Leave of Absence from the School of Law must contact the Dean of Students. The leave must be requested in writing, stating the reasons for the request and providing documentation as appropriate. The request must be approved by the Dean of Students in consultation with the Vice Dean. Students returning from a leave of absence must submit written notice to the Dean of Students.
This section does not apply to students who have been approved for a visit away or are participating in an exchange program.
Withdrawal
Voluntary Withdrawal
At any time, for any reason, a student may withdraw from the School of Law by contacting the Dean of Students, in writing, at deanofstudents@law.miami.edu.
Involuntary Withdrawal Due to Conduct
Upon the recommendation of a faculty member, the Dean of Students will investigate a student’s disruption, utilize the Honor Council process, if appropriate, and in consultation with Associate Dean and/or Dean shall determine disciplinary action as appropriate.
Involuntary Withdrawal Due to Excessive Absences
When a student exceeds the permissible number of absences, this may lead to administrative withdrawal from a course. All absences should be reported via the Notice of Absence Form. The Dean of Students is authorized to withdraw a student involuntarily from a course or other academic program for failure to adhere to these policies.
Involuntary Withdrawal Due to Student Health & Safety Policy
The University reserves the right to require the leave of absence or temporary withdrawal of a student from all classes in the event that continuation in school, in the University’s judgement, is detrimental to the health and safety of the student or others. Any law school student whose behavior may pose a direct threat to the student’s own health, or safety or to the health or safety of others, shall be referred to the Dean of Students pursuant to the Student Health and Safety Policy. The procedures for the Law School Student Assessment Committee and the appeal rights from decisions made are detailed in the policy.
Temporary Suspension
The Law School reserves the right to temporarily suspend a student in accordance with the University of Miami Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.
Financial Implications of Leave of Absence/Withdrawal/Suspension
Tuition Refund Schedule and Policy
The tuition drop/ withdrawal schedule and policy is posted before the start of each semester and can be reviewed online at the Office of Student Account Services. This calculation is separate from the Return to Title IV Fund for federal aid recipients mentioned below. Any student wishing to appeal the effective date of the withdrawal may petition the Vice Dean of the Law School in writing.
Return of Title IV Funds
The tuition drop/ withdrawal schedule and policy is posted before the start of each semester and can be reviewed online at the Office of Student Account Services. This calculation is separate from the Return to Title IV Fund for federal aid recipients mentioned below. Any student wishing to appeal the effective date of the withdrawal may petition the Vice Dean of the Law School in writing.
Courses Taken Outside of the Law School
Non-Law Courses Taken Within the University of Miami
The School of Law supports and values the importance of interdisciplinary opportunities offered by being a part of the University of Miami. Students who are not in joint degree programs may take up to six (6) credits and count them towards their J.D. degree.
Students who have at least a 3.0 law school cumulative grade point average and have completed their first-year curriculum may register for 500-level or above courses offered by other departments at the University of Miami. However, Miami Law students who have visited away may, at the discretion of the Vice Dean, be precluded from exercising this option. The student should contact the professor to determine if there are any prerequisite requirements and to share interest in the subject. Some lower-level courses, including 200-level and above language courses, may also be taken with approval from the Vice Dean.
Law Courses Taken at Another Law School
In limited circumstances, the School of Law permits current students to register for credit bearing courses at another law school. In all cases, students must follow proper procedures for obtaining advance permission. Otherwise, no credit will be granted toward the J.D. requirements. Under no circumstances will permission be granted retroactively.
Miami Law Exchange Agreements with Foreign Law Schools
Miami Law has established student exchange agreements with a number of foreign law schools. For information on the schools and the application process click here. The grades received from the foreign law school will not appear on the transcript but will count towards the total number of credits needed for graduation.
Visiting Away at Another U.S. Law School /Schools Abroad
Petitions for permission to visit away for a Summer, Fall or Spring semester must be submitted to the Vice Dean prior to applying to the other law school. The Vice Dean will consider the petition in light of the best interests of the student and the School of Law. Click here to view the “visit away” form on the Law Registrar’s website.
Miami Law students who wish to take up to 7 summer credits of law courses at or through another ABA law school must petition the Vice Dean for permission to visit away by the first Monday after spring break. In considering such petitions, the Vice Dean will take into account the academic merit of the program, the students’ objective, and the soundness of the student’s overall academic trajectory.
Miami Law students who wish to visit away at another ABA approved law school for a semester or a year must be third year students. Such permission is granted only in the rare cases when there are compelling personal circumstances. Miami Law students visiting away in the third year must comply with all Miami Law graduation requirements.
Credit and Grading Policies
- No credit toward the degree will be given for any course taken at another law school or elsewhere in the University of Miami in which the grade received is less than a “C.”
- The transcript will identify the law school or department where the course was taken and the grade received, regardless of whether credit toward the J.D. is granted.
- Any courses taken outside of Miami Law will not be factored into the student’s Grade Point Average.
- Students should be aware that if they take a course outside the School of Law in their final semester, and fail to earn a “C” or higher, no credits will be granted toward the J.D. degree for that course, and they may fall short of the 88 credits required to graduate.
Students may receive credit for work at another law school only upon the receipt of an official transcript from the other school by the Miami Law Registrar. The School of Law will not request the transcript; it is the student’s responsibility to do so.
Students Visiting From Other Law Schools
Students visiting from other law schools are expected to adhere (1) to the requirements and standards of their home institution; and (2) to the academic and other standards specified in the Student Handbook and Honor Code, and other official documents of the University of Miami School of Law.
Students requiring financial assistance should contact the Financial Aid Office at their home schools.
Students who have been approved for visiting status at Miami Law should contact the Law Registrar’s office to complete registration.
Under normal circumstances visiting students are expected to return to their home institution.
Transfer to Another Law School
A student who wishes to apply for transfer to another law school should contact their Academic Advisor to begin the process.
Transfer Students to the University of Miami School of Law
Credit for up to two semesters (maximum of 32 academic credits) may be granted for coursework completed at another law school. The specific number of credits awarded will be determined upon admission. Grades from these courses will be recorded as pass/fail for GPA calculation purposes although the actual grade earned will appear on the University of Miami transcript.
Transfer students and those granted at least 17 advanced standing credits are only eligible for cum laude degree honors. The GPAs of transfer students are not included in the class ranking.
Dual LL.M. /J.D. Students
Students who were initially admitted to an LL.M. program and subsequently admitted to the LL.M./J.D. program shall be required to complete all 1L course requirements within 4 semesters of starting their LL.M. program (not including summer session). Students who are subject to this requirement will have 1L courses assigned to them by the registrar in coordination with the relevant LL.M. program director and J.D. advisor. Students shall not have the right to choose a preferred section or professor for any 1L courses. Students may be able to participate in special sections of 1L courses specifically established for transfer students, upon approval of their academic advisor and the registrar.
If a student has been waived out of a 1L course requirement due to equivalent coursework at a prior institution, the student shall be required to replace the waived 1L course with a 3 or 4 credit elective course from the Bar Course Elective list, to be approved by the student’s academic advisor.
Graduation
The University of Miami graduates students in May, July and December of each year.
Students must apply for graduation on CaneLink at the beginning of their final semester at the School of Law. An announcement regarding the deadline for submission of graduation applications (and for ordering regalia and invitations) will be posted online. The names of students who fail to adhere to announced deadlines may not appear in the program for graduation; these students’ graduation dates also may be delayed. A new Application for Graduation must be submitted if the degree was not awarded pursuant to the original application.
Any projections of Latin honors prior to the certification of final grades are preliminary and nonbinding. The award of Latin honors will be determined exclusively by the final class rank.
Due Dates for Written Work
Papers or other assigned written work must be completed and given to the instructor by the designated due date.
However, under all circumstances, in the final semester of law school all written work must be completed by:
- The last day of classes if the student is making up an incomplete from a prior semester, or
- The last day of exams if the student is completing an assignment given during the final semester of law school.
In no circumstance will a student be allowed to receive a degree or be certified to sit for the Bar Examination if written work necessary for graduation has not been submitted by the timeline indicated above. Students intending to graduate should realize that not meeting the deadline described above will delay graduation and will prevent them from sitting for the next Bar Examination.
Admission to the Bar
Students are expected to familiarize themselves with all requirements of the Bar to which they intend to apply. This includes the deadlines for application, any relevant academic or other prerequisites, and the necessary submission for the character and fitness investigation. Failure to follow proper procedure and to adhere to announced deadlines may result in considerable delay in approving an application for admission to the Bar.
Applications for admission to the state board of bar examiners are available on-line. Students should give careful attention to the completion of the application.
Third-year students are responsible for requesting that a Certificate of Dean and a final official transcript be forwarded to the Bar upon degree conferral. Students should make these requests on CaneLink when applying for graduation. These documents are not automatically sent without a formal request.
Students with disabilities who plan to request accommodations for the Bar Examination should be prepared to submit the request for accommodations earlier than the posted deadlines. Please contact the Office of Accessibility Services at access@law.miami.edu for assistance in completing these applications.
Bar Certification
Assuming all requirements for graduation have been met, May graduates are certified for the following July Bar. August and December graduates are certified for the following February Bar Examination. Graduates may also elect to be certified for a later bar exam.
The Law Registrar’s Office can make certification of graduation only when all requirements have been completed.
