State Guide · 12 ABA Schools · Florida Bar (Non-UBE)
Florida Law School Requirements 2026
Florida has 12 ABA-accredited law schools and the fourth largest state legal market in the country by employment volume. UF Levin Law and FSU Law offer in-state tuition under $25,000 per year, among the lowest of any T50 schools in the country. Florida did not adopt the Uniform Bar Examination and does not allow admission on motion, making Florida licensure distinctively state-specific. What an applicant needs to know about Florida law schools and the Florida licensure landscape for the 2026 cycle.
Florida ABA law schools by ranking
The 12 ABA-accredited Florida law schools span the ranking distribution from T28 (UF Levin) through T80 to access-mission programs. UF Levin and FSU are the public flagships with the strongest national reputations and lowest in-state tuition. Miami Law is the dominant private school for South Florida practice. The remaining schools serve regional and access-mission applicant pools. Bar passage rates and employment outcomes are published in each school's ABA 509 disclosure.
| School | Type | LSAT | GPA | Accept | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UF Levin T28; best-value public ABA in Southeast | Public | 165 | 3.81 | 21% | $22K in-state |
| FSU Law Strong state government pipeline | Public | 159 | 3.7 | 30% | $22K in-state |
| Miami Law International and Latin American practice | Private | 158 | 3.56 | 44% | $60,540 |
| Florida International Miami; bilingual practice focus | Public | 156 | 3.43 | 37% | $21K in-state |
| Stetson Law Top trial advocacy program nationally | Private | 154 | 3.51 | 53% | $47,486 |
| Florida A&M Law Orlando; access mission, lowest cost | Public | 147 | 3.18 | 42% | $15K in-state |
| St. Thomas (FL) Miami Gardens; Catholic mission | Private | 148 | 3.21 | 55% | $42,672 |
| Barry Law Orlando; teaching-focused mission | Private | 145 | 3.1 | 62% | $43,610 |
| Nova Southeastern Fort Lauderdale; family law strength | Private | 152 | 3.39 | 50% | $48,790 |
| Ave Maria Law Naples; Catholic conservative mission | Private | 147 | 3.25 | 60% | $48,830 |
The Florida Bar: state-specific exam without UBE portability
The Florida Bar Exam is two days long with a distinctive state-specific structure. Day one consists of three essay questions covering Florida substantive law (typical topics: Florida real property law, Florida evidence, Florida procedure, Florida family law, Florida administrative law, wills and trusts, business organizations) and 100 multiple-choice questions on Florida-specific law. Day two consists of the Multistate Bar Examination (200 multiple-choice questions across six hours on the seven general MBE subjects).
Florida has not adopted the Uniform Bar Examination as of 2026. Two practical consequences for applicants: first, Florida-licensed lawyers cannot transfer their license to UBE states (which include most of the Northeast, Midwest, and West) through score reciprocity; they must take a separate bar exam in any UBE state they wish to practice in. Second, Florida does not allow admission on motion, the waiver-in pathway available in most other states for lawyers with 3-5 years of practice elsewhere. All out-of-state lawyers seeking Florida licensure must sit for the Florida Bar Exam.
For applicants whose career trajectory is squarely Florida practice (Florida law school, Florida BigLaw or government, Florida-based career), the constraint is minimal. For applicants with cross-state career intent, the Florida policy adds a meaningful licensure cost: any move out of Florida requires sitting for a new bar exam. For applicants from non-Florida law schools targeting Florida practice, the requirement to sit for the Florida Bar (rather than waiving in) adds bar prep costs and time.
UF Levin and FSU: the in-state value proposition
UF Levin Law and FSU Law are the two public flagship law schools in Florida and offer among the strongest financial value propositions in U.S. legal education for in-state residents. UF Levin's in-state tuition of approximately $22,000 per year combined with low Gainesville cost of living produces a total cost of attendance under $50,000 per year. The three-year all-in cost for an in-state UF Levin student is approximately $140,000 to $155,000, dramatically below the $250,000-plus typical at private peer schools.
FSU's in-state tuition is comparable to UF Levin's. FSU's location in Tallahassee provides direct access to Florida state government practice, including the Florida Supreme Court, the Florida Capitol, the Governor's office, and statewide administrative agencies. For applicants targeting Florida state government, regulatory practice, or appellate clerkships with the Florida Supreme Court or District Courts of Appeal, FSU offers a distinctive geographic advantage that UF Levin does not.
For Florida residents with numerical profiles at or above the UF Levin median (165 LSAT, 3.81 GPA), UF Levin should be the primary target. For residents with profiles below that band but at or above FSU's median (159 LSAT, 3.7 GPA), FSU is the strong target. Both schools offer substantial merit scholarships to top admits in addition to the low in-state tuition. The combination of low base cost, merit aid, and strong Florida placement produces some of the best graduating-debt-to-starting-salary ratios in the country.
The Florida legal market by city
Miami is the dominant Florida legal market and the U.S. capital of cross-border practice with Latin America. The market includes international banking, immigration, cross-border M&A, maritime and admiralty practice, tax practice (driven by Florida's no-state-income-tax structure attracting wealthy individuals and corporate relocations), and entertainment law. Major Miami firms include Greenberg Traurig (globally largest Florida-headquartered firm), Akerman, Carlton Fields, Bilzin Sumberg, Hogan Lovells, K&L Gates, Holland & Knight. Miami's bilingual practice (Spanish-English) is institutionally important.
Tampa-St. Petersburg is the second largest Florida market with general corporate practice, growing tech-law (driven by Tampa's emerging tech sector), and substantial insurance and financial services practice. Orlando focuses on hospitality and tourism law (driven by Disney, Universal, and the broader tourism sector), real estate, and consumer-facing practice. Jacksonville is insurance, financial services, and corporate transactions. Tallahassee is state government, lobbying, and appellate practice. Each market has its dominant local and national firms with distinct hiring patterns.
The Florida BigLaw cohort is smaller than NY or California by absolute volume but substantial. Greenberg Traurig alone employs over 1,000 lawyers in Florida offices. Major national firms maintain meaningful Florida offices including Hogan Lovells, K&L Gates, Holland & Knight, Foley & Lardner, Squire Patton Boggs, and DLA Piper. For applicants targeting Florida BigLaw, UF Levin, FSU, and Miami Law are the primary feeders, with the choice driven by city focus and financial aid outcome.
Frequently asked questions
How many ABA-accredited law schools are in Florida?
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Florida has 12 ABA-accredited law schools. The state's two public flagships (UF Levin and FSU) charge among the lowest in-state tuitions in the country. The private schools span from Miami Law (the strongest private Florida school) through regional and access-mission programs. Florida does not have state-only accreditation in the California sense; all Florida law schools are ABA-accredited.
Does Florida participate in the Uniform Bar Examination?
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No. Florida did not adopt the UBE as of 2026. Florida administers its own state-specific bar exam: a two-day exam consisting of three essay questions on Florida-specific topics, the Florida Multiple Choice Examination (100 multiple-choice questions on Florida law), and the Multistate Bar Examination (200 multiple-choice questions across six hours on general subjects). Florida-licensed lawyers cannot transfer their license to UBE states using their Florida score.
Does Florida have admission on motion?
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No. Florida does not allow admission on motion (waiver-in) for lawyers licensed in other states. All out-of-state lawyers seeking Florida licensure must sit for the Florida Bar Exam, regardless of years of practice elsewhere. This is unusual among U.S. states; most states allow admission on motion after 3-5 years of active practice. The Florida policy reflects the state Bar's preference for testing all applicants on Florida-specific law and procedure.
What is UF Levin's value proposition for Florida residents?
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UF Levin Law combines T28 national ranking, in-state tuition of approximately $22,000 per year (versus out-of-state of approximately $38,000), and strong placement in Florida BigLaw and federal positions. The all-in cost for a Florida resident at UF Levin runs approximately $48,000 to $52,000 per year, or $140,000 to $155,000 over three years. Combined with merit scholarships available to top admits, many UF Levin graduates leave school with debt under $100,000, dramatically lower than at comparably ranked private schools.
What is the Florida legal market like?
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Florida is the fourth largest state legal market by employment volume. The market segments by city: Miami is international and Latin American practice (cross-border M&A, banking, immigration, maritime), tax practice given the high concentration of wealth and corporate headquarters, and entertainment law. Tampa-St. Petersburg is general corporate practice and growing tech-law. Orlando is hospitality, real estate, and consumer-facing practice. Jacksonville is insurance and financial services. Tallahassee is state government and lobbying. The major Florida firms include Greenberg Traurig (Miami-headquartered global firm), Akerman, Carlton Fields, Holland & Knight, and Foley & Lardner.
What is the Florida Bar Exam pass rate?
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First-time Florida Bar passage rate runs approximately 70-75% across ABA test-takers, in line with the national average. School-specific rates range from 90%+ at UF Levin to 50-60% at the access-mission programs. Florida Bar passage data is published in each school's ABA 509 disclosure. The Florida-specific essay component requires substantial study of Florida procedure, evidence, family law, real property, and other state-specific topics; bar preparation courses include Florida-specific modules in addition to the multistate components.
Should I attend Miami Law or UF Levin for South Florida practice?
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For South Florida practice (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach), Miami Law's geographic and network advantages are meaningful. Miami feeds the city's BigLaw cohort (Greenberg Traurig, Akerman, Greenspoon Marder, Holland & Knight) more deeply than any peer school. UF Levin's national reputation is stronger (higher U.S. News ranking, broader employment reach) but its South Florida placement is smaller than Miami's. For applicants targeting Miami practice specifically, Miami Law's network often outweighs the national ranking gap. For applicants with national or non-South-Florida intent, UF Levin's combination of ranking and low in-state tuition is the stronger value proposition.
When is the application deadline for Florida law schools?
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UF Levin and FSU deadlines run March 15 to April 15, 2027 for fall 2027 entry, later than most coastal T14 schools. Miami Law has a July 31 deadline (one of the latest in U.S. legal education). Stetson, FIU, and the other Florida private schools have similar late-spring deadlines. Florida schools practice rolling admissions; the strongest application window is October through February for both admissions and scholarship outcomes. The later deadlines allow Florida schools to capture late-cycle applicants who did not gain admission at higher-ranked schools.
Related Guides
Other state guides and Southeast comparisons
Texas Schools
10 ABA schools, Texas Bar
California Schools
21 ABA schools, CA Bar
New York Schools
15 ABA schools, UBE
Illinois Schools
9 ABA schools, UBE
Application essentials:
Data sources: ABA Standard 509 Required Disclosures for the 2024-2025 reporting cycle; Florida Board of Bar Examiners; Florida Bar Examination. Last reviewed 15 May 2026.