About UF Law

UF Law has a longstanding tradition of preparing its graduates for significant leadership roles. We placed first in Florida, fourth among public schools, and eighth overall in “output,” i.e. the caliber of a school’s graduates.

It is ranked fourth among public law schools in 2011 (eighth overall) in the number of its graduates serving as federal district and circuit court judges; more than 250 graduates serve as state appellate and trial judges in Florida, and many serve in those roles in other states as well.

No other law school has produced as many presidents of the American Bar Association since 1973; five including 2010-11 president Steve Zack (pictured). Graduates are also represented by the majority of The Florida Bar presidents, including Eugene Pettis (JD 85), Gwynne Young (JD 74), Scott Hawkins (JD 83), Mayanne Downs (JD 87), and John G. White III (JD 79). Four Florida Governors and hundreds of state senators, representatives and cabinet members hail from UF Law. Nine graduates also became college presidents, and more than a dozen have served as deans of law schools.

We are particularly proud of our track record in producing diverse leaders for the legal profession.  Eugene K. Pettis (JD 85) will become the first African-American president of The Florida Bar in 2013.  Stephen N. Zack (JD 71), who came to the United States from Cuba in 1961 and in 2010 became the first Hispanic president of The Florida Bar and The American Bar Association.  Martha Barnett (JD 72) became one of the first female ABA presidents in 2000.

UF Law is one of the top 10 law schools in the nation for Hispanics, according to Hispanic Business Review (seven times in nine years), and was ranked in 2012 UF Law one of the top six schools for blacks in the South by On Being a Black Lawyer magazine.

U.S. News & World Report ranks UF Law 23rd among public law schools and 46th overall; its Tax Program first among publics and third overall; Environmental Law at fifth among publics and 12th overall. UF Law also continues to be highly rated in terms of reputation – 10th among publics and 26th overall in the assessment of practicing lawyers and judges, and 15th among publics and 35th overall in the assessment of academics.

UF Law was accredited in 1925 by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. The generosity of its loyal alumni and friends, including college namesake Fredric G. Levin, a prominent trial lawyer, makes the college one of the nation’s best endowed public law schools in the United States.

2011 – 2012 American Bar Association data indicate that UF Law is the second most affordable top-tier law school when taking tuition and cost of living into account.  Approximately 50 tenure/tenure-track faculty and 80-plus other faculty members who support the college through clinical, research, skills training and administrative programs work to educate over 1,000 students. Students can specialize in: Environmental and Land Use Law, Estates and Trusts Practice, Family Law, Intellectual Property Law, and International and Comparative Law.

In addition to the J.D., the college offers LL.M.’s In Taxation, International Taxation, Environmental and Land Use Law, and Comparative Law as well as one of the country’s few S.J.D.’s in Taxation. UF Law offers J.D. certificate programs in Environmental and Land Use Law, Estates and Trusts Practice, Family Law, Intellectual Property Law, and International and Comparative Law; an extensive array of joint degree programs; specialized centers, institutes and program areas; and strong clinical offerings.

Gainesville hosts one of the largest on-campus recruiting programs in the Southeast, with legal employers interviewing throughout fall and spring. Additionally, UF Law draws distinguished visitors to campus every year to speak with students.

UF Law has had eight Supreme Court Justice visits in the past eight years. Many presentations are available for viewing at your convenience on our webcast page.

UF Law’s strong international programs, such as the L.L.M. in Comparative Law, and faculty expertise in international law issues expand the school’s curriculum and international offerings and strengthen its ties with programs and scholars around the globe.

Recent updates to its facilities make UF Law a premier learning environment. A $25 million expansion and renovation project in 2005 made the UF Law library one of the largest in the Southeast and among the top 20 in the country.

The new multi-million dollar advocacy center that opened in Fall 2009 provide students with state-of-the-art trial facilities.

UF Law is located in North Central Florida, one of the country’s most desirable areas. Gainesville is ranked first of 400 cities in the United States and Canada by Cities Ranked and Rated, Second Edition and has been highly rated by such publications as Money Magazine, Forbes, and Popular Mechanics.

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