Admissions - Online Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.)

MLS Admission Standards

The University of Miami School of Law seeks to enroll highly qualified students from a wide variety of professional and educational backgrounds who want to develop their legal knowledge to advance their careers.

Miami Law engages in a highly individualized, holistic review of each applicant's file to identify students who will contribute to the academic experience and be successful graduates. We seek applicants with strong academic credentials, professional experience, and a commitment to excel in a rigorous academic program.

Practicing Law

The M.L.S. program is not intended for applicants interested in becoming a lawyer.

Credits earned in our M.L.S. program are not eligible for transfer toward a Juris Doctor (JD) program per the American Bar Association standards.

Academic and Admission Requirements

We require a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA from an accredited institution in the United States or an equivalent degree from an international institution.

Applicants with significant work experience, who do not meet the GPA requirement are encouraged to apply for consideration.

Prerequisites & Test Scores

Prerequisite courses or standardized test scores are not program requirements.

Start my M.L.S Application

Important Application Dates & Deadlines

We offer three starts throughout the year in fall, spring and summer. Below are the upcoming start dates and application deadlines:

We recommend applying by the priority application deadline for scholarship consideration.

Application Checklist

The Application Checklist explains in detail which documents are necessary to complete an application.

Please read carefully before applying and follow the below instructions to ensure your application is complete.

For questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

• 1. Application

  Apply Online

• 2. Statement of Interest/Purpose

  Statement of Interest/Purpose

  Applicants must submit a personal statement of approximately 500 words in English through Miami Law’s Online Application.

  Applicants should address their own academic and professional background, professional goals, specific interest in the study and practice of their chosen field, and other matters they deem of importance.

  The personal statement must be prepared by the applicant without any outside help and should contain a statement to that effect.

• 3. Letters of Recommendation

  Letters of Recommendation

  Applicants must obtain two letters of recommendation, stating in detail their opinion of the applicant’s qualifications for graduate study in the M.L.S Program.

  The letter of recommendation should be from people who can provide a meaningful assessment of the applicant’s character and ability, such as a manager, colleague, faculty member, academic advisor, or mentor.

  Letters should be submitted by recommenders directly to MLSAdmissions@law.miami.edu.

• 4. Resume / C.V.

  Resume / C.V.

  Applicants must summarize their academic and professional background in a resume or curriculum vitae and submit it through Miami Law's Online Application.

• 5. Official Transcripts

  Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended

  Electronic Transcripts

  To expedite the processing of your application, you can submit unofficial transcripts via document upload in the Online Application or via email to MLSAdmissions@law.miami.edu with the rest of your application materials and request official transcripts to be sent to us from your undergraduate and graduate institution(s) after receiving an admissions decision.

  Official electronic transcripts should be sent by the institution or through a secure site formally linked to the sending institution, such as eTranscript California, Parchment Exchange, eSCRIP-SAFE, and National Student Clearinghouse to MLSAdmissions@law.miami.edu.

  Physical Transcripts

  Official hard copy transcripts should be mailed by the institution to:

  University of Miami School of Law
  Office of Admissions P.O. Box 248087
  Coral Gables, FL 33124-8087, USA
  
  This includes academic work at the undergraduate, graduate, or professional level, completed in the United States or abroad. All documents not in English must be translated into English by an approved translation service of the American Translators Association, or the English translation must be certified as complete and accurate by the issuing institution. International educational records may be subject to additional document verification at the discretion of the admissions review committee.

  Transcripts for any work completed after an applicant has been admitted, such as transcripts for a final semester, should be sent prior to matriculation.

  All offers of admission are conditional upon receipt of the applicant’s official transcript and diploma prior to matriculation conferring a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or an institution outside of the United States with equivalent standing. International Applicants.

• 6. English Proficiency Requirement (if applicable)

  English Proficiency Requirement (if applicable)

  Applicants whose native language is not English or whose university-level education was completed outside the United States are required to submit results of an English-language proficiency test.

  Miami Law will accept scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Test.

  Applicants must arrange for their official TOEFL or IELTS score reports to be sent directly to the University of Miami School of Law:

  University of Miami School of Law
  Office of Admissions
  P.O. Box 248087
  Coral Gables, FL 33124-8087, USA

  The University of Miami School Code is 5815, and the Department Code is 03. No institutional code is needed for the IELTS.

  Prospective students may apply for admission even if they have not yet taken the TOEFL or Academic IELTS. Official TOEFL or IELTS score reports must then be provided as soon as available to finalize the application process.

Start my MLS Application

Non-Discrimination Policy

It is the policy of the University of Miami School of Law that no person within the jurisdiction thereof shall, on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, military status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected factor be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination or harassment (including all forms of sexual harassment and sexual violence) under any program or activity of the University, regardless of whether such program or activity occurs on-campus or off-campus. Retaliation against an individual who files a complaint of discrimination, opposes a policy/procedure/practice because he/she believes it to be discriminatory, or who participates in the investigation of a discrimination complaint, is prohibited.