History and Overview

A renowned faculty, a comprehensive Juris Doctor curriculum, unique special certificate programs, innovative centers and institutes, expanding global curriculum, and affordable tuition make the University of Florida the first choice for many students who desire a law degree.

The college's curricular strengths include tax law, business law, estates and trusts, environmental law, dispute resolution, international law, intellectual property law, criminal law and family law-all with an emphasis on developing the highest standards of professional conduct.

Through programs offered on campus and abroad, students gain international experience for today's competitive job market. In addition, UF law students help impact state, national and international environmental and social policy by assisting in research conducted by the Center for Governmental Responsibility, housed at the law school. The center has influenced many state and national public policy decisions during the past 20 years.

Students conduct research and study in one of the largest academic law libraries in the southeastern United States. The Legal Information Center houses more than 600,000 volumes and extensive computer and audio-visual resources.

The three-year curriculum develops students' analytical ability, knowledge of the theory and practice of law, communications skills, and an understanding of the codes of professional responsibility and ethics central to the practice of law. Students experience a variety of teaching methods, including the traditional case and Socratic methods, as well as problems, simulations, role-playing, videotaping, computer-assisted instruction and interaction with actual clients. After completing first-year requirements, students can tailor their course load to fit their interests and career plans.

Enrollment is approximately 1,200, including about 60 lawyers in the Graduate Tax Program. Dozens of co-curricular and extra-curricular organizations support a rich and diverse student life.

The state of Florida is home to many prominent, active and skilled lawyers, and a number of those attorneys and judges are actively involved in the teaching and practical skills training of UF law students. Because writing skills are critical to success in the legal profession, these skills are developed through required courses and a nationally acclaimed legal drafting program.

The college is named for alumnus Fredric G. Levin of Pensacola, a prominent trial lawyer who made possible a $20 million endowment to support excellence in legal education and helped maintain the College of Law's total endowment in the top 10 public law schools in the nation. The college is housed in Holland and Bruton-Geer Halls. Fund raising is underway toward expansion of the law library and a third, state-of-the-art academic building.

Since its establishment in 1909, the College of Law has been educating leaders in law, business, education and government. The college is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.