Obtain a bachelor's degree. The American Bar Association, which regulates admission to law schools, requires prospective law students to first obtain a four-year undergraduate degree. There is no requirement imposed by the ABA for obtaining a degree in a particular subject. However, the ABA recommends that prospective law students choose an undergraduate major that develops skills used in both law school and as a lawyer, including problem solving, reading comprehension and writing. For admission to law school, your undergraduate GPA should be above a 3.0.
Take the LSAT. The Law School Admission Test is a standardized test required for admission to law school. The LSAT consists of six multiple choice sections, five of which are scored, in reading comprehension, analytical reasoning and logical reasoning. The scoring range for the LSAT is between 120 and 180, with a score higher than 160 required for admission to the most selective law schools in Florida. You may want to consult with the pre-law adviser at your undergraduate school about how to prepare for the LSAT.
Know the law schools of Florida. The U.S. News and World Report survey of law schools separates law schools into four tiers, with the first tier being the most selective and fourth tier being the least selective. Florida law schools in the first tier are the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida State University in Tallahassee and the University of Miami. The only third tier law school in Florida is Stetson University in Gulfport. Fourth tier Florida law schools are Ave Maria in Naples, Barry University and Florida A&M University in Orlando, Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, Florida International University in Miami, Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale and St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens.
Determine which Florida law schools are best suited for you. The major criteria for admission to law school is your undergraduate GPA and your LSAT score. Each of the 10 Florida law schools has a different range of GPA and LSAT score, from which they select the majority of their students. Additionally, each Florida law school has a different specialty. For instance, the tax law program at the University of Florida is among the best in the country, while the practical skills program at Stetson University is similarly well regarded. Check with the pre-law adviser at your undergraduate school to determine what Florida law schools would be most appropriate for you.
Apply to the appropriate Florida law schools. While the application deadline for each Florida law school varies, the deadline for applying is typically at the end of January. Additionally, many schools allocate valuable scholarship funding on a first-come, first-serve basis. Submitting your application as early as possible, in September or October, is prudent.
Complete the Florida law school program. If you are only obtaining a Juris Doctor, your program will likely take three years to complete. If you are obtaining another degree in conjunction with your Juris Doctor, it may take four or five years to obtain both degrees.