Founded in early 1993, the University of Orlando School of Law admitted its first class in 1995. In 1999, the School of Law became a part of Barry University, a private Catholic university located in Miami Shores, Florida. The School of Law endeavors to offer a quality legal education in a caring environment with a religious dimension so that study and reflection lead to informed action and a commitment to social justice leads to collaborative service. The School of Law promotes the highest standards of ethics and competence in the practice of law and other pursuits. The School of Law seeks to challenge students to embrace intellectual, personal, ethical, spiritual, ecological, and social responsibilities in an atmosphere of academic freedom. The program strives to equip its graduates to apply the knowledge, values, and skills they acquire to enhance personal growth, the legal profession, the judicial system, society, and the earth community.
The School of Law is situated on a beautiful 20-acre campus, about 15 minutes from downtown Orlando. Barry Law’s facilities include a three-story Legal Advocacy Center, featuring five courtrooms, a three-story library, a student law center, a moot court building, a brand new 180-seat state-of-the-art lecture hall, a student café, a chapel, a faculty office building, and a bookstore, as well as facilities for clinical programs, student life center, and the bar preparation and academic success programs.
The Barry Law mission guides everything from awarding scholarships and stipends to pairing students with mentors. The law school offers a Career Services Office, academic success guidance, and an extensive bar preparation program. Candidates who choose to study at Barry Law will enjoy the benefits of a university where students receive the individualized attention needed to succeed, both in the classroom and in the practice of law.
Central Florida is one of the fastest-growing areas in the nation and the ideal location for the study and practice of law. Barry University School of Law is located in one of the nation’s most vibrant legal and business communities. Central Florida is home to a plethora of law firms, as well as major corporate entities that have headquarters or satellite offices in the metropolitan Orlando area. It is also home to a wide array of national and international businesses, a robust technology sector, a thriving hospitality and health care industry and many other entrepreneurial businesses across a variety of industries. A host of attractions brings millions of visitors to Central Florida each year. Just an hour away are the beaches of the Atlantic.
Orlando is a major commercial center; many international corporations have headquarters in the region. Central Florida provides a wealth of opportunities for students to gain firsthand exposure to a multitude of practice areas. The Law School Advisory Board plays an active role with our students and is composed of many prominent Central Florida attorneys, judges, government officials, and other community leaders. Their affiliations enhance the networking and career opportunities available to Barry Law students.
Central Florida enjoys a year-round subtropical climate and offers a wide range of cultural and recreational activities, from its tranquil lakes and vast beaches, to world-famous amusement parks, to quaint neighborhood bistros and farmers markets. Accommodations in the immediate area include fully furnished and unfurnished apartments as well as single-family dwellings. Orlando has a large number of hotels and executive lodges that offer reduced rates on a weekly or monthly basis.
Barry Law combines traditional and innovative teaching methods to provide a dynamic, professional program. The Juris Doctor (JD) curriculum is designed to develop students’ analytical ability, communication skills, and understanding of the codes of professional responsibility and ethics that are central to the practice of law. Our faculty utilize a variety of teaching methods, including simulations and role-playing. Courses designed to develop and refine writing abilities are required. Seminars and advanced courses provide close interaction with faculty.
Barry Law is one of the few law schools in the country that allows students to begin in both the fall and spring semesters and offers flexible programs in the day and evening (for both full-time and part-time students). The part-time program is available only to students who begin in the fall semester. Barry offers a three-year program structured for full-time students. The School of Law also offers a four-year extended studies program to accommodate working adults or anyone who is unable to pursue full-time study. Barry Law students have many opportunities to experience the “law-in-action” concept, both in the classroom and through practical application. The law school offers a collegial student/professor relationship indicative of legal education structured around the needs of the future attorney.
The Barry Law Comprehensive Legal Academic Success Program (CLASP) helps students develop the academic skills necessary to succeed in law school and on the bar examination. The four main components of the program include
Barry Law’s Clinical Programs offer students the opportunity to participate in four in-house clinics:
Barry Law’s Clinical Placement Program, in conjunction with the Florida Supreme Court, permits primarily third-year law students to practice law as Certified Legal Interns under the direct supervision of an experienced Florida attorney in conjunction with the law school’s director of clinical placements. Externship opportunities include
Barry Law is committed to clinics and externships that are consistent with the school’s mission to provide experiential learning to the students and service to the community. Prior to placing law students, supervising attorneys and judges must agree to provide the opportunity for experiential learning in accordance with the specified methods and objectives. Both clinics and externships also have a corresponding classroom component. Students may apply for the various clinics and externships after they fulfill all appropriate prerequisites, usually in the second semester, or after their second year, of study.
The Practice Ready Institute is an intensive academic experience during which 2L and 3L students can earn academic credit during the week immediately prior to the spring, summer, and fall semesters. The one-credit “practice ready” courses, taught by faculty members and practitioners, are hands-on learning experiences designed to focus on aspects of the practice of law that will equip students with the knowledge and skills essential for the effective and successful practice of law in the real world.
The School of Law proudly offers merit-based scholarships, grants, and stipends that range from $6,000 to the amount of full tuition. Admitted candidates are automatically considered for scholarships and do not need to complete any additional forms. If a scholarship is offered to a candidate, notice will be sent with the acceptance letter. Scholarships are renewable for three years for full-time students and four years for part-time students. The law GPA required to renew a merit-based scholarship ranges from 2.6 to 3.0. Contact Student Financial Services at 321.206.5621 for additional information.
Barry Law also offers a Scholarship Bonus Program to second- and third-year students. Students who rank in the top 10 percent after the first and second year of law school are offered a 75 percent scholarship.
Barry Law combines traditional and innovative teaching methods to provide a dynamic, professional program. Both the JD and LLM curriculums are designed to develop each student’s analytical ability, communication skills, and understanding of the codes of professional responsibility and ethics that are central to the practice of law. The Barry Law faculty utilizes a variety of teaching methods, including simulations and role-playing. Seminars and advanced courses in the second and third year of study provide close interaction with faculty. Barry Law emphasizes research and writing proficiency from the first day of class. Armed with a strong foundation in research and writing, Barry Law students are able to gain an advantage in the legal marketplace.
To be eligible to receive the JD degree, a student must