News Column

Top 10 Law Schools for Hispanics

Sep 5 2000 2:48PM

September 2000

1
University of Miami
School of Law

1311 Miller Drive, Room F-203
Coral Gables, FL 33146
(305) 284-2795
Fax: (305) 284-3084
www.law.miami.edu

Total graduate enrollment: 1,164
Hispanic graduate enrollment: 238
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment: 20%
Total J.D. degrees earned: 434
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics: 80
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics: 18%

“We have a very active Hispanic Law Student Association. It is the largest association on campus … and it also includes mentoring programs,” says Associate Dean Richard L. Williamson Jr., pointing out that at the School of Law, the positions of President of Law Review and SDA president are currently held by Hispanic students. The school also is known as a premier recruitment source for employers seeking bilingual graduates with a thorough knowledge of the legal systems of Latin America.

2
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Law School

919 S. Albany Street
Los Angeles, CA
(213) 736-1180
Fax: (213) 736-6523
www.lls.edu

Total graduate enrollment: 1,344
Hispanic graduate enrollment: 166
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment: 12%
Total J.D. degrees earned: 411
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics: 48
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics: 12%

“Many predictions suggest that the Hispanic community will soon become the dominant social group in California. … We are proud to educate and empower tomorrow’s leaders. The mission of Loyola Law School has been distinguished for many years by its concern for social justice and commitment to diversity. We will remain steadfast in our efforts to attract and retain the largest Hispanic law student enrollment in American legal education,” says Anton Mac, Assistant Dean of Admissions.

3
St. Mary’s University
St. Mary’s Law School

One Camino Santa Maria
San Antonio, TX 78228
(210) 436-3523
Fax: (210) 436-4202
www.stmarytx.edu

Total graduate enrollment: 757
Hispanic graduate enrollment: 280
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment: 37%
Total J.D. degrees earned: 242
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics: 73
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics: 30%

“St. Mary’s Law School’s biggest selling point for Hispanics is our demonstrated commitment to bringing them into legal education and into the profession. Dean Bill Piatt is one of only two Hispanic law deans in the United States, and two of our three associate deans are Hispanic,” states David Lopez, Associate Dean for Administration. “Nine of our full-time faculty are Hispanic and close to 40 percent of our student body is Hispanic.” Each year, St. Mary’s awards scholarships specifically set aside for Hispanic students and provides substantial support to the Hispanic Law Student Association.

4
University of Florida
Fredric G. Levin College of Law

P.O. Box 117622
Gainesville, FL 32611
(352) 392-2087
Fax: (352) 392-8727
www.ufl.edu

Total graduate enrollment: 1,182
Hispanic graduate enrollment: 147
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment: 12%
Total J.D. degrees earned: 408
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics: 40
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics: 10%

The University of Florida Admissions Office has a full-time Spanish-speaking staff member who spends considerable time recruiting Hispanic students and attends recruiting events in cities with large Hispanic populations. Spanish-speaking professors at the school advise student organizations, including the Caribbean and Spanish American Law Students Association. Faculty diversity is supported by faculty exchange and other programs in conjunction with Latin American institutions, and the University boasts a strong Latin American Studies Department.

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