School of Law

Orlando, FL

Administration

Leticia M. Diaz, M.S., Ph.D., J.D., Dean

Whitney A. Curtis, B.A., M.L.S., J.D., Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Angelo J. Milone, B.S., Associate Dean of Communications, Enrollment Marketing and Outreach

TBD, Associate Dean for Student Affairs

TBD, Assistant Dean of Administration and Faculty Development

Beth Parker, M.A., M.I.S, J.D., Associate Dean for Information Services/Law Library Director

Naomi Hatton, Assistant Dean for Academic Success and Bar Preparation

Nicolet Severe, Director of Alumni and Community Relations

TBD, Major Gifts Officer

Virginia Traver, M.B.A., Director of Finance and Administrative Services

Owen Gregory, Manager, Orlando Law IT Operations

Law School Faculty:

Ahlers, Ahmad, Aschenbrenner-Rodriguez, Beatty, Bonner, Buhi, Cespedes, Christopolis, D’Angelo-Corker, Davoli, Diaz, Frank, Gianino, Henricksen, Hudson, Hull, Kan, Koves, Leacock, Mendola, Morton, Ogolla, O’Gorman, Parker, Schinasi, Stewart, Summers, Vickers.

An Overview

The School of Law educates students to become responsible lawyers, trained to assume an active role in the legal community. Students are trained to act in strict accordance with the highest ethical standards and to exercise their professional skills competently, with sensitivity to the needs and concerns of their clients.

The Law School offers an array of courses that are designed to develop the students as “practice ready.” Through clinical programs focused on juvenile defense. Earth justice, immigration, collaborative family law and bankruptcy, Barry Law gives students real-world legal experience serving those populations traditionally underrepresented by the legal profession. In addition to its traditional core curriculum, the Law School offers three optional concentrations in which students may earn honors certificates in the following three areas: Child and Family Law; Litigation and Advocacy; and Environmental and Earth Law.

Students at the School of Law have many opportunities to experience the “law-in-action” concept, both in the classroom and through practical application. The law faculty is extremely accessible, offering students ample opportunities for out of classroom discussions.

The School of Law offers a three-year daytime program structured for full-time students. The School of Law also offers a four-year extended studies program in the evening to accommodate working adults or anyone who, for whatever reason, is unable to pursue three full-time years of study toward a law degree.

The School of Law also offers an LL.M. program for foreign attorneys who have previously completed a law degree in another country. The program requires the completion of 24 credits and spans a full academic year.

Law School Mission Statement

Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law is the only Dominican Law School in the United States and the first American Law School to be part of a University founded by women religious. 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. Within its Catholic Dominican tradition, the School of Law values matters of faith through religious freedom. The School of Law seeks to enhance diversity in our community and the profession and endorses recruitment and retention of members of underrepresented groups, particularly racial and ethnic minorities, in order to create a more diverse faculty, staff, and student body.

Statement of Institutional Learning Outcomes

ABA Standard 302(a): Knowledge and Understanding of Substantive and Procedural Law
1. Students should demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the law as applied in trial and appellate courts, transactional practice, and as tested, in the bar exam.
ABA Standards 302(b): Legal Analysis and Reasoning, Legal Research, Problem Solving, and Written and Oral Communication in a Legal Context
1. Students should be able to produce effective court memoranda and appellate briefs to analyze fact patterns using predictive and persuasive styles of legal writing by synthesizing, analogizing, and distinguishing cases, statutes, and rules with due attention to correctness of expression, organization, and coherent legal analysis.
2. Students should be able to identify and marshal key facts, concepts, and related legal issues raised in hypothetical fact patterns and apply the law to these fact patterns to resolve those legal issues and evaluate possible outcomes.
3. Students should be able to recognize precedent, know the difference between binding and persuasive authority (understanding their respective weight), and plan and implement research strategies to find sources of primary and secondary authority from digital legal databases, books in the law library, and the internet, and be able to provide proper citation forms for such authorities.
4. Students should be able to communicate effectively, integrating doctrine, facts, theory, skills, and ethics, both in writing and orally, state a legal argument one-on-one or to a group, and coherently and persuasively deliver such an argument to a court, with due attention to civility, decorum, and deference.
ABA Standard 302(c): Exercise of Proper Professional and Ethical Responsibilities to Clients in the Legal System
1. Students should be able to apply the applicable rules of professional conduct to determine proper and ethical courses of action in the practice of law, consistent with the values and responsibilities of the legal profession and its members and should develop their professional identity in the sense of understanding what it means to be a lawyer and the special obligations lawyers have to their clients, the legal system, and society.
ABA Standard 302(d): Other Professional Skills Needed for Competent and Ethical Participation as a Member of the Legal Profession
1. Pursuant to the Mission of the Barry University School of Law to provide quality education in a caring environment with a religious dimension, students should have the ability to work with others of diverse backgrounds and understand the importance of building an inclusive community characterized by interdependence, equality, and compassion for self and others and should promote social and ecological justice through performing pro bono work or community service.
ABA Standard 303(c): Education to Law Students on Bias, Cross-cultural Competency and Racism.

Students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the importance of cross-cultural competency to represent clients professionally and responsibly and to fulfill the obligation of lawyers to promotes a justice system that provides equal access and eliminates bias, discrimination, and racism in the law. (Interpretation 303-6).

Adopted by the School of Law Faculty August 13, 2015, updated by the School of Law Faculty May 6, 2022.

Admission to the School of Law

The Admissions Committee acts on all admissions requests following receipt of a completed application.

The LSAT is designed to measure some of the mental and academic abilities that are needed for successful law study. Within limits, it provides a reasonable assessment of these factors. Similarly, undergraduate grades are a significant indicator of potential success in law school. In addition to being one measure of academic ability, a strong scholastic record may indicate the level of a student's perseverance, motivation, and maturity.

Applicants will be accepted for admission to the School of Law if they are of good character and have LSAT scores and GPAs which indicate a likelihood for academic success. This statement applies to those applicants who apply in a timely manner before the class is filled.

Applicants are notified by email or writing of all decisions pertinent to their applications taken by the Admissions Committee. The Committee meets frequently, so decisions are made promptly after receipt of all required admissions documents. Following written notification of acceptance as a student, each degree candidate should send in the required seat deposit, and an official undergraduate transcript conferring a Bachelor’s degree.

Juris Doctor Admissions Requirements

The basic requirements to apply for admission are noted below:

An applicant must hold a bachelor's degree from an institution accredited by an agency approved by the Department of Education.

The applicant must submit the Application for Admission electronically to the School of Law. The online application must be complete (with all questions answered) and include supporting documentation, if applicable. All required information should be attached before the application is transmitted.

The applicant must submit a personal statement with the electronic Application for Admission. At Barry University School of Law, we value diversity and commitment to public service. Your personal statement may address diversity and a commitment to public service and/or your motivation to attend law school, any obstacles you have overcome, or your goals once your law degree has been awarded. The personal statement should be 600 - 1,200 words. Please do not attach writing samples or other such material to your application. You are encouraged, but not required, to attach a resume.

The applicant must register with the Credential Assembly Services (CAS) at www.lsac.org and submit official transcript(s) from each college or university attended. The applicant also is required to have 1 letter of recommendation included in the CAS report. The letter may be written by a faculty advisor, instructor, employer, commanding officer, or other person who can recommend the applicant on the basis of aptitude for the study of law. CAS reports will not be sent until this information is received. Barry University School of Law’s LSAC School Code is #5830.

The applicant must take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). No LSAT score obtained by the applicant more than 5 years before applying will be accepted.

Applicants have the responsibility to ascertain that all materials have been received by the School of Law.

Barry Law follows a rolling admissions policy. Applications for the Fall semester will be accepted starting September 15 with a priority deadline of May 1. Applications for the Spring semester will be accepted starting March 1 with a priority deadline of November 15. Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as all pertinent information is available for review.

The Admissions Committee performs a holistic review of all components of the application, including a prospective student’s academic record (undergraduate GPA and LSAT score), personal statement, leadership ability, commitment to public service, employment history, military service, background, diversity, and character and fitness history.

Character and Fitness

In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners. The Florida Board of Bar Examiners conducts a rigorous background investigation of all bar applicants to determine their character and fitness to practice law. You are strongly encouraged to consult with the relevant agencies about any incident(s) which may have a bearing on your eligibility for admission into a state bar.

International Students

International students and others who have completed undergraduate education outside of the United States should submit their transcripts to LSAC through CAS for evaluation. A minimum educational equivalency of a bachelor's degree must be met for eligibility.

Students are required to submit the law school application via the LSAC website (www.lsac.org). International students whose native language is not English and who did not receive a bachelor's degree from an undergraduate institution within the United States are required to take TOEFL and have official scores submitted through LSAC as part of the application. For questions concerning submitting your TOEFL score to LSAC, please visit their website at www.lsac.org/jd/help/faqs-cas.

TOEFL Requirement

Minimum scores of 100 on the Internet-based and 600 on the paper-based TOEFL test are required. Information on the TOEFL can be obtained by writing to TOEFL, Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151, or by visiting www.toefl.com.

Admitted Students

Upon admission, all students must pay a non-refundable $200 deposit to hold their seat. This deposit will be credited toward tuition. Please contact us at lawadmissions@barry.edu with any questions regarding international student requirements.

Admissions Testing

For information concerning registration for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), visit www.lsac.org.

Transfer Admissions

The Admissions Committee reviews applications from transfer students according to ABA Standards. A transfer applicant must meet the following:

The student currently attends a fully-approved ABA Law School.
The Law School general admissions application must be completed with "transfer applicant" marked accordingly.
The student is in "good standing" and "eligible to return" to that institution as documented by a Letter of Good Standing.
An official transcript from the current Law School must be submitted. An unofficial (student version) transcript may be submitted initially for the admissions decision and for registration purposes. Credits are only transferred from an official transcript.
Generally, a 2.5 law GPA is required for transfer consideration.
The CAS report must be submitted for review of the LSAT scores, undergraduate GPA, and two recommendation letters.
A personal statement explaining the reason for the intended Law School transfer must be submitted.

Please Note: A maximum of 30 credits may be transferred. Only credit from courses where a student earned a grade of C or better may be transferred.[1]

Barry Law uses one application for both incoming 1L students and Transfer students. Please apply using the 1L application and under the Enrollment section, checkmark "Transfer."

Student Financial Assistance

At the Barry University School of Law, the Office of Student Financial Services acts in partnership with students to provide the necessary guidance in financial planning and the financial aid application process. The financial aid application process is streamlined with minimal requirements. Step-by-step instructions for completing the process are available by visiting the Financial Services tab on the School of Law’s website at www.barry.edu/law. For further information and assistance, please call the Office of Student Financial Services at (321) 206‑5698 or e-mail the staff at lawfinaid@barry.edu.

Student Employment Policy

Although some students find it necessary to work to finance their legal education, the Law School requires that a full-time student work no more than twenty hours per week. Moreover, outside work during the first year of law school is strongly discouraged in view of the unique educational experience of the first year and the time constraints imposed by the program of study.

Program Objective

The School of Law combines traditional and innovative teaching methods to provide a dynamic and professional educational program. The J.D. curriculum is also 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. Courses designed to develop and refine legal writing and research abilities are required. Seminars and advanced courses provide close interaction with faculty.