For graduates of Florida Coastal School of Law, February was a good month to take the Florida Bar examination.
Florida Coastal ranked third among the state’s law schools, with 74.5 percent of its 51 grads taking the test for the first time passing.
The University of Florida’s Levin College of Law topped the list, with 83.3 percent of its students passing, followed by Ave Maria School of Law at 82.4 percent.
It’s not the first time Florida Coastal graduates have performed better than the state average. In the 23 Florida Bar examinations administered since February 2004, the school has equaled or bettered the average passing percentage 10 times.
Florida Coastal President Dennis Stone said while it’s notable to better the average first-time pass percentage, it’s more notable that 88 percent of the law school’s graduates eventually pass the Bar examination.
What’s most important, he said, is the school has maintained its mission since it was founded 20 years ago: Serving the underserved and developing practice-ready graduates who otherwise might not have been able to seek a career in the legal profession. “We made the commitment to be a school of opportunity,” he said.
Part of that commitment is offering the Alternative Admissions Model Program for Legal Education. It’s designed for students who don’t meet the academic entrance requirements of other law schools, but have a desire for a legal career.
By taking two modified courses from Florida Coastal’s curriculum — Introduction to the 4th Amendment and Negotiable Instruments — enrollees may demonstrate their ability to learn the skills necessary to complete their legal education.
The courses are taught by the school’s full-time faculty and upon successful completion, candidates may enter the next J.D. class.
Another aspect of Florida Coastal’s program is the emphasis on specialized legal training that allows students to align their studies with specific career goals, said interim Dean Mary Margaret Giannini.
Focus areas include law practice technology, sports law and entrepreneurial law.
“Just passing the Bar exam doesn’t make you a hirable attorney,” said Giannini. “Our students take what they learn in law school and apply it to the real world.”
Participation in specialized programs gives students the opportunity for “experiential learning,” said Giannini.
For example, students in the business and entrepreneurial clinic, under the supervision of facility, help people with the legal aspects of starting a business who otherwise would not be able to afford legal advice.
“So much experiential learning happens in the pro bono environment,” Giannini said.
Without the support of a larger institution when it comes to administrative functions such as payroll, accounting, student records, real estate issues and strategic planning, Florida Coastal must provide those functions while maintaining a quality faculty and curriculum.
That makes the school’s annual tuition rank second in the state behind only the University of Miami. Full tuition at Florida Coastal is $42,906 compared to $46,166 at Miami.
After it is adjusted for median financial aid and the number of students receiving scholarships or grants, the net tuition at Florida Coastal is $36,131.
Even with financial aid, Stone said the school is concerned with the amount of debt incurred by students before they even take the Bar examination.
“We always are looking at ways to reduce tuition,” he said.
The Jacksonville Bar Association swearing-in ceremony is scheduled at 4 p.m. Friday in Courtroom 13A at the Bryan Simpson U.S. Courthouse. U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan will preside.
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