University of Miami School of Law 2024 graduates have the highest recorded employment rate in the school's history at 92%. Many of these students headed to Big Law, resulting in the Law School once again ranking highly in Law.com's "Go-To Law Schools: Big Law" 2025 hiring report. Based on the National Law Journal's annual survey, this prestigious report ranks the top 50 law schools that have sent the highest percentage of 2024 J.D.s into associate positions at the nation's largest 100 law firms.
In addition, Miami Law placed #33 in U.S. News & World Report's 2025 specialty ranking for law schools with the most graduates at big law. According to U.S. News, the section represents "the law schools whose graduates were most likely to obtain full-time, long-term jobs at law firms with greater than 500 attorneys...only the top 40 schools (plus ties) are ranked due to the limited share of these graduates each school produces."
Only law school in South Florida to make listings
With its outstanding performance, the School of Law is one of two schools ranked in the state, and the only among South Florida law schools to make both the Law.com and U.S. News listings.
Assistant Dean of Career and Professional Development, Amy Perez, attributes this success to the school's exceptional students and long-standing relationships with law firms across the U.S. and South Florida. "At Miami Law, we work diligently to ensure our students have access to the most competitive legal opportunities,” said Perez. “In an increasingly complex hiring landscape, this recognition reflects the strength and depth of our employer relationships, the dedication of our career advisors, and, most importantly, the exceptional preparation of our students."
Curriculum that prepares for practice
Miami Law's extensive and innovative curriculum with 18 areas of study and experiential programs ensures that graduates are equipped to meet the dynamic demands of today's employers.
With strong programs in litigation skills, transactional skills, writing and communication, and more, Miami Law students are prepared to contribute to their jobs from day one.
"Miami Law students have the intellect, business acumen, and technical legal skills to excel at the largest law firms in the world," said Perez.
Leadership at Big Law
Miami Law is sending graduates to the most prominent law firms and has made its mark by leading some of the world's top law firms. According to the Am Law 100, 2025 listing, ranking by gross revenue, Miami Law has the highest number of graduates leading the top 30 U.S. firms, alongside Harvard Law School. While alumni are heads of some of the largest law offices, a few lead overall firms, including:
Tiffani G. Lee, J.D. '97, was named the deputy managing partner of Holland & Knight in April 2024. The firm now has approximately 2,200 lawyers and other professionals in 34 offices worldwide.
In April 2023, Yvette Ostolaza, J.D. '92, became chair of the management committee at Sidley Austin LLP, making her one of only a handful of women to hold such a role at a global law firm with 160 years of experience.
In July 2020, after decades of success as an international lawyer, Miguel A. Zaldivar, Jr., J.D. '95, became the global CEO of Hogan Lovells, a firm with 37 worldwide offices.
Lastly, Ira Coleman, LL.M. '87 in Tax, is chairperson of McDermott Will & Emery, a firm with 20 locations in six countries, also in the Am Law 100.
Read more about Miami Law's alumni network
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