Working at the Supreme Court of Paraiba in Brazil has made Flavia Idelfonso Guimaraes an expert in legal analysis, but she knew there was still a world of knowledge awaiting her. Thus, after 14 years serving the Chief Justice’s Office, it was time for a new pursuit.
“I strongly believe that to understand a new reality, it is necessary to start from the beginning,” says Guimaraes. She decided to make that leap: moving from her home in João Pessoa to the US city of Tallahassee to pursue the Master of Laws (LLM) in American Law for Foreign Lawyers at Florida State University.
Few schools can match the benefits of an FSU College of Law’s LLM. The programme is affordable with a high return on investment. Total tuition cost for a world-class education here is around US$32,000. All students who apply are automatically considered for a merit based scholarship.
And when it comes to career opportunities for FSU LLM graduates, they are practically at FSU’s doorstep. Just minutes away from campus are the Florida Supreme Court and the State Capitol. In the capital of the US’s third-largest state, students also have access to numerous government agencies, more than 800 law firms, state and federal courts, and more.
Students get to design a curriculum that aligns with their legal career goals. Source: Florida State University
From Paraiba to Florida
Guimaraes’s journey to the 38th best law school in the nation started with an invitation from a high school friend, an FSU alumna. “It was the first school I visited in the US, and I have no other way to define it than ‘complete and immediate identification,’” she says. “The diverse and welcoming environment of the FSU campus just won me over.”
At first, being more than 5,000 miles away from home had its challenges. She was older than most students and from a different culture. Soon enough, however, she settled in – thanks to the great people she was surrounded by. “The exchange of experiences is quite enriching when you find people willing to teach, to learn, and above all, to respect differences,” she says.
Lucky for Guimaraes – she’s never alone in the FSU journey. From Ireland and Turkey to the Philippines, the LLM’s community is global. Although everyone came from unique backgrounds, they were committed to mastering the US legal system.
LLM students take two core classes: “Introduction to American Law” and “Legal Writing.” Then, they have the option to tailor their electives to their individual needs. Certain students would prefer a broad overview of the US legal system, while others choose to specialise in a particular field, whether in business, intellectual, or criminal law. With FSU’s close connections to legal professionals in Tallahassee, courses keep pace with industry needs.
“The in-class experience, with techniques like the Socratic method, can be new for many of our foreign students, as can things like the legal writing process,” says David Landau, Mason Ladd Professor and Associate Dean for International Programs. “We work to acclimate students to these differences through a series of events and workshops as they begin their studies, starting with a one-week orientation programme in August.”
Many LLM in American Law for Foreign Lawyers students progress to the Juris Doctor programme. Source: Florida State University
Building a global career in Tallahassee
When studying law in Tallahassee, the real world is simply across the road. The Career Services and Development Office helps FSU College of Law students leverage these opportunities to build practical know-how and a global career.
The team hosts major events throughout the year where students network with public defenders, state attorneys, members of the Federal Bench. “We also have an excellent programme and curriculum for bar exam support, for those LLM students who are interested and able to take the New York bar, or another US bar exam,” says Landau.
The results speak for themselves. The FSU College of Law was ranked #6 in the nation for employment prospects. In 2023, it held the #1 spot in Florida when it comes to the percentage of students employed in full-time roles 10 months after graduation. According to LSD.Law, 83% of FSU graduates pass the bar examination on the first try, with 57.4% of them heading straight to work in law firms after graduating.
For Guimaraes, her FSU journey isn’t over yet. “One of my main goals in earning LLM and JD degrees is the qualification to take the bar exam in Florida,” she says. “And to be able to apply the gained knowledge and experiences into making meaningful contributions to the exercise of my profession.”
Check out the LLM Programmes at the Florida State University College of Law today.
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