Benjamin L. Crump College of Law
Benjamin L. Crump College of Law is one of the graduate schools of St. Thomas University located in Miami Gardens, Florida. The College of Law was founded in 1984. According to its 2017 ABA-required disclosures, 54.7% of the Class of 2017 obtained full-time, long-term, bar-passage-required employment nine months after graduation, excluding solo practitioners.[4] The college was renamed after civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump in 2023.[5]
| Benjamin L. Crump College of Law | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1984 |
| School type | Private university |
| Parent endowment | $23.4 Million |
| Dean | John Makdisi (Interim)[1] |
| Location | Miami Gardens, Florida, US |
| Faculty | 31 full-time; 39 adjunct |
| USNWR ranking | 147th–193rd (bottom 25%) (2022)[2] |
| Bar pass rate | 50.8% (Florida bar exam, July 2021 first-time takers) [3] |
| Website | St. Thomas homepage |
Diversity
The U.S. News & World Report Diversity index places the law school in a tie for fourth place among all ABA-accredited law schools in its Diversity Index (2008 edition). St. Thomas is also first in the nation in conferring J.D. degrees upon Hispanic students, according to Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education Magazine (December 2006 Issue) and it was ranked as number one for Hispanic students by Hispanic Outlook magazine once again in its December 2015 edition. The former and current dean, Alfredo Garcia, serving from 2007 to 2010 and since July 2014 is the first Cuban-born dean of a U.S. law school. The Princeton Review ranks St. Thomas # 3 for the Best Environment for Minority Students (2009 edition). The diverse faculty is ranked # 9 in the country according to the Princeton Review. Current Dean is Interim Dean John Makdisi (2023).
Programs
Joint Degrees: The faculties of the law school and the graduate school offer five joint degree programs: the J.D./M.S. in Sports Administration, the J.D./M.B.A. in Sports Administration, the J.D./M.S. in Marriage and Family Counseling, J.D./M.B.A. in International Business, and the J.D./M.B.A. in Accounting.The school also has two LL.M graduate programs, one in cybersecurity and one in intercultural human rights.
Employment
According to St. Thomas' official 2018 ABA-required disclosures, 64.6% of the Class of 2017 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment nine months after graduation, excluding solo practitioners.[6] St. Thomas' Law School Transparency under-employment score is 27.6%, indicating the percentage of the Class of 2017 unemployed, pursuing an additional degree, or working in a non-professional, short-term, or part-time job nine months after graduation.[7]
Costs
The Law School Transparency estimated debt-financed cost of attendance for three years is $233,742.[8]
Publications
The law school has three publications:
- St. Thomas Law Review
- Journal of Complex Litigation
- Intercultural Human Rights Law Review
Notable alumni
- Jose Baez - defense attorney in the Casey Anthony trial
- Gaston Cantens - Vice President of Florida Crystals and former member of the Florida House of Representatives (1998-2004)
- Ana Navarro - Republican strategist and political commentator
- Juan-Carlos Planas - Former member of the Florida House of Representatives (2002-2010)
- Isaac Wright Jr. - defense attorney who secured his own release and exoneration
- Cord Byrd - Secretary of State of Florida
References
- "New Deans Appointed at St. Thomas University" (PDF).
- "U.S. News & World Report St. Thomas University".
- https://www.floridasupremecourt.org/content/download/788827/file/09-20-2021-FBBE-Full-Press-Release.pdf
- "EMPLOYMENT SUMMARY FOR 2017 GRADUATES" (PDF). Retrieved April 22, 2018.
- Sloan, Karen (2023-02-09). "In a U.S. rarity, law school adopts name of practicing Black attorney". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
- "Jobs". St. Thomas University.
- "Overview". St. Thomas University.
- "St. Thomas University - Florida Profile".