Raise the Bar

Experience law beyond the classroom at UCF Legal Studies, ranked No. 5 for Best Bachelor’s by Study.com (2021) and No. 9 for Best Affordable Degree Programs by University HQ (2021).

Community collaboration is at the core of your experience. From day one, you’ll connect with lawyers, paralegals, judges and legal professionals who serve as internship hosts, guest lecturers and competition judges. Located in downtown Orlando, just steps from the Orange County Courthouse, our program places you in the center of Orlando’s legal activity. Here, you’ll have the chance to join nationally ranked competition teams and gain experience through impactful internships.

Learning from former or active practitioners, including Emmy-winning documentarians and retired Air Force judges, you’ll join nearly 700 peers in an exciting community that empowers you to launch a career with meaning and impact — on campus or through UCF Online.

Competition Teams

Sharpen Your Skills in the Courtroom

Step into the on-campus courtroom and join UCF’s nationally ranked teams — Mock Trial, Moot Court, or Mediation — supported by faculty and local legal professionals who judge competitions and mentor students. UCF Students take on competitors from UVA, Yale, UT Dallas and more.

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Mock Trial

Simulate trials, acting as attorneys and witnesses before a “jury” of lawyers and judges. Argue unconventional homicide or civil cases from the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA), mastering presentation, evidence rules and quick thinking through fall-to-spring tournaments.

Faculty Advisor: Jason Fiesta

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Moot Court

Argue your legal case at a simulated U.S. Supreme Court hearing, debating constitutional issues like free speech and search and seizure with National Moot Court Association cases. Prepare written briefs and deliver oral arguments before a panel of judges who ask tough, on-the-spot questions. Competitions run into spring for nationals.

Faculty Advisor: Jason Fiesta

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Mediation

Open to all majors, students compete in groups of three with the InterNational Academy of Dispute Resolution (INADR), rotating as attorney, mediator, and client in civil disputes like negligence and family law. Build negotiation and advocacy skills in fall tournaments, and work your way up to the UCF Downtown-hosted tournament in spring.

Faculty Advisor: Christy Foley

Our on-campus courtroom’s modular design and integrated technology enhance team practice — a rare asset for undergraduate programs. “Winning isn’t the goal,” says Faculty Advisor Jason Fiesta, “preparation is. Success follows.”

Skills That Set You Apart

With coaching from experienced faculty and alumni, and feedback from real judges and attorneys, every competition serves as a high-impact learning opportunity for you to build your resume. Participation on the teams translates classroom legal lessons into action:

  • Hard Skills: Master evidence codes, dissect precedents, research facts and practice public speaking — skills boosted by optional classes like Evidence.
  • Soft Skills: Dedication, professionalism and adaptability grow through critique and collaboration with teammates and professionals.
  • Law School Prep: Alumni like two recent Harvard Law grads prove how these experiences mirror law school’s rigor — reading, arguing and writing case law.

Ready to compete? Follow @UCFMootCourt, @UCFMockTrial, or @UCFMediation on Instagram or email Faculty Advisor Jason Fiesta for Mock Trail and Moot Court or Christy Foley for the Mediation Team.

Chinyere Anunobi headshot

The Mediation team is a fun and phenomenal way to learn about the law, conflict resolution, and communication! I can't think of a career where you don’t need to interact with team members, supervisors, and others. Mediation competitions allow students to learn how to work with different people, nationally and worldwide, towards a common goal.

Chinyere Anunobi ’22, Legal Studies BA

No. 5

AMTA’s 2024 Open Round Championship Series

Top 16

National Moot Court Tournament

Placed in Semifinals at INADR Undergraduate Tournament

Internships

Real-World Experiences From Downtown to Your Hometown

Take classroom concepts learned in the classroom and apply them in real legal settings through internships. With 50+ host partners, from private law firms to city and county offices, Circuit Public Defenders, and State Attorney’s Offices, you’ll have the opportunity to work in a variety of legal settings that will help you discover your legal interests and strengths. Internships are both optional and flexible, with experiences that boost your resume and forge meaningful connections with local legal professionals.

Valentina Scibelli headshot

I am working at the Coye Law Firm for my internship. Some of the responsibilities include: completing intake with potential clients and summarizing matters for the attorney, assisting case managers with individual case work, and drafting and filing documents. I am most looking forward to experiencing firsthand the details of legal research, legal writing, and client interaction.

Valentina Scibelli, Junior, Legal Studies Major

What You’ll Do

Draft memos, research statutes, or assist lobbyists via the Legislative Scholars program in Tallahassee. One student’s internship with a top firm led to a full-time paralegal role — a testament to career impact. With partnerships across central Florida, internships cover a wide range of fields to match your career goals.

How We Support You

Our downtown location connects you to hundreds of law firms, and city and county offices within walking distance of campus.

To get started, email Internship Coordinator Abby Milon to enroll in a web course for credit and ensure eligibility. Whether you choose an established host or propose your own, we help you gain experiences that will set you apart from others.

Student Organizations

Connect and Grow

Student organizations are a great way to explore your interests, network with pros from the field, participate in community service and meet new people who share your passion for legal studies. Make the most of your time and explore organizations that speak to your goals.

Collage of students interacting and smilingPhi Alpha Delta
A professional law fraternity for students exploring or pursuing a legal career. Phi Alpha Delta connects you with a supportive network of peers, professors and legal professionals — all committed to the values of integrity, compassion, and courage.

As a member, you’ll gain access to mentorship, service opportunities and hands-on experiences that prepare you for law school and beyond. The fraternity offers the tools, connections, and community to help you thrive as you explore your future legal career.

Ready to get started? Contact Phi Alpha Delta on Knight Connect.

Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society
An international organization that promotes scholarship, integrity and ethical leadership in the legal profession. At UCF, Phi Delta Phi helps prepare high-achieving students for law school through academic support, networking and a strong commitment to professional values.

Founded in 1869, Phi Delta Phi is the oldest legal organization in continuous existence in the U.S., with a legacy that now spans across North America, Latin America, and Europe. Membership is a mark of excellence — recognizing students who are not only dedicated to legal study, but who also exemplify professionalism and character.

If you’re serious about law school and want to stand out with a respected academic and professional community, connect with Phi Delta Phi to get started.

National Black Law Student Association (NBLSA)
UCF’s NBLSA chapter is a nationally recognized pre-law organization dedicated to empowering future legal professionals and inspiring meaningful change in our communities and beyond.

We provide a supportive environment where students gain tools for success — from LSAT strategies and law school prep to resume building and professional development. Our events dive into real-world legal and social issues, and our workshops focus on everything from business etiquette to personal statement critiques.

Members connect with a powerful network of attorneys, judges, deans, law students, and legal professionals who share insight and open doors.

Let NBLSA help you grow with purpose and confidence.

Global Experiences

See the World. Understand the Issues. Shape Your Career.

Join immersive, hands-on learning that brings legal studies to life. Through study abroad opportunities in Mexico and alternative spring break programs at the U.S.–Mexico border, students engage directly with legal systems, cultures and communities.

Led by award-winning faculty member Irene Pons, these experiences offer firsthand insight into the legal complexities surrounding immigration and border policy — far beyond what you can learn in a textbook.

Both Study Abroad and Alternative Spring Break trips are designed to challenge your perspective, expand your knowledge and help you grow as a future legal professional.

Interested in an upcoming trip?
Email Irene Pons to learn more and get involved.

Collage of students posing in overseas destinations