Check out more of Miami Law’s areas of study
“Oh, went to UM? Go Canes.”
That’s what recruiters in South Florida will say when they look at your resume, according to UNC alumna and University of Miami Law graduate Nicole Comparato.
For the Florida native and former editor-in-chief of The Daily Tar Heel, applying to Miami Law was an easy choice. It was close to home. It had that big city, small community vibe. And it’s also one of the best law schools in the nation.
“It’s actually one of the only few law schools I applied to because I was that confident that I wanted to be there,” Comparato said.
Miami is an axis of opportunity for future lawyers. The school is just steps from the federal and state courthouses, big-name firms and global companies.
“I knew that if I went there, I would have all the opportunities to intern during the school year and go to networking events and really meet prominent people in the Miami community,” Comparato said. “They’re laying the foundation for your future.”
In addition to the myriad of opportunities Miami Law provides – internships, externships, networking events and more – Comparato said she would be remiss if she didn’t mention the warm weather and proximity to the beach, the Keys and the greater Miami-Dade area.
Comparato now works as a commercial litigator at Weil, Gotshal and Manges – one of the biggest and best law firms in the nation. As a second-year attorney, Comparato helped lead the trial team to an $8 million win – and she credits the Miami Law Litigation Skills Program specifically for preparing her.
The Litigation Skills Program is a comprehensive, semester-long class that mimics a courtroom, complete with a real sitting judge and jury. Students learn everything from interviewing clients, deposition and discovery to objections, cross examinations and closing arguments.
“I felt more prepared at trial because I had already been in front of a jury, I’d already objected to opposing counsel’s questioning in front of a real judge,” Comparato said. “It was a great experience.”
Miami Law isn’t just for students who want to focus in litigation; it offers almost every major area of study, including environmental law, family law, human rights law, public interest law and more.
And whichever field you’re drawn toward, Tar Heels fit in at Miami Law. Comparato, who graduated from UNC in 2014 with a double major in broadcast journalism and political science, said her time at UNC prepared her immensely for the demands of attending a top law school, such as Miami Law.
“Being a lawyer is all about writing in simple form and getting to the point quickly,” she said. “I feel that through both my journalism and political science classes I learned how to write effectively.”
Although it’s been a few years since Comparato was in law school, she urges students who have even the slightest interest in law to look into Miami Law.
“I think it’s important to go somewhere where you know you’ll be valued as a member of the community and not just another face in the crowd,” she said. “And Miami is truly that place.”
