We require that new students come to Miami Law with either an Apple or a Windows laptop. There are many factors that will determine which laptop is best for you:
- Whether you will be working with large media files
- If weight is a factor for you
- If you have a preference for a larger screen or keyboard
Below are two minimum configurations. One is for a standard day-to-day laptop that should meet the needs of most people. The other is the minimum configuration for a laptop if you will be working with larger media files.
Many of the Miami Law exams have the option to use a laptop during the exam. If you want to take advantage of this during your time here, please make sure to first check the requirements for Exam4 prior to purchasing a laptop. The requirements are found on the Exam4 minimum system requirements page.
Currently, a portion of the Florida Bar Exam is administered via ExamSoft’s Examplify. You may want to check their requirements before purchasing a laptop, especially if you plan to sit for the bar exam after you graduate from Miami Law. The requirements are found on the Examplify minimum system requirements page.
Please note that both exam-taking software (Exam4 and ExamSoft) do not support new Windows and MacOS upgrade versions upon release. Please turn off auto-update and do not update your operating system until announced on Exam 4 and ExamSoft’s site for Minimum System Requirements.
Starting in July 2028, most bar exams will be administered digitally. Additional information on the technical requirements will be provided following registration for the bar exam by the NCBE and/or the specific jurisdiction.
We do not support iPads, Chromebooks, Androids, or Linux devices for your work or for your exam-taking.
Minimum configuration for a standard laptop
- Operating System: MacOS 14.x.x or higher (Sonoma, Sequoia, and Tahoe) or Windows 11 (versions 21H2, 22H2, 23H2, 24H2, 25H2)
- Processor: Intel i5, or i7 processor, or equivalent. ARM processors are not supported (i.e., Snapdragon)
- Memory: 16 GB or more
- Hard Disk Storage: 500 GB or more
- Display: 13-inch or larger
- Additional Hardware: USB port, web camera, and microphone
- Additional Software: Microsoft Office 365 is available to students for free through the University of Miami Software site. For a full listing of software, please visit the University of Miami Software page.
Minimum configuration for a laptop that can process larger media files
- Operating System: MacOS 14.x.x or higher (Sonoma, Sequoia, and Tahoe) or Windows 11 (versions 21H2, 22H2, 23H2, 24H2, 25H2)
- Processor: Intel i7 processor or equivalent. ARM processors are not supported (i.e., Snapdragon)
- Memory: 32 GB or more
- Hard Disk Storage: 1000 GB (1TB) or more
- Display: 13-inch or higher (1920x1080 resolution or larger)
- Additional Hardware: External mouse, USB port, web camera, and microphone
- Additional Software: Microsoft Office 365 is available to students for free through the University of Miami Software site. For a full listing of software, please visit the University of Miami Software page.
Students who need help with installing software, configuring their internet connection, or connecting to the University of Miami’s printing system can get free assistance from the Student Technology Help Desk.
How to determine what OS version you are running
