Academics
In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M., S.J.D., and LL.M. concentrations are available in international legal studies, taxation, securities and financial regulation, and individualized studies. Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 6 credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./Govt. (Juris Doctor/Doctor of Philosophy in Government), J.D./LL.M (Juris Doctor/Master of Laws in taxation), J.D./M.A.A.S. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in Arab studies), J.D./M.A.G.E.S. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in German and European studies), J.D./M.A.L.A.S (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts Latin American studies), J.D./M.A.R.E.E.S. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in Eurasian, Russian, and East European studies), J.D./M.A.S.S.P. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in Security Studies), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.P.H. (Juris Doctor/Master of Public Health), J.D./M.P.P. (Juris Doctor/Master in Public Policy), J.D./M.S.F.S. (Juris Doctor/Master of Science in foreign science), and J.D./Phil. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts or Doctor of Philosophy).
The Georgetown University Law Center offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, entertainment law, environmental law, family law, intellectual property law, international law, juvenile law, labor law, litigation, maritime law, securities law, tax law, torts and insurance, commercial law, constitutional law and government, and administrative law and government. In addition, the Law Center offers 13 in-house clinical courses with credits from 6 to 14 per semester. Clinics include appellate advocacy, criminal defense, and civil rights. More than 200 seminars are offered on such topics as environmental law, intellectual property law, and international law. Many students pursue externships with government agencies, judges, international law firms, non-governmental organizations, and corporate in-house legal departments. Supervised research projects may be undertaken for 2 credits under the guidance of a faculty member. Some courses involve field work. Several special lecture series held each academic year bring prominent legal scholars, judges, lawyers, and business executives to the Law Center. There is a 4-week study-abroad summer program in London, for up to 6 credits. The Law Center also offers several semester abroad programs in Argentina, China, England, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, and Singapore. The tutorial program is offered to all students, however it is primarily designed for first-year students. Each of the first-year sections is assigned an upper-class tutor who meets with students on a weekly basis. The Career Services Office offers a diversity clerkship program and other educational programs, which are also sponsored by minority student groups. The Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) assists graduates in public interest and government jobs with their law school loans. In addition, the Public Interest Law Scholars Program (PILS) provides scholarships and other assistance to 8 members of each entering class, and the student-run Equal Justice Foundation provides stipends to students accepting unpaid summer internships with nonprofit or government organizations. The most widely taken electives are Constitutional Law II, Corporations, and Evidence.
To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 85 total credits, of which 33 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 1.67 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Bargain, Exchange and Liability, Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law I, Contracts, Criminal Justice, Democracy and Coercion, Elective (1), Government Processes, Legal Justice Seminar, Legal Practice: Writing and Analysis, Legal Process and Society, Legal Research and Writing, Property, Property in Time, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of legal writing seminar or supervised research and writing project and Professional Responsibility. The required orientation program for first-year students is a 4-day program including a review of academic services and student activities, an introduction to first-year course work, a series of talks by the faculty on legal topics as well as faculty guided tours of historical and legal sites in Washington D.C., and an address by the University president and Law Center dean.
In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0, have completed the upper-division writing requirement, and Professional Responsibility course.