Academics
In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M. and certificates in Intellectual Property, Taxation, and Health Law. Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 10 hours credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.A. (Juris Doctor/Master in International Studies), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.S. (Juris Doctor/Master in Public Service Management), and J.D./M.S. or J.D./M.A. (Juris Doctor/Master in Computer Science).
The College of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, entertainment law, family law, intellectual property law, international law, juvenile law, litigation, media law, sports law, tax law, torts and insurance, health law, information technology, arts and museum law, international human rights law, and public interest law. In addition, upper-level students may enroll in the following clinics: Technology and Intellectual Property Clinic, Criminal Appeals, Death Penalty, Immigration and Asylum Law, and Family and Child Law. Each clinic is worth 3 hours of credit. Seminars are 3-credit hour courses taken during the last year of legal studies. The school also offers numerous internships. Students work with a government agency (such as the State Attorney’s Office, the Public Defender’s Office, or the judiciary) or other organizations. Students may undertake an independent study project in which they develop an in-depth, publishable research paper under the guidance of a professor. Courses with field work are offered in Commercial Law, Criminal Justice, Environmental Law, Family Law, Judicial, Intellectual Property, Labor Law, Tax Law, Health Law, International Human Rights, and Mediation, as well as a legal clinic. An annual Visiting Scholar program is offered. Students may study abroad in an exchange program in conjunction with University College in Dublin, Ireland, as well as study abroad in Beijing, China, Chiapas, Mexico, and San Jose, Costa Rica. An extensive Academic Support Program under the supervision of 2 full-time education specialists is offered. A wide-range of services and activities for students-of-color are provided by DePaul’s Black, Latino, and Asian student associations. An Assistant Dean of Multicultural Affairs is on the staff of the Law School. Special interest programs include the Women’s Law Caucus, Public Interest Law Association, Human Rights Bar Association, Environmental law society, Labor Law Society, International Law Society, and Gay and Lesbian Society. The College also sponsors the following institutes: Health Law Institute; Center for Intellectual Property and Information Technology; Schiller, DuCanto & Fleck Family Law Center; International Human Rights Law Institute; Center for Justice in Capital Cases; International Aviation law Institute; and the Center for Law and Science. The most widely taken electives are Litigation Strategies, Alternate Dispute Resolution, and Corporate Law.
To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 86 total credits, of which 46 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Process I and II, Criminal Law, Legal Analysis, Research and Communication I and II, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of Criminal Procedure, Legal Analysis, Research and Communication, Legal Profession, and Senior Seminar with a research paper. A professional skills course is required, which includes clinical courses. The required orientation program for first-year students is a 2-day program for full-time students and a 2-night program for part-time students.
In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0, have completed the upper-division writing requirement, and a required seminar.