Academics
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./M.A.H. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in humanities), J.D./M.A.P.S. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in Political Science), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.Div. (Juris Doctor/Master of Divinity), and J.D./M.S.S.W. (Juris Doctor/Master of Science in social work).
The Louis D. Brandeis School of Law offers concentrations in corporate law and family law. In addition, there is a required pro bono program (minimum 30 hours of work). Externships in the courts and the P.D. and D.A. offices are available to those who have completed 60 credit hours. A wide variety of seminars is offered to second-, third-, and fourth-year students in specialized fields of law; 2 to 3 credit hours are awarded. Several internships, worth 2 to 4 hours, are available, including a judicial, civil, criminal, and technology internship. All students are required to complete Legal Research, a 3-hour basic legal skills course, and a seminar that requires a substantial research paper. Special lecture series include the Brandeis and Harlan Lecture Series. Students may earn credit for participation in foreign study in an ABA-accredited program. Students with adequate language abilities may be foreign exchange students with several law schools throughout the world. An academic support program is offered to provide tutorial assistance to students with academic problems. Tutors run study sessions in first-year courses. The school has several minority recruiting activities each year and a number of scholarships for minority students. A diversity committee presents programs to the student body on topics such as gay/lesbian issues and women in politics. The most widely taken electives are Secured Transactions and Negotiable Instruments, and Business Organizations.
To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 90 total credits, of which 44 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: Basic Legal Skills, Civil Procedure, Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Research, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of 24 hours of core courses, a perspective course, a writing requirement, Constitutional Law I and II, and Professional Responsibility. The required orientation program for first-year students is 2<1/2> days devoted to skills development and orientation to legal education and the profession. There is also time for social events.
In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0, have completed the upper-division writing requirement, and 30 hours of law-related public service at a placement approved by the school.