Academics
The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./L.E.D. (Juris Doctor/Bachelor of Laws (Mexico)), J.D./LL.B. (Juris Doctor/Bachelor of Laws (Canada)), and J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration).
The School of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, entertainment law, environmental law, family law, intellectual property law, international law, labor law, litigation, tax law, health law, and constitutional law. In addition, Several 4 credit clinical opportunities are available for students including Immigration Law Clinic, Mobile Law Office, Mediation Clinic, and others. A variety of 2 credit clinical externships is available to upper-class students. Students with a GPA of 2.5 may work under the supervision of faculty attorneys in preparing cases for local civil and criminal courts, federal district courts, non-profit legal agencies, and state and federal administrative courts. The clinic places students with such agencies as the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Attorney Grievance Commission, the American Civil Liberties Union, the City of Detroit Law Department, and local health care systems. Students may enroll to complete a research project of 1 to 2 credits. The law school holds an annual McElroy Lecture in Religion and Law and an Interfaith panel as well as frequent Dean’s debates. UDM offers its International Opportunities Program in which students receive a $1,000 loan. The loan is forgiven after the student successfully completes one of 20 approved programs and returns to UDM the following semester. There is an academic support program. Minority and disadvantaged students who do not meet the standards of those currently being admitted, but who have strong qualifications that indicate possible success in law school may be admitted to the Special Summer Program (SSP). Students who successfully complete the SSP may matriculate with the fall class. Through a consortium with 2 other law schools, students interested in intellectual property may choose from a wide array of intellectual property law electives. The most widely taken electives are Trial Practice, Estates and Trusts, and Criminal Procedure.
To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 90 total credits, of which 57 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: Applied Legal Theory and Analysis, Civil Procedure, Contracts, Core Concepts, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of 2 Law Firm Modules, Basic Federal Tax, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Evidence, Global Distribution Course, Professional Responsibility, and Upper-level Writing Requirement. All students must take clinical courses. The required orientation program for first-year students is a 3-day session that includes presentations by faculty and administrators, alumni panel discussions, and an overview of the first-year curriculum. After this week, the Dean holds a continuing orientation session about once a month.
In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0, have completed the upper-division writing requirement, and a senior seminar.