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./D.O. (Juris Doctor/Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.C.R.P. (Juris Doctor/Master of City and Regional Planning), J.D./M.D. (Juris Doctor/Doctor of Medicine), J.D./M.P.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration), J.D./M.P.A.P. (Juris Doctor/Master of Public Affairs and Politics), and J.D./M.S.W. (Juris Doctor/Master of Social Work).
The School of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, environmental law, family law, international law, labor law, litigation, tax law, health law, and public interest law. In addition, clinics include a Small Business Counseling Clinic and a Gender-Equity in Education Clinic, each worth 3 credits, and a Civil Practice Clinic. The Pro Bono/Public Interest program enables students to represent clients, under the supervision of attorneys, in domestic violence, immigration, and bankruptcy cases, and to conduct mediations in local courts. All students take at least 1 course each semester with a significant writing component to complete the advanced writing requirement. The school conducts an extensive externship program, worth 6 credits, for third-year students in good academic standing with members of the judiciary and various public agencies. Third-year students may take independent study for 1 to 2 credits in each of their last 2 semesters, under the supervision of a faculty member. The annual state Constitution Law Lecture and Corman Distinguished Lecture bring nationally known scholars and jurists to the law school. Students can attend other law schools’ study-abroad programs. No-credit tutorial programs are offered on an individual basis for students in need. Workshops on study techniques, test taking, and individual subject review are available for all students. An extensive Academic Success Program is also available. Programming for minority students is sponsored by student groups and supported by the administration and faculty. The most widely taken electives are Evidence, Commercial Law, and Business Organizations.
To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 84 total credits, of which 32 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 Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Research and Writing, Moot Court I, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of elective courses with writing components and Professional Responsibility. The required orientation program for first-year students is 2 days prior to the start of classes; there is a briefing on reading and analyzing cases, library usage, legal writing, professional responsibility, and general study techniques, as well as an introduction to computer usage and student organizations and social events.
In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0 and have completed the upper-division writing requirement.