Academics
In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the Foreign Trained Lawyers Certificate Program. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in law and in political science), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.S. (Juris Doctor/Master of Science in library and information science), and J.D./M.U.P. (Juris Doctor/Master of Urban Planning).
Students must take 55 credits in their area of concentration. The Brooklyn Law School offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, entertainment law, family law, intellectual property law, international law, juvenile law, litigation, media law, securities law, sports law, tax law, torts and insurance, international business, public interest, and human rights. Any student who has completed the first year of study may take clinics in bankruptcy, community development, and criminal practice. Seminars range from 1 to 2 credits. All students who have completed their first year of study may enroll in internships with judges, criminal justice agencies, and a wide range of organizations in areas such as environmental law, children’s rights, business regulation, and intellectual property. Up to 3 credits may be earned by any upper-level student who, under the supervision of a faculty member, researches and writes a paper of publishable quality. The Media and Society Lecture Series brings new members from around the country to address current issues involving the media. The Abraham L. Pomerantz lectures focus on corporate or securities law topics and related professional responsibility issues. Summer study sponsored by the Law School in Bologna, Italy and Beijing, China is available. There is an exchange program with Buceris University in Hamburg, Germany. Upper-level students may also pursue study abroad through other law schools if they demonstrate, in writing, special need and obtain the written approval of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. First-year students may take advantage of year-long support services offered through the Academic Success Program. A summer Legal Process course and various tutorial programs specifically target affirmative action students. Special interest groups include the Edward V. Sparer Public Interest Fellowship Program; the Center for the Study of International Business Law Fellowship Program; the Center for Law, Language, and Cognition; Center for Health, Science, and Public Policy; and the International Human Rights Fellowship. The most widely taken electives are Corporations, Evidence, and Criminal Procedure.
To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 86 total credits, of which 31 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 Process, Legal Writing, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of an upper-class writing requirement and Legal Profession. The required orientation program for first-year students is held a week before classes begin where students receive faculty and student advisers, start the Introduction to the Study of Law course and the First-Year Legal Writing Program, and participate in workshops.
In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.3, have completed the upper-division writing requirement, and pass the Legal Profession course.