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College of Law

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. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in international relations), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.P.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration), J.D./M.S. (Juris Doctor/Master of Science in communications, environmental) – law, engineering, computer science, accounting, and education) and J.D./M.S. or Ph.D. (Juris Doctor/Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy in environmental studies).

Students must take 15 to 20 credits in their area of concentration. The College of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, environmental law, family law, intellectual property law, international law, labor law, litigation, tax law, technology commercialization law, law and economics, national security and counterterrorism, Indigenous law, and disability law. In addition, second- and third-year students may take clinics for 12 credits in Community Development Law, Disabilities Rights, Children’s Rights and Family Law, and 6 credits in the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, the Securities Arbitration/Consumer Law Clinic, and the Elder Law Clinic. Second- and third-year students may also earn 1 to 2 credits per semester for seminars. A study-abroad summer program is available in London. Tutorial programs are offered to first-year students. Minority programs include the Legal Education Opportunity Program.

To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 87 total credits, of which 40 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.2 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law I, Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Communication and Research, Legislation and Policy, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of a writing requirement, Constitutional Law II, Professional Responsibility, and Third-semester research and writing course. The required orientation program for first-year students is a 5-day program that includes academic sessions, book discussions, alumni and students panels, professionalism programs, and social activities.

In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.2 and have completed the upper-division writing requirement.

Admissions

In the fall 2007 first-year class, 2069 applied and 223 enrolled. The median LSAT percentile of the most recent first-year class was 60; the median GPA was 3.29 on a scale of 4.0.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and take the LSAT. The most important admission factors include GPA, LSAT results, and academic achievement. No specific undergraduate courses are required. Candidates are not interviewed.

The application deadline for fall entry is April 1. Applicants should submit an application form, LSAT results, transcripts, a personal statement, a nonrefundable application fee of $70, 2 letters of recommendation, and a r

Financial Aid

About 80% of current law students receive some form of aid. Awards are based on need and merit. Required financial statements are the FAFSA, the College of Law application form, tax returns, and W2s. The aid application deadline for fall entry is February 15. Special funds for minority or disadvantaged students include need-based tuition grants. First-year students are notified about their financial aid application at time of acceptance.

Students

About 45% of the student body are women; 19%, minorities; 4%, African American; 10%, Asian American; 3%, Hispanic; 1%, Native American; and 4%, Foreign nationals. The average age of entering students is 24; age range is 21 to 47. About 7% of students have a graduate degree.

Law students edit the Syracuse Law Review, Journal of International Law and Commerce, The Labor Lawyer, The Law & Technology Journal, and The Digest. Annually, students compete in the Mackenzie Lewis Competition, Lionel O. Grossman Trial Competition, and Jessup Moot Court competition. Law student organizations include Black Law Students Association, Phi Alpha Delta, Asian-Pacific American Law Students Association, Law Student Senate, Syracuse Public Interest Network, and Latin American Law Students Association.

The law school operates on a traditional semester basis. Courses for full-time students are offered days only and must be completed within 4 <1/2> years. For part-time students, courses are offered days only and must be completed within 4 <1/2> years. New full- and part-time students are admitted in the fall. There is a 7-week summer session. Transferable summer courses are offered.

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