Academics
In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M. and S.J.D. Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 12 credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./LL.M. (Juris Doctor/Master of Laws in taxation), J.D./LL.M. (Juris Doctor/Master of Laws in transnational law), and J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/ Master of Business Administration).
The James E. Beasley School of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, environmental law, family law, international law, juvenile law, litigation, securities law, tax law, torts and insurance, trial advocacy, public interest law, technology law, intellectual property law, constitutional and civil rights law. In addition, extensive clinics worth 3 or 4 credits per semester, are offered to third and fourth year students in the areas of civil litigation, criminal litigation, transactional work and mediation. There is an extensive number of writing seminar courses, each of which is worth 3 credits per semester. All students are required to take 2 upper-level writing courses. Three writing seminars include Race & Ethnicity, Constitutional Law and Foreign Policy, and the Law of Electronic Commerce. Dean’s Invitational Forums, Honorable Clifford Scott Green Lecture, Herbert H. Kolsby Lecture, Friel-Scanlan lecture, Institute for International and Comparative Law lecture series, and numerous other lectures offered by faculty members and guests of the law school. Summer sessions, worth from 2 to 6 credits, are available in Rome, Italy; Athens, Greece; and Tel Aviv, Israel. A full semester abroad is offered in Tokyo, Japan; Beijing, China; and Cork, Ireland. All these sessions are open to students after their first year. Students also have the option of designing an individualized study abroad program at a law school throughout the world. Some faculty conduct guided research in a tutorial format, which is worth a maximum of 3 credits per semester. There is a faculty mentoring program for students who are having academic difficulty. Special interest group programs include the Public Interest Scholars Program, which provides a comprehensive plan of coursework, mentoring, and tuition support. The most widely taken electives are Evidence, Business Associations, and Taxation.
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 2.0 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure I, Constitutional Law, Contracts I and II, Criminal Law I, Legal Decision Making, Legal Writing and Research, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of 2 writing requirements and Professional Responsibility. The school offers, but does not require, participation in an extensive selection of clinical opportunities. The required orientation program for first-year students consists of a 5-day program that provides an overview of academic requirements, faculty regulations, university and law school services, financial aid, general placement information, and social activities.
In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0, have completed the upper-division writing requirement, and Professional Responsibility.