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 6 credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in applied economics) and J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration).
The Dedman School of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, environmental law, family law, international law, litigation, securities law, and tax law. In addition, Civil, Criminal, and Tax clinics may be taken by second- or third-year students who meet prerequisites. Seminars include such topics as Advanced Commercial Law, Antitrust, and Civil Rights. Directed Research is worth a maximum of 3 hours. Field work may be done through Directed Studies, and is worth 1 to 2 hours. A mandatory 30 hours of pro bono work is required for graduation. The special lecture series includes the Murrah Lecture and the Tate Lecture. A summer program at Oxford University is provided for students who wish to study abroad. The Academic Support Tutorial program is available by invitation only. The non-credit Student Mentoring program is available for all first-year law students. Minority programs include Minority Law Day, the Diversity Clerkship Program, Southeastern Minority Job Fair, Sunbelt Minority Job Fair, the Black/Hispanic/Asian Law Students Associations, and Multicultural Orientation. Special interest group programs include the Board of Advocates and law student groups.
To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 87 total credits, of which 37 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 I, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Legal Research, Writing, and Advocacy, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of a writing requirement, an edited writing seminar, Constitutional Law II, and Professional Responsibility. The required orientation program for first-year students consists of a 2-day introduction to the study of law.
In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0, have completed the upper-division writing requirement, and a 30-hour pro bono work requirement.