Academics
In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M. and LL.M. in international trade law; LL.M. in indigenous peoples’ ;aw and policy. 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 economics, American Indian studies, or women’s studies), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.P.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration), and J.D./Ph.D. (Juris Doctor/Doctor of Philosophy in psychology, philosophy, or economics).
The James E. Rogers College of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, environmental law, family law, international law, litigation, securities law, tax law, torts and insurance, Indian law, and human rights. In addition, clinics include a Domestic Violence Clinic, Child Advocacy Clinic, Indigenous Peoples Law Clinic, Immigration Law Clinics (3 to 5 units per credit) and Prosecution and Defense Clinics. These clinics are open to second- and third-year students who have completed Evidence and Ethics (Professional Responsibility). The college has a diverse set of offerings for its advanced research and writing seminars, ranging from the Warren Court to a death penalty seminar. Also offered is a rich variety of small seminars and colloquia. Internships may be taken with the state legislature, with the offices of U.S. senators and the White House Drug Policy Office, and with the Navajo, Tohono O’odham, and Pascua Yacqui tribal governments. Students may take up to 6 units of independent study with faculty supervision. Students may hear special lectures through the Isaac Marks Memorial Lectures, Rosentiel Scholar-in-Residence Program, McCormick Society lectures, and the Jeanne Kiewit Taylor Visiting Faculty Program. Chief Justice William Rehnquist teaches the history of the U.S. Supreme Court each January. Study abroad is possible in Puerto Rico at the University of Puerto Rico Law School. The College accepts credit for participation in ABA- approved international programs sponsored by other schools. All first-year students may participate in tutorial programs. Special scholarship efforts, mentoring, tutorial assistance, and a weeklong “Bridge Program” are offered to all students. The most widely taken electives are Federal Income Tax, Corporations, and Employment Law.
To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 85 total credits, of which 39 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 Procedure, Legal Analysis, Writing and Research, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of an advanced writing seminar, Evidence, and Professional Responsibility. Many clinical and trial advocacy opportunities are available, but none are required. The required orientation program for first-year students is 3 days and encompasses academic and cultural aspects of the law school experience; 3 follow-up sessions during the first semester of school are held on ethics, stress, exam taking and various other matters.
In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0, have completed the upper-division writing requirement, and write a paper of “publishable quality” to fulfill the upper-division writing requirement.