Academics
In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M., S.J.D., and M.A. and Ph.D. in Jurisprudence and Social Policy (J.S.P.). Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of varies credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in Asian studies, jurisprudence, economics, international area studies, and economics), J.D./M.A.L.D. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in law and diplomacy), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.C.P. (Juris Doctor/Master of City and Regional Planning), J.D./M.J. (Juris Doctor/Master of Journalism), J.D./M.P.P. (Juris Doctor/Master of Public Policy), J.D./M.S.W. (Juris Doctor/Master of Social Work), and J.D./Ph.D. (Juris Doctor/Doctor of Philosophy in legal history, jurisprudence, economics, and history).
The School of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, environmental law, international law, law and technology, social justice/public interest, intellectual property, comparative legal studies, and law and economics. In addition, clinics, mostly open to second-and third-year students, include Death Penalty, International Human Rights Law, and Technology and Public Policy. Field work may be done at the East Bay Community Law Center and in the other clinics. Special lecture series are offered through various centers. Study abroad is available on a case-by-case basis. Special interest group programs include the Center for Social Justice and the Center for Law and Technology. The most widely taken electives are Evidence, Civil Procedures II, and Corporations.
To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 85 total credits, of which 32 are for required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure, Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Writing, Research, and Advocacy, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of Constitutional Law and Professional Responsibility. The required orientation program for first-year students consists of 2 days of basic material for new students including the curriculum and services in August, and 1 day in October for information regarding final exams, grading, and so on.
In order to graduate, candidates must have completed the upper-division writing requirement.