Academics
In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M. and M.S.L.A. Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 10 credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./G.S.I.S. (Juris Doctor/Graduate School International Studies), J.D./M.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in geography and judicial administration), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.I.M. (Juris Doctor/Master of International Management), J.D./M.S.L.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Science in Legal Administration), and J.D./M.T. (Juris Doctor/Master in Taxation).
The Sturm College of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, environmental law, international law, litigation, tax law, business and commercial law, natural resources, advocacy skills, transportation law, public interest law, and elder law. In addition, upper-level students receive 5 credit hours for a clinic. Clinic topics include public interest, civil, criminal, human rights, and mediation/arbitration. Seminars, offered to upper-level students, are worth 2 to 3 credit hours. Seminar topics include Criminal Justice, Advertising Regulations, and Appellate Advocacy. Internships, open to upper-level students for 3 credits, are available in the offices of prosecutors; public defenders; the attorney general; and judicial, legislative, corporate, immigration, and natural resources agencies. Directed research may be undertaken under a professor’s supervision. Research positions are open only to upper-level students for 2 to 3 credits. Externships are equal to 10 credits and are available to upper-level students. A study-abroad option is available. The no-credit Academic Achievement Program is a tutorial program offered to first-year students. The most widely taken electives are Basic Tax, Corporations, and Trusts and Estates.
To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 90 total credits, of which 44 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.3 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure, Contracts, Criminal Law, Lawyering Process, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of Administrative Law, Constitutional Law, Evidence, and Legal Profession and Legal Writing. The required orientation program for first-year students orients students to law school programs, facilities, organizations, and procedures and is 3 days long.
To graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.3 and have completed the upper-division writing requirement.