Academics
In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M. and master’s specialization in international law and comparitive law. Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 30 credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration).
Clinics in a wide range of areas are available to third-year students; 4 to 12 credits are offered for each clinic. Second and third-year students may take seminars for 3 credits. Internships are available to third-year students for 3 credits. Third-year students may also participate in research for 2 credits. All students may attend tutorials and special lectures for no credit. After the first year of study, students may undertake a study-abroad program. ABA-approved courses worth 2 credits each are offered at HUSL/University of Western Capetown, South Africa. The most widely taken electives are Federal Tax; Wills, Trusts, and Estates; and Administrative Law.
To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 88 total credits. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 72.0 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law I, Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Method, Legal Research and Writing, Property, and Torts I & II. Required upper-level courses consist of Constitutional Law II, Evidence, Legal Writing II, Legal Writing III, Professional Responsibility, and Skills. The required orientation program for first-year students is two weeks long, and includes an introduction to legal methods.
In order to graduate, candidates must have completed the upper-division writing requirement.