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), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.D. (Juris Doctor/Doctor of Medicine), J.D./M.S. (Juris Doctor/Master of Science), and J.D./Ph.D. (Juris Doctor/Doctor of Philosophy). Numerous options are available and can be tailored to specific interests and needs.
The number of credits students must take in their area of concentration varies. The Fredric G. Levin College of Law offers concentrations in environmental law, family law, intellectual property law, international law, and estates and trust practice. In addition, clinics include Child Welfare Clinic for 9 credits, Criminal Clinic for 6 credits, Mediation Clinic for 6 credits, and Conservation Clinic for 3 credits. Seminars are available in a variety of legal topics for 2 credits and are open to students who have completed the first-year curriculum. Internships and a large number of for-credit externships are available to students who have completed the first-year curriculum. Independent study under the supervision of a faculty member is also available. Special lecture series include Environmental and Land Use Law and Graduate Tax. Students may study abroad at Leiden University (Netherlands), the University of Frankfurt (Germany), the University of Montpellier (France), University of Cape Town (South Africa), Universidad de Costa Rica, and Warsaw University (Poland). First-semester students participate in the Academic Success Program and may participate in a tutorial program. Academic Support workshops for all students at risk of being placed on academic probation are available. The College’s Office of Student Affairs offers programs, support, and services to minorities and diverse student groups. The most widely taken electives are Corporations, Evidence, and Estates and Trusts.
To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 88 total credits, of which 34 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: Appellate Advocacy, Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Research and Writing, Professional Responsibility, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of Advanced Seminar and Legal Drafting. The required orientation program for first-year students is a 2-day comprehensive orientation to the profession and College of Law.
To graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0 and have completed the upper-division writing requirement and a senior writing project seminar.