Academics
In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M., S.J.D., and LL.M. with a certificate in management; LL.M. in Taxation; LL.M. in International Human Rights; 2-year J.D. for students with a foreign law degree. 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./D.E.S.S. (Juris Doctor with Science Po in Paris, France), J.D./LL.M. (Juris Doctor/Master of Laws in Taxation and International), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), and J.D./Ph.D. (Juris Doctor/Doctor of Philosophy).
The School of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, international law, litigation, dispute resolution, law and social policy, and academic career track. In addition, clinics are open to second- and third-year students. A sequence of simulation-based courses offered in the second year include Clinical Trial Advocacy and Pre-Trial Litigation, as well as case-based instruction. Students also take clinically based Evidence, which presents the principles of evidence in the context of simulated cases. Course credits vary between 3 to 4 hours. Students can represent clients through the Children and Family Justice Center, Small Business Opportunity Center, Center for International Human Rights, Center on Wrongful Conviction, Investor Protection Center, MacArthur Justice Center, and the Appellate Advocacy Program. Seminars are offered in legal history, civil rights litigation, race relations, and other areas. Through the Owen L. Coon/James L. Rahl Senior Research Program, a third-year student may earn up to 14 credits for advanced research under the personal supervision of 1 or more faculty members. Completion of this project fulfills the graduation writing requirement. Directed reading and research, supervised by faculty members, is available to second-year students. Practicum’s consist of a 10 to 12 hours per week field work component, and a weekly 2-hour seminar. Practicum’s are available in the areas of corporate counsel, judicial, mediation, public interest, and criminal law. Annually, the Rosenthal Lecture Series brings preeminent figures in law and related fields to the school. The Pope and John Lecture on Professionalism deals with ethics and professional responsibility. The Howard J. Trienens Visiting Judicial Scholar Program brings leading jurists to the school to lecture on legal issues and to meet informally with students. Study abroad opportunities include Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium; Free University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Tel Aviv University, Israel; Universidad Torcuato Di Tella in Argentina; Bond University, Australia; University of the Andes in Chile, Bucerius Law School in Germany, National University of Singapore, University of Lucerne in Switzerland, and Instituto de Empresa in Spain. Tutorial programs are offered through the Dean of Students on an individual basis. The Director of Diversity Education and Outreach provides academic admission, placement counseling, and other supportive services. The most widely taken electives are Evidence, Business Association, and Estates and Trusts.
To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 86 total credits, of which 29 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.25 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure, Communication and Legal Reasoning, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of a senior research project and Legal Ethics. The required orientation program for first-year students is 1 week before classes begin. First-year students register and receive class assignments, meet with their faculty advisers, tour the school, and attend team building and diversity workshops as well as social functions.
In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.25, have completed the upper-division writing requirement, and Professional Skills and Perspective electives.