JURIS DOCTOR (JD)
The Juris Doctor (JD) is a three-year program that provides students a solid intellectual foundation on which to build their legal education. First-year students will cover core principles and concepts, theory, and skills of legal practice and providing a through grounding in fundamental legal reasoning and analysis. Second and third-year students will present the opportunity to focus studies on areas of particular interest through advanced classes, clinics, and writing projects.
JD DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The College of Law offers only a full-time legal education program. Students are expected to complete the requirements for a JD degree within 3 years (no fewer than 5 semesters [fall and spring] of the regular academic year. Students wishing to graduate in 5 semesters should consult with the dean of students prior to making a decision). Failure to complete the requirements for the JD degree within four (4) years shall require submitting a Petition for Readmission to the College of Law Readmission Committee. In no event shall the JD degree be completed later than 84 months (seven years) after a student has commenced law study at the College of Law or a law school from which the College of Law has accepted transfer credit.
The following is a list of College of Law requirements, in addition to the requirements of ABA, for candidates seeking a JD degree:
- Total Credit Hour Requirements - 88 credits
- Minimum Required GPA - 2.5 GPA
- First-Year Required Courses: 31 credits (unless you are part of graduating Class of 2022, then 30 credits)
- Upper-Level Requirements: 57 credits (unless you are part of graduating Class of 2022, then 58 credits)
FIRST-YEAR COURSE REQUIREMENTS
The law school registers students for all first-year courses. First-year students may not register for upper-division classes.
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- LAW 6000 - Introduction to Law
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- First-year law students begin fall classes one week prior to the beginning of the regular fall semester with an Orientation and Introduction to Law Week. Orientation provides incoming students with basic information on how the law school functions and includes mandatory sessions on setting up computer accounts, exam policies, academic discipline policies, and financial aid. Introduction to Law, taught by the law school faculty, is a pass/fail course which is required for graduation. Introduction to Law acquaints first-year students with methods of legal study and provides them with a preview of the coming year. The week is rounded out with social events sponsored by the law school and student organizations.
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- LAW 6040 - Civil Procedure
- LAW 6060 - Constitutional Law I
- LAW 6080 - Contracts
- LAW 6100 - Criminal Law
- LAW 6120 - Property
- LAW 6140 - Torts
- LAW 6180 - Legal Methods (Fall & Spring)
- LAW 6190 - Legal Research
- LAW 6000 - Introduction to Law
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SECOND & THIRD YEAR REQUIREMENTS
The following courses are required for graduation and MUST be taken in the second or third year:
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- LAW 7410 - Constitutional Law II
- LAW 7900 - Legal Profession
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- Seminar Writing Requirement - Need a B or better.
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- LAW 7800 OR
- LAW 7971 (if approved by Associate Dean for Academic Affairs) OR
- Seminar papers written outside of a seminar course only satisfy the Seminar Writing Requirement when the supervising faculty member certifies to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs that the student’s seminar paper meets all the requirements included in this section. The Seminar Writing Requirement is not satisfied with a paper written for publication in the Utah Law Review or other journals, briefs or other materials prepared for competitions, or work product produced in clinics, externships, or internships.
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- Portfolio Requirement - Minimum of 3 (some courses meet 2 portfolio req).
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Students must have, at the time of graduation, a portfolio of written materials produced during the second and third years of law school for which the student receives academic credit. This requirement must be satisfied by completing three items from one or more of the following categories: (a) A law journal comment or note that is accepted for credit; (b) A significant transactional document, such as a business planning document, a contract, a financing instrument, a securities disclosure, a will, or a similar written product; (c) A significant proposed legislative bill or agency regulation based on underlying research; (d) A significant litigation document, such as a complaint, summary judgment motion and supporting memorandum, a motion to compel or resist discovery and supporting memorandum, a motion in limine on an evidence issue, a trial brief, proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, or similar written work product; (e) A brief or extensive legal analysis completed for a competition; (f) Legal writing for a clinic or externships determined by the full-time faculty member overseeing the externship or by the Clinical Programs Director to be substantial work product; (g) A significant research paper that is not used to satisfy the Seminar Writing Requirement; (h) A paper written for a class in lieu of an exam; or (i) Other significant papers as may be approved by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.
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Instructors may designate a course as satisfying one or more portfolio requirements. Students who successfully complete a designated portfolio class are not required to submit any additional proof of completion. Instructors may also certify that a student has successfully fulfilled a portion of the Portfolio Writing Requirement in a course that had not yet been designated a portfolio class. This certification must be submitted to the Registrar and to the Association Dean for Academic Affairs.
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- Experiential Requirement - Minimum of 6 credit hours.
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Students must earn at least six credits in courses approved as “experiential.” These generally include clinics, externships, and labs.
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- The remainder of the credits hours for graduation are course electives.
- Portfolio Requirement - Minimum of 3 (some courses meet 2 portfolio req).
MINIMUM CREDIT HOUR RULES
- Full-Time Status: A student must be enrolled for no less than 9 credit hours during each semester of the regular academic year to be considered a full-time student. (Full-time status for financial aid purposes may require additional credit hours.) Enrollment for less than 9 credit hours during the regular academic year requires approval from the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs.
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- It is recommended that students take at least 15 credit hours each semester in order to reach the 88 credit hour requirement for graduation.
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- Directed Faculty Instruction: A student must complete 64 credit hours in courses that require attendance in regularly scheduled sessions or direct faculty instruction (including directed research, in-house clinics, and asynchronous online courses). These 64 credit hours cannot include externships, teaching assistantships, competitions, publications, and/or graduate course credit earned outside the law school.
MAXIMUM CREDIT HOUR RULES
- Externship: A student may earn a maximum of 14 credit hours in the repeatable Externship course.
- Other Academic Credit: A student may earn a maximum of 12 credits hours for ungraded teaching assistantships, competitions, and/ or student publications.
- Directed Research & Directed Studies: A student may earn a maximum of 6 credit hours for Directed Research/Studies. No more than 3 credit hours of LAW 7971 (Track 1 Directed Research) or 2 credit hours of LAW 7972 (Track 2 Directed Studies) in any semester. No more than 3 credit hours per semester in any combination of Directed Research and Directed Studies.
- Maximum Per Semester Credits: A student may not be enrolled for more than 18 credit hours during any semester.
- Non-Law Graduate Courses: A student may earn no more than 6 credit hours graduate-level, nonlaw school coursework, as approved by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.
- Ungraded Courses: A student may earn no more than 18 credit hours of ungraded credit (pass/fail ) in residence. Students may select ONE class as CR/NC (may not elect Constitutional Law II, Legal Profession, seminar, or course needed for certificate). This does not include transferred credit allowed for graded non-law school courses or graded courses taken at another law school.
CERTIFICATES IN SPECIALIZED STUDY
Juris Doctor students who have demonstrated a specialized proficiency in business law may receive a certificate in business law in addition to their Juris Doctor degree.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Students must complete all certificate requirements with at least a B overall average (3.0 GPA). Additionally, no grade may be lower than a B- in courses taken to satisfy the certificate.
- A student may NOT exercise a CR/NC option in a course that counts toward the certificate.
- Students must complete a total of 17 credit hours that must include:
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- LAW 7050 -Business Organizations (4 cr)
- LAW 7060 -Commercial Law (4 cr)
- LAW 7070 -Federal Income Tax (3 cr)
- LAW 7571 -Contract Drafting (3 cr) - OR - LAW 7573 - Real Estate Drafting (2 cr)
- Seminar Paper Requirement (3 cr)
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- Completion of LAW 7800 - OR - LAW 7971 with a paper that satisfies the Seminar Paper Requirement with a business law, estate planning, or tax law focus (must have Associate Dean for Academic Affairs approval).
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- Elective courses can be chosen from the following list:
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Due to the evolving nature of the law school curriculum, new courses or seminars may count toward the certificate course requirements. Inquiries about whether a particular course qualifies should be directed to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who will consult with the relevant faculty members as necessary. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs also has the authority to remove courses from the above list of electives if they are no longer offered.
Juris Doctor students who have demonstrated a specialized proficiency in criminal law may receive a Certificate in Criminal Law in addition to their Juris Doctor degree.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Students must complete all certificate requirements with at least a B overall average (3.0 GPA). Additionally, no grade may be lower than a B- in courses taken to satisfy the certificate.
- A student may NOT exercise a CR/NC option in a course that counts toward the certificate.
- Students must complete a total of 17 credit hours that must include:
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- LAW 7030 - Criminal Procedure (3 cr)
- LAW 7040 - Evidence (4 cr)
- Seminar Paper Requirement (3 cr)
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- Completion of LAW 7800 - OR - LAW 7971 with a paper that satisfies the Seminar Paper Requirement with a criminal law focus (must have Associate Dean for Academic Affairs approval).
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- * LAW 7990 - Criminal Process (year-long course, 3 cr; 2F, 1S) AND LAW 7925 - Externship. These are to be taken concurrently.
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- Criminal Process has prerequisites: LAW 7040 - Evidence AND LAW 7072 - Trial Advocacy.
- *Exception: For good cause shown, such as when a student does not intend to pursue a career as a prosecutor or defender, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs may waive this requirement or allow a substitute externship placement.
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- Elective courses can be chosen from the following list:
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Due to the evolving nature of the law school curriculum, new courses or seminars may count toward the certificate course requirements. Inquiries about whether a particular course qualifies should be directed to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who will consult with the relevant faculty members as necessary. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs also has the authority to remove courses from the above list of electives if they are no longer offered.
Juris Doctor students who have demonstrated a specialized proficiency in environmental or natural resources law may receive a certificate in environmental and natural resources law in addition to their Juris Doctor degree.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Students must complete all certificate requirements with at least a B overall average (3.0 GPA). Additionally, no grade may be lower than a B- in courses taken to satisfy the certificate.
- A student may NOT exercise a CR/NC option in a course that counts toward the certificate.
- Students must complete a total of 17 credit hours that must include:
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- LAW 7300 - Administrative Law (3 cr)
- LAW 7240 - Environmental Law (3 cr) - OR - LAW 7200 - Natural Resources Law (3 cr)
- Seminar Paper Requirement (3 cr)
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- Completion of LAW 7800 - OR - LAW 7971 with a paper that satisfies the Seminar Paper Requirement with an environmental or natural resources law focus (must have Associate Dean for Academic Affairs approval).
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- Elective courses can be chosen from the following list:
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Due to the evolving nature of the law school curriculum, new courses or seminars may count toward the certificate course requirements. Inquiries about whether a particular course qualifies should be directed to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who will consult with the relevant faculty members as necessary. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs also has the authority to remove courses from the above list of electives if they are no longer offered.
Juris Doctor students who have demonstrated a specialized proficiency in intellectual property law may receive a certificate in intellectual property in addition to their Juris Doctor degree.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Students must complete all certificate requirements with at least a B overall average (3.0 GPA). Additionally, no grade may be lower than a B- in courses taken to satisfy the certificate.
- A student may NOT exercise a CR/NC option in a course that counts toward the certificate.
- Students must complete a total of 17 credit hours that must include:
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- LAW 7760 - Patent Law (3 cr)
- LAW 7876 - Copyright Law (3 cr)
- LAW 7890 - Trademark & Unfair Comp. (2 cr)
- Seminar Paper Requirement (3 cr)
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- Completion of LAW 7800 - OR - LAW 7971 with a paper that satisfies the Seminar Paper Requirement with an intellectual property law focus (must have Associate Dean for Academic Affairs approval).
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- Elective courses can be chosen from the following list:
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Due to the evolving nature of the law school curriculum, new courses or seminars may count toward the certificate course requirements. Inquiries about whether a particular course qualifies should be directed to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who will consult with the relevant faculty members as necessary. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs also has the authority to remove courses from the above list of electives if they are no longer offered.
Juris Doctor students who have demonstrated a specialized proficiency in international law may receive a certificate in international law in addition to their Juris Doctor degree.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Students must complete all certificate requirements with at least a B overall average (3.0 GPA). Additionally, no grade may be lower than a B- in courses taken to satisfy the certificate.
- A student may NOT exercise a CR/NC option in a course that counts toward the certificate.
- Students must complete a total of 17 credit hours that must include:
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- LAW 7270 -International Law (3 cr)
- Seminar Paper Requirement (3 cr)
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- Completion of LAW 7800 - OR - LAW 7971 with a paper that satisfies the Seminar Paper Requirement with an international law focus (must have Associate Dean for Academic Affairs approval).
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- Elective courses can be chosen from the following list:
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Due to the evolving nature of the law school curriculum, new courses or seminars may count toward the certificate course requirements. Inquiries about whether a particular course qualifies should be directed to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who will consult with the relevant faculty members as necessary. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs also has the authority to remove courses from the above list of electives if they are no longer offered.
Juris Doctor students who have demonstrated a specialized proficiency in litigation and dispute resolution may receive a certificate in litigation and dispute resolution in addition to their Juris Doctor degree.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Students must complete all certificate requirements with at least a B overall average (3.0 GPA). Additionally, no grade may be lower than a B- in courses taken to satisfy the certificate.
- A student may NOT exercise a CR/NC option in a course that counts toward the certificate.
- Students must complete a total of 17 credit hours that must include:
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- LAW 7040 - Evidence (4 cr)
- LAW 7076 - Pre-trial Practice (3 cr) - OR - LAW 7031 - Criminal Pro: Adjudication (3 cr) - OR - LAW 7010 - Mediation/Advanced Negotiation (3 cr)
- Externship - OR - Clinical Placement
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- Completion of three (3) credit hours and placement must be with a litigation or dispute resolution focus.
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- Seminar Paper Requirement (3 cr)
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- Completion of LAW 7800 - OR - LAW 7971 with a paper that satisfies the Seminar Paper Requirement with a litigation or dispute resolution focus (must have Associate Dean for Academic Affairs approval).
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- Elective courses can be chosen from the following list:
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Due to the evolving nature of the law school curriculum, new courses or seminars may count toward the certificate course requirements; inquiries about whether a particular course qualifies should be directed to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who will consult with the relevant faculty members as necessary. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs also has the authority to remove courses from the above list of electives if they are no longer offered.
Juris Doctor students who have demonstrated a specialized proficiency in advocating for traditionally underrepresented individuals, communities, and interests may receive a certificate in public interest law and policy in addition to their Juris Doctor degree.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Students must complete all certificate requirements with at least a B overall average (3.0 GPA). Additionally, no grade may be lower than a B- in courses taken to satisfy the certificate.
- A student may NOT exercise a CR/NC option in a course that counts toward the certificate.
- Students must complete a total of 17 credit hours that must include:
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- LAW 7300 - Administrative Law (3 cr) - OR - LAW 7020 - Legislative Process (2 cr) - OR - LAW 7886 - Statutory Interpretation (2 cr)
- Seminar Paper Requirement (3 cr)
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- Completion of LAW 7800 - OR - LAW 7971 with a paper that satisfies the Seminar Paper Requirement with a public interest law and policy focus* (must have Associate Dean for Academic Affairs approval).
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- Externship or Clinical Placement
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- Completion of three (3) credit hours of an arranged externship or clinical placement with a public interest law and policy focus.
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- Students must earn the Certificate of Service by completing at least 50 hours of pro bono activities under the auspices of the Pro Bono Initiative.
- Elective courses can be chosen from the following list:
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Due to the evolving nature of the law school curriculum, new courses or seminars may count toward the certificate course requirements. Inquiries about whether a particular course qualifies should be directed to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who will consult with the relevant faculty members as necessary. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs also has the authority to remove courses from the above list of electives if they are no longer offered.
DUAL DEGREES
- Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Juris Doctor/ Master of City and Metropolitan Planning (MCMP)
- Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration (MPA)
- Juris Doctor/Master of Public Policy (MPP)
- Juris Doctor/Master of Real Estate Development (MRED)
- Juris Doctor/Master of Social Work (MSW)
Services
Academic Advising Services:
- Degree Planning/Coursework Mapping
- Reviewing Degree Progress
- Graduation Degree Audits
- Registration Issues
- Connect Student to College of Law and University Opportunities/Resources