Curriculum Guidelines
First-Year Students
The following material is an overview of requirements and considerations for the first year of law school curriculum and for upper-level planning as well.
Full-Time Students: Required and Recommended Courses
In their first year, full-time students are required to take substantive courses that provide the essential building blocks for the study and practice of law. In addition, students will be given the opportunity to take an elective class in the spring of their first year.
| First Year: Fall Semester |
|---|
| Civil Procedure (4) |
| Property (4) |
| Torts (4) |
| Legal Writing (2) |
| First Year: Spring |
| Constitutional Law (4) |
| Contracts (4) |
| Criminal Law (3) |
| Legal Writing (2) |
| Perspectives Elective (2 or 3) |
| Second Year: Fall Semester |
| Advocacy (2) |
|
Second Year |
| Professional Responsibility (3) |
In the Fall Semester of their second year, full-time students are required to take Advocacy. Students also are required to complete Professional Responsibility before graduation, and are encouraged to do so as soon as practical after their first year. Finally, all students must complete two credits in a class or classes designated to be a "skills" class.
In addition, the faculty highly recommends that students enroll in the following core foundational courses as soon as practical in their law studies:
- Administrative Law (3)
- Business Organizations (4)
- Evidence (4)
- Federal Income Tax (3)
Part-Time Students: Required and Recommended Courses
Students enrolled in the part-time division have the same course requirements as full-time students, but take those courses over a more extended period of time.
| First Year: Fall Semester |
|---|
| Civil Procedure (4) |
| Torts (4) |
| Legal Writing (2) |
| First Year: Spring Semester |
| Contracts (4) |
| Criminal Law (3) |
| Legal Writing (2) |
| Second Year: Fall Semester |
| Property (4) |
| Advocacy (2) |
| Second Year: Spring Semester |
| Constitutional Law (4) |
| Third Year: Fall |
| Third Year |
| Professional Responsibility |
Part-time students must also complete Professional Responsibility before graduation, and are encouraged to do so as soon as practical after their first year. Finally, all students must complete two credits in a class or classes designated to be a "skills" class.
In addition, the faculty highly recommends that students enroll in the following core foundational courses as soon as practical in their law studies:
- Administrative Law (3)
- Business Organizations (4)
- Evidence (4)
- Federal Income Tax (3)
Upper-Class Students
Upper-class students are urged to exercise judgment and discretion in choosing their curriculum. A typical schedule for an upper-class full-time student is 12 to 16 hours per semester; for an upper-class part-time student, it is 8 to 12 hours per semester.
To view a curriculum planning guide, click the appropriate link below:
- Full-Time 2-L Students (PowerPoint)
- Part-Time 2-L Students (PowerPoint)
- Part-Time 2-L Students transferring to Full-Time (PowerPoint)
To view an upper-level curriculum planning guide, click the appropriate link below:
- Full-Time 3-L Students (PowerPoint)
- Part-Time 3-L and 4-L Students (PowerPoint)
Students are urged to familiarize themselves with the law school's Rules Regulations & Policies.
