Full-Time JD

There's more to a legal education than mastering “black letter” law.

Loyola's Juris Doctor (JD) program combines the academic rigor you expect with the practical experience you'll need to rise above the competition. Working with our nationally-recognized faculty, you'll learn to effectively apply the law to real-world scenarios. As a Loyola graduate, you'll be prepared for practice from day one, ready to meet (and exceed) the demands of prospective clients and employers.

Our Commitment to You

Upon graduation with a JD degree from Loyola, you will possess the following knowledge, skills, and professional values necessary to commence the ethical practice of law:

You will be proficient in substantive and procedural law, including the influence of the administrative state, political institutions, and other academic disciplines.

You will be able to:

Utilize skills derived from participation in supervised live-client experiences, externships, or litigation and transactional practice simulations, such as interviewing, counseling, negotiation, mediation, fact development and analysis, problem solving, design thinking, trial practice, document drafting, and collaborative work
Determine your clients' needs and objectives
Determine relevant facts and understand their relevance to your client's legal position
Conduct legal research
Analyze and apply relevant legal principles
Find solutions to legal problems
Communicate legal concepts clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing

You will have a solid foundation that will prepare you to use your knowledge and skills to promote truth, justice, and the rule of law. You will be able to:

Integrate professional values
Exercise ethically responsible judgment in your legal practice and your work within the legal system
Understand the rules, ethics, and values of the legal profession, such as honesty, civility and work-ethic
Know the significance of a commitment to your clients and to the legal system
Understand the importance of using your knowledge and skills in the service to those less fortunate
and in need of legal assistance

By The Numbers

9

Number of Certificate Programs Available to Students

91.2%

of Loyola JD Graduates are Employed Within 10 Months of Graduation

7

Number of Student-run Journals

* For more information on employment data see our Consumer Information (ABA Required Disclosures)

Curriculum

In your first year at Loyola, you’ll work closely with our highly regarded faculty to learn the art of legal analysis and foundations of the American legal system. You're also eligible to choose an elective course of interest to you. If you decide to specialize, our programs offer everything you need.

Civil Procedure provides an introduction to and analysis of the concepts and doctrines that govern the procedure followed in civil litigation.

Property is the study of interests in land and personal property, emphasizing the modern law of donative transfers, estates and future interests, co-tenancy, conveyancing, and land title assurance.

Torts introduces the substantive law governing compensation for injuries to property and to the person, including negligence, malpractice, intentional wrongs, strict and products liability, and invasions of personal integrity.

Legal Writing I focuses on analyzing and applying legal authorities to particular fact situations. Through a series of legal memoranda writing assignments, students develop their analytical and writing skills.

Basic Legal Research is an introduction to the tools and sources of legal information you will need during your first year of law school and beyond.

Professional Identity Formation prepares students to be accomplished and ethical leaders in the legal profession and the larger community. Course objectives include recognition and elimination of personal bias and creating awareness of how diversity and inclusion of others is critical to professional development and success in the practice of law.

Constitutional Law is an introduction to the United States Constitution. Subjects include the role of the United States Supreme Court, federalism, and separation of powers.

Contracts provides an analysis of the formation, transfer, and termination of contract rights and duties, and the legal and equitable remedies available upon breach of contract.

Criminal Law utilizes primarily statutes to examine principles that apply to many crimes, explaining the elements of specific crimes, and explores theories of punishment.

Legal Writing II builds on the basic writing, analysis, and research skills learned in Legal Writing I and introduces persuasive writing skills.

Students can choose from an elective course that examines perspectives on the law and justice. Required in Spring semester of first year for full-time students.

Professional Responsibility focuses on ethical questions in the practice of law, and examines the basic premises underlying the lawyer-client relationship and the duties assumed by the members of the legal profession.

Experiential learning classes enable students to perform their legal knowledge, skills and values in a real or simulated practice setting with intense, ongoing law school supervision and assessment. Examples include live-client clinics, judicial or non-judicial externships, practica, or comprehensive simulations.

Business Organizations focuses on structure and mechanics, capitalization, distributions, organic changes, and duties and liabilities of directors, officers, and controlling shareholders. Principal emphasis is on the law as it applies to the organization and functioning of corporations. Required prior to graduation for all students that started their JD in Fall 2023 or later; highly recommended for students that started their JD before Fall 2023.

Evidence is an evaluation of the rules used to present information to a fact finder in a trial. The three primary units are the rules of relevancy, the rules governing witnesses, and the rule against hearsay. Required prior to graduation for all students that started their JD in Fall 2023 or later; highly recommended for students that started their JD before Fall 2023.

Rigorous Writing courses all provide students with the opportunity to draft, edit, polish and produce one or more advanced writing projects that are assessed by the faculty through detailed individualized feedback at each stage of the writing process.

Students entering in and after Fall 2022 must complete a course with the BCCR designation. A BCCR class can also be cross-listed as a Perspective Elective. Double dipping allowed.

Administrative Law examines the rules by which federal administrative agencies operate, including the source of administrative authority and procedures governing the exercise of that authority.

Federal income tax introduces and analyzes the basic concepts underlying the law of federal income taxation with topics include gross income, identification of the taxpayer, deductions, timing of income, and characterization and recognition.

Degree Requirements

To earn a JD degree, you must complete a minimum of 86 credit hours of coursework. A minimum of 6 credit hours of experiential learning are required. Your first year coursework provides a strong, structured foundation. During the next two years you will tailor your courses, experiential learning, and course delivery to meet your goals and interests. Visit our Registrar for a complete list of degree requirements, academic calendars, and registration process. You may access full course descriptions through our student information system through guest access.

ADMISSION

Juris Doctor (JD) applicants are required to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). LSAT registration can be completed through the LSAC website.

OCTOBER 1: Application for admission opens
MARCH 1: Priority application deadline
MARCH 15: Specialized scholarship and fellowship deadline
MAY 1: Final application deadline

Outcomes

Sonia A. Antolec

“I love that the law is dynamic. In just 12 years as an attorney, I’ve been able to practice criminal, civil, and administrative law, all while serving the public.”

Morgan Gallagher

“Having dinner with Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the Rome study abroad program was probably one of the top five experiences of my life.”

Amanda Walsh

“You can’t make real change without considering the context of family systems as well as the social determinants of health surrounding those families.”

Faculty

The Full-Time JD program courses will be taught by members of Loyola’s full-time faculty, who are accomplished scholars and nationally recognized leaders in their fields.

Jeannine Bell

“I believe race is a fundamental organizing principle in society, and it’s there always. So, I talk about it.”

Sam Brunson

“I love seeing students discover that tax law isn’t just boring and mechanical, but is a series of fascinating puzzles with hidden policy goals and compromises.”

Jordan Paradise

“We attract students from across the country and internationally, which provides a breadth of perspectives and fosters dynamic discussions within the classroom.”

Tuition and Fees

The School of Law and Loyola's Financial Aid Office are committed to helping students secure the necessary financial resources to make their legal education at Loyola affordable.

There's more to a legal education than mastering “black letter” law.

Our Commitment to You

Upon graduation with a JD degree from Loyola, you will possess the following knowledge, skills, and professional values necessary to commence the ethical practice of law:

* For more information on employment data see our Consumer Information (ABA Required Disclosures)