7
Academic Policies
Graduation
Petition to graduate
Students entering their final year of law school must complete the petition to graduate by the first Monday in October. Return completed forms to the Law Records Office.
Degree audit
The law school assumes no responsibility for a student’s failure to complete the graduation requirements as outlined. Students should check their progress regularly by running a degree audit accessible via the E-Campus system “Degree Progress” link. Direct questions regarding degree audits or graduation requirements to the Law Records Office.
Number of units required
Students must successfully complete 86 units of study while maintaining academic good standing to earn the J.D. degree and graduate. Students must successfully complete at least 56 of these units in courses offered by the School of Law. A student successfully completes units by earning a grade not lower than D- in a graded course, a grade of “pass” in a graded course for which the student has elected the P/NP option, or a grade of “credit” in a course graded CR/NC.
Period of study and distribution of units
Students pursuing the J.D. degree must complete the course of study within 48 months of matriculation. The senior assistant dean for student services may extend this period not to exceed 12 months for good cause. Students pursuing the joint J.D./MBA degree must complete the course of study within 60 months of matriculation. Matriculation means the date on which a student first begins studies for the J.D. degree at any law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).
Unless granted a leave of absence by the senior assistant dean for student services, students must enroll in no fewer than 8 and no more than 17 units in both the fall and spring semesters of each academic year. Students enrolling in no fewer than 8 and no more than 11 units during a semester are part-time students during that semester. Students enrolling in no fewer than 12 and no more than 17 units are full-time students during that semester. After completing the first year of law study as either a full- or a part-time student, a student may enroll either full or part time in any succeeding semester. Students may also enroll in summer session classes.
Full-time students may not be employed for more than 20 hours per week during the semester in which they are enrolled full time.
Academic good standing
Students must be in academic good standing to be eligible for graduation. This requires a cumulative grade point average of 2.33 or above at the end of each academic year.
Courses required for graduation
A student must successfully complete the following required courses:
| Required Courses | |
| 101. | Legal Research and Writing |
| 102. | Contracts |
| 103. | Torts |
| 104. | Property |
| 105. | Advocacy |
| 106. | Criminal Law |
| 114. | Pleading and Civil Procedure |
| 200. | Constitutional Law I |
| 201. | Constitutional Law II |
| 302. | Legal Profession |
| 320. | Evidence |
Supervised Analytical Writing requirement
Students must successfully complete a significant piece of legal writing under the supervision of a faculty member following the first year of law school. See Chapter 4 for more information on this requirement.
Professional Skills requirement
In addition to legal analysis, research, and writing, a competent lawyer employs a variety of other professional skills, including interviewing and counseling, fact investigation, negotiation, drafting, and trial advocacy. See Chapter 4 for more information on this requirement.
Regular Classroom Instruction requirement
Students must complete at least 45,000 minutes in regularly scheduled class sessions at the law school. See Chapter 4 for more information on this requirement.
Academic dishonesty
Students must be in ethical good standing at the time of graduation. Graduation may be denied or delayed based on charges or findings of academic dishonesty or moral turpitude. A student may not graduate while there is a pending charge of academic dishonesty or moral turpitude.
Commencement
Commencement typically is the second or third Saturday in May at 9:30 a.m. Tickets are not required for attendees. Caps and gowns are required for participants. Students who file a petition to graduate by the October deadline will receive information by e-mail for ordering caps and gowns, announcements, and other such paraphernalia. Students who fail to turn in the petition by the deadline will not receive information or be included in the commencement program. December graduates may participate in the commencement ceremony either immediately before or after they graduate.
Graduation with honors
Students must have received letter grades in graded courses totaling at least 65 units (50 units for transfer students and for students spending one year visiting at another law school) to graduate with honors. The categories are as follows:
- Top 2 percent of combined full- and part-time class = summa cum laude
- Next 3 percent of combined full- and part-time class = magna cum laude
- Next 5 percent of combined full- and part-time class = cum laude
- Order of the Coif: The School of Law is a member of the Order of the Coif, a nationally recognized legal honor society. Students receiving honors at graduation will be inducted into the Order.
Graduation survey
All graduating students must complete the online Graduate Survey.
