Contents
Catalog Links

1. Graduation Requirements

A.  Requirements for Graduation

To be considered for graduation and eligible for a Juris Doctor degree, students are required to:

(1)  satisfactorily complete and receive course credit for 90 hours of course work with a cumulative GPA of 2.3.

(2)  satisfactorily complete the following requirements:

a.  Thirty (30) credits of first-year courses

  • LAW 699 Introduction to the Fundamentals and Study of Law (0 credits)
  • LAW 701         Civil Procedure I (3 credits)
  • LAW 702         Contracts & Sales I (3 credits)
  • LAW 703         Legal Reasoning, Research & Writing I (3 credits)
  • LAW 704         Property I (3 credits)
  • LAW 705         Torts I (3 credits)
  • LAW 711         Civil Procedure II (3 credits)
  • LAW 712         Contracts & Sales II (3 credits)
  • LAW 713         Legal Reasoning, Research & Writing II (3 credits)
  • LAW 714         Property II (3 credits)
  • LAW 715         Torts II (3 credits)

b.  Three (3) credits of required upper-level writing:

  • LAW 721 Advanced Legal Reasoning, Research & Writing (3 credits)
  • LAW 744 Appellate Advocacy (3 credits)

c. Thirteen (13) credits of upper-level core courses during their second year

  • LAW 707         Criminal Law & Procedure I (3 credits)
  • LAW 717         Criminal Law & Procedure II (3 credits)
  • LAW 722         Constitutional Law I (3 credits)
  • LAW 724         Constitutional Law II (3 credits)
  • LAW 728 Diversity and Dispute Resolution (1 credit)

d.  Eighteen (18) credits of upper-level required courses, which may be taken during either the second or third year

  • LAW 731         Business Organizations (3 credits)
  • LAW 732         Commercial Law (UCC Articles 2, 3, & 9) (3 credits)
  • LAW 733         Evidence (3 credits)
  • LAW 734         Family Law (3 credits)
  • LAW 735         Professional Responsibility (3 credits)
  • LAW 736         Trusts and Estates (3 credits)

 

e.  Six (6) credits of experiential learning during their second or third year

  • LAW 743 Alternative Dispute Resolution (3 credits)
  • LAW 757  Trial Advocacy (3 credits)
  • LAW 758 Electronic Discovery (2 credits)
  • LAW 761 Externships (variable credits)
  • LAW 853 Special Topics in Law EL
  • Any other LAW course designated as EL

f.  Six (6) credits of bar preparation courses during their third year

(3)  at least 64 of these credit hours shall be in courses that required attendance in regularly scheduled classroom sessions or direct faculty instruction; (See the Minimum Number of Classroom Credits section located in this handbook)

(4)  complete the pro-bono requirement; (See the Pro Bono Requirements located in this handbook)

(5)  paid all balances owed to the College of Law and Jacksonville University;

(6)  not have a pending honor code, conduct code, or criminal case; and

(7)  not be subject to the rules of academic dismissal as stated under “Academic Probation and Dismissal.”

 

B.  Minimum Number of Regularly Scheduled Classroom Credits Requirements

In accordance with American Bar Association standards, of the 90 credits required for graduation, students pursuing a Juris Doctor degree must complete a minimum of 64 credits of coursework in courses that require attendance in regularly scheduled classroom sessions. Not all credit hours students may take towards the 90 credits required for graduation will count towards the Classroom Credits requirement. Credits that will not count towards the 64-credit requirement include credits earned through co-curriculars (law review, moot court, mock trial), a course in any other degree program at Jacksonville University, or externship or clinic. Questions as to whether a particular course counts toward the Classroom Credits requirement should speak with the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs or the Registrar. Students must submit to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs an Application to Study at Another Institution in advance of enrolling in any courses outside the Jacksonville University College of Law. The Associate Dean will determine whether those credits should count toward the J.D. program and/or the Classroom Credits requirement.

 

C.  Character and Fitness

The College of Law reserves the right to withhold a degree conferral whenever it appears that the character or conduct of a student, or the quality of the work completed, will prevent acceptable representation of the College or will compromise the legal profession. Each student who meets the established graduation requirements will automatically be recommended by the faculty to receive the appropriate degree.

 

D.  Time to Earn Degree

The course of study for the Juris Doctor degree shall be completed no earlier than 24 months after a student commences classes. Students completing the Juris Doctor degree program on a full-time basis must complete the program of study within 72 months of starting classes;he College of Law Academic Standards Committee may waive this time period in extraordinary circumstances. Any student who leaves the College of Law no more than two years from the last date they attended classes may petition the College of Law Academic Standards Committee to return to complete his or her degree.

 

E.  Pro Bono Requirement

Students are required to complete sixty (60) hours of pro bono work, up to thirty of which may be non-legal public service volunteer work.

Pro bono and public service volunteer hours must be completed prior to the deadline by which all graduation requirements are to be completed. All work must be pre-approved, and hours must be regularly submitted to the Assistant Dean of Student Development & Practice.

Legal related pro bono work includes pro bono work for the indigent, public agencies, private legal practice on a case being conducted on a pro bono basis, and under the supervision of a Jacksonville University faculty member who is conducting the work on a pro bono basis. Non-legal public service volunteer work may include volunteering at any non-profit organization and engaging in general community service work.

Students who are enrolled in externship credits are not entitled to pro bono hours for work completed as a requirement of the externship. If students wish to earn pro bono hours or community service from the same externship field office after the requirements of the externship credit are met, students shall request permission from the externship professor and supervisor; if permission is granted the student must notify the Assistant Dean of Student Development & Practice.