School of Law Policies

Academic and Student Policies & Procedures

William & Mary Law School students are subject to the academic policies of the School and of the individual programs in which they enroll as well as the rules and regulations of William & Mary. Policies for individual programs are included in the description for that program. In accordance with William & Mary’s academic policies, it is the student’s responsibility to know and meet the academic requirements of the program.

Academic Continuance & Good Standing

William & Mary Law School scholarships are awarded unconditionally with the understanding that students will maintain a grade point average consistent with academic eligibility. Students who are not in good academic standing at the end of their first term and/or first year will have their scholarships revoked. 

How to maintain good standing:

Attend class

The American Bar Association requires students to attend class regularly and punctually. Many professors will have specific attendance requirements (e.g., a maximum of only 3 absences is permitted). Students who are identified as having missed an excessive number of classes may be withdrawn from the class or the course grade may be adjusted if attendance is a factor in determining the final grade.

If students find they must be absent from courses for an extended period of time, contact the Associate Dean for Student Affairs & Academic Support who, in turn, will contact the professors.

Professional Conduct

It’s the student’s obligation to conduct themselves in a manner commensurate with the educational purposes of our school. Students are required to adhere to the Code of Student Conduct as well as any Law School specific policy. Infractions can result in disciplinary action by the Law School, the University or both.

Follow the Honor Code

The Honor System at William & Mary Law School is one of the oldest in higher education. It exists to provide a living and learning environment that reflects the values of the Law School community, including those of academic integrity, personal integrity, and personal and professional responsibility. Our students do believe in and cherish this system.

Be a full-time student

We are a full-time law program and J.D. students must successfully be enrolled in and complete for a minimum of 10 and maximum of 17 credit hours each term, to include third year students’ final semester prior to graduation regardless of the number of credits remaining to meet the graduation requirement.

Eligibility to Continue as a Law Student and Terms Related to W&M Law Study

To be a full-time student in good academic standing

• Commence the first year of study in the fall term.
• Complete all degree requirements by the end of the third consecutive spring term following commencement of study.
• Take courses totaling at least 10 academic credits in each term.
• Take courses totaling at least 20 credits in each academic year.
• Register for no more than 17 credits in any term.

Taking courses
A student is deemed to have taken a course if that student was properly registered in a course, for the required number of academic credit hours, and received a grade, including a failing grade. A student is not deemed to have taken a course when a student withdraws from a course prior to its completion. A failing grade in a course is included in calculating a student’s grade point average but results in zero credits awarded toward the number of credits required to graduate.

Academic year
The academic year is the period beginning with a summer session and ending with the next succeeding spring term.

Effective for students entering fall 2022 or thereafter, eligibility to continue in residence is governed by the following grade point average requirements:

• A student who does not achieve a 2.0 grade point average at the end of the first semester of legal study will be dismissed permanently for academic deficiency. The student may not petition for the right to continue or for reinstatement.
• A student who does not achieve a 2.5 grade point average at the end of the first semester of legal study will be placed on academic probation.
• A student who has not achieved a 2.5 cumulative grade point average at the end of the first year of legal study will be dismissed permanently for academic deficiency (whether or not the student was previously placed on academic probation). The student may not petition for the right to continue or for reinstatement.
• To be able to continue in residence at the Law School as a 2L and 3L, a student must maintain a semester and cumulative grade point average of 2.3. To clarify, the student must maintain the minimum grade point average of 2.3 for each semester in the second year and each semester in the third year; as well as a cumulative grade point average of 2.3 at the conclusion of both the second and third year of legal study.
• GPA shall be truncated at the 100th and rounded to the nearest tenth and otherwise calculated according to the normal conventions of the Law School. The Academic Advisory Committee has the authority, in its discretion, to interpret and implement the eligibility criteria set forth herein.
• Rising 2L students (students who have completed two terms (one full academic year) of legal study) who are ineligible to continue as a student may not petition for the right to continue.  
• Students who fail to meet the minimum GPA after their third, fourth, or fifth term of legal study (students in their second or third academic year) may petition the Academic Advisory Committee for reinstatement. The Committee, in its discretion, may grant such a petition for good cause shown and may impose such conditions as it deems appropriate in approving the reinstatement.  See petition for reinstatement requirements and process below.  
• A student who fails to qualify for a degree solely by failing to obtain a 2.3 term GPA in the student’s final semester in the third year may be permitted to continue in the Law School for an additional semester with permission from the Vice Dean. If, after the completion of the additional semester, the student’s GPA for that semester combined with the GPA for the entire third academic year is 2.3 or higher, the student will be granted the degree. 
• A student who fails to complete degree requirements within the stated time period, other than described as above for academic deficiency, may petition the Academic Advisory Committee for permission to continue. Petitions will be considered following the same procedures as those for reinstatement, below, but with a focus on reasons for lack of timely completion and steps taken or to be taken to ensure degree completion. Their ruling may include specific terms and conditions for degree completion and will ensure the extension will comply with the American Bar Association guidelines for degree completion. The Dean must approve the petition and the terms or conditions imposed by the Committee. 
• Students are encouraged to review guidance and procedures for submitting a Petition for Reinstatement.

These regulations apply to all degree candidates. Exceptions are granted only when approved in advance by first the Academic Advisory Committee and then the Dean.

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Address on File

The Law School will send official notices and correspondence to the address on file with the University Registrar. Students are responsible for maintaining their current addresses and telephone numbers within Banner. 

American Bar Association (ABA) Standards

The Law School invites students to share any concerns about the Law School’s program of education as it relates to compliance with the ABA’s Standards. Any student who has such a concern should submit the concern in writing either to the Vice Dean or the Associate Dean for Student Services, identifying the ABA Standard at issue. The submission must be signed by the student and, if sent by e-mail, must be sent from the student’s W&M e-mail account.  The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Associate Dean for Student & Academic Services will confirm receipt of the submission within five business days and will work with the appropriate individuals to investigate the issue and take appropriate action. The Vice Dean or the Associate Dean for Student Services will notify the student about the status of the investigation within 30 days of receipt of the submission. A record of all such submissions and their resolutions will be kept on file for ten years in the office of the Vice Dean.

(ABA Req’d Disclosures)

Attendance

The American Bar Association requires students to attend class regularly and punctually. Professors will have specific attendance requirements in their syllabus. Students who are identified as having missed an excessive number of classes may be withdrawn from the class or the course grade may be adjusted if attendance is a factor in determining the final grade. If students must be absent from their courses for an extended period of time, they should contact the Law School’s Associate Dean for Student Affairs & Academic Support who, in turn, will contact professors. 

Auditing Law Courses

All audit requests must be approved by the instructor, and will be confirmed only at the end of the Add/Drop period for each semester, contingent upon seat availability. Registration for degree-seeking J.D. and LL.M. students enrolling in classes for credit takes priority over auditors. If space is available following the end of the add/drop period and if the professor gives permission, the auditor will be administratively registered for the course. Auditors are expected to attend class and have read the materials, but do not take the exam or submit any papers or assignments, and do not earn credit hours. Upon successful completion the course title will be reflected on the auditor’s transcript and reflect a grade of “O”. 

Degree-seeking J.D. or LL.M. students may audit a course by completing the appropriate form and submitting to the Law School Registrar.

Non-law students who wish to audit a law course may do so provided 1) it is not a required course, nor a “skills” class, nor a pass/fail course; 2) the auditor is not taking a seat from a degree-seeking student; 3) the instructor gives permission. Non-law students, other than Visiting Scholars, should contact the Law School Registrar if interested in auditing a law class.

Visiting Scholars have the option to audit one law course per semester. The Law School provisions on auditing courses apply. For the avoidance of doubt, Visiting Scholars should note the following:

• In order to audit a course, the Visiting Scholar fees for the semester have been paid.
• The Visiting Scholar must be able to participate from the first day of class and should complete the entire course term.
• The Visiting Scholar has discussed the audit course selection with the Director of LL.M. Programs, and has received permission from Dean of Academic Affairs and the faculty member teaching the course.
• Audit requests will be confirmed only at the end of the Add/Drop period in each new semester.  Course registration of J.D. and LL.M. students takes priority over Visiting Scholars. Therefore, if all seats in a course are taken, Visiting Scholars may not audit that course. 
• If seats remain open after J.D. and LL.M. students are registered, and following the end of the Add/Drop period, the Visiting Scholar’s audit request will be confirmed. Visiting Scholars are strongly advised not to purchase books for any course until the law course registration is confirmed.
• A limited number of courses are not open to Visiting Scholars’ participation, these include: clinics, externships, J.D. Legal Practice courses: Leadership and Professional Development (LAW 100); Legal Writing & Research courses (LAW 130); J.D. Lawyering Skills (LAW 131); and J.D. Advanced Writing Practice (LAW 140); courses required for the J.D., which are: Professional Responsibility (LAW 115); The Legal Profession (LAW 117); and courses designated as experiential.
• Visiting Scholar auditors may not create work for the professor (i.e., may not turn in assignments to be graded), are expected to attend class and have read the material, will not take exams, and will not receive credit hours for the course.  
• Visiting Scholars who do not follow the formal audit request process will be provided one warning. If the Visiting Scholar audit policy is violated, the Visiting Scholar is at risk of dismissal from the International Scholar-in-Residence Program.

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Bar Exam

Students are responsible for verifying the requirements of the bar examination they intend to take, including whether the jurisdiction requires an Enrollment Verification (confirmation that the student is actively enrolled in a legal program of study), Certificate of the Completion of Courses (verification of successful completion of program of study), a Confirmation of Graduation (certification and date of degree conferral), or more than one of these. Students should always check with the bar admissions authority in the jurisdictions in which they intend to seek admission concerning the requirements for eligibility to be admitted to the bar.  Information on each state’s rules and a directory of state bar admission agencies can be found in the Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements. 

Catalog 

The university’s course catalog provides announcements for the current academic year and is updated each summer. The university reserves the right to make changes in the regulations, charges, and curricula listed therein at any time.

Class Rank for JD Students

How GPA is calculated

• The Law School uses a GPA rounded to the tenths place as the law cumulative grade point average. (For example, a 3.04 and a 2.99 are both rounded to a 3.0.) 
• Class ranks are based on the rounded GPA as defined above. Students’ official academic transcript will reflect a truncated cumulative GPA, rather than the rounded GPA used to calculate rank. When presenting class rank to prospective employers, or in any regard, students should report their rounded GPA. 
• Students holding a GPA of 3.6 or higher will be given a numerical rank. All ranks of 3.5 and lower will be given as a percentage. The majority of the class will receive a percentage rather than an individual class rank.  In either case, it is conceivable that multiple students will share the same rank. 
• For students in the J.D. program, class rank is first calculated at the conclusion of one full year of legal study at William & Mary.  Thereafter, students are ranked only at the conclusion of the fall and spring terms (i.e., no re-ranking will occur following a summer term).
• Transfer students (to include LL.M. to J.D. students) are not ranked until the end of their first full year of law school at William & Mary. Students in the LL.M. program are not ranked.  
• Students’ class rank is emailed to students’ William & Mary email address. The university does not print class ranks on either the unofficial or official transcript. Official statements of class rank, if needed, can be obtained by contacting lawreg@wm.edu.  
• Students will not receive any information indicating the rank of other students. If a student earns a tied rank, the number of students tied at a particular rank is not disclosed or made available to students; only students’ individual rank and rank GPA information is disclosed. 

Classroom Participation

The professor must include in the course syllabus how participation will be graded and what effect it will have on the final grade. Notification of the grading procedure must also be announced in writing (preferably) or verbally during the class(es) of the add/drop period.

Including participation in the final grade will not affect your anonymity in the course grading period if the exam or paper is graded anonymously. Law School policy requires faculty using participation and grading exams or papers anonymously to submit to the Law School Registrar the list of student names with their participation grade. The Registrar will match the student name to the anonymous student exam code number and return to the professor a list of participation grades by exam code rather than student name, sorted in numerical order. The faculty member can then combine the participation grade with the exam or paper grade and calculate the final grade for the course. The final grade is input by the faculty member to Banner using only the anonymous exam code number.

Course Overlap Policy

Students may register for classes that have a time conflict (overlap) as long as the overlap is for no more than two class sessions. Law students may miss no more than two total classes of a single semester long class in order to enroll in short or week(s)-long mini class(es) or externship class. As a mandatory prerequisite, students must obtain the permission of the professor of the class that they will miss and forward to the Law School Registrar before registering for the overlapping courses (this is required whether a student will miss one class or two). A student may not request to miss a class of a short- or mini-course or externship class to attend another class, as those classes meet very few sessions. Faculty are under no obligation to give such permission, often have sound pedagogical grounds for refusing to permit students to miss even one class session, and may impose an additional assignment to ensure students have grasped the material missed by absences. The administration will not accommodate any request to modify this policy. Students may not request permission nor be registered for two classes that have:

• an ongoing conflict (for example, ten minute overlap throughout the semester).
• two classes scheduled at the same time, regardless of the format of each course (in-person or online). 

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Credit Hour Policy

The American Bar Association and the College of William & Mary require not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and two hours of out-of-class student work per week for each credit awarded for a class over fifteen weeks, including a final exam week, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time. According to ABA standards, fifty minutes suffices for one hour of classroom time, while an hour for out-of-class time is sixty minutes. All faculty must inform students in their syllabi about the expectation regarding time spent preparing for class. Students will also be asked in end-of-semester course evaluations to estimate the amount of time they spent on out-of-class work, on average, each week.

Distance Education

At the Law School, a “distance education course” is defined as a course in which more than one-third of the required classroom minutes are delivered from outside the classroom and/or a course in which William & Mary Law students participate from remote locations. “Distance education courses” do not include courses in which an occasional guest speaker appears via technology from a remote location; courses in which an instructor uses technology to teach an occasional class from a remote location; or courses in which an instructor prerecords material to be viewed or heard by students in advance of a class session.

All distance education courses offered for credit at the Law School shall be in full compliance with all ABA Standards governing distance education (Standard 306).

In addition to compliance with any applicable ABA Standards, all distance education courses offered for credit at the Law School must comply with the following requirements:

1. All distance education courses shall provide for significant synchronous interaction between the instructor(s) and the students. “Synchronous interaction” means that the instructor(s) and the students engage with one another at the same time despite spatial separation.
2. A student may receive credit for no more than a total of 28 credit hours of distance education courses.
3. Credit toward the J.D. degree for study offered through a distance education course will be awarded only where (1) the academic content, (2) the method of course delivery, and (3) the method of evaluating student performance are approved as part of the Law School’s regular curriculum approval process. Approval must be sought for all distance education courses even if a course with the same name and content is already part of the approved J.D. curriculum.
4. If an instructor for a proposed distance education course is not a member of the full-time faculty, his or her appointment as an adjunct faculty member must be approved in the same way as other adjunct faculty members.
5. The Vice Dean shall work closely with instructors of distance education courses to ensure that such courses provide (a) ample interaction with the instructor(s) and other students both inside and outside the formal structure of the course throughout its duration, such that students in distance education courses have opportunities to interact with the instructors and other students that equal or exceed the opportunities for such interaction in a traditional classroom setting; and (b) ample monitoring of student effort and accomplishment as courses progress.
6. The Associate Dean for Administration, the Registrar, and the Vice Dean are responsible for maintaining an effective process to verify the identity of students taking distance education courses and to protect student privacy.

Exams

• Exam Conflicts
• Rules and Policies about Exams
• Language Accommodation

Exams conflict when:

• Two exams with start times scheduled within 23 hours. For example, an exam that begins at 8:30 am followed by an exam that begins at 1:30 pm.
• Two exams with start times scheduled at the same time. 
• Three or more exams scheduled on consecutive days.

Students may move an exam in conflict but must take the conflicting exam on the first available make-up date that breaks the conflict. Under no circumstances is a student allowed to take a make-up exam earlier than the scheduled exam date. Requests to postpone an exam for scheduled events such as weddings, baptisms, retirement parties, etc., will not be granted. The Law School Registrar will post the exam conflict form via survey, at the appropriate time each semester (typically November for fall, April for spring).

Rules and Policies about Exams

1. Exam Technology: All exams at the Law School must either be taken through the Exam4 software or be handwritten in bluebooks. Students are expected to use their own computers to take exams, although a student may request to use a Law School-owned computer to take an exam if (a) a computer-related emergency exists and (b) a Law School-owned computer is available. Students who choose to handwrite their exams obtain bluebooks from the Registrar.

A laptop or desktop computer is required to take exams. William & Mary requires all incoming students to own a notebook computer. Laptops or desktops must be capable of running full Windows or full Mac operating systems.

Students taking exams by computer must download the Exam4 software each semester and take a practice exam to test the functionality of Exam4 on their computer and to familiarize themselves with the features and options available within the platform.

2. Exam Location: Each faculty member will designate whether the exam in their course is in-person or remote and the length of time that students have to complete the exam. In-person exams take place at the Law School in an assigned room on a designated date and time. Remote exams are taken at a place of the student’s choosing within the exam period and may be designated as required to be taken at a specified time, on a specified day, or at any time during the exam period.

Students may not take an in-person scheduled exam remotely.

A faculty member may allow students to take an in-person exam outside of the designated exam room so long as students remain in the Law School building. Such students who elect to take the exam in the Library should expect the normal activities of patrons and staff to continue as usual and should not expect (or request) complete silence. Students may not reserve space in the Library for the purpose of taking an exam. Students may not take exams in Library study rooms, on computers in the Library’s technology classroom, or in student organization offices.

Students with exam accommodations will take in-person exams in a room designated by the Office of Student Affairs & Academic Support.

All students should arrive at the assigned room for an in-person exam at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the exam to receive the exam questions and instructions. Students who are permitted to leave the assigned room to take the exam may not leave the room until the proctor announces that the exam has begun. All students taking an in-person exam, whether they remain in the assigned room or not, must return the exam questions to the proctor or leave the questions at the front of the room after submitting their exam answer.

3. Exam Instructions: Each faculty member shall designate with specificity, both in writing to students prior to the exam date and in the exam instructions:

• the length of the exam;
• type of exam (in-person or remote), and mode of exam (closed, open laptop, open laptop plus network, or take-home);
• whether students taking an in-person exam may take the exam outside of the designated exam room (but within the Law School building);
• the materials that students are permitted to use when taking the exam, such as self-prepared, group, and/or commercial outlines, dictionaries, the casebook, and materials distributed during the semester;
• whether permitted materials may be consulted on the student’s computer or may be consulted only in hard copy; and
• whether students may access the Internet during the exam, along with any limitations on which Internet sources may be accessed (including ChatGPT or other generative AI technologies).

Additionally, each faculty member shall indicate in the exam instructions the nature of any word limits for individual questions or for the exam as a whole.

The Registrar will set the exam mode in Exam4 for each exam to reflect the mode indicated by the faculty member (closed, open laptop, open laptop plus network, or take-home).

Unless otherwise indicated by the faculty member, the following default policies apply:

• Students who are permitted to consult material on their computers or on the Internet may use a search function, hyperlinks, a table of contents, or similar functions to locate material within a document or on their computer.
• Students taking take-home mode exams may copy and paste material from external documents into the Exam4 software. The Exam4 software does not permit copy and paste in any other exam mode.
• Students may use noise-cancelling headphones during an exam and may use a phone or other device to listen to music through headphones during an exam so long as that device is not connected to the Internet, sounds are not audible to others, and all ringtone and alerts are silenced.
• Students may use a second monitor or device to display material during the exam so long as the exam is not set in closed mode in Exam 4.

4. Anonymity on Exams: All exams are identified by examination number only. Students are provided with examination numbers each semester after the Add/Drop period concludes. Students may not reveal their examination number to faculty members before grades are posted. Faculty members who include participation or similar activities as part of the final grade shall provide a list of names to the Registrar with scores by the indicated deadline to obtain a numerically sorted list of examination numbers to be used in determining the final grade.

5. Exam Accommodations: William & Mary accommodates students with disabilities in accordance with federal laws and university policy. Students who feel as if they may need an exam accommodation based on the impact of a learning, psychiatric, physical, or chronic health diagnosis should contact Student Accessibility Services staff at (757) 221-2509 or at sas@wm.edu to determine if accommodations are warranted and to obtain an official letter of accommodation. The Office of Student Affairs & Academic Support will provide information to students about the implementation of exam accommodations. To preserve anonymity on exams, students should not contact faculty members about exam accommodations.

6. Exam Conflicts and Reschedules: Students may reschedule an exam only under the following circumstances:

• Two exams are scheduled within 23 hours - for example, an exam that begins at 8:30 am followed by an exam that begins at 1:30 pm.
• Two exams are scheduled at the same time.
• Three or more exams are scheduled on consecutive days.
• A qualifying illness, injury, or emergency precludes the student from taking the exam, as determined by the Office of Student Affairs & Academic Support after reviewing supporting documentation.

All exam conflicts will be administered by the Registrar. Students rescheduling an exam due to a conflict must take the conflicting exam on the first available make-up date that breaks the conflict.

All exams that are rescheduled due to a qualifying illness, injury, or emergency will be administered by the Office of Student Affairs & Academic Support, which will arrange a new exam date. Typically, students must make up an exam at the earliest practicable time and within five weeks of the originally scheduled exam date.  If the circumstance necessitating a rescheduled exam continues past the fifth week, the student shall take the exam as soon as reasonably practicable following the end of the disability, but in no event later than the end of the exam period for the succeeding fall or spring term. If the circumstance continues beyond that period, the student shall be withdrawn from all courses for which an exam was not taken. Students who become ill or otherwise unable to take the exam during the examination session should contact the Office of Student Affairs & Academic Support.

Under no circumstances will a student be allowed to take an exam earlier than the scheduled exam date.

Language Accommodation

JD and LLM students whose primary language is not English may be eligible for extra time for each exam as necessary to make reasonable accommodation for their language difficulty. Students who attended an undergraduate institution where English is not the primary language will qualify for extra time under this provision. Such students will be afforded 20 additional minutes for each hour of an examination. Students requesting further accommodations should contact the University’s Office of Student Accessibility Services, which handles requests for accommodations on a case-by-case basis.

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Grading Policies

• How We Grade
• Grade Conversion Policy
• Grade Review Policy
• LL.M. Student Grading Policy
• Mandatory Grade Policy
• Transferring Grades

How we grade

In the first year, faculty may grade solely on examinations or may also consider class participation when assigning the final grade. In upper-level elective and seminar courses, academic work may be graded entirely by an exam or paper, or the professor may factor with the exam or paper grade any of the following or combination of the following: in-course assignments, quizzes, and classroom participation. 

The professor must include in the course syllabus how participation will be graded and what effect it will have on the final grade. Notification of the grading procedure must also be announced in writing (preferably) or verbally during the class(es) of the add/drop period.

Including participation in the final grade will not affect anonymity in the course grading period if the exam or paper is graded anonymously. Law School policy requires faculty using participation and grading exams or papers anonymously to submit to the Law School Registrar the list of student names with their participation grade. The Registrar will match the student name to the anonymous student exam code number and return to the professor a list of participation grades by exam code rather than student name, sorted in numerical order. The faculty member can then combine the participation grade with the exam or paper grade and calculate the final grade for the course. The final grade is input by the faculty member to Banner using only the anonymous exam code number.

Since 2004, law faculty are required to adhere to a mandatory grade curve and in 2012, the law faculty modified the grading policy. Students can find the new policy here.  Only the Vice Dean can grant an exception to the policy and only then for good cause shown by the faculty member.

Once a student’s degree has been conferred, the academic record is closed and it cannot be changed or amended.

What types of grades are given

Law grades in courses graded by standard letter grade have quality points from which student grade point average is determined:

A+ (4.3) A (4.0), A- (3.7)
B+ (3.3), B (3.0), B- (2.7)
C+ (2.3), C (2.0),”C- (1.7), D (1.0) and
F (fail – 0 quality points that will factor into the grade point average, no credit is earned).

As an alternative to these standard letter grades, pass/fail grades may be used in certain Law School courses as approved by the Vice Dean. The following four grades are available: H (honors), P (pass), LP (low pass), and F (fail).  A grade of honors, pass, or low pass will not affect a student’s grade point average but will count toward the total number of credits required for graduation. A grade of “fail” will be counted as zero quality points and so affect a student’s grade point average. With the exception of Lawyering Skills courses, the number of honors grades in any individual course cannot exceed 10.0% of enrolled students under any circumstance.

Absent a controlling language in a course description, instructors may select which grading system they use in a given course.  If the course description does not specify a grading system and the instructor does not specify a grading system before the end of the add/drop period, Standard Letter grading will be used.  If a course description or an instructor indicates that some form of pass-fail grading will be used, but does not use the exact phrase “Standard Pass-Fail” or “Extended Pass-Fail” or is otherwise ambiguous, Extended Pass-Fail grading will be used.

Other grades that have no effect on grade point average may be on student transcript:  

• P; transfer credit from another institution – students must request permission to “visit” another institution or an institution’s abroad program and must seek approval to register in specific courses. To transfer, grades in approved credits must be a “C” or better and will come to the W&M transcript as a P (pass)
• I; incomplete-can only be given with permission of the Vice Dean and is never given to a graduating student in the semester they are graduating
• O; satisfactory audit-no credit earned
• U; unsatisfactory audit-no credit earned

Students may not elect to take a regularly graded course pass/fail. Student may only convert a grade earned (subject to the policy) to a “pass.” Students may, if in good standing, elect to convert to a “pass” one course grade that was graded by a letter grade. This option is governed by the Grade Conversion Policy.

Students can request that a faculty member explain how the student was graded but there is no appeal process for a grade. Grade review is encouraged.

Grade Conversion Policy

A law student may not choose to take a regularly graded course pass/fail. However, the Law School permits third-year students to convert one Law School letter-graded course to a grade of P (pass) by submitting a request during their final semester of law school.  The procedure for doing so is as follows:

1. The Law School permits only a grade conversion of an earned grade of C or higher to a Pass grade. 
2. A law student may not convert a grade earned in any required class, including a course taken to meet the Writing Requirement, or for JD students courses that meet a concentration requirement (LLM students may not convert a course used to meet a concentration requirement), unless the student has successfully completed a second course or an alternate course to satisfy the Writing Requirement.  
3. The option to convert a grade must be exercised in the final semester of study (for J.D. students, typically the spring semester of the third year; for LL.M. students, typically the second semester, or for third-semester students, their final semester). 
4. For J.D. students, the request for conversion should be submitted by the third week of the final semester to have the conversion included in the new semester class rank. If not submitted by the third week, the request must be made no later than April 1, if spring is the final semester; November 1, if fall is the final semester; or July 1, if summer is the final semester. 
5. For LL.M. students, the request for conversion must be submitted by November 1 if the student’s final semester is fall, by April 1 if the student’s final semester is spring, and by July 1 if the student’s final semester is summer. 
6. The grade must have been earned: 
7. For J.D. students, after the first year and before the final semester of law school. 
8. For LL.M. students, during any semester at the Law School except the final semester of study. Note, for third-semester LL.M. students, the deadlines listed above in paragraph 3 apply. 
9. Once exercised, the conversion is irrevocable. 
10. The option can be exercised only by submission of the Grade Conversion survey form, made available to students in their final semester. 
11. In exercising this option, a student must adhere to any other policies governing eligibility for earning pass-fail credits. 

Grade Review Policy

Students have a right to meet with professors regarding their performance on examinations, papers, presentations, class participation, externship or clinic journals, or any other work submitted in partial or complete satisfaction of the requirements for credit in any course offered by William & Mary Law School.

The nature of the conversation is not to dispute the grade; rather, it is for the student to learn more about: 

• The particular strengths and weaknesses of the examination, paper, presentations, class participation, externship or clinic journals, or any other work. 
• The general grading scale utilized to evaluate the work. 
• The relative ranking of the work when measured against the quality of all other work in the class. 

If a student believes a member of the faculty has not complied in some material respect with the substantive right discussed above, a formal notification of dissatisfaction may be filed in writing with the Vice Dean. The Vice Dean will take immediate steps to ascertain whether: 

• There has been a failure by the faculty member to adhere to the substantive standards prescribed above, or  
• Whether the formal notice of dissatisfaction is without reasonable foundation.

If a student is dissatisfied with a determination by the Vice Dean that a faculty member is in substantive compliance, or if the student believes that efforts to remedy an asserted noncompliance by a faculty member have not produced satisfactory results, the student may submit an appeal to the Academic Advisory Committee. 

If either the faculty member or the student concerned is dissatisfied with the action taken by the Academic Advisory Committee, a protest of the Committee’s action may be filed in writing with the Dean of the Law School. The Dean’s decision will be the final adjudication of this dispute between the faculty member and student concerned. 

LL.M. Student Grading Policy

LL.M. students may elect, in any semester, to be graded on an Honors/Pass/Fail scale, rather than on a letter-grade scale, for all coursework in that semester other than Legal Research and Writing. LL.M. students who wish to avail themselves of the Honors/Pass/Fail grading option must communicate that intention by submitting a Grading Election Form to the Law School Registrar, by the end of the Add/Drop week.  If a form is not submitted by the deadline, the student will be subject to the standard grading scale in all courses that semester. Courses that are offered to all students only on a Pass/Fail basis will not award Honors grades. 

Such an election, once made, is irrevocable and it must be exercised with respect to all coursework in a semester. Courses that are offered to all students only on a Pass/Fail basis will not award Honors grades.

Pursuant to Law School policy, LL.M. students may also convert to a Pass/Fail grade one grade in a course taken during any semester at the Law School except the final semester of study. Students may not convert a grade earned in any required class, including a course taken to meet the writing requirement (e.g. Legal Research and Writing). Students wishing to convert a grade must communicate that intention by submission of the Grade Conversion survey, made available to students during their final semester of study at the Law School. The deadline for submitting a Grade Conversion request is November 1 if the final semester of study is the fall semester, and April 1 if the final semester of study is the spring semester.

Students considering either of these grading options should be aware that eligibility for admission to a state bar, to a J.D. or other educational program, for third-party funding, or for other programs may be affected by the number of courses taken for any basis other than a letter grade. Questions should be directed to the Director of the LL.M. Programs.

LL.M. Degree candidates must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 to earn the LL.M. Degree. They must also pass any pass-fail classes if those credit hours are needed to meet the minimum required credit hours to graduate with the LL.M. Degree.

Mandatory Grade Policy

Limits on Mean GPA

• Faculty shall ensure that the mean grade for each class falls between the maximum and minimum grade means described above.
• Faculty should not treat the upper (or lower) bounds as the target grade mean for their classes and should seek a target mean of 3.30 in classes enrolling 10 or more students.

Distribution of Grades

Legal Practice Program

Grading in all first-year Lawyering Skills classes shall be on an Honors/Pass/Low Pass/Fail scale.

The Director of the Legal Practice Program shall supervise and coordinate grading in the Program and seek substantial uniformity in distribution across its sections.

Grade of A+

A single grade of A+ may (but need not) be awarded in a class with 30 or more students. No grade of A+ may be awarded in a class of fewer than 30 students.

Certain Students Not Counted

Solely for purposes of establishing compliance with the Grading Policy, faculty shall disregard the following students:   

• LL.M. students
• Other non-J.D. students
• Students awarded a grade of D or F.

Example: 32 students are enrolled in Taxation of Derivatives. Of the 32 students, one is an LL.M. student and one is a non-J.D. graduate business student. The faculty member awards one J.D. student a grade of D. All other students receive grades of C- or better. In order to satisfy the Grading Policy, the grade mean of the 29 J.D. students receiving a C- or better must fall between 3.20 and 3.40 (the range for a 29-student class).

The Grading Policy does not establish standards for grading LL.M. and other non-J.D. students.

Grades may be based on the results of assigned written work wholly or may include class participation.

Transferring Grades

Students must receive permission to visit another ABA-accredited school or abroad program. Contact the Law School Dean of Students when beginning to plan this venture for the proper procedure to receive such permission. Students must have all courses approved through the Law Scool Registrar prior to the end of the host scooll’s add/drop period. Students must receive a C or better in approved courses for the credits to be applied to student’s William & Mary Law degree. We will accept as transfer credits no more than one-third of the credits required for the William & Mary law degree. The grade of P will be applied to the W&M transcript for all accepted credits earned. Credits will not be accepted for courses that are determined to be substantially equivalent to a William & Mary Law School course that the student has also taken.

Students who choose to visit away during their third year must request permission to do so by following specific instructions. Students who choose to study abroad have several methods of doing so. In both cases, course selection must be approved through the Vice Dean prior to the conclusion of the host school’s add/drop period and an official transcript showing courses taken and grades and credits earned must be sent to the Law School Registrar before the approved credits can be applied to the W&M law degree. Please contact the Law School Registrar for more information.

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Graduation

Students are required to apply online for graduation beginning February 15, but no later than September 1, in the calendar year prior to their graduation date. For Class of 2024 J.D. or LL.M. seeking students, if graduating January, May, or August 2024, students are required to apply online for graduation beginning February 15, 2023, but no later than the September 1, 2023, deadline). Students who do not meet the September 1st deadline will have a hold placed on their record that may delay their final semester of registration or graduation and may result in being at risk of not being included in critical graduation-related mailings and updates and not having their name listed in the graduation program.  

Students are advised to review on an ongoing basis, and especially after each registration period, their DegreeWorks evaluation in Banner under the “Records” menu.  DegreeWorks is a comprehensive audit of coursework that is measured against the requirements for the J.D. or LL.M. degree requirements. It provides a comprehensive review of a student’s academic history and will assist in identifying outstanding requirements. When accessing DegreeWorks, remember to click on the icon next to the “Last Refresh” field to ensure the most recent data is available. Useful information regarding the application may be found at Understanding Your Degree Audit and Reading an Audit in Degree Works. 

Get ready for graduation:

1. Run a degree audit
2. Check account for holds
3. Submit a graduation application (online available for Class of 2024 only)

Go to myW&M and click the Banner button

• Login to Banner Self Service
• Select Student
• Select Student Records
• Select Apply to Graduate

1. Select the most current term, on the “Term Selection” page.
2. Select the radio button next to the primary degree. Press Continue.
3. Select graduation date from the drop-down box. Press Continue.
4. Select hometown information for printing in the Commencement Book by choosing “New” in the drop-down box. Hometown information - Street Lines 2 & 3 are NOT required. Press Continue. 
5. Follow the instructions for entering city and state (or nation) for printing in the Commencement Book. Press Continue. 
6. View the summary to be sure all the information is correct, then hit Submit Request.

A one-time, non-refundable Graduation Fee will be charged to student accounts. To view an itemized list of fees, visit the Tuition & Fees web page.

Please note, if there is a hold(s) on record, students will not be able to use the online application until the hold is removed.

“No Curricula” Error

If trying to use the online application and receive a “No Curricula…” error, that means Banner has an expected graduation term as something other than 2023.

• JD Law Students who receive a “No Curricula” error should contact the Law School Registrar program for assistance. 
• LLM Law Students who receive a “No Curricula” error should contact the LLM Program  for assistance. 

Once submitted, if students need to make any changes to diploma name, please contact University Graduation Coordinator.

Missed the Application Deadline?

Failure to apply to graduate before the deadline may impact: the number of commencement tickets available, inclusion of name in the commencement book, and the awarding of the degree. Please apply by the deadline. If the deadline is missed, Law students will have a hold placed on their record that may delay registration or graduation and must contact Law School Registrar, to discuss options for filing late.

There is no need to confirm the application to the Law School Registrar once submitted online. Students can verify submission after 48 hours via the Banner student account, using the ‘Degree Works’ link under ‘Student Records;’ status will be listed in the top block labeled, ‘Graduation Application Status’ as either ‘applied’ or ‘not applied.’

Honors

Latin Honors

Latin Honors are awarded to the Juris Doctor graduating class. This notation will appear both on the transcript and the diploma. The honors are designated as: 

• Cum Laude, meaning “with distinction,” is awarded to students whose rounded rank GPA places them in the top 25% of the graduating class. 
• Magna Cum Laude, meaning “with great distinction,” is awarded to students whose rounded rank GPA places them in the top 10% of the graduating class. 
• Summa Cum Laude, meaning “with highest distinction,” is awarded to students whose rounded rank GPA places them in the top 3% of the graduating class. 

Order of the Coif

The Order of the Coif is a national scholastic honor society in law. Its purpose is “to foster a spirit of careful study and to mark in a fitting manner those who have attained a high grade of scholarship” in the study of law. The English Order of the Coif was the most ancient and one of the most honored institutions of the common law. Its origins possibly antedated the Norman Conquest. The American Order of the Coif was founded in 1912. Membership in the Order of the Coif is the highest accolade a law student may achieve, it is equivalent to membership in Phi Beta Kappa for undergraduates.  Order of the Coif recognizes the scholastic achievement of students selected from the exact top ten percent of their class upon graduation.  Only those students who earn 75% of their required credits for graduation through William & Mary Law School graded credits are eligible for induction to the William & Mary Chapter of Order of the Coif.  Consequently, transfer students are rarely eligible for induction.

Law School Courses in Washington, D.C.

Consistent with ABA requirements, students may not earn more than sixteen credits through participation in metropolitan Washington, D.C.-based courses, including externships, courses offered through the Election Law program, or any other course where instruction or field work takes place in metropolitan Washington, D.C.

Non-Degree Seeking Enrollment

Because the Law School’s enrollment of full-time degree candidates normally equals or exceeds authorized enrollment levels, enrollment of non-degree students desiring to audit classes or to take classes for credit to be applied to another degree program at William and Mary or elsewhere must be limited.  Accordingly, the following policies will be applied:

• Authorization; students must seek permission from the course instructor, and from the Law School Registrar
• Course Enrollment Limitations; requests to take classes will be considered on a “space available” basis, determined as of the last day of the “Add/Drop” period and according to enrollment limits established by the Law School. First-year courses, required courses, those designated as seminars, experiential, or P/F graded will not be approved. Attorneys licensed to practice law may enroll in no more than two courses per semester. Non-degree students other than attorneys licensed to practice law may enroll in no more than one course per semester. Students enrolled in a degree program at other accredited universities, where the credit earned from the law school course will be applied toward the student’s degree (assuming satisfactory performance as determined by the home school), will be given priority for enrollment purposes. Students enrolled in other degree programs at the College of William and Mary will be given priority over students from other universities.
• Class Participation; non-degree students who are auditing are not permitted to participate in classroom exercises nor will be permitted to take examinations.
• Policies & Regulations; all non-degree students must comply with the Law School’s policies & regulations regarding student conduct and use of facilities.
• Grading; non-degree students requesting enrollment where credits earned will be transferred to their degree program may enroll for a grade. Non-degree students who are attorneys may enroll for a grade. Otherwise, all others will be permitted to enroll only as an auditor. The Law School’s grading system, standards and policies will not be modified.
• Senior Citizens; are entitled to enroll pursuant to the provisions of the Senior Citizens Higher Education Act of 1974 as amended (Va. Code §23-38.54 et seq.) and must file a certificate affirming their senior citizen status. If claiming in-state tuition, the appropriate Domicile Form must accompany registration. Instructor permission is required for all courses and must accompany registration. 
• Application; Non-degree students (whether students of the College of William and Mary or of another institution) who request that earned credits be applied to their degree must present a letter of good standing from their dean which also states that credits earned at College of William and Mary School of Law will be applied to the student’s degree.

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Non-LAW Coursework

A law student may earn a maximum of six W&M non Law school credits (subject listing other than LAW) toward the Juris Doctor degree, and must be in both academic and judicial good standing to request and receive approval. Deadline to request is the end of add/drop of the semester in which the course takes place. Approval requires that a student is in both academic and judicial good standing at William & Mary. After obtaining faculty permission on the form, the student must submit a Non-Law School Course Request to the Vice Dean in order to request or receive non-law course credit. A student must explain how the non-law course is necessary for their law career goals.

 An approved non-law course:

• may not involve essentially the same material covered in a course previously taken by the student
• must be offered at a graduate, or advanced undergraduate level, except for good cause shown (e.g. an introductory course in a foreign language)
• should be intellectually and academically rigorous
• significantly advances the student’s legal and/or profession training

Students must earn a grade of C or better before the credits transfer to the law degree. Note, credits transfer to the law degree, not the grade. The credits are “pass” and are subject to the 25 percent limitation on ungraded academic credits allowed towards the law degree.

A law student may also register for non-law school courses without earning credit toward the Juris Doctor degree. 

Pass/Fail Credits

If a course is designated pass/fail it will be listed as such in the course description and as part of the course information under ATT on the ‘lookup classes to add’ menu in Banner. Students are required to earn at least 75% of their credits by standard letter grade to graduate from William & Mary Law School. Currently, this means students must have at least 65 credits by standard letter grade. Students may not choose to take a graded course pass/fail. Students may, however, select one grade of ‘C’ or better to convert to a pass per the Grade Conversion Policy. 

Registration Rules

• Seminar - during the 24-hour priority registration period to the first day of add/drop, students may register for only one seminar; does not include one-credit short or mini courses as a seminar. If space is available during schedule adjustment period students may register for a second. Students who disregard this rule will be dis-enrolled from all but one seminar the day following their priority registration period. 
• Clinic - during the 24-hour priority registration period, students may register for only one clinic.  If space is available during add/drop, students may register for a second. Students who disregard this rule will be dis-enrolled from all but one clinic the day following their priority registration period.
• Advanced Practice/Writing - all second-year students will register for LAW 140 (Advanced Practice) or a course designated as meeting the Legal Writing Requirement (LWWR attribute).
• Professional Responsibility - all students must register for either LAW 115 (Professional Responsibility) or LAW 117 (The Legal Profession) or LAW 117 Legal Responsibility). LAW 115 or LAW 117 is a graduation requirement and is required for third-year practice. Students may wish to take meet this requirement as a 2L to enable them to try court cases in the summer before the 3L year or during the 3L year (LAW 309 Evidence is also required for a third year practice certificate).
• Earned Credits Requirements - students must earn a minimum of 10 credit hours in the semester and must earn a minimum of 20 credit hours in an academic year. 
• Maximum Registered Credits - students may register for no more than 17 credit hours in a semester. During priority registration for current students this 17 credit hours maximum includes both registered and wait listed (WL) courses. Students who disregard this maximum registered credits rule during priority registration will be dis-enrolled from WL courses until their total reaches 17 credit hours, including both registered and wait list courses. Once schedule adjustment opens students may then register for an unlimited number of waitlisted credit.
• Time Conflict - students may not register for courses that have a time conflict (courses that meet at the same time or overlap for any length of time) unless they comply with the Course Time Conflict Rule.
• Wait list - when registering for a wait list a course, students must affirmatively select to do so from the drop-down menu for that course. Information and guidelines available at Banner Automated Wait listing.
• Add/drop - students may not drop a course once add/drop has ended.

Refund Policy

Full-time students who withdraw from William & Mary before the end of the first week of law classes in each semester are eligible for a full refund (less any deposits or advance payments required by the College as evidence of the student’s intent to enroll).

Students who withdraw after the first week of classes are eligible for a refund of the tuition and fees according to this schedule:

Students who withdraw after the sixth week of classes are not eligible for a refund.

Return of Title IV

The amount that students with Title IV Federal Aid (Federal PELL, Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford, Federal SEOG, Federal Work Study, Federal Perkins, Federal PLUS) who withdraw from school will be calculated in compliance with Federal regulations. A statutory schedule is used to determine the amount of Title IV funds a student has earned as of the date the student withdraws or ceases attendance.

If a student withdraws from college prior to completing 60% of a semester, the Financial Aid Office must recalculate the student’s eligibility for all Title IV federal funds. In addition, the same refund guidelines control all other aid funds, with the exception of private or alternative loans. Recalculation is based on a percent of earned aid using the following Federal Return of Title IV funds formula:

Percent of aid earned = the number of days completed up to the withdrawal date, divided by the total days in the semester. (Any break of five days or more is not counted as part of the days in the semester.)

Funds are returned to the appropriate federal program based on the percent of unearned aid using the following formula:

Aid to be returned = (100% minus the percent earned) multiplied by the amount of aid disbursed toward institutional charges.

For more information, please visit the Bursar’s Office website. 

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Students Requesting Accommodations

It is the policy of William & Mary to accommodate students with disabilities and qualifying diagnosed conditions in accordance with federal and state laws. Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a learning, psychiatric, physical, or chronic health diagnosis should contact Student Accessibility Services staff at 757-221-2512 or at sas@wm.edu to determine if accommodations are warranted and to obtain an official letter of accommodation.

Student Accessibility Services fosters student independence, encourages self-determination, emphasizes accommodation over limitation, and creates a comprehensively accessible environment to ensure that individuals are viewed on the basis of ability not disability. If Student Accessibility Services determines that accommodations are warranted, the staff will work with Associate Dean for Student Affairs & Academic Support to implement such accommodations at the Law School.  Please stop in to see Associate Dean for Student Affairs & Academic Support for assistance in starting the process of seeking accommodation.

Study Abroad

The modern practice of law is increasingly international in nature  Students may find it beneficial to devote part of their J.D. education to legal instruction in a foreign location. The Law School supports study abroad opportunities where course offerings advance the educational objective of expanding student learning to encompass the study of foreign legal systems. 

Semester Exchange Programs

ABA International Opportunities

Transcripts

The transcript is the complete record of all academic work attempted at William & Mary, regardless of degree-seeking status or program level. Not only does it reflect academic history, but it also serves to verify and distinguish the degree(s). While corrections could be made to a transcript to correct grade or credit hours earned, upon degree conferral the academic record is sealed and no change will be made. William & Mary does not print class ranks on either the unofficial or official transcript. Students re4quiring a statement of class rank should contact the Law School Registrar.

• Official Transcript - must be ordered through the University Registrar Office. A fee is charged for each official transcript and mailed directly to a third party (such as an employer or a Bar) or may be picked up by or mailed to a student. 
• Unofficial Transcript - available for currently enrolled students and alumni with access to Banner Self Service to view or print web self-service unofficial transcripts. Students may generate formatted unofficial transcripts using the “Unofficial Transcript Template” in W&M Law OCS TWEN.  

Withdrawal from Semester or Leave of Absence

What happens if … a student needs a break from school, there are family obligations that require a student to be at home, or have a personal emergency that prohibits a student to remain in school?

Complete a formal request and send to the Law Dean of Students as soon as possible. The Dean will work with the student to create a course of action that allows students to take care of personal needs and return to school within one year.  As a matter of right, all law students may take a leave of absence from William & Mary Law School for up to one calendar year. A request for a withdrawal of leave of absence must be made by the last day of classes to avoid responsibility for end of term final exams, papers, and projects. If a student does not return return within one year but subsequently does want to continue a legal education with us, students must petition the Academic Advisory Committee to do so. Reinstatement following a leave of more than one year (two regular semesters, either fall and spring or spring and fall) can only be granted with their approval and the concurrence of the Dean.

First year students who elect to take a leave of absence during their first year spring semester may not return in the fall immediately following and must wait to return to their studies in the following spring.  

Tuition and Fees are prorated based on the withdrawal date and students are advised to determine the specific financial implications that may occur as a result of a leave or withdrawal.

What happens if a student just doesn’t return to law school?

The permanent record will contain the note: “Unofficial Withdrawal” and will have no right to readmission. If students subsequently do want to continue a legal education with us, students must petition the Academic Advisory Committee to do so. Readmission can only be granted with their approval and the concurrence of the Dean.

Students will be charged tuition and fees if not officially withdraw from the College prior to the start of the semester. 

What happens if a student wants to finish a legal education but need to or wish to be in another location?

Sometimes personal reasons may necessitate being in another location or wish to take advantage of another ABA accredited program during the final year of law school. In these cases, students request permission to visit away through the Law Dean of Students. If granted, students will attend and pay tuition to the host school for either one or two semesters of the final year.  When not registered as a full-time student at William & Mary Law School, students are not eligible to receive scholarships nor fellowships from W&M Law. 

Students are still required to accumulate a minimum number of William & Mary Law School courses through a standard letter grade.  If visiting for only one semester, the minimum is 65 graded credits.  If visiting two semesters, the minimum is 50 graded credits.  All other course requirements must be satisfied at William & Mary Law School.  The approved credits earned of “C” or better at the host school will be transferred to the William & Mary law degree.  Credits will be applied only upon receipt of an official transcript from the host school.

See all the rules regarding visiting away on this form. This form as well as the petition to visit (with reason for wanting to visit away, list of schools attempting to visit to and list of courses intending to register in) and a current academic transcript should be submitted to the Law Dean of Students.

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