Juris Doctor in Law (JD in Law)
Get ready for an inspiring legal education that produces the best in the profession. The School of Law is a part of the state-supported William & Mary. The Law School awards credit hours in accordance with the William & Mary Academic Credit Hour Policy. The Vice Dean and the Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development are responsible for monitoring compliance with this policy.
At William & Mary Law School, we believe that we prepare professionally ready graduates better than any other program in the country. It all starts with our philosophy of the citizen lawyer. A degree from W&M Law provides the foundation for our graduates to lead in their communities, motivated by the desire for progress and by the knowledge that members of the legal profession have a special responsibility that comes with their degrees. The Law School offers the below programs:
Juris Doctor Total Required Hours
The minimum total credit requirement for the J.D. degree is 86 credit hours (of which 65 credit hours must be for a W&M Law standard letter grade). Additionally, the American Bar Association specifies that no more than 20 percent of the required credit hours may be taken in any one semester. At William & Mary Law School, this means students may not take more than 17 credits in any one semester.
Length of Program
This is a full-time residential program of legal education. As such, the American Bar Association specifies that it must be completed in no fewer than 24 months and no more than 84 months from the date of matriculation as a degree-seeking first-year law student.
Requirements for the J.D.
Legal Practice Program
- William and Mary Law School’s Legal Practice Program helps students gain the writing, oral communication, and professional skills they’ll need to be great lawyers. The Legal Practice Program is a required three-semester course of study. A second or third-year student with particular skill in legal writing is assigned to each section to teach the ins and outs of proper legal citation. Practicing attorneys in a variety of fields will teach the Lawyering Skills course, providing close guidance on how to interview a client, conduct a negotiation, and other skills necessary to the successful practice of law. Throughout the program, our students will gain the confidence they need as they enter the job market. Beyond the Legal Practice Program, students can continue to develop their writing and practice skills through electives, clinics, and externships.
- In the first year of the program, students work in small Legal Writing classes with a full-time faculty member who specializes in legal writing. Students will develop an objective legal analysis and writing skills in the fall semester and persuasive writing abilities in the spring semester. Students will learn techniques for effective communication through twice-weekly classes and in individual conferences designed for effective, targeted feedback that will help make students not only a better writer but also a better editor of their own work. Law librarians will provide separate sessions on finding legal authorities and other aspects of legal research. Courses required in the first year:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 101 | Criminal Law | 3-4 |
| LAW 102 | Civil Procedure | 3-4 |
| LAW 107 | Torts | 3-4 |
| LAW 108 | Property | 3-4 |
| LAW 109 | Constitutional Law | 3-4 |
| LAW 110 | Contracts | 3-4 |
| Total Hours | 18-24 | |
- In the second or third year, students will build on the skills developed in the first year of the program by choosing an Advanced Writing and Practice course in a particular field of practice: civil pretrial practice, criminal pretrial practice, appellate advocacy, or transactional practice. In this upper-level writing course, students will continue to improve their professional writing skills by drafting more advanced documents, learning strategies from a specialist in the field. Students will receive not only careful feedback on their work but also advice on professionalism and practice tips. Three semesters in the Legal Practice Program:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 130 | Legal Research & Writing I | 2 |
| LAW 132 | Legal Research & Writing II | 2 |
| LAW 131 | Lawyering Skills I | 1 |
| LAW 133 | Lawyering Skills II | 2 |
| Select one of the following: | 2 | |
| Adv Writing&Practice:Appellate | ||
| Adv Writing & Practice: Civil | ||
| Adv Writing&Practice:Criminal | ||
| Adv Writing & Practice: Trans | ||
courses designated as Law Writing Requirement (LWWR attribute) | ||
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Professional Ethics
In the second or third year* students must complete a course in Professional Ethics:
- LAW 115 Professional Responsibility or LAW 117 The Legal Profession
- *For students intending to apply for a Third Year Practice Certificate for use in their summer prior to or during their third year, Evidence and Professional Responsibility or The Legal Profession, plus four semesters of legal study are required for eligibility to obtain a Third Year Practice Certificate
Experiential Work
Experiential courses totaling at least six credit hours. Three of these six credits are satisfied by the required Lawyering Skills I and II in the first year. Additional courses that satisfy the requirement include simulation courses, clinics, and externships.
Required Writing Experiences
- In the first year: Legal Research & Writing I and II
- In the second or third year: Advanced Writing and Practice OR any courses designated as Law Writing Requirement (LWWR)
Minimum Semester and Cumulative GPA Requirement
In order to graduate with a J.D. a student must maintain a semester and cumulative grade point average of 2.3 at the conclusion of the third year of legal study.
Advanced Legal Analysis and Doctrine
Students who have been identified, based on academic performance, as likely to benefit from additional bar exam preparation studies will be required to enroll in the Law School’s Advanced Legal Analysis and Doctrine LAW 361 Adv Legal Analysis & Doctrine during their third-year as a condition of graduation. The Dean’s Office will be responsible for identifying and contacting such students and granting exceptions to the requirement, on a case-by-case basis for good cause.
Graduate Employment Survey Requirement
As a condition to being able to register for 3L spring classes and release of a diploma, students are required to complete a Graduate Employment Survey (GES) in Symplicity during the fall of the 3L year, and participate in a Graduation Audit meeting with the Office of Career Services during the spring of the 3L year.
The Office of Career Services will provide instructions and deadlines for completion of the GES and Graduation Audit. If a student fails to timely complete the GES as instructed, the Law School Registrar will place a hold on the student account preventing spring registration. If a student fails to timely complete the Graduation Audit as instructed, the Law School Registrar will place a hold on the student account that will prevent release of a diploma. These holds will be removed by the Law School Registrar upon completion of these requirements.
Note
Curricular requirements are subject to change.
Concentrations (Optional)
Introduction
This policy provides overall requirements and guidance for students who pursue a concentration as part of the J.D. program at the Law School. Concentrations indicate focused coursework and experiential learning or independent research in a particular area of study beyond the required curriculum. Students who successfully complete the concentration will receive a notation on their Law School transcripts.
Each concentration requires successful completion of (1) two or more foundational courses, (2) three or more approved courses, and (3) an independent research paper or an experiential course. The number of courses required in (1) and (2) is specific to the individual concentration being pursued; students must meet their concentration’s requirements as noted below. Pursuit of a J.D. concentration does not require additional credit hours above the minimum 86 required for the J.D. degree.
The JD Declaration of Concentration form may be submitted directly to the Law School Registrar for review during the student’s second year of study by the deadlines posted. Requests for group C experiential credit for journal notes or externships or independent projects must be approved by the Vice Dean prior to being applied to a concentration. Students must provide documentation of course content or paper subject for review when the Concentration request form is submitted. If requesting permission for a journal paper for a group C requirement attach copy of the published note when submitting the form. If requesting permission to use an externship or independent project for a group C requirement students must submit copy of the externship contract or course description and statement from the externship supervisor or independent course faculty manager indicating relevant work that must explicitly cover the applicable law-related topic. Externship or journal or independent project authorization should be forwarded when submitting request form to the Law School Registrar.
A student will be deemed to have satisfied the requirements for completion of the concentration only upon approval of the JD Declaration Form by the Assistant Dean for Academic Services. The form must be submitted by February 1 for May graduates, by May 1 for August graduates, and by September 1 for December graduates. The Assistant Dean for Academic Services may provisionally approve completion if the Form indicates that the concentration’s requirements will be completed through pending coursework or a pending research paper.
Concentration Requirements
- Each concentration requires successful completion of (1) two or more foundational courses, (2) three or more approved courses, and (3) an independent research paper or an experiential course. The number of courses required in (1) and (2) is specific to the individual concentration being pursued; students must meet their concentration’s requirements as noted below.
- Students pursuing a concentration register for courses in the same manner as other students and do not receive priority registration in a course. Accordingly, students are encouraged to consider in a timely manner course selection and plans for fulfilling concentration requirements and to prioritize concentration courses in their registration process.
- Students may pursue a maximum of two concentrations. Students who pursue two concentrations must complete the requirements for each independently and may not count a single course or experience as satisfying two concentrations.
- Students may use a single course to satisfy both the Law School’s six-credit experiential learning requirement and the experiential course option in Group C of a concentration.
- Students may elect the third year student P/F grade conversion option for a graded course that meets a concentration requirement.
- Students are responsible for ensuring that they have met all concentration requirements. Any questions or concerns in this regard, or any identification of errors or ambiguities in the DegreeWorks evaluation platform, should be brought to the Assistant Dean for Academic Services as soon as possible.
Business Law Concentration
Required Courses: at least 7
Students must complete courses in the following groups, as noted:
Business Law Group A
Complete all three of the following courses with course attribute BLWF:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 311 | Federal Income Taxation | 3 |
| LAW 320 | Business Associations | 3-4 |
| or LAW 303 | Corporations I | |
| LAW 697 | Securities Litigation | 3 |
| or LAW 423 | Securities Regulation | |
Business Law Group B
Complete at least three additional courses with course attribute BLWS from the following list:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 331 | AI, Cybersec, and Data Privacy | 1 |
| LAW 422 | Accting & Finance for Lawyers | 2 |
| LAW 441 | Admiralty Law | 3 |
| LAW 494 | Adv Topics in Employment Law | 1 |
| LAW 660 | Advanced Topics in T&E Sem | 2 |
| LAW 518 | Anti-MoneyLau&Count FinTer Sem | 2 |
| LAW 411 | Antitrust | 3 |
| LAW 363 | Corp Restructuring Strateg Sem | 2 |
| LAW 602 | Applied Data Privacy | 2 |
| LAW 757 | Art Law | 1 |
| LAW 439 | Bankruptcy in the Headlines | 2 |
| LAW 306 | Bankruptcy Survey | 3 |
| LAW 388 | Broker-Dealer & Exchange Reg | 2 |
| LAW 318 | Business Torts | 2 |
| LAW 434 | Commercial Law Survey | 3 |
| LAW 420 | Commercial Real Estate Transac | 1 |
| LAW 461 | Commercial Leasing | 1 |
| LAW 437 | Corporate Finance | 3 |
| LAW 438 | Corporate Taxation | 2 |
| LAW 350 | Cryptocurrency Regulation | 2 |
| LAW 553 | Current Topics Antitrust | 3 |
| LAW 454 | Economic Analysis of the Law | 3 |
| LAW 337 | Employee Benefits and ERISA | 2 |
| LAW 452 | Employment Discrimination | 3 |
| LAW 641 | Employment Discrimination Law | 3 |
| LAW 456 | Employment Law | 3 |
| LAW 713 | Employment Law for 21st Centur | 2 |
| LAW 519 | Enforce of Sec;Proc&Issues Sem | 2 |
| LAW 596 | Env Diligence Comm Transact | 1 |
| LAW 440 | Federal White Collar Crime | 2 |
| LAW 379 | Financial Sanctions | 2 |
| LAW 646 | Foreign Corrupt Practices Act | 1 |
| LAW 546 | Government Contracts Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 742 | Health Care Transactions | 1 |
| LAW 387 | Human Resource Mgmt | 1 |
| LAW 330 | Intl Bus & Transborder Crime | 1 |
| LAW 448 | Intellectual Property | 3 |
| LAW 520 | Investment Mgmt Regulation Sem | 2 |
| LAW 658 | Int'l Comm Arbitration Sem | 2 |
| LAW 496 | Intl Business Transactions | 3 |
| LAW 497 | International Trade Law | 3 |
| LAW 408 | Insurance Law | 2 |
| LAW 307 | Insurance Law: Prop & Casualty | 1 |
| LAW 466 | Law & Bus in the Metaverse Sem | 2 |
| LAW 675 | Law & Entrepreneurship Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 364 | Leveraged Finance Sem | 2 |
| LAW 399 | Medical Professional Liability | 1 |
| LAW 464 | Mergers & Acquisitions | 2 |
| LAW 473 | Non-Profit Law Practice | 2-3 |
| LAW 749 | Non-Profit Organztn Externship (May not use if using for group C) | 1-4 |
| LAW 671 | Patent Infrng Investigat ITC | 1 |
| LAW 352 | Priv Equity:Structure & Issues (May not reuse for group C) | 1 |
| LAW 759 | Priv/In Hse Counsel Extern (May not use if using for group C) | 1-4 |
| LAW 451 | Products Liability | 2 |
| LAW 349 | Protecting Kids Online | 3 |
| LAW 559 | Prt Tax Corp&Real Est Lawy Sem | 2 |
| LAW 347 | Pub Pol for Science & Prof Sem | 3 |
| LAW 603 | Regulatory Law & Public Policy | 3 |
| LAW 413 | Remedies | 3 |
| LAW 404 | Secured Transactions | 2 |
| LAW 322 | State & Local Taxation | 3 |
| LAW 446 | Sovereign Debt Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 793 | Telecommunication Law & Policy | 1 |
| LAW 314 | Title Insurance | 2 |
| LAW 581 | Trade Secrets Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 672 | US Foreign Investmen Screening | 1 |
| LAW 324 | When Gender Goes to Work Sem | 2 |
Business Law Group C
Complete at least one of the following experiential learning courses with course attribute BLAW or a two-credit independent research paper on a business law-related topic (with prior approval):
- Business Law-Related Externship (2 or more credits with prior approval) (If LAW 759 Priv/In House Counsel Externship is approved, may not reuse in group B
- LAW 704 Ind Legal Research on business law-related topic (2-credits with prior approval)( Note that this would require completion of two separate LAW 704 Ind Legal Research courses as they are one credit each)
- Journal note on Business Law-Related Topic (with prior advance approval)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 140D | Adv Writing & Practice: Trans | 2 |
| LAW 462 | AI in Legal Practice | 1 |
| LAW 471 | Big Tech and Antitrust | 1 |
| LAW 781 | Complex Business Transactions | 1 |
| LAW 371 | Complex Trans Reg'd Industries | 1 |
| LAW 743 | Low Income Tax Clinic | 3 |
| LAW 737 | Planning a Chapter 11 Filing | 1 |
| LAW 352 | Priv Equity:Structure & Issues (May not use if using for group B) | 1 |
Criminal Law & Procedure Concentration
Required Courses: at least 7
Students must complete courses in the following groups, as noted:
Criminal Law and Procedure Group A
Complete all three of the following courses with course attribute RLWF:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 308 | Appl Evidence Tech Age | 3-4 |
| or LAW 309 | Evidence | |
| LAW 401 | Crim Proc I (Investigation) | 3 |
| LAW 402 | Crim Pro II (Adjudication) | 3 |
Note: Students who take Criminal Procedure Survey LAW 403 may not take either Criminal Procedure I (Law 401) or Criminal Procedure II (Law 402) for credit. NOTE; both Criminal Procedure I & II are required coursework for the Criminal Law Concentration; therefore, enrollment in Criminal Procedure Survey LAW 403 prevents students from pursuing the Criminal Law Concentration.
Note: Students who pursue Criminal Law and Procedure may not also pursue Public Interest and Social Justice due to an overlap in foundation courses and the policy that states students may not use a single course to satisfy more than one concentration.
Criminal Law and Procedure Group B
Complete at least three additional courses with attribute RLWS from the following list:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 542 | American Jury Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 518 | Anti-MoneyLau&Count FinTer Sem | 2 |
| LAW 512 | Critical Issues Facing DOJ Sem | 2 |
| LAW 414 | Cybercrime Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 300 | Ethics & Strategy in Litigatio | 1 |
| LAW 415 | Federal Courts | 3 |
| or LAW 477 | Section 1983 Litigation | |
| LAW 440 | Federal White Collar Crime | 2 |
| LAW 390 | Health Care Fraud | 2 |
| LAW 498 | Int'l & Compar Crim Justice | 1 |
| LAW 385 | International Criminal Law | 3 |
| LAW 509 | Jury Strategies Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 342 | Life or Death | 1 |
| LAW 463 | Persp in Law Enforcement Sem | 2 |
| LAW 349 | Protecting Kids Online | 3 |
| LAW 328 | Reforming Crim Jury Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 316 | Remedies & Relief in Crim Law | 2 |
| LAW 599 | Rep Vulnerable Pop in Crim Def | 1 |
| LAW 500 | SCOTUS & Police Interrogations | 1 |
| LAW 325 | Role of a Federal Prosecutor | 1 |
| LAW 477 | Section 1983 Litigation | 2 |
| or LAW 415 | Federal Courts | |
| LAW 531 | Sel Topics in Crim Justice Sem | 2 |
| LAW 384 | Sentencing Law | 1 |
| LAW 522 | Special Topics Crim Law Sem | 2 |
| LAW 598 | Select Top in Juvenile Law Sem | 2 |
| LAW 517 | Tech & Crimes Against Children | 1 |
| LAW 630 | The Death Penalty Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 529 | The Military Commissions Sem | 2 |
| LAW 580 | The Second Amendment | 3 |
| LAW 720 | Trial Advocacy | 3 |
| LAW 397 | Virginia Criminal Procedure | 3 |
Criminal Law and Procedure Group C
Complete at least one of the following experiential learning courses with attribute CRIM, or a two-credit independent research paper on a criminal law-related topic (with prior approval):
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 140C | Adv Writing&Practice:Criminal | 2 |
| LAW 605 | Crim Justice Practice Skills | 1 |
| LAW 745 | Domestic Violence Clinic | 3 |
| LAW 747 | Innocence Project Clinic I | 3 |
| LAW 707 | Misdemeanor Practice | 1 |
| LAW 333 | Plea Bargain: Theory and Pract | 1 |
| LAW 770 | Prosecutor Externship (Does not require Vice Dean prior approval) | 1-4 |
| LAW 771 | Public Defender Externship (Does not require Vice Dean prior approval) | 1-4 |
| LAW 738 | Tech-Augmented Trial Ad | 4 |
| LAW 756 | US Attorney Externship (Does not require Vice Dean prior approval) | 1-4 |
Environmental Law Concentration
Required Courses: 6 to 9
Students must complete courses in the following groups, as noted:
Environmental Law Group A
Complete two of the following courses with attribute NLWF:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 339 | Natural Resources Law (can only be counted if not counted in Group B) | 3 |
| LAW 424 | Environmental Law | 3 |
| LAW 425 | Land Use Control | 3 |
| LAW 453 | Administrative Law | 3-4 |
Environmental Law Group B
Complete three or more additional courses with attribute NLWS from the following list:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 587 | Animal Law Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 654 | Clean Energy Future | 1 |
| LAW 679 | Climate Change | 3 |
| LAW 593 | Disaster Law & Ldrship Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 608 | Eminent Domain&Prop Rights Sem | 3 |
| LAW 426 | Energy Law | 3 |
| LAW 596 | Env Diligence Comm Transact | 1 |
| LAW 319 | Env Law: Chem, Contam, Cleanup | 2 |
| LAW 460 | Env Law & the Constitution Sem | 2 |
| LAW 634 | Federal Indian Law Sem | 3 |
| LAW 346 | Fund of Env Sci for Policy | 3 |
| LAW 664 | Intl Environmental Law Sem | 2 |
| LAW 339 | Natural Resources Law | 3 |
| LAW 516 | NEPA Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 367 | Oil & Gas & Energy Economics | 2 |
| LAW 482 | The Clean Water Act | 2 |
| LAW 468 | Water Law | 3 |
Environmental Law Group C
Complete at least one of the following experiential learning courses with attribute ENVR, or a two-credit independent research paper on an environmental law-related topic (with prior approval), or a law journal note on an environmental law-related topic with prior approval, or an environmental law-related externship of two-credits or more:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 700 | Directed Research (two-credits with prior approval on environmental law-related topic) | 2 |
| LAW 667 | VA Environmental Law Practice | 1 |
International Law Concentration
Required Courses: at least 7
Students must complete courses in the following groups, as noted:
International Law Group A
Complete two of the following courses with attribute TLWF (one of which must be International Law):
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 380 | Comparative Law | 3 |
| LAW 409 | International Law | 3 |
| LAW 496 | Intl Business Transactions (May not use if using in group B) | 3 |
International Law Group B
Complete at least four additional courses with attribute TLWS from the following list:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 331 | AI, Cybersec, and Data Privacy | 1 |
| LAW 441 | Admiralty Law | 3 |
| LAW 366 | Civ Lit Resp-Acts of Intl Terr | 1 |
| LAW 637 | Compar Constitutional Law Sem | 3 |
| LAW 380 | Comparative Law | 3 |
| LAW 410 | Conflicts of Laws | 3 |
| LAW 323 | Digital Constitutionalism? | 1 |
| LAW 391 | EU Privacy and Data Protection | 2 |
| LAW 338 | European Union Law | 2 |
| LAW 646 | Foreign Corrupt Practices Act | 1 |
| LAW 327 | Global Issues in Legal Ethics | 2 |
| LAW 382 | Human Rights Law | 3 |
| LAW 396 | Human Trafficking | 3 |
| LAW 330 | Intl Bus & Transborder Crime | 1 |
| LAW 496 | Intl Business Transactions (May not use if using for group A) | 3 |
| LAW 658 | Int'l Comm Arbitration Sem | 2 |
| LAW 498 | Int'l & Compar Crim Justice | 1 |
| LAW 385 | International Criminal Law | 3 |
| LAW 664 | Intl Environmental Law Sem | 2 |
| LAW 336 | Intl Intellectual Property Law | 3 |
| LAW 726 | Intl Law of NATO | 1 |
| LAW 497 | International Trade Law | 3 |
| LAW 604 | Islamic Law Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 487 | Law of Armed Conflict Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 374 | Litigation & Nat'l Sec Law | 1 |
| LAW 475 | National Security Law | 3 |
| LAW 671 | Patent Infrng Investigat ITC | 1 |
| LAW 349 | Protecting Kids Online | 3 |
| LAW 394 | Post-Conflict Justice & Law | 3 |
| LAW 423 | Securities Regulation | 3 |
| LAW 446 | Sovereign Debt Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 711 | Spanish for Lawyers | 1 |
| LAW 523 | The Law of Economi Warfare Sem | 2 |
| LAW 672 | US Foreign Investmen Screening | 1 |
| LAW 332 | Violence Against Women | 1 |
| LAW 797 | War Powers:Nat'l Sec Law Const | 3 |
International Law Group C
Complete at least two credits of coursework with attribute of INTN, or LAW 691 Advanced Applied International Research for two credits, or at least one international law-related externship (two or more credits), or a two-credit independent research paper on an international law-related topic, or note written for law journal on an international law-related topic with Vice Dean advance approval.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 786 | Immigration Clinic I | 3 |
| LAW 787 | Immigration Clinic II | 3 |
| LAW 710 | International Team ILR (2-credit minimum) | 1 |
| LAW 709 | Moot Court ILR (2-credit minimum) | 1 |
Intellectual Property Law Concentration
Required Courses: at least 7
Students must complete courses in the following groups, as noted:
Intellectual Property Group A
Complete three or more of the following courses with attribute ILWF:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 442 | Trademark Law | 3 |
| LAW 447 | Patent Law | 3 |
| LAW 448 | Intellectual Property | 3 |
| LAW 465 | Copyright Law | 3 |
Intellectual Property Group B
Complete at least three additional courses with attribute ILWS from the following list:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 331 | AI, Cybersec, and Data Privacy | 1 |
| LAW 462 | AI in Legal Practice | 1 |
| LAW 491 | AI: Intro for Non-Experts | 1 |
| LAW 357 | AI Law & Policy Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 453 | Administrative Law | 3-4 |
| LAW 602 | Applied Data Privacy | 2 |
| LAW 670 | Art & Cultural Heritage Sem | 1 |
| LAW 428 | Artificial Intel & More Sem | 3 |
| LAW 372 | Bioethics | 3 |
| LAW 471 | Big Tech and Antitrust | 1 |
| LAW 665 | Cyber &Info Sec Essentials Sem | 2 |
| LAW 414 | Cybercrime Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 341 | Cybersecurity Incident Respons | 1 |
| LAW 323 | Digital Constitutionalism? | 1 |
| LAW 310 | Electronic Discovery | 1 |
| LAW 358 | Electronic Discovery | 1 |
| LAW 391 | EU Privacy and Data Protection | 2 |
| LAW 415 | Federal Courts | 3 |
| LAW 370 | Food and Drug Law | 2 |
| LAW 458 | Health Law and Policy | 3 |
| LAW 336 | Intl Intellectual Property Law | 3 |
| LAW 466 | Law & Bus in the Metaverse Sem | 2 |
| LAW 675 | Law & Entrepreneurship Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 412 | Legis/Statutory Interpretation | 3 |
| LAW 671 | Patent Infrng Investigat ITC | 1 |
| LAW 544 | Patent Litigation Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 348 | Privacy Law | 3 |
| LAW 413 | Remedies | 3 |
| LAW 400 | Speech and Press | 3 |
| LAW 638 | Statutory Interpretation Sem | 2 |
| LAW 793 | Telecommunication Law & Policy | 1 |
| LAW 581 | Trade Secrets Seminar | 2 |
Intellectual Property Group C
Complete at least one of the following experiential learning courses with attribute INTC, or a two-credit independent research paper on an intellectual property law-related topic (with prior approval):
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 140D | Adv Writing & Practice: Trans | 2 |
| LAW 351 | Alternat Disput Resolut Survey | 2 |
| LAW 478 | Incorp ChatGPT in Legal Writ | 1 |
| LAW 722 | Mediation | 2 |
| Intellectual Property-Related Externship (two or more credits) | ||
National Security Law Concentration
Required Courses: at least 7
Students must complete courses in the following groups, as noted:
National Security Group A
Complete two from the following foundational courses with attribute NSWF (if not used in Group B):
- LAW 475 National Security Law or LAW 797 War Powers:Nat'l Sec Law Const
- LAW 453 Administrative Law or LAW 412 Legis/Statutory Interpretation or LAW 638 Statutory Interpretation Sem
National Security Group B
Complete at least four additional courses from the following with attribute NSWS; cannot re-use courses selected to meet Group A requirement:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 357 | AI Law & Policy Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 453 | Administrative Law | 3-4 |
| LAW 518 | Anti-MoneyLau&Count FinTer Sem | 2 |
| LAW 428 | Artificial Intel & More Sem | 3 |
| LAW 366 | Civ Lit Resp-Acts of Intl Terr | 1 |
| LAW 505 | Counterintelligence Law | 1 |
| LAW 414 | Cybercrime Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 341 | Cybersecurity Incident Respons | 1 |
| LAW 665 | Cyber &Info Sec Essentials Sem | 2 |
| LAW 379 | Financial Sanctions | 2 |
| LAW 443 | Foreign Intel Surv. Act Sem. | 2 |
| LAW 546 | Government Contracts Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 382 | Human Rights Law | 3 |
| LAW 607 | Internal Investigations | 1 |
| LAW 409 | International Law | 3 |
| LAW 487 | Law of Armed Conflict Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 374 | Litigation & Nat'l Sec Law | 1 |
| LAW 412 | Legis/Statutory Interpretation | 3 |
| or LAW 638 | Statutory Interpretation Sem | |
| LAW 503 | Military Justice Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 671 | Patent Infrng Investigat ITC | 1 |
| LAW 348 | Privacy Law | 3 |
| LAW 543 | Terrorism and the Law Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 523 | The Law of Economi Warfare Sem | 2 |
| LAW 529 | The Military Commissions Sem | 2 |
| LAW 580 | The Second Amendment | 3 |
| LAW 672 | US Foreign Investmen Screening | 1 |
| LAW 797 | War Powers:Nat'l Sec Law Const | 3 |
National Security Group C
Complete at least one of the following with attribute NSWE:
- LAW 607 Internal Investigations
- LAW 704 Ind Legal Research on a national security law related topic (2 credits with prior approval)
- At least one national security law related externship (2 or more credits with prior approval)
- Student note written for law journal on a national security law-related topic (with prior approval)
Public Interest and Social Justice Concentration
Required Courses: at least 7
Students must complete courses in the following groups, as noted:
Public Interest and Social Justice Group A
Complete three courses with attribute SJWF, one from each of the three following subgroups:
A.1. LAW 453 Administrative Law or LAW 412 Legis/Statutory Interpretation or LAW 638 Statutory Interpretation Sem
and
A.2. LAW 415 Federal Courts or LAW 477 Section 1983 Litigation
and
A.3. LAW 401 Crim Proc I (Investigation) or LAW 402 Crim Pro II (Adjudication) or LAW 403 Criminal Procedure Survey
Note: Students who pursue Public Interest and Social Justice may not also pursue Criminal Law and Procedure due to an overlap in foundation courses and the policy that states students may not use a single course to satisfy more than one concentration.
Public Interest and Social Justice Group B
Complete at least three additional courses with attribute SJWS from the following list:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 462 | AI in Legal Practice | 1 |
| LAW 660 | Advanced Topics in T&E Sem | 2 |
| LAW 587 | Animal Law Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 372 | Bioethics | 3 |
| LAW 532 | Children's Rights | 1 |
| LAW 595 | Citizen Lawyers | 1 |
| LAW 401 | Crim Proc I (Investigation) | 3 |
| LAW 402 | Crim Pro II (Adjudication) | 3 |
| LAW 449 | Democracy in the AI Age Sem | 3 |
| LAW 640 | Disability Law | 3 |
| LAW 362 | Education Law | 3 |
| LAW 467 | Elder Law Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 398 | Election Law | 2 |
| LAW 452 | Employment Discrimination | 3 |
| LAW 641 | Employment Discrimination Law | 3 |
| LAW 713 | Employment Law for 21st Centur | 2 |
| LAW 624 | Empower Choices: DisabilityRts | 1 |
| LAW 424 | Environmental Law | 3 |
| LAW 319 | Env Law: Chem, Contam, Cleanup | 2 |
| LAW 300 | Ethics & Strategy in Litigatio | 1 |
| LAW 416 | Family Law | 3 |
| LAW 355 | Gender, Sexuality, & Law | 3 |
| LAW 458 | Health Law and Policy | 3 |
| LAW 382 | Human Rights Law | 3 |
| LAW 396 | Human Trafficking | 3 |
| LAW 485 | Immigration Law | 3 |
| LAW 407 | Labor Law | 3 |
| LAW 501 | Law and Social Justice Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 381 | Mental Health & the Law | 1 |
| LAW 515 | Native American Litigation | 1 |
| LAW 552 | Pro Bono in Practice | 1 |
| LAW 347 | Pub Pol for Science & Prof Sem | 3 |
| LAW 489 | Race and the Constitution Sem | 3 |
| LAW 685 | Race,Law, & Lawy Div Envi Sem | 2 |
| LAW 599 | Rep Vulnerable Pop in Crim Def | 1 |
| LAW 507 | Role of State Attorney Gen | 1 |
| LAW 628 | Race & Amer Legal History | 3 |
| LAW 500 | SCOTUS & Police Interrogations | 1 |
| LAW 598 | Select Top in Juvenile Law Sem | 2 |
| LAW 384 | Sentencing Law | 1 |
| LAW 522 | Special Topics Crim Law Sem | 2 |
| LAW 429 | State & Local Govt Law | 3 |
| LAW 517 | Tech & Crimes Against Children | 1 |
| LAW 632 | Testing Rule of Law | 1 |
| LAW 630 | The Death Penalty Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 427 | Vice and the Law | 2 |
| LAW 488 | Youth Law | 3 |
Public Interest and Social Justice Group C
Complete at least one of the following with attribute SJSP:
- 2-credit minimum Externship - The following Externships qualify towards the Concentration: Judicial, Federal Government, Nonprofit Organization, Prosecutor, Public Defender, State/Local Government, and U.S. Attorney.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 788 | Appellate & Supr Ct Clinic I | 3 |
| LAW 789 | Appellate & Sup Ct Clinic II | 3 |
| LAW 750 | Community Law Clinic | 3 |
| LAW 751 | Community Law Clinic II | 2 |
| LAW 605 | Crim Justice Practice Skills | 1 |
| LAW 745 | Domestic Violence Clinic | 3 |
| LAW 784 | Elder &Disability Law Clinic I | 3 |
| LAW 684 | Elder & Disability Law Clin II | 2 |
| LAW 642 | Employment Discr Law Practicum | 1 |
| LAW 746 | Family Law Clinic | 3 |
| LAW 743 | Low Income Tax Clinic | 3 |
| LAW 786 | Immigration Clinic I | 3 |
| LAW 787 | Immigration Clinic II | 3 |
| LAW 747 | Innocence Project Clinic I | 3 |
| LAW 785 | Innocence Project Clinic II | 3 |
| LAW 333 | Plea Bargain: Theory and Pract | 1 |
| LAW 782 | Special Educ Advocacy Clinic I | 3 |
| LAW 780 | Puller Vet Clinic-Dis Comp&Apl | 3 |
| LAW 783 | Puller Vet Clinic II Adv Advoc | 2 |
Political Law Concentration
Required Courses: at least 7
Students must complete courses in the following groups, as noted:
Political Law Group A
Complete at least three courses with attribute POLF from the following list:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 453 | Administrative Law | 3-4 |
| LAW 398 | Election Law | 3 |
| LAW 412 | Legis/Statutory Interpretation | 3 |
| or LAW 638 | Statutory Interpretation Sem | |
| LAW 429 | State & Local Govt Law | 3 |
Political Law Group B
Complete at least three of the following with attribute POLS; if a student satisfies all four of the Group A requirements, the fourth course may be counted as supporting counted here.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 357 | AI Law & Policy Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 372 | Bioethics | 3 |
| LAW 393 | Campaign Finance | 1 |
| LAW 680 | Comparative Election Law | 1 |
| LAW 350 | Cryptocurrency Regulation | 2 |
| LAW 449 | Democracy in the AI Age Sem | 3 |
| LAW 486 | Defamation and Disinformation | 1 |
| LAW 640 | Disability Law | 3 |
| LAW 454 | Economic Analysis of the Law | 3 |
| LAW 362 | Education Law | 3 |
| LAW 748 | Election Administration Law | 1 |
| LAW 608 | Eminent Domain&Prop Rights Sem | 3 |
| LAW 415 | Federal Courts | 3 |
| or LAW 477 | Section 1983 Litigation | |
| LAW 311 | Federal Income Taxation | 3 |
| LAW 355 | Gender, Sexuality, & Law | 3 |
| LAW 546 | Government Contracts Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 458 | Health Law and Policy | 3 |
| LAW 521 | Hist Conserv Leg Movement Sem | 2 |
| LAW 458 | Health Law and Policy | 3 |
| LAW 425 | Land Use Control | 3 |
| LAW 513 | Law and Politics | 1 |
| LAW 381 | Mental Health & the Law | 1 |
| LAW 348 | Privacy Law | 3 |
| LAW 685 | Race,Law, & Lawy Div Envi Sem | 2 |
| LAW 507 | Role of State Attorney Gen | 1 |
| LAW 477 | Section 1983 Litigation | 2 |
| or LAW 415 | Federal Courts | |
| LAW 493 | State Constitutionalism | 1 |
| LAW 322 | State & Local Taxation | 3 |
| LAW 619 | Supreme Court Seminar | 1 |
| LAW 400 | Speech and Press | 3 |
| LAW 523 | The Law of Economi Warfare Sem | 2 |
| LAW 580 | The Second Amendment | 3 |
| LAW 427 | Vice and the Law | 2 |
Political Law Group C
Experiential with attribute POLI or Independent; at least two credits in one of the following or combination of.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 301 | ElecLaw Prac-LawyeringCampaign | 1 |
| LAW 758 | Federal Government Externship (Does not require Vice Dean prior approval) | 1-4 |
| LAW 704 | Ind Legal Research (on political law-related topic (with Vice Dean approval)) | 1-2 |
| LAW 502 | Leg Redistrict w/Geo Info Sys | 1 |
| LAW 378 | Non-Profit Campaign Fin Law | 1 |
| LAW 749 | Non-Profit Organztn Externship (Does not require Vice Dean prior approval) | 1-4 |
| LAW 716 | Power & Influence & Leadership | 1 |
| LAW 347 | Pub Pol for Science & Prof Sem | 3 |
| LAW 753 | St & Local Govt Externshp | 1-4 |
| LAW 421 | Voting Rights Litigation&Prac | 1 |