Juris Doctor (JD)
As a lawyer, you will face a unique set of challenges every day, from negotiating complex agreements to successfully arguing motions in court. That is why DePaul College of Law offers theoretical instruction that will prepare you to tackle cutting edge legal problems, along with creative approaches to practical skills training. In the classroom and in the field, DePaul’s comprehensive curriculum prepares you for legal practice and beyond.
Find the Program That Fits You
DePaul’s full-time day and evening programs give you more flexibility and options in planning your legal education. In addition to the core JD curriculum, you can choose from a variety of certificate programs, dual degrees, including our Programs of Excellence. Whether you pursue a traditional JD track or a dual degree program, DePaul prepares you to succeed.
JD Degree Requirements
Law School Full-Time Day and Evening Program Options
The College of Law has both a full-time day and an evening program option. At the end of their first year, students may change from the evening program to full-time day or vice versa by filing a program change request form with the Office of Student Affairs. The form is available on the College of Law website under Registration. Students may only change their status once while they are enrolled in law school.
Students are advised that a program change may affect their financial aid. For financial aid information, they should see a financial aid counselor in the Office of Financial Aid on the 9th floor of the DePaul Center.
Note that, after JD Day students complete their first-year required courses and after JD Evening students complete their first three semesters of required courses, students may take day or evening courses, regardless of the student's program.
Graduation with a JD requires that the student complete 86 credit hours. Under the College of Law's semester system, one credit hour is granted for 50 minutes of classroom or direct faculty instructional time per week, multiplied by 15, and at least 120 minutes of additional out-of-class student work each week, or an equivalent amount of work for other courses and activities, multiplied by 15. The standard course extends over a fourteen-week semester, followed by a final examination period. Courses or other credit-bearing activities that occur over a different time period must incorporate the same total amount of instructional time and additional assigned work per credit hour as a standard course. At a minimum, students must complete 42.5 hours for 1 unit of credit; 85 hours for 2 units of credit; 127.5 hours for 3 units of credit; and 170 hours for 4 units of credit.
Credit is earned if a student receives an A through a D, or PA grade.
Time to Degree Limitation
JD Day students are expected to complete the degree in three years. JD Evening students are expected to complete the degree in four years. The maximum time to complete the JD program, if a student takes an approved leave of absence, is five years. Students who are unable to complete the degree within this time frame are required to confer with the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs in the College of Law. ?Pursuant to the American Bar Association Standards of Accreditation, all JD students must complete their degree no later than 84 months after commencing law study.
Maximum and Minimum Credit Hours
First-year JD Day students take 14-15 credit hours per semester. First-year JD Evening students take 9-11 credit hours per semester.
Upper level JD Day students may register for a maximum of 16 credit hours per semester. After their third semester, JD Evening students may register for a maximum of 12 credit hours per semester.?
JD Day students must take a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester except that JD Day graduating seniors in their final semester need only take the number of credit hours necessary for them to graduate. JD Evening students must register for a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester except that graduating seniors need only take the number of credit hours necessary for them to graduate. ?
No Credit for Course Work Taken Prior to Matriculation in the JD Program
The American Bar Association Standards provide that credit for a JD degree shall only be given for course work taken after the student has matriculated in a law school. A law school may not grant credit toward the JD degree for work taken in a pre-admission program.
Core Required Courses
Course | Title | Semester Hours |
---|---|---|
LAW 101 | APPLIED LEGAL SKILLS * | 1 |
LAW 105 | CONTRACTS * | 4 |
LAW 112 | LEGAL ANALYSIS RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATION I * | 2 |
LAW 115 | LEGAL ANALYSIS RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATION III | 3 |
LAW 119 | LEGAL ANALYSIS RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATIONS II * | 3 |
LAW 120 | CIVIL PROCEDURE * | 4 |
LAW 130 | PREPARING TO PRACTICE I * | 0 |
LAW 131 | PREPARING TO PRACTICE II * | 0 |
LAW 140 | CONSTITUTIONAL LAW * | 4 |
LAW 160 | PROPERTY * | 4 |
LAW 170 | TORT LAW * | 4 |
LAW 481 | LEGAL PROFESSION | 3 |
LAW 506 | CRIMINAL LAW * | 3 |
*
Courses that are counted toward the BA for students in the 3+3 (BA/JD) program. These courses will be completed in the combined final year of the undergraduate degree and first year of the law degree.
Experiential Education Requirement
Students must complete at least six credit hours of experiential education courses from the list of approved courses below. Most, but not all, courses are offered for three credit hours.
Course | Title | Semester Hours |
---|---|---|
Select at least six credit hours of the following: | 6 | |
LAW 213 |
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PRACTICUM | |
LAW 246 |
PATENT & TRADEMARK SEARCHING | |
LAW 286 |
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW PRACTICUM | |
LAW 287 |
ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW PRACTICUM | |
LAW 290 |
ANATOMY OF A DEAL: FROM INCEPTION TO CLOSING | |
LAW 312 |
TRIAL ADVOCACY II | |
LAW 319 |
PROSECUTING & DEFENDING CRIMINAL CASES | |
LAW 363 |
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE | |
LAW 369 |
LITIGATION LAB | |
LAW 400 |
BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS AND DOCUMENTATION | |
LAW 419 |
LITIGATION STRATEGY: PRE-TRIAL, CIVIL | |
LAW 429 |
LEGAL CLINIC I | |
LAW 438 |
MEDIATION | |
LAW 450 |
TRIAL ADVOCACY I | |
LAW 453 |
COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION | |
LAW 460 |
BUSINESS PLANNING | |
LAW 469 |
LITIGATION STRATEGY: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY | |
LAW 475 |
NEGOTIATIONS | |
LAW 514 |
LEGAL CLINIC II | |
LAW 524 |
EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM | |
LAW 538 |
NATIONAL TRIAL TEAM | |
LAW 555 |
ADVANCED LEGAL RESEARCH | |
LAW 564 |
EXTERNSHIP SEMINAR | |
LAW 566 |
FIELD CLINIC SEMINAR | |
LAW 567 |
FIELD CLINIC PRACTICE | |
LAW 641 |
PRACTICAL LEGAL RESEARCH | |
LAW 712 |
THE PRACTICE OF HEALTH CARE LAW | |
LAW 751 |
HEALTH LAW MOOT COURT |
Advanced Writing Requirement
Course | Title | Semester Hours |
---|---|---|
Select one of the following: | ||
LAW 250 |
SENIOR RESEARCH SEMINAR | |
LAW 227 |
CHILDREN'S HUMAN RIGHTS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW | |
LAW 258 |
WOMEN'S HUMAN RIGHTS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW | |
LAW 379 |
TAX RESEARCH AND WRITING | |
LAW 427 |
APPELLATE TECHNIQUE | |
LAW 428 |
INDEPENDENT STUDY | |
LAW 429 |
LEGAL CLINIC I (Advanced Criminal Appeals) | |
LAW 455 |
LEGAL DRAFTING | |
LAW 514 |
LEGAL CLINIC II (Advanced Criminal Appeals?) | |
LAW 559 |
FOREIGN EXCHANGE: MADRID, SPAIN (Master's Thesis) |
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Requirement
JD students matriculating Autumn 2022 or later must complete one course from the list of approved courses below. These courses include substantial engagement with the legal system's relationship with social inequality, racism, and/or other forms of bias; and/or include substantial opportunities for students to learn about and practice skills in cross-cultural competence.
Courses that meet both the Diversity Requirement and the Experiential Education Requirement can be counted for both requirements. Courses that meet both the Diversity Requirement and the Advanced Writing Requirement can be counted for both requirements.
Course | Title | Semester Hours |
---|---|---|
Select at least one of the following: | 2-3 | |
LAW 202 |
EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION | |
LAW 206 |
SEX, GENDER, AND THE LAW | |
LAW 213 |
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PRACTICUM | |
LAW 227 |
CHILDREN'S HUMAN RIGHTS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW | |
LAW 232 |
CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE & THE LAW | |
LAW 250 |
SENIOR RESEARCH SEMINAR (Critical Race Theory; Citizenship; Crimmigration; Feminist Jurisprudence; When Justice Fails; or other approved topic) | |
LAW 258 |
WOMEN'S HUMAN RIGHTS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW | |
LAW 286 |
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW PRACTICUM | |
LAW 301 |
SPECIAL TOPICS IN LAW ( Trauma-Informed Lawyering; Human Rights in Latin America; Transnational Criminal Law; Reproduction and the Law; or other approved topic) | |
LAW 313 |
JUVENILE JUSTICE | |
LAW 321 |
ADOPTION LAW | |
LAW 363 |
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE | |
LAW 372 |
ELECTION LAW | |
LAW 378 |
ANTISEMITISM, THE HOLOCAUST, AND THE LAW | |
LAW 390 |
POST-CONFLICT JUSTICE | |
LAW 429 |
LEGAL CLINIC I (Asylum and Immigration Law; Civil Litigation and Health Law; Civil Rights; Croak Civil; Croak Criminal; Criminal Appeals) | |
LAW 434 |
PUBLIC HEALTH LAW | |
LAW 449 |
PREDATORY LENDING | |
LAW 477 |
FIRST AMENDMENT: FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND RELIGION | |
LAW 482 |
INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS I | |
LAW 487 |
HOUSING LAW | |
LAW 498 |
EDUCATION LAW & POLICY | |
LAW 501 |
RACE, RACISM AND UNITED STATES LAW | |
LAW 502 |
HATE CRIME LAW | |
LAW 503 |
CIVIL RIGHTS | |
LAW 514 |
LEGAL CLINIC II (Asylum and Immigration Law; Civil Litigation and Health Law; Civil Rights; Croak Civil; Croak Criminal; Criminal Appeals) | |
LAW 516 |
IMMIGRATION LAW AND POLICY | |
LAW 517 |
ASYLUM AND REFUGEE LAW AND POLICY | |
LAW 523 |
MISSION-BASED LAWYERING: LEGAL PRACTICE IN THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR | |
LAW 529 |
CHILDREN & THE LAW | |
LAW 546 |
POVERTY LAW | |
LAW 561 |
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | |
LAW 567 |
FIELD CLINIC PRACTICE (Family Law) | |
LAW 583 |
STUDY ABROAD: MADRID, SPAIN | |
LAW 585 |
STUDY ABROAD: HEREDIA, COSTA RICA | |
LAW 587 |
GLOBAL GOVERNANCE DURING TIMES OF CRISIS | |
LAW 588 |
STUDY ABROAD: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA | |
LAW 593 |
STUDY ABROAD: HAVANA, CUBA | |
LAW 702 |
ELDER LAW | |
LAW 706 |
HEALTH POLICY AND THE LAW | |
LAW 709 |
HEALTH EQUITY AND THE LAW | |
LAW 716 |
DISABILITY LAW |
Electives
Elective courses are open to all students who meet the prerequisites for the course in question. For information on specializations, see the section on Certificates.????
Credit Hour Limitations
Non-Classroom Credit Hours: 12-Credit Limit
With the exception of students enrolled in the Third Year in Practice (3YP) program, a JD student may earn a maximum of 12 credit hours for non-classroom (indirect instruction) courses. Courses that count toward the 12-credit non-classroom limit include the following:
Course | Title | Semester Hours |
---|---|---|
Limit of 12 credit hours of the following: | 12 | |
LAW 114 |
LEGAL ANALYSIS RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATIONS TEACHING ASSISTANTS | |
LAW 204 |
LAW REVIEW | |
LAW 217 |
JOURNAL FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE | |
LAW 224 |
ASP TA | |
LAW 236 |
JOURNAL OF SPORTS LAW AND CONTEMPORARY PROBLEMS | |
LAW 298 |
GENERAL TEACHING ASSISTANT | |
LAW 303 |
BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL LAW JOURNAL | |
LAW 336 |
JOURNAL OF ART TECHNOLOGY & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY EDITORIAL BOARD | |
LAW 411 |
GUIDED RESEARCH | |
LAW 428 |
INDEPENDENT STUDY | |
LAW 436 |
JOURNAL OF HEALTH CARE LAW EDITORIAL BOARD | |
LAW 524 |
EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM | |
LAW 536 |
NATIONAL MOOT COURT COMPETITION | |
LAW 537 |
INTERNATIONAL MOOT COURT COMPETITION | |
LAW 539 |
INTERSCHOLASTIC COMPETITION | |
LAW 567 |
FIELD CLINIC PRACTICE | |
LAW 961 |
INTENSIVE FIELD PLACEMENT | |
LAW 962 |
ADVANCED INTENSIVE FIELD PLACEMENT |
?Distance Education Credit Limit
American Bar Association rules specify that JD students may earn a maximum of 28 credit hours toward the JD degree for distance education courses. The College of Law offers both fully online and hybrid courses. A hybrid course is a course in which some, but not all, of the instructional time is online. All fully-online courses, and some hybrid courses, qualify under the ABA rule as distance education courses. ?? ?
Third Year in Practice (3YP) Program
The Third Year in Practice Program (3YP) provides qualifying students with a unique third-year experience engaging in the actual and simulated practice of law. Students admitted to the 3YP program are required to complete 24 credit hours of experiential courses, including an Intensive Field Placement of 5-9 credit hours and the Third Year in Practice Seminar. In addition, students will be able to choose from an array of professional skills, practicum, legal drafting and clinic courses to create a fully immersive third year in practice.
Required Courses for 3YP Students
Course | Title | Semester Hours |
---|---|---|
LAW 960 | 3YP SEMINAR | 2 |
LAW 961 | INTENSIVE FIELD PLACEMENT | 5-9 |
Optional Courses for 3YP Students
Course | Title | Semester Hours |
---|---|---|
LAW 962 | ADVANCED INTENSIVE FIELD PLACEMENT | 5-9 |
LAW 963 | ADVANCED INTENSIVE FIELD PLACEMENT TUTORIAL | 1 |
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First-Year Curriculum
Explore sample schedules for the full-time and part-time JD programs.