Academics: J. D. Program

1. Maximum time to degree completion: 6 years
2. Total number of credits needed: 85
3. Minimum cumulative GPA: 75.00 on old scale and 2.00 on new scale
4. Written work (Details)
5. Professional skills (Details)
6. Required courses (Details)
7. Elective courses (Details)

Written Work Requirement

The written work requirement may be satisfied in any one of the following ways:

• *Completion of a substantial, in-depth research paper of no fewer than 20 pages in length in a course of limited enrollment centered on the preparation of such in-depth research paper.  
• *Scholarly written work submitted to the Law Review, San Diego International Law Journal or Journal of Contemporary Legal Issues for publication upon certification of the approving faculty member.

Be aware that successful completion of a writing course is not determined by the student’s grade in the course, but is separately indicated by professors in the manner specified by the Law School’s administration.  If you have any questions about the writing requirement, please consult the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs.     

Professional Skills

As a condition for graduation, students beginning their law studies in 2007 or later must pass a Professional Skills elective from a list of such courses designated by the Dean. A course will be included on this list if it provides substantial instruction in the professional skills encompassed by ABA Standard of Approval for Law Schools 302(a)(4).

* Professional Skills Courses are desgnated with an "S" on the schedule of courses.

Required courses

Required Courses for Students Starting in Fall 2003 and Thereafter

Courses Required in the First Year	Credits
Civil Procedure I*	3
Civil Procedure II*	3
Constitutional Law I*	4
Contracts	4
Criminal Law	4
Property	4
Torts	4
Lawyering Skills I	3
TOTAL	29
*First-year evening students take these courses in the second year
Courses Required beyond the First Year	Credits
Professional Responsibility	3
Tax I	3
TOTAL	6
TOTAL OF ALL REQUIRED COURSES	35

 

Required Courses for Students Who Started Prior to Fall 2003

Courses Required in the First Year	Credits
Civil Procedure*	6
Contracts	6
Criminal Law	3
Property	6
Torts	6
Lawyering Skills I	2
TOTAL	29
*First-Year Evening Students take this course in the Second Year
Courses Required beyond the First Year	Credits
Constitutional Law	6
Criminal Procedure	3
Evidence	4
Professional Responsibility	3
Tax I	3
TOTAL	19
TOTAL OF ALL REQUIRED COURSES	48

Elective courses

Students must take additional elective courses to total 85 credits.

Students may request to enroll in elective courses after the first year. Choosing electives and assigning priority numbers to them can be the most difficult part of the registration process. In choosing electives, remember that there are courses that are covered on the Bar Exam which are not required, but which you may also want to complete prior to graduation. For the California Bar these courses include:

• Corporations (Effective July 2007, the subject currently titled “Corporations” will be renamed “Business Associations” and the scope of the topics tested in Business Associations will include those topics currently tested in Corporations, partnerships of all forms, limited liability entities, related agency principles and uniform acts.)
• Criminal Procedure
• Evidence (Effective July 2007, this will include California Evidence)
• Remedies
• UCC Sales
• The Trusts and Estates sequence.
• California Civil Procedure (Effective July 2007)

Please keep in mind while making out your schedule that some non-bar electives are not offered every year. Please see the Curriculum Advice Guide for additional, more in-depth information.

The following limitations on electives apply:

Course Type	Maximum Credits
Independent Study, Moot Court, Mock Trial, Journals	6
Clinics, Internships, Externships	10
Non-Law Transfer Credit	6