Leave of Absence/Withdrawal
Leave of Absence
Be sure to maintain your status as a student throughout the course of your degree program. In order to do so, you must be either enrolled in classes or on an approved Leave of Absence for every semester from the time you begin your degree program until you complete the requirements for your degree or until the time allowed to complete your degree requirements expires.
This applies to all degree candidates, both part-time students and full-time students. Even though you are not required to complete your degree in consecutive semesters, and may have several years to complete your degree requirements, you must petition for a Leave of Absence for each and every semester or part thereof that you are not enrolled in classes. If you are not enrolled in classes and have not been granted a Leave of Absence, you face administrative withdrawal from your degree program. Once you are withdrawn, you must apply to be considered for readmission to the law school. Readmission is not guaranteed.
Recent U.S. Department of Education regulations prohibit an academic institution from placing a student on a Leave of Absence without a formal request from the student to do so. This is why submitting a Leave of Absence form is essential if you are not enrolling in courses for one or more semesters or if you are dropping all of your courses during a semester and want to maintain your status as a candidate for your law degree.
The form is available here:
Leave of Absence Petition Form (PDF)
For questions or information contact:
- JD Students: Emily Scivoletto, Assistant Dean for JD Student Affairs, (619) 260–6851
- LLM Students: Christy Cassisa, Assistant Director of Graduate Programs, (619) 260-4596
Withdrawal
If you cannot return to law school for a fall or spring semester; if you cannot complete the semester; or if you cannot return from a Leave of Absence, you must drop all courses you will not complete for which you are registered or pre-registered. You must complete a withdrawal form and submit it to the appropriate assistant dean.
Withdrawal Form (PDF)
