Graduation Requirements for JD

To graduate with a degree of Juris Doctor, students must:

1. Complete 88 credits of which:

• 45 credits must be completed at Hamline Law
• 33 credits must be required foundational courses as follows (must be completed within the first four semesters):

• Civil Procedure I (3 credits)
• Civil Procedure II (3 credits)
• Constitutional Law I (3 credits)
• Contracts I (3 credits)
• Contracts II (3 credits)
• Criminal Law (3 credits)
• Legal Research and Writing I (2 credits)
• Legal Research and Writing II (3 credits)
• Legal Research and Writing III (2 credits)
• Practice, Problem-Solving and Professionalism (2 credits)
• Property (3 credits)
• Torts I (3 credits)

• 2 credits must be a Professional Responsibility course or equivalent Seminar: Ethics course
• At least two credits must be in one or more Globalization course(s)
• At least two credits must be earned in skills courses
• One seminar course
• Students are limited to:

• Two independent study courses
• Two externships and no more than fifteen externship credits
• Two competitions
• Two clinics excluding student directorships
• Four credits in Legal Drafting courses
• 12 credits in distance education courses

• No more than 23 credits can be applied toward graduation from the following types of courses:

• Field placement (externship)
• Moot court and other competition
• Law Review or Journal
• Independent study
• Course exchange or joint degree courses
• Course for credit that is substantially based upon time expended outside a regularly scheduled class time at the School of Law or another ABA accredited law school. This rule does not apply to seminars, clinics which require a substantial classroom component, foreign study programs approved by the law school or another ABA accredited law school, and courses conducted by the law school or another ABA accredited law school in accordance with ABA standards for distance education.

Academic Year Limitations: Students may not, within the same academic year, receive credit for participating in more than one of the following:

• Law Review
• Hamline Journal of Public Law & Policy

Term Limitations: Students may not earn more than 4 credits in online courses per term.

2. Complete all coursework within 84 months of start of legal education.

3. Be in good standing, including but not limited to:

• Final cumulative grade point average (Cum. GPA) equal to 2.000 or higher
• No pending disciplinary matters

4. Complete Pro Bono graduation requirement.

5. Meet all financial obligations towards Hamline Law.

6. Complete a Perkins Loans Exit Interview with the Student Accounts Office (if recipient of Perkins Loans).

7. Complete a Graduate Employment Survey with the Office of Career Services.

8. File an Application for Graduation with the Office of the Registrar.

Previous Years: 2009 -- 2010 -- 2011