School of Law

New Student Orientation and Legal Writing Workshop

A required orientation program and a legal writing workshop are held for entering students each fall prior to the beginning of classes. In addition to matters traditionally covered by orientation, these program address topics such as case briefing, introduction to legal method, and professionalism. All entering first-year students, whether matriculating in the summer or fall terms, are required to attend.

Writing Requirement

After finishing the first year of the law school program but prior to graduation, each student must complete a substantial and intensive research project under the supervision of a tenured or tenure-track faculty member, the Dean, the Assistant Dean for Information and Technology, the Director of Legal Writing, or the Director of Child Advocacy Program. The paper must be original and analytical and it must warrant a grade not lower than a C. Superficial or predominantly descriptive writing will not suffice. The writing requirement may be satisfied in one of four ways:

1. In connection with a seminar or other course in which a paper of high quality which is at least 20 pages in length excluding footnotes is required in lieu of an examination;
2. In connection with an in-depth individual study and research of a selected topic under the supervision of a full-time faculty member pursuant to LAW 795 .
3. By completion of a significant and highly meritorious law review piece, with approval of and supervision by a faculty member.
4. By other substantial writing projects approved by the faculty, including the completion of two papers each of which are at least 10 pages in length. Courses fulfilling the writing requirement will be so designated in the registration materials each semester; there is no fixed list of such courses.

Limit on Non-Classroom Hours

No more than 8 non-classroom hours may count toward the 90 hours needed to earn the J.D. degree exclusive of Law Review , Moot Court Board  and Introduction to Litigation Skills. Nonclassroom courses are: Advanced Appellate Advocacy , Writing Requirement , Special Projects I , Special Projects II , Moot Court Competition I , Moot Court Competition II , Moot Court Competition III , and the non-classroom portion of the Legal Extern Programs. Any variance from this rule requires the written approval of the dean.