JD Degree
Description
The JD curriculum at Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ Law provides students a strong foundation in the substantive and procedural law that forms the core of the traditional American law school curriculum; a thorough grounding in the ethical principles and rules governing the legal profession; high quality instruction in legal research, analysis, and writing; and experiential learning courses that allow students to represent clients and to participate in sophisticated simulated practice experiences. The curriculum integrates theory, doctrine, and practice. We strive through our curriculum to inculcate in students the competencies necessary to the practice of law as well as the highest ideals of the profession.
Graduation requires accumulation of 90 credit hours and includes required courses and electives.
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Admission Requirements
The School of Law offers full-time day, part-time day, and extended-day divisions for the JD program of study. Entrance requirements and the admission procedures are identical for all divisions.
Applicants are selected for admission to the School of Law on the basis of a comparative evaluation of the credentials submitted by the applicant pool. Entering first-year students are admitted once each year in August. Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ Law also accepts Transfer Applicants for the fall and winter terms and Guest Applicants for all terms to the JD program. Transfer and guest applicants may .
Admission to the School of Law requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university by the summer preceding admission. Applicants are encouraged to maintain a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or better and to perform at the 50th percentile or better on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) for admission. However, applicants are considered based on all aspects of the application.
To be considered, an applicant must submit a completed application through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), along with a current LSAT score from within the past five years, a CAS Report, at least two letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and a resume.
Applicants can learn more and apply online at . Inquiries should be directed to the law admissions team at lawadmissions@udmercy.edu.
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Degree Requirements
Foundation Courses:
- LAW 1082 Applied Legal Theory & Analysis I (3 credits)
- LAW 1083 Applied Legal Theory & Analysis II (4 credits)
- LAW 1110 Contracts I* (3 credits)
- LAW 1111 Contracts II* (3 credits)
- LAW 1120 Property I* (3 credits)
- LAW 1121 Property II* (3 credits)
- LAW 1130 Torts* (4 credits)
- LAW 1140 Criminal Law* (3 credits)
- LAW 1152 Civil Procedure* (4 credits)
Core Courses:
- LAW 2060 Constitutional Law*^^ (4 credits)
- LAW 2220 Evidence*^^ (4 credits)
- LAW 2470 Professional Responsibility (3 credits)
- Upper Level Writing Requirement^ (2-3 credits)
- Clinic^ (2-4 credits)
- Law Firm Program^ (3 credits)
- Global Law^ (1-3 credits)
- Electives** (credits vary)
* A minimum grade of 2.2 is required for course to meet graduation requirements.
^ Attributes of Upper Level Writing Requirement, Clinic, Law Firm Program, or Global Law course requirements will be listed on applicable courses in the Class Schedule.
^^ Students must take these courses within the first 60 hours.
** Students must take a minimum of 34 elective credit hours to satisfy the degree requirement of 90 credit hours.
Concentrations
For a concentration in Immigration Law, students must complete 15 credit hours with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA in the following courses. Students may not opt to take any of these courses Pass/No Pass.
One of the following courses:
- LAW 2960 U.S. Immigration Law or
- LAW 6230 U.S. and Canadian Immigration Law (both taught at the School of Law) or
- 08 98 9571 Canadian Immigration Law (taught at University of Windsor) for 3 credits
- LAW 4330 Immigration Law Seminar
- LAW 5060 Immigration Law Clinic
- LAW 5061 Advanced Immigration Law Clinic
- LAW 5160 Immigration-related Externship
- LAW 7090 Immigration Law Firm Program
A minimum of six credit hours from the following courses:
For a concentration in Family Law, students must complete a minimum of 14 credit hours with a 3.0 GPA in the following courses. Students may not opt to take any of these courses Pass/No Pass.
- LAW 2240 Family Law (2 or 3 credits)
- LAW 3350 Juvenile Justice Law (3 credits)
- LAW 3360 Children and the Law (3 credits)
- LAW 4380 Selected Topics in Family Law Seminar (2 credits)
- LAW 7080 Family Law Law Firm Program (3 credits)
- LAW 7240 Children and the Law Child Welfare Proceedings Law Firm Program (3 credits)
- LAW 7380 Juvenile Justice Law Firm Program (3 credits)
- Family Court
- Judicial Clerkships
- Detroit Center for Family Advocacy William Booth (Salvation Army) Legal Aid Clinic
- LAW 5100 Juvenile Appellate Clinic (3 credits)
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Student Handbook
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Contact Information
University of Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ School of Law
651 East Jefferson Ave.
Detroit, MI 48226
Telephone: 313-596-0200
Fax: 313-596-0280
Email: law@udmercy.edu
Dean: Jelani Jefferson Exum
Telephone: 313-596-0210
Fax: 313-596-0280
Email: jefferje1@udmercy.edu
Associate Dean for Enrollment Management and Communications: Jennifer Rumschlag
Telephone: 313-596-0264 or toll-free: 1-866-428-1610
Fax: 313-596-0280
Email: rumschjl@udmercy.edu