Juris Doctor, J.D.

JD Degree Requirements

Students pursuing the JD degree at Chapman University’s Fowler School of Law are held to the University’s Academic Policies and Procedures. In addition, the students shall complete the following minimum requirements:

• 2.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average
• 88 Units
• 6 Residency Credits

Required Curriculum

These core classes provide the essentials for students in legal studies and cover foundational topics such as torts, contracts, criminal law, real property, civil procedure, legal analysis research and writing. The required curriculum also grounds students in corporations and business associations, practice foundations transactions, constitutional law, evidence and professional responsibility.

Experiential Curriculum

Skills training is the practical, experiential component of the student’s education, where they begin to acquire the skills essential to the practice of law. In these courses, students gain competency in negotiation, client interviewing and counseling, mediation, advanced legal research, advocacy, appellate practices and procedures, legal drafting, and trial practice.

Advanced Curriculum

These electives integrate the student’s legal knowledge and lawyering skills with vital practical experience necessary for success in the field. The clinics, externships, and competitions serve to enhance the student’s law degree experience.

Professional Development

All students are required to complete five (5) sessions of professional development training and events. The five mandatory sessions identified by the Career Services Office (CSO) must be completed by the end of the first year of legal study. These professional development sessions are not course credits and do not count against or reduce the requirement for 88-course credits necessary for graduation. This professional development training is administered by the CSO.

*Additional Requirements (based on cumulative GPA and class rank):

• If the grade in LAW 7105 - Legal Analysis Writing and Research I  ORLAW 7135 - Legal Analysis Writing and Research II  courses is below 2.0 OR if determined by the LAWR Professor, students must take LAW 7575 - Legal Writing Skills  course, 3 credits.
• If cumulative GPA is below 2.6 at the end of the first year (full-time and part-time students), the following courses are required:
  • LAW 7301 - Criminal Procedure/Police Practice , 3 credits
  • LAW 7334 - Wills and Trusts , 3 credits
  • LAW 7328 - Legal and Equitable Remedies , 3 credits,
    OR
  • ​LAW 7367 - Legal and Equitable Remedies and Practice Lab *, 4 credits
    *Students who are ranked in the bottom 25% of their class at the end of the first year must take the LAW 7367 - Legal and Equitable Remedies and Practice Lab  instead of LAW 7328 - Legal and Equitable Remedies  .
• Any student ranked in the bottom 25% of their class when entering their final year of law study must take the following courses to graduate:
  • LAW 7636 - Selected Topics in American Law , 3 credits
  • LAW 7676 - Advanced Selected Topics in American Law , 3 credits.
    These courses are designed to prepare students for the bar exam.

Residency Credits

Students are required to register for the number of credits designated for their program.

• Full-Time Students: 12 - 16 credits; 12 or more credits = 1 residency credit
• Part-Time Students: 8 - 11.5 credits; 8 - 11 credits = prorated residency credit

Fall & Spring semesters: students must enroll in 8 credits minimum and complete at least 5 credits to earn residency credit.

Summer term: students must enroll in and complete 3 credits minimum to earn residency credit.

Courses included in the JD curriculum: