Juris Doctorate Degree Requirements
Curricula
Loyola offers three curricula. In the full-time day program, Loyola offers two curricula leading to the juris doctor degree: in the tradition of the civil law for Louisiana students; in the common law for those students who will practice in other states. The part-time evening program offers only the civil law curriculum leading to the juris doctor degree. The requirement for the degree of juris doctor is 90 credit hours of work earned in the College of Law over a period of at least three academic years.
The curriculum for full-time students covers a period of six semesters of resident study. Full-time students will not be permitted to schedule more than 16 hours of law work in any semester without special permission from the associate dean of academic affairs of the College of Law. ABA Accreditation Standard 304(e) prohibits students from enrolling in more than 20 percent of the credits needed for graduation in one semester. Full-time first-year students must schedule 16 hours in the first semester and 15 hours in the second semester. The normal time frame for completion of the juris doctor degree is three academic years. Students are forewarned that this is a minimum time frame and the program may not be completed by acceleration in two and one half years.
The curriculum for part-time students covers a period of usually four academic years plus one or two summer sessions. By attending three summer sessions and taking full loads each semester, it is possible to accumulate sufficient hours to graduate in three and one half years. Part-time students may register for more than12 hours only with the permission of the Petitions Committee. All first-year part-time students are required to schedule 11 hours in the first semester and 10 in the second semester. Legal Profession must be completed and scheduled during the second year. Anyone who begins in the part-time program must stay with that program in the first year.
All students, full-time and part-time, should be aware of the ABA Accreditation Standard 304(f) which provides: “A student may not engage in employment for more than 20 hours per week in any semester in which the student is enrolled in more than12 class hours.” In addition, ABA Accreditation Standard 304(d) requires “regular and punctual class attendance.” Students must complete their requirements in five calendar years. For example, if you begin your program in the fall of 2004, you must complete your program before the start of the fall of 2009.
Students registered in the College of Law will not be permitted to register for courses in any other college of the university without the special permission from the associate dean for academic affairs of the College of Law. Permission will be granted only to upper class students in special instances. Except for those students enrolled in the joint degree programs, no one will be permitted to take more than three hours of work in another school while enrolled in the College of Law; unless visiting with permission of the associate dean of academic affairs.
Required Courses For Full-time
First Year
| Fall Semester | |
| LCIV L702—Common Law Contracts for Civil Law Students or LCOM L700—Contracts I |
3 |
| LAW L705—Torts I | 3 |
| LAW L725—Civil Procedure I | 3 |
| LCIV L706—Civil Law Property I or LCOM L705—Common Law Property I |
3 |
| LAW L735—Criminal Law | 2 |
| LAW L715—Legal Research and Writing | 2 |
| 16 | |
| Spring Semester | |
| LCIV L710—Conventional Obligations or LCOM L701—Contracts II |
3 |
| LAW L710—Torts II | 2 |
| LAW L730—Civil Procedure II | 3 |
| LCIV L707—Civil Law Property II or LCOM L710—Common Law Property II |
3 |
| LAW L765—Moot Court | 2 |
| LAW L770—Legal Profession | 2 |
| 15 |
Second Year
| Fall Semester | |
| LAW L750—Constitutional Law I | 4 |
| LCIV L715—Successions or LCOM L715—Trusts and Estates |
3 |
| LAW L760—Evidence | 3 |
| Elective or Civil Law “Pool” Courses | 5 or 6 |
| 15 or 16 | |
| Spring Semester | |
| LAW L740—Administration of Criminal Justice I | 3 |
| LAW L745—Business Organizations | 4 |
| LCIV L725—Sales and Leases | 3 |
| Electives or Civil Law “Pool” Courses | 5 or 9 |
| 15 or 19 |
Third Year
| Fall Semester | |
| LAW L781—Law and Poverty | 2 |
| Electives or Civil Law “Pool”Courses | 12 to 14 |
| 14 to 16 | |
| Spring Semester | |
| Electives | 14 to 16 |
Civil law students must also take at least two of the four “pool” courses listed below. These are:
| LCIV L900—Civil Law of Persons | 3 |
| LCIV L920—Louisiana Donations and Trusts | 3 |
| LCIV L940—Security Rights | 3 |
| LCIV L930—Community Property | 3 |
As a matter of sequencing, we recommend that Civil Law of Persons and/or Louisiana Donations and Trusts be taken in the second year and that Security Rights and/or Community Property be taken in the third year.
In addition to the required and “pool” courses listed above, students must take one of three courses emphasizing philosophical or historical perspectives on law. These courses and the courses that satisfy the writing requirement are set forth on page 34. Furthermore, students must satisfy the requirements of the skills training program in order to graduate. All freshman students are required to schedule and complete the full academic load listed for their respective curricula during the first year of study.
Students are cautioned to register for required courses in the years and semesters listed on this and the following page. Failing to do so may create a scheduling conflict in a subsequent semester which could delay graduation.
Required Courses For Part-time
First Year
| Fall Semester | |
| LCIV L702—Common Law Contracts for Civil Law Students | 3 |
| LAW L705—Torts I | 3 |
| LCIV L706—Civil Law Property I | 3 |
| LAW L715—Legal Research and Writing | 2 |
| 11 | |
| Spring Semester | |
| LCIV L710—Conventional Obligations | 3 |
| LAW L710—Torts II | 2 |
| LAW L765—Moot Court | 2 |
| LCIV L707—Civil Law Property II | 3 |
| 10 |
Second And Third Year 2007– 2008
| Fall Semester | |
| LAW L760—Evidence | 3 |
| LAW L725—Civil Procedure I | 3 |
| LAW L770—Legal Profession (Second Year) 1 | 2 |
| Elective or Civil Law “Pool” Courses | 3 or 5 |
| 11 | |
| Spring Semester | |
| LAW L745—Business Organizations | 4 |
| LAW L730—Civil Procedure II | 3 |
| Elective | 3 or 4 |
| 10 or 11 |
1 LAW L770, Legal Profession, offered each year, must be taken by second-year students. The other second-year courses alternate from one year to the next.
Second And Third Year 2006– 2007
| Fall Semester | |
| LAW L750—Constitutional Law I | 4 |
| LCIV L715—Successions | 3 |
| LAW L735—Criminal Law | 2 |
| LAW L770—Legal Profession (Second Year) or Elective (Third Year) |
2 |
| 11 | |
| Spring Semester | |
| LAW L740—Administration of Criminal Justice I | 3 |
| LCIV L725—Sales and Leases | 3 |
| Electives or Civil Law “Pool”Courses | 4 or 5 |
| 10 or 11 |
Fourth Year
| Fall Semester | |
| Electives or Civil Law “Pool”Courses | 11 |
| Spring Semester | |
| LAW L781—Law and Poverty | 2 |
| Electives or Civil Law “Pool”Courses | 9 |
| 11 |
To earn the 90 credit hours required for graduation, students in the part-time curriculum must earn additional hours by attending summer sessions or by obtaining permission to schedule more than 11 hours during fall or spring semesters, unless they wish to extend their program of study to a fifth year.
Civil law students must also take at least two of the four “pool” courses listed below. These are:
| LCIV L900—Civil Law of Persons | 3 |
| LCIV L920—Louisiana Donations and Trusts | 3 |
| LCIV L940—Security Rights | 3 |
| LCIV L930—Community Property | 3 |
As a matter of sequencing, we recommend that Civil Law of Persons and/or Louisiana Donations and Trusts be taken in the second year and that Security Rights and/or Community Property be taken in the third year.
In addition to the required and “pool” courses listed above, students must take one of three courses emphasizing philosophical or historical perspectives on law. These courses and the courses that satisfy the writing requirement are set forth below. Furthermore students must satisfy the requirements of the skills training program in order to graduate. All freshman students are required to schedule and complete the full academic load listed for their respective curricula during the first year of study.
Students are cautioned to register for required courses in the years and semesters listed on this and the following page. Failing to do so may create a scheduling conflict in a subsequent semester which could delay graduation.
