Each law school writes its own curriculum, which law students must follow to successfully graduate. While the required coursework can vary, most law schools have similar first-year requirements. Many law schools structure their curricula to help prepare prospective lawyers for their state bar examinations. A first-year curriculum often includes mandatory classes in property law, tort law, contracts law, criminal law and criminal procedure, civil procedure, constitutional law, legal writing or basic lawyering and other subjects. Additionally, some law schools impose a minimum grade-point-average for the first year, which students must achieve to continue.
Full-time law programs usually involve three years of study, while part-time programs span four years. Each full-time year generally involves two semesters. To graduate, students must complete a minimum number of credit hours. For example, the University of California, Irvine Law School requires a total of at least 86 credits in completed law school courses.
Beyond the first-year curriculum, many law schools also set other requirements to complete specific upper-level courses. For example, law students may need to take a legal writing class or complete an upper-level writing requirement project. Law schools also require their students to study legal ethics and learn about the standards for professional conduct as attorneys. Students should check the specific requirements published by their own schools. Beyond required subjects, students can choose elective courses to earn the remaining number of semester credits and complete their juris doctor degrees.
Some law schools require students to spend a minimum amount of time gaining clinical experience. Clinical experience allows a law student to work with real clients or gain other hands-on, practical experience with a legal organization or practice. The minimum amount of required clinical time depends on the specific institution, but some law schools require at least one completed semester.