Requirements for the J.D. Degree

To be eligible for the degree of Juris Doctor (J.D.), a student must meet the requirements of the School of Law by having:

• successfully completed 90 credits;

 
• studied law for 6 full time semesters (fall/spring) taking at least 12 credits in each semester or 5 full time semesters (taking at least 12 credits in each semester) and 2 summer semesters in which the total credit hours between the two summer terms equals at least 12 credits;

• completed all academic requirements, including taking all required courses and satisfying the senior writing requirement within five years of initial matriculation;

• completed the 40-hour pro bono requirement;

• students may visit at other A.B.A. accredited law schools or attend A.B.A. accredited study abroad programs however all required courses must be taken at St. Thomas University School of Law and the last two full time semesters much be completed at St. Thomas University School of Law;

• students must be in academic good standing* at the time of the completion of the requirements set forth above.

A student may not enroll in more than 17 hours per semester, or 7 hours in a summer session, without prior permission from the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs.
When a student is out from school for any reason (for example, leave of absence, dismissal, visiting other schools), he or she will be obligated to meet the requirements in place at the time the student is readmitted to the law school.

Degrees are ordinarily conferred upon students who meet the prescribed academic requirements. The law school reserves the right, however, to withhold a degree whenever it appears that a student’s character, conduct, or the quality of work completed will prevent acceptable representation of the school or compromise the standards of the legal profession.
St. Thomas University considers the graduation ceremony to be an academic event. Only students who have completed all requirements for graduation prior to the date of the ceremony, and those students who have registered for the summer session to complete 6 or fewer credits remaining toward graduation, will be allowed to participate.

* Academic good standing is based upon the student’s cumulative grade point average. Students who matriculated fall 2006 or thereafter must maintain a 2.0 or higher grade point average, students who matriculated prior to the fall of 2006 must maintain a 2.5 or higher grade point average.