The varied curriculum at McGeorge gives students an opportunity to explore many areas of law and master critical lawyering skills. The rigor of the core curriculum prepares students for the bar exam and legal practice. Electives allow students to explore specialized areas, and you may choose to add a Certificate of Concentration to your JD program to gain expertise in a particular practice area. The Experiential Curriculum prepares you for legal practice through hands-on active learning where you are placed in the role of an attorney under careful supervision in one of our pioneering legal clinics or intensive field placements.
Overview of the Graduation Requirements
To earn a Juris Doctor (JD) Degree from McGeorge School of Law, students who matriculated in August 20191 must satisfactorily complete the following graduation requirements:
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Units | 88 units minimum, 72 of which must be graded units. |
| Required Courses | Analytical Skills Lab (1) Civil Procedure (4) Constitutional Law (4) Contracts (4) Criminal Law (4) Evidence (4) Global Lawyering Skills I (2,2) Legal Profession (1) Statutes & Regulations (3) Professional Responsibility (2) Property (4) Torts (4) |
| Upper Division Writing Requirement | Global Lawyering Skills II (2,2) or Full-Time students may satisfy this requirement by serving as a Comment Staff Writer on the The University of the Pacific Law Review |
| Experiential Curriculum | Two transformational capstone experiences: (1) McGeorge Legal Clinic or Externship for 3 units minimum, and (2) a second McGeorge Legal Clinic, Externship, Mock Trial, or Moot Court for 3 units minimum, plus (3) additional units of other experiential courses, including Simulation courses, equaling 11 total units. |
| Directed Study Program (who have a cumulative GPA after first year below a 3.0) | Academic advising each year through the Office of Student Affairs Business Associations (4) Remedies & Principles of Law (3) PASS I (3 P/F) At least one (1) of the following bar courses: Community Property (2), Criminal Procedure (3), or Wills & Trusts (3) |
| Good Academic Standing | Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.33. |
| Period of Study | Complete the JD Degree within 84 months of matriculation. |
| Bar Exam | A JD degree candidate may not sit for any bar exam prior to completion of all degree requirements. An exception may be made for a student who wishes to sit for the Delaware or North Dakota bar exam, which are offered only one time per year. |
| Application for Graduation | File an Application for Graduation Form with the Office of the Registrar no later than the Add/Drop Deadline before your final term. |
1 Students who matriculated prior to August 2019 should refer to the Student Handbook (a.k.a., Black Book) for your specific graduation requirements.
This webpage is a summary of the degree requirements set forth in the McGeorge Catalog and Grading and Advancement Committee Rules, Regulations, and Procedures ("G&A Rules") (pdf) and explained in the Student Handbook (a.k.a., Black Book) — JD (pdf). All students are responsible for reading those documents, and for ensuring that they comply with all graduation requirements. Any student who anticipates that he or she will graduate earlier or later than expected is advised to seek academic advising with the Office of Student Affairs and must notify the Office of the Registrar of any changes to your expected graduation date.
McGeorge may require a leave upon specified terms, terminate a student's enrollment, or decline to award a degree if the Administration determines that this is in the best interests of the law school or that a student is not qualified for admission to the legal profession because of factors other than academic standing. Determinations about academic standing are made in accordance with the G&A Rules (pdf). Determinations about the conduct described in the Code of Student Responsibility (pdf) are made in accordance with the Code. Copies of both documents are available online and from the Office of Student Affairs.
Questions?
Office of Student Affairs
Email | 916.739.7089
