There's more to a legal education than mastering “black letter” law.

Loyola's Juris Doctor (JD) program combines the academic rigor you expect with the practical experience you'll need to rise above the competition. Working with our nationally-recognized faculty, you'll learn to effectively apply the law to real-world scenarios. As a Loyola graduate, you'll be prepared for practice from day one, ready to meet (and exceed) the demands of prospective clients and employers.

Curriculum

To earn a JD degree, you must complete a minimum of 86 credit hours of coursework, 74.0 hours must be graded. Students may take up to 28.0 hours of distance learning credits. A minimum of 6 credit hours of experiential learning are required. Your first year coursework provides a strong, structured foundation. During the next two years you will tailor your courses, experiential learning, and course delivery to meet your goals and interests. Visit our Registrar webpage for a complete list of degree requirements, academic calendars, and registration information.

In your first year at Loyola, you’ll work closely with our highly regarded faculty to learn the art of legal analysis and foundations of the American legal system. You're also eligible to choose an elective course of interest to you. If you decide to specialize, our programs offer everything you need.

Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses
LAW 113	Civil Procedure	4
LAW 122	Constitutional Law	4
LAW 132	Contracts	4
LAW 140	Criminal Law	3
LAW 152	Property	4
LAW 162	Torts	4
LAW 190	Legal Writing I	2
LAW 190R	Basic Legal Research	0
LAW 192	Legal Writing II	2
LAW 210	Evidence 1	4
LAW 232	Bar Exam Fundamentals 3	2
LAW 270	Business Organizations 1	4
LAW 414	Professional Responsibility	3
LAW 424	Professional Identity Formation	1
BCCR Elective 2		2-3
LAW Electives		30-37
Law Experiential Learning Elective		6
Law Perspective Elective 4		2-3
Law Rigorous Writing Elective 5		2-3
Total Hours		86

¹

This requirement only applies to students beginning their JDs in Fall 2023 or later.

²

This requirement only applies to students beginning their JDs in Fall 2022 or later. For students beginning their JDs in Fall 2023 or later, students must take this BCCR course before, concurrently with, or as part of their enrollment in any clinic or externship field placement. 

³

Students who have a GPA below 2.9 after their second, third, or fourth semester of law school must complete “BAR EXAM FUNDAMENTALS” (LAW 232) in order to graduate. This class should be taken in the Fall or Spring of their third year for full-time students, and in the Fall or Spring of their fourth year for Weekend JDs. 

⁴

2 or 3 credit hours in Spring semester of first year for full-time students; part- time students must take perspective elective after the first year.

⁵

At least one class with an RW designation after 1L year and before graduation. Prior completion of Legal Writing III will satisfy the RW requirement. A student cannot use their RW course to concurrently satisfy any other of their other graduation requirements.

BCCR Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
LAW 107	Illinois Litigation Racism, Injustice & Poverty	2
LAW 143	Environmental Justice: Race, Class and the Environment	3
LAW 146	Mass Incarceration	2
LAW 156	Abolition and Movement Lawyering	2
LAW 166	Education Law Practicum	1-4
LAW 179	The Law of Jury Selection	2
LAW 193	Diversity and Inclusion: A Professional and Social Responsibility	2
LAW 202	Human Trafficking Seminar	2
LAW 209	Law, Life and Jesuit Spirituality	2
LAW 212	Civil Rights	2
LAW 214	Race and the Law	2-3
LAW 215	Domestic Violence Practicum	1-3
LAW 249	Human Trafficking: Advancing Protections for Children Practicum	1-2
LAW 265	Black Traditions in International Law	1-2
LAW 276	Criminal Law Practicum	1-3
LAW 294	International Human Rights	1-3
LAW 302	Intellectual Origins of "Othering" in the Law of Nations	2
LAW 312	Street Law	3
LAW 341	Educational Advocacy Lab	2
LAW 358	The Quest for Racial Justice in the Long 1960s	3
LAW 389	Public Interest Law Seminar	1-2
LAW 402	"Say Her Name:" Intersectional Feminism & Police Violence	4
LAW 408	Restorative Justice Workshop	1
LAW 440	Criminal Procedure Capstone	3
LAW 447	Federal Indian Law	3
LAW 483	Federal Tax Clinic I	2-4
LAW 486	Federal Tax Clinic II	1-2
LAW 504	Lawyers as Leaders	2
LAW 525	Law, Politics, and Society	2
LAW 538	Critical Race Theory	2
LAW 539	Affordable Housing Law & Policy	2
LAW 555	Children and the Law	2
LAW 590	Wrongful Conviction Seminar	1-2
LAW 601	Child, Family, and the State	2
LAW 606	Legislation and Policy Clinic	2-4
LAW 608	Juvenile Justice	2
LAW 620	Civitas ChildLaw Clinic	1-4
LAW 730	Health Justice Policy Practicum	2-3
LAW 745	Access to Health Care	2-3
LAW 755	Health Justice Project	3-4

Experiential Learning Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
LAW 166	Education Law Practicum	1-4
LAW 173	Advanced Education Law Practicum	1-4
LAW 215	Domestic Violence Practicum	1-3
LAW 246	Advanced Mediation Advocacy Practicum	1-4
LAW 249	Human Trafficking: Advancing Protections for Children Practicum	1-2
LAW 276	Criminal Law Practicum	1-3
LAW 341	Educational Advocacy Lab	2
LAW 470	Immigration Practicum Advancing	1-4
LAW 483	Federal Tax Clinic I	2-4
LAW 486	Federal Tax Clinic II	1-2
LAW 493	Disabled Adult Guardianship Project	3
LAW 518	Advanced Mediation and Courthouse Practicum	1-3
LAW 540	Community Law Center Clinic III	2
LAW 554	Family Law Practicum	1
LAW 584	Mediation Certification & Courthouse Practicum	4
LAW 586	Community Law Center Clinic Veterans Practicum	2-4
LAW 595	Community LawCtr Clinic I	4
LAW 596	Community Law Center Clinic II	3
LAW 599	Externship Intensive Field Placement	1-3
LAW 606	Legislation and Policy Clinic	2-4
LAW 617	Policy Practicum: Issues in Childlaw	1-3
LAW 620	Civitas ChildLaw Clinic	1-4
LAW 730	Health Justice Policy Practicum	2-3
LAW 745	Access to Health Care	2-3
LAW 755	Health Justice Project	3-4
LAW 757	Advanced Health Justice Project	2-4
LAW 825	Business Law Center Clinical & Seminar	2-4
LAW 826	Business Law Clinic II	1-3

Perspective Elective 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
LAW 127	Law and Psychology	2
LAW 185	Business and the Law	2
LAW 208	Advanced Criminal Law	2
LAW 262	Genetics Law and Policy	2
LAW 265	Black Traditions in International Law	1-2
LAW 294	International Human Rights	1-3
LAW 319	Jurisprudence I	3
LAW 339	Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management	2
LAW 341	Educational Advocacy Lab	2
LAW 348	Law & Poverty	3
LAW 388	Global Access to Medicine: A Patent Perspective	3
LAW 459	Intro to English Legal Profession	1
LAW 461	Education Law and Policy	2-3
LAW 522	Election Law	2-3
LAW 525	Law, Politics, and Society	2
LAW 538	Critical Race Theory	2
LAW 558	Comparative Freedom of Speech	1-2
LAW 564	Animal Law and Policy	2-3
LAW 597	The Use of Force in International and Domestic Law	2
LAW 601	Child, Family, and the State	2
LAW 608	Juvenile Justice	2
LAW 745	Access to Health Care	2-3

Rigorous Writing Elective

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
LAW 145	Gender Based Violence: Law, Practice, and Policy	2
LAW 146	Mass Incarceration	2
LAW 176	International Trade Law	1-3
LAW 194	Bar Exam Writing Skills	1-2
LAW 293	Advanced Writing for Legal Practice	1-3
LAW 302	Intellectual Origins of "Othering" in the Law of Nations	2
LAW 361	Insurance Law	2
LAW 407	Immigration Litigation: Admin Law Challenges to Immigration Policy	2
LAW 417	Advanced Business Law	3
LAW 419	Business Skills in Sports and Entertainment Law: The Introductory Skill Set	2
LAW 455	Appellate Advocacy-Intellectual Property	2
LAW 516	Prisoner Constitutional Rights Litigation	3
LAW 556	Alternative Dispute Resolution	2-3
LAW 712	Legal Writing for Medical Malpractice Trial: The Expert	2
LAW 739	Health Information Privacy and Technology	1-2

Upper Level Required Courses

• Skills Training Course (2 credits)
  A skills class is one that offers substantial instruction in the professional skills generally regarded as necessary for effective and responsible participation in the legal profession. All JD students are required to complete the skills course requirement prior to graduation. This requirement no longer applies to students starting their JD Fall 2023 or later. 
• Experiential Learning (6 credits)
  Experiential learning classes enable students to perform their legal knowledge, skills and values in a real or simulated practice setting with intense, ongoing law school supervision and assessment. Examples include live-client clinics, judicial or non-judicial externships, practica, or comprehensive simulations. At least three of these credits must involve work with live clients. The remaining three credits can involve comprehensive simulations.
• LAW 414 Professional Responsibility (taken after first year)
• BCCR Elective (2-3 credits)
  One course that involves substantial instruction in bias, cross-cultural competency, and racism. 
• Rigorous Writing Elective (2-3 credits)
  Rigorous Writing courses all provide students with the opportunity to draft, edit, polish and produce one or more advanced writing projects that are assessed by the faculty through detailed individualized feedback at each stage of the writing process.  

Highly Recommended Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
LAW 221	Administrative Law	3
LAW 280	Federal Income Tax	3

Suggested Sequence of Courses

The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework.  An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study.  Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Hours
LAW 113	Civil Procedure	4
LAW 152	Property 1	4
LAW 162	Torts	4
LAW 190	Legal Writing I	2
LAW 190R	Basic Legal Research	0
LAW 424	Professional Identity Formation	1
	Hours	15
Spring
LAW 122	Constitutional Law 1	4
LAW 132	Contracts	4
LAW 140	Criminal Law	3
LAW 192	Legal Writing II	2
Perspective Elective	Students can choose from an elective course that examines perspectives on the law and justice. All students must complete a perspective elective before graduation.	2-3
	Hours	15
Second Year
Fall
Elective Courses	Students can choose electives from numerous courses, which are offered on a rotating basis.	14-15
	Hours	14
Spring
Elective Courses	Students can choose electives from numerous courses, which are offered on a rotating basis.	14-15
	Hours	14
Third Year
Fall
LAW 232	Bar Exam Fundamentals 2
Elective Courses	Students can choose electives from numerous courses, which are offered on a rotating basis.	14-15
	Hours	14
Spring
LAW 232	Bar Exam Fundamentals 2
Elective Courses	Students can choose electives from numerous courses, which are offered on a rotating basis.	14-15
	Hours	14
	Total Hours	86

¹

To be taken first year full-time/second year part-time.

²

Students who have a GPA below 2.9 after their second, third, or fourth semester of law school must complete “BAR EXAM FUNDAMENTALS” (LAW 232) in order to graduate. This class should be taken in the Fall or Spring of their third year for full-time students, and in the Fall or Spring of their fourth year for Weekend JDs.

Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations

Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.

Learning Outcomes

You will be able to:

• Utilize skills derived from participation in supervised live-client experiences, externships, or litigation and transactional practice simulations, such as interviewing, counseling, negotiation, mediation, fact development and analysis, problem solving, design thinking, trial practice, document drafting, and collaborative work
• Determine your clients' needs and objectives
• Determine relevant facts and understand their relevance to your client's legal position
• Conduct legal research
• Analyze and apply relevant legal principles
• Find solutions to legal problems
• Communicate legal concepts clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing