lawyer

#Degree Program Requirements - University of Virginia School of Law

Degree Program Requirements

Candidates for the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree must successfully complete all required courses, meet minimum academic requirements, earn a minimum of 86 credits and six residency semesters, satisfy the upper-level writing requirement, and maintain a standard of behavior characteristic of a prospective member of the legal profession. For more degree requirements, see Academic Policies. Admissions

Master of Laws (LL.M.)

The Master of Laws (LL.M.) program is designed primarily for graduates of foreign law schools wishing to study U.S. law and legal methods, and for foreign and U.S. law graduates seeking careers in legal education or government service. Admission is limited to qualified students who have proven ability in the study of law.

The LL.M. degree is conferred upon students who, having been admitted to candidacy, satisfactorily complete at least two semesters of residence, a minimum of 24 credit hours with a minimum 2.3 (C+) grade point average, and a writing requirement.

To earn the Doctor of Juridical Science, the Law School's most advanced research degree, students must demonstrate superior intellectual ability in a program approved by the Graduate Committee. The program requires at least two semesters of residence, and must include a minimum 30 credits, as well as the satisfactory completion of an oral examination and a dissertation that is an original contribution to the literature of the law. Most S.J.D. candidates already hold the LL.M. degree.