Grades
Grades for all degree students are:
Credit: the course has been completed satisfactorily;
no particular level of performance is specified.
Honors: work done in the course is significantly
superior to the average level of performance in the School.
Pass: successful performance of the work in the
course.
Low Pass: work done in the course is below the level
of performance that on the average is required for the award
of a degree.
Failure: no credit is given for the course.
Requirement Completed (RC): indicates J.D. preparticipation
in Moot Court or Barristers' Union.
There is no required or indicative "curve" for
grades in Law School classes. Individual class rank is not
computed.
Academic Requirements and Options
Requirements for the Degree of Juris Doctor
(J.D.)
To qualify for the J.D. degree, students must at all
times meet the conditions to continue as a degree candidate,
must complete a total of 82 units of satisfactory work, must
satisfy the writing requirements, must spend at least six
full terms or the equivalent thereof in residence, and must
be recommended for the degree by the faculty. Failure to attend
scheduled classes without good cause, such as illness, constitutes
adequate grounds for dismissal from the School. A maximum
of 10 of the 82 units required for graduation may be approved
for independent research and reading.
First Term
Each student must take courses in Constitutional Law,
Contracts, Procedure, and Torts. In one of these subjects,
the student is assigned to a small group. This seminar-style
course, with about seventeen students, integrates elementary
training in legal research and writing with the regular course
work. All first-term courses are graded on a credit/fail basis.
All first-term students are also required to attend a series
of lectures on professional responsibility, legal ethics,
and the history and current state of the American legal profession.
Curriculum after First Term
After the first term, students must satisfactorily
complete at least 66 units of credit. Students are free to
select their own curriculum, but by graduation they must take
Criminal Law and Administration and complete the writing requirements
described below.
A student must register for no fewer than 12 and no more
than 16 units of credit in any term unless approval is given
by the dean of student affairs and the registrar.
Conditions for Continuing as a J.D. Candidate
J.D. students who receive a Failure in any course
or individual work may, with permission of the instructor,
repeat the same for credit and must repeat and pass the same
if it is a required course. Students will be disqualified
as J.D. candidates and will not be allowed to continue in
the School if they receive (a) two Failures in any one term,
(b) a total of three Failures, (c) Low Pass or Failure in
four or more courses or individual work programs by the end
of the third term, (d) Low Pass or Failure in five or more
courses by the end of the fourth term, (e) Low Pass or Failure
in six or more courses by the end of the fifth term, or (f
) Low Pass or Failure in a total of seven or more courses
or individual work. A student who has been disqualified as
a J.D. candidate for failure to maintain satisfactory grades
will not be readmitted without a vote of the faculty.
At the end of a student's first or second term, the dean
in charge of student affairs will consult with any student
who appears to be doing marginal work. The dean will discuss
with the student the advisability of continuing in the School.
Limitations on Credit/Fail Units
A faculty member may offer a nonrequired course or
program of individual work on a credit/fail basis if the work
is of such character that the faculty member believes it is
not feasible to give individual grades. A faculty member may
offer any course or program of individual work on a credit/fail
basis for some or all of the students participating. If a
student is given a credit/fail option, the student must exercise
the option within the first two weeks of the term. Credit/fail
work will not be accepted toward fulfillment of the Supervised
Analytic Writing requirement, but papers written to meet the
Substantial Paper requirement may be graded on a credit/fail
basis.
After the first term, a student must take at least 51 units
of graded work. At least 9 of these units must be taken in
the second term of law school. No more than a total of 5 units
of ungraded credit in student-directed programs may be counted
toward the degree.
Writing Requirements
For graduation, the faculty requires that each student
undertake 3 units of Supervised Analytic Writing and prepare
a Substantial Paper of at least 2 units. At least one of these
writing requirements must be satisfied before a student can
register for a fifth term at the Law School. Prior to beginning
work on a Supervised Analytic Writing paper or Substantial
Paper, a student should secure the approval of the supervising
faculty member.
A Supervised Analytic Writing paper for 3 units involves
work that is closely supervised by a Law School faculty member
and is designed to increase the student's proficiency in legal
research, analytic reasoning, and writing in a single field
of concentration; the paper may not be purely descriptive
in character. Supervised Analytic Writing papers may not be
submitted on a credit/fail basis.
A Substantial Paper for 2 units of credit, although not necessarily
meeting the criteria for a Supervised Analytic Writing paper,
must be a significant written project. Instructors may accept
Substantial Papers on either a graded or credit/ fail basis.
Supervised Analytic Writing papers or Substantial Papers
may be prepared in connection with (1) seminars or courses,
(2) independent research and writing under faculty supervision,
(3) the Intensive Semester Program (see below), or (4) a program
of research and writing, conducted under the joint supervision
of two faculty members and spread over two terms, which is
related to a course or seminar offered by one or both of the
faculty members. Work done in courses outside the Law School
will not be accepted in satisfaction of the writing requirements.
Options Within the Course of Study for
the Degree of Juris Doctor (J.D.)
Research and Writing Opportunities
The Law School offers a number of opportunities for
students to engage in research and writing under faculty supervision:
1. Research and writing in the first-term small group (see
above).
2. Research and writing in a clinical program (see Clinical
Programs below).
3. Research and writing in connection with seminars or courses.
4. Independent research and writing under faculty supervision.
5. Research and writing in connection with the Intensive
Semester Program (see below).
6. A program of research and writing, conducted under the
joint supervision of two faculty members and spread over two
terms, which is related to a course or seminar offered by
one or both of the faculty members.
A list of faculty members able to supervise papers in a given
term, their areas of interest, and other pertinent information
is available at the registrar's office. The faculty encourages
students to publish their written work in law journals and
other periodicals and to make this work available to other
scholars as reference material. A number of prizes are awarded
for outstanding scholarly writing (see Statistics
and Lists).
Clinical Programs
The Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization (LSO)
links law students with individuals in need of legal help
who cannot afford private attorneys. Students, supervised
by Law School faculty members and participating attorneys,
interview clients, write briefs, prepare witnesses, try cases,
negotiate settlements, arrange "deals," and argue
appeals in state and federal courts, including the U.S. Court
of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the Connecticut Supreme
Court.*
LSO's work is divided into eight main projects: (1) Advocacy
for Parents and Children-representing family members in juvenile
court cases, particularly abuse, neglect, termination of parental
rights, and delinquency cases; (2) Advocacy for People with
Disabilities-representing individuals with physical and mental
disabilities and children with educational handicaps; (3)
Community Legal Services-advocacy for and representation of
the urban poor, particularly homeless families and individuals;
(4) Housing and Community Development- provision of legal
services and other professional (usually business or architectural)
consultation to community groups, particularly nonprofit organizations
involved in affordable housing and economic development efforts;
(5) Immigration-representation of individuals seeking political
asylum in the United States; (6) Landlord-Tenant-representation
of indigent tenants in eviction proceedings; (7) Legal Assistance-placement
of students in area legal aid offices to represent the urban
poor in civil matters; (8) Prisons-representation of men and
women in state and federal prisons in Connecticut.
All LSO projects involve close collaboration among new students,
experienced students, and supervising clinical faculty. Investigating,
developing, and using facts are essential elements of lawyering,
and, therefore, of LSO's work. LSO also devotes special attention
to issues of professional responsibility and client-centered
lawyering. Cases brought by LSO and its legislative efforts
have helped make new law protecting the rights of clients
in the various projects. Students are eligible to participate
in LSO after their first term. LSO also hires law students
as "summer associates"; they work full time in the
various clinics.
LSO students and faculty also provide legal assistance to
HIV-positive persons in the New Haven area. A special project
in legislative advocacy, coordinating the state-level legislative
activities of students and faculty from several LSO clinics,
offers students an opportunity to gain firsthand experience
with the Connecticut legislative process. In addition, students
may elect to work at either of two local prosecutor's offices
(the New Haven State's Attorney and the U.S. Attorney), in
LSO's Prosecution Externship. Independent placements may also
be arranged at other public interest agencies or law offices.
The Allard K. Lowenstein International Human Rights Law
Clinic is a Law School course that gives students firsthand
experience in human rights advocacy under the supervision
of international human rights lawyers. The clinic undertakes
several litigation and research projects each term on behalf
of client human rights organizations and individual victims
of human rights abuses. The clinic has worked on cases in
U.S. federal courts, the U.N. system, and regional human rights
bodies, including the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
and the African Commission on Human Rights.
Several other clinical programs give students direct experience
in the practice of law in particular areas. The Environmental
Protection Clinic is an interdisciplinary clinic that
addresses environmental law and policy problems on behalf
of client organizations such as environmental groups, government
agencies, and international bodies. The Nonprofit Organizations
Clinic provides legal assistance to nonprofit organizations
that cannot afford to retain private counsel. An International
Law and Development Workshop provides students with opportunities
to work on a variety of real-world legal projects in Northeast
Africa.
* Since October 1, 1972, Þrst-year law students in Connecticut
have been eligible to appear in federal and state proceedings
under two different sets of student practice rules. Students
who have completed one term of credit may, after certiÞcation
by the dean, appear in state court and administrative proceedings
upon compliance with the provisions of the Superior CourtÕs
Law Student Internship Rule, section 71 of the Practice Book.
Students who have completed legal studies amounting to two
terms of credit may appear in federal court upon compliance
with the provisions of Rule 26 of the Local Rules of the United
States District Court for the District of Connecticut. Training
and certiÞcation guidelines have been adopted by the Yale
Law School faculty in compliance with both sets of rules.
Student-Directed Forensic, Clinical, and
Editorial Programs
In the second term, students may begin participation
in programs managed primarily by students under the general
supervision of a faculty adviser. These programs are described
under Student Organizations.
The student-directed programs for which ungraded credit is
awarded are the Domestic Violence Temporary Restraining Order
Project; Greenhaven Prison Project; Allard K. Lowenstein International
Human Rights Law Project; Street Law; Thomas Swan Barristers'
Union; Morris Tyler Moot Court of Appeals; Umoja; Yale
Human Rights and Development Law Journal; Yale Journal of
Health Policy, Law, and Ethics; Yale Journal of International
Law; Yale Journal of Law and Feminism; Yale Journal of Law
& the Humanities; Yale Journal on Regulation; Yale Law
& Policy Review; and The Yale Law Journal.
In general, 1 unit of ungraded credit per term is awarded
for participation in these programs. No credit is given for
preparticipation portions of Barristers' Union and Moot Court
until a student completes the program; 2 units of ungraded
credit are then awarded. Credit is awarded for work on the
student-edited journals listed above only for substantial
editorial work. In special circumstances, the faculty adviser
may approve more than 1 credit per term. No more than a total
of 5 credits in student-directed programs may be counted toward
the degree, and no work for which compensation is received
may earn credit toward the degree.
The faculty adviser of each student-directed program is responsible
for periodically reviewing the program, and the participation
of each student in it, to ensure that educational objectives
are being achieved and that credit is commensurate with time,
effort, and educational benefits.
Reading Groups and Individual Reading and
Research Programs
After the first term and with the approval of a faculty
member, students may undertake reading or research programs
for credit. There are two types of programs: (1) individual
reading and/or research with a faculty member, and (2) faculty-sponsored
reading groups. No more than 10 units of credit for reading
or research programs may be counted toward the 82 units required
for graduation. Ordinarily, no more than 4 of these 10 units
may be for participation in reading groups.
In the case of individual reading and/or research, the program
must be arranged with the faculty member and filed with the
registrar's office within the first two weeks of the term.
Usually no more than 6 units in a term may be awarded for
individual research and no more than 3 units in a term for
individual reading. In addition to the faculty member's permission,
permission of the registrar is also required if the total
number of units of credit for individual reading and/or research
is more than 3.
In the case of an approved reading group, each participating
student may receive no more than 1 unit of credit, which must
be ungraded. In order to obtain approval for a reading group,
the student(s) organizing the group must submit a written
proposal to the registrar within three days after the term
commences. The proposal must (1) describe the law-related
topic to be examined, (2) provide a tentative reading syllabus,
and (3) be signed by the sponsoring faculty member. As noted
above, ordinarily no more than 4 units of credit for reading
groups may be counted toward the 82 units required for graduation.
Student-Organized Research and Legislative
Drafting Seminars
Groups of six or more students may submit written
proposals for research or legislative drafting seminars. Such
seminars could, for example, be designed to develop legislative
or policy approaches to a major societal problem of interest
to the group. The proposal should define the proposed topic
with reasonable particularity and be subscribed to by the
participating students. It should be submitted to the dean
or the person designated by the dean by March 1 preceding
the academic year for which the seminar is desired. Taking
into account the aggregate of the School's curricular needs
and the teaching commitments required to meet them, the dean's
office will use its best efforts to identify interested faculty
members who may be willing to conduct one or more of the seminars
proposed. With the consent of the faculty member conducting
such a seminar, students in addition to those proposing it
may enroll.
Intensive Semester Program
The Intensive Semester Program provides an opportunity
for students in their fourth or fifth term to immerse themselves
intensively in a major research project, independent studies
program, or fieldwork activity with academic significance,
either at or away from the Law School. Under the program,
students may devote an entire term to supervised and specialized
fieldwork, overseen by both a member of the Yale Law School
faculty and an on-site supervisor. Students may also use the
Intensive Semester for the purpose of exploring a single field
of law through a combination of courses or seminars, fieldwork,
and Supervised Analytic Writing. Whenever an Intensive Semester
is to be pursued at a location away from the Law School, the
on-site supervisor who has agreed to supplement the faculty
member in overseeing the student's work will be expected,
at the conclusion of the Intensive Semester, to submit a letter
to the faculty supervisor describing and assessing the student's
fieldwork. Evaluation of the student's written work will remain
the responsibility of the supervising faculty member.
To apply to the program, a student must submit to the registrar
a comprehensive written plan providing for up to 12 units
of credit for the combined legal work and supervised writing.
The plan should describe in detail the relationship between
the fieldwork and the research and writing component, and
it must be accompanied by the written approval of the faculty
member agreeing to supervise it. The deadline for Intensive
Semester proposals is two weeks before the due date for applications
for limited-enrollment seminars.
Each plan will be reviewed by the Intensive Semester Committee
for compliance with these requirements. The number of units
to be graded will be determined by the instructor, but (1)
the legal work performed by the student away from the Law
School and not under direct faculty supervision may receive
no more than 9 ungraded credits, and (2) at least 3 graded
credits must be for the faculty-supervised research paper.
The faculty-supervised written work may, with the approval
of the instructor, be designated in the application as being
undertaken in satisfaction of the Supervised Analytic Writing
requirement or the Substantial Paper requirement.
An Intensive Semester application will not be accepted by
the registrar if any of a student's work in courses previously
taken is incomplete. A student whose application has been
approved by the Intensive Semester Committee may register
for the Intensive Semester only if all prior course work is
complete. A student may not take an Intensive Semester during
the final term, nor take more than one Intensive Semester
while at the Law School. A student who carries out an Intensive
Semester away from the Law School will be expected to complete
the balance of his or her legal education in residence at
the Law School.
Full tuition is charged during the Intensive Semester regardless
of where the project is pursued. A student may not receive
compensation from any source for work related to the Intensive
Semester, but financial aid from the Law School will be awarded
under the same circumstances and in the same manner as to
students in residence. Students may have financial aid budgets
adjusted and may be permitted to accept reimbursement for
expenses attributable to the extra cost, if any, of living
and working away from New Haven, if those financial arrangements
are disclosed in detail in the application for the Intensive
Semester and are approved in advance by the director of financial
aid. The Law School will not necessarily adjust financial
aid fully for all extra expenses, especially for foreign placements.
Most Intensive Semester fieldwork has been undertaken in
connection with government agencies or with charitable, educational,
or other nonprofit organizations operated for public benefit.
Innovative proposals in other settings will be approved if
sufficient academic value and supervision are incorporated
into the plan. The production of significant scholarly work
emerging from fieldwork and involving close collaboration
between a student and a faculty member distinguishes an Intensive
Semester for credit from summer employment or a term on leave.
In programs tied closely to work in a litigation setting,
where the nexus between the fieldwork activity and the writing
project cannot be sufficiently detailed in advance of the
student's arrival at the Intensive Semester site, the student
may request that approval of the initial plan be conditioned
upon later submission of a more detailed proposal. If the
faculty supervisor and the Intensive Semester committee agree
to such conditioned approval, the student must complete his
or her registration for the Intensive Semester by submitting
to the registrar the required supplement, after prior approval
by the faculty supervisor and the committee, no later than
two weeks after the beginning of the term.
Courses Outside the Law School
After the first term, students may take a limited
number of courses in the graduate and professional schools
or undergraduate college of Yale University for Law School
credit when the courses are relevant to the student's program
of study in the Law School or planned legal career. To obtain
permission, students must provide a written statement explaining
how the course relates to their legal studies or future law
practice and must have (1) the recommendation of a Law School
faculty member, (2) permission from the instructor of the
course, and (3) permission of the registrar. The registrar
shall determine the appropriate number of units of credit
to be awarded for the course. No more than one outside course
per term is ordinarily allowed, and no more than 12 units
of credit for such courses may be counted toward the 82 units
required for the degree. The requirements of the other school
or department must, of course, be satisfied. Their bulletins
are available in the registrar's office.
Joint Degrees
In cooperation with other schools and departments
of Yale University, the Law School offers programs leading
to a master's degree and a J.D. (Juris Doctor) or to a doctorate
and a J.D. These programs are intended for those who wish
to acquire the specialized skills of some body of knowledge
related to law. All proposals must be submitted to and approved
by the Faculty Committee on Special Courses of Study.
While joint degrees have been most common with the Graduate
School and the School of Management, students have also arranged
joint work in the schools of Forestry & Environmental
Studies, Divinity, and Medicine. A joint-degree program is
also offered in conjunction with the Woodrow Wilson School
of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.
On a case-by-case basis, the Law School has permitted students
to pursue joint degrees with relevant programs in other universities
as well.
Requests for information on the following programs, including
specifics on admission, tuition, curricular requirements,
and financial aid, should be directed to the dean in charge
of student affairs. Students with an interest in joint-degree
work in economics, political science, or other social sciences
should also consult Susan Rose-Ackerman or Al Klevorick.
Master of Arts
Some graduate school departments and programs offer
one-year master's degrees and others, e.g., International
Relations, offer two-year programs. In either case, a student
can complete a joint J.D.-M.A. program in four years.
At the end of the fourth year, students should have completed
all requirements for both the law degree and the one-year
master's degree. Additional courses in the Graduate School
are required in two-year master's degree programs. Individual
departments generally also impose requirements such as reading
knowledge of a foreign language or passage of particular examinations.
Application for a master's degree program should be made
at the same time as application to the Law School or during
the student's first or second year at the Law School. Initial
inquiries should be directed to the dean in charge of student
affairs. Application to the Graduate School should be made
by the first working day in January preceding the fall term
in which the student wishes to begin work, although late applications
may be considered at the discretion of the Graduate School.
Detailed instructions on admissions should be obtained from
the Graduate School Office of Admissions. Students should
also consult the director of graduate studies in the relevant
department. The Graduate School bulletin is available in the
Law School registrar's office.
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) is
offered by the School of Management. In this program, students
receive an exceptionally rigorous business education. Beyond
this, students receive the broad intellectual framework and
practical skills that are essential for leadership today.
Normally a two-year program, the M.B.A. may be earned with
only one additional year of course work by joint-degree candidates
who are students at the Law School. Students may apply to
both the Law and Management schools simultaneously or to one
school during their first year at the other.
Doctorate
It is possible to combine study for the J.D. and Ph.D.
degrees. The total time in residence and the details of each
program of study must be taken up with the Graduate School,
the director of graduate studies in the relevant department,
and the Law School. Students interested in such a program
must be admitted to the two schools separately. They may apply
to both simultaneously or, having been admitted to the Law
School or the Graduate School, may apply for admission to
the other program. Ordinarily, the Law School encourages a
joint-degree candidate to complete the J.D. within four years.
Inquiries concerning joint J.D.-Ph.D. programs should be directed
to the dean in charge of student affairs. The deadline for
application to Ph.D. programs is early in January.
Leaves of Absence, Extending Time for Completion
of Degree, and Credit for Work Done at Another Law School
Leaves of Absence and Readmission
A leave of absence may be taken only with the permission
of the dean or the dean's delegate. Such a leave may be arranged
under such terms as the dean deems appropriate, provided that
a definite time be fixed for the return of the student to
the Law School and that the following limitations shall apply.
A student who has completed at least one term and who has
been on leave of absence for no more than two academic years
shall be readmitted unless the dean recommends otherwise to
the faculty in extraordinary cases. In the case of a student
who has not completed one term, a leave of absence will ordinarily
not be granted except on serious medical or personal grounds.
Where a leave has been granted on such grounds, the dean may
authorize readmission within a period of two academic years.
Readmission following leaves of more than two academic years
may be granted in accordance with and upon completion of the
terms of a plan approved by the dean prior to taking a leave.
Such extended leaves may be arranged for personal or academic
reasons. Agreements for extended leaves shall provide a definite
time for return that, except in unusual circumstances, shall
not exceed four years.
Readmission after a leave of more than two academic years
may be conditional upon less than full credit being allowed
for prior work completed. In such cases, with the consent
of the dean, students will not be excluded from taking courses
for which prior credit had been earned. The original credit
for such courses will be canceled. Tuition will be charged
in accordance with the rates prevailing at the time of the
readmission and be proportionate to the academic course load.
Readmission in any circumstances other than those described
may be sought by petition to the Law School faculty.
Extending Time for Completion of Degree
Yale Law School requires students to complete their
work for the J.D. degree in six terms in residence or the
equivalent thereof. The School recognizes, however, that some
students have special needs-arising out of serious illness,
severe economic constraints, or extraordinary familial obligations-to
extend their period of study. In such circumstances, students
may petition to reduce their course load for a number of terms.
Such petitions are subject to the following conditions:
1. All students must complete the required work of the first
term on a full-load basis.
2. Upon satisfactory completion of the first term, a student
may petition to reduce the work of any one term from the normal
minimum of 12 units to fewer units; but in no event may a
student register, even on a reduced-load basis, for fewer
than 8 units per term. Ordinarily permission shall be granted
only in cases of serious illness, severe economic need, or
extraordinary familial obligation.
3. Students who receive permission to pursue some of their
work on a reduced-load basis must complete 82 units of satisfactory
work in no more than eight terms of residence.
4. Upon acceptance by the Law School and before submitting
a deposit, students may request that the dean rule on whether
their particular situation is such as to justify a reduced-load
curriculum, as described above, after the first term. Such
a ruling would be conditional on the continuation, after the
first term, of the situation that made reduced-load law study
appropriate.
Credit for Work at Another Law School
A student wishing to obtain credit toward the J.D.
degree for work done at another law school is required to
petition the dean for permission. The dean shall ordinarily
grant such permission only in cases of personal hardship or
for valid curricular reasons. In granting such permission,
the dean must find that the proposed program of study is acceptable
and that it will count toward meeting Yale Law School's degree
requirements for no more than 24 units of credit, or their
equivalent. Such credit will be given only for work completed
in residence at the other law school, with a weighted average
which is to be determined in advance by the dean, and which
in no event would be less than the equivalent of a Pass at
this school. In those cases where the dean has reasonable
doubt about granting a petition he will refer the matter to
the faculty. Students denied permission by the dean may, of
course, petition the faculty to have their request reviewed.
In no case will more than one year of residence and unit credit
be granted for work taken at another school. Work done at
another law school will not be accepted in satisfaction of
the writing requirements.
Bar Requirements
Admission to practice law depends not only upon adequate
academic performance in law school and successful completion
of the bar examination, but upon satisfaction of the requirements
of the particular jurisdiction as to subject matter and proof
of good character. These requirements differ from state to
state, and students should inform themselves of the requirements
of the jurisdictions in which they are interested. Since some
states have early registration requirements, students should
check state rules as soon as possible.
Requirements for Graduate Degrees
The Degree of Master of Laws (LL.M.)
The Law School admits a limited number of graduate
students each year to pursue studies in law beyond the first
professional degree. Admission is generally open only to those
committed to a career in teaching law.
Graduate students are admitted for one year's study leading
to the degree of Master of Laws (LL.M.). Each LL.M. candidate's
program of study consists of at least 18 units of regular
course work (in the Law School or in other schools in the
University) and up to 6 units of independent research and
writing under the supervision of a Law School faculty member.
With approval, up to 6 units of credit toward the degree can
be earned in courses outside the Law School. No uniform course
of study is prescribed for LL.M. candidates. Subject to meeting
degree requirements and to the approval of the student's academic
adviser, each LL.M. candidate is invited to utilize the resources
of the School in whatever program of study will best prepare
that individual for a career in research and teaching.
LL.M. candidates must carry a total of no fewer than 12 units
of credit per term. Changes in the program may be arranged
during the first week of each term. At least two terms must
be spent in residence. To quality for the LL.M. degree a candidate
must successfully complete a minimum of 24 units of credit
with a grade average of at least Pass for all work taken for
credit. Up to 6 units per year (or 8 units if a candidate
takes a first-term ungraded course) may be taken credit/fail
with the consent of the instructor. Work taken credit/fail
must be designated as such on the records of the registrar
at the time of registration and may be so designated subsequent
to registration only with approval of the dean's office.
For information on admissions procedures for the LL.M., please
see Admissions.
The Degree of Doctor of the Science of
Law (J.S.D.)
The Doctor of the Science of Law (J.S.D.) program
is open only to LL.M. graduates of the Yale Law School. Students
who have earned an LL.M. degree from another institution are
admitted rarely and only under extraordinary circumstances.
(Interested students from outside the Law School should contact
the director of graduate programs [203.432.1681] to discuss
their application plans prior to submitting a formal application.)
To qualify for the J.S.D. degree, an admitted candidate must
submit a dissertation that is a substantial contribution to
legal scholarship. At least two terms of work must be spent
in residence at the School-this requirement may be satisfied
by residence as an LL.M. candidate-and at least one additional
year, not necessarily in residence, must be devoted to the
preparation and revision of the dissertation. In the case
of those whose original legal training was not in the United
States, the Graduate Committee may require the additional
year to be in residence. If the dissertation or any portion
of it is thereafter published, it shall state that it has
been submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for a graduate law degree at Yale Law School.
Students from abroad should see OISS
for information about international students at Yale.
For information on admissions procedures for the J.S.D. program,
please see Admissions.
The Degree of Master of Studies in Law,
including Fellowships in Law for Journalists (M.S.L.)
The Law School has established a degree program for
a small number of nonlawyers who want to obtain a basic familiarity
with legal thought and to explore the relation of law to their
disciplines. Candidates in the Master of Studies in Law program
(M.S.L.) are ordinarily experienced scholars with research
or teaching objectives in mind. This is a one-year terminal
program designed for those who do not desire a professional
law degree, but who are interested in a more formal relationship
to the School and a more rigorous curriculum than that offered
by the visiting scholar program.
The Fellowships in Law for Journalists within the M.S.L.
program has, for more than twenty-five years, offered journalists
the opportunity to develop a systematic understanding of the
law and achieve greater sophistication in reporting on legal
matters. The program was designed primarily for U.S. journalists.
Participants in the program have also arranged special activities
relating to law and journalism to supplement the regular M.S.L.
curriculum. Tuition grants are provided by the Law School
and support stipends are furnished courtesy of a grant from
the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Candidates for the M.S.L. degree are required to complete
the first year of the J.D. program (27 units), including a
small group, except that they may substitute an elective for
one of the four required first-term courses. Typically no
more than 6 units of credit for courses outside the Law School
can be counted toward the degree. Students must take at least
10 graded units in the second term. Students will be disqualified
as M.S.L. candidates if they accumulate more than one Failure
in the first term, or more than a total of two Low Passes
or two Failures for the academic year. Participants in the
M.S.L. program are not eligible for subsequent admission to
the J.D. program.
For information on admissions procedures for the M.S.L. program,
please see Admissions.
Registration
All new J.D. students and all graduate students are required
to register in person on September 4, 2001, at the Law School.
All returning J.D. students are required to register in person
on September 5, 2001, at the Law School. Students may not
register for their fifth term unless they have completed one
of the two writing requirements (see Writing
Requirements above).
A fee will be charged for late registration. First-year J.D.
students will not be allowed to register for the first time
unless they have provided the registrar with two passport-sized
photographs and an official transcript confirming the award
of a bachelor's degree. Transfer students must provide the
School with two passport-sized photographs and official transcripts
of a bachelor's degree and the first year of law school. All
other students must submit two passport-sized photographs
and transcripts of all academic work. Individual classes commence
on the date announced in the schedule of classes as posted
on the bulletin board of the School.
Course Selection, Limited Enrollment,
Examinations and Papers
Course Selection
During the first five days following registration
all J.D. students, except first-term students, and all graduate
students may sample courses and rearrange course selections.
After that time period, a student may not add or drop a course
or seminar unless (a) on application to the instructor, the
student can establish good cause for adding or dropping the
course; (b) the registrar concurs in the recommendation of
the instructor; and (c) the student retains at least 12 units
and no more than 16 units for the term, unless approval is
given by the dean of student affairs and the registrar for
all J.D. students and by the associate dean and the registrar
for all graduate students.
Forms for adding and dropping courses must be signed by a
member of the faculty and filed with the registrar's office.
A course in which an examination is required cannot be added
or dropped once the examination period begins. A fee of $10,
$20, or $60 will be charged for each late course change, depending
on the time of the change. In the absence of written permission,
a course or individual work elected but not completed will,
at the close of the term, be deemed a Failure. No degree will
be awarded with incomplete work remaining on a student's record.
Limited Enrollment
Faculty members may set limits or special qualifications
for a course and these will be specified in the course description.
If no such limitations have been set, enrollment in a given
course will be limited only by the availability of classroom
space. If enrollment is limited, then students must apply
during a special sign-up period that occurs at the beginning
of the formal registration period.
A student applying for more than one course in which enrollment
is limited must indicate preferences among these courses by
designating a first choice, a second choice, and as many third
choices as desired. This ranking may be used by faculty in
making selections among students. A student who is accepted
in such a limited course must register for that course, along
with the other courses elected, within a prescribed time period,
or the student's place in the course may be offered to someone
else.
Examinations and Papers
Examinations for all degree students at the Law School
are given during a period (normally two weeks) at the end
of the term. All papers assigned during the term, and all
papers submitted in lieu of examinations in courses where
that is authorized, shall become due, unless otherwise indicated
in writing by the instructor, on the final day of the examination
period for that term.
The registrar may, for good cause shown, permit students
to take an examination at a time different from that indicated
on the official examination schedule. Requests for such permission
should be made during the last week of classes, except in
case of sudden emergencies, such as illness. For good cause,
instructors may authorize extensions of time for the completion
of papers. The authorization must be in writing, and extensions
will be permitted for no more than sixty days after the close
of the term in which the paper is assigned.
Approval for extensions of time beyond these limits shall
be given only where the student obtains, in writing, permission
from both the instructor and the registrar. Such permission
must include a specific due date and must be filed with the
registrar. Failure to meet regular or extended deadlines for
papers and examinations may result in a grade of Failure for
the student.
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Finances
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