School of Law

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  Programs

  The School of Law, accredited by the American Bar Association since 1933, a member of the Association of American Law Schools since 1934 and a member of the Conference of Jesuit Law Schools, confers the following degrees:

  JD

  Dual JD

  JD/MBA

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  Detroit Mercy Law Learning Outcomes

  Detroit Mercy Law seeks to educate the complete lawyer through a dynamic curriculum that integrates theory, doctrine, and experiential learning; provides unique global perspectives through transnational educational opportunities; and emphasizes ethics and service to others. In support of this mission statement, the Law School has adopted the following Learning Outcomes and Competencies.

  Graduates will demonstrate knowledge of the substantive and procedural law that forms the core of the American legal system by applying it to resolve legal issues in context.
  
  Competencies:

  • Students will demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of terms and rules of law in their courses.
  • Students will demonstrate their ability to identify legal rules and synthesize those rules into a larger analytical framework.
  • Students will demonstrate the ability to identify issues presented by new factual scenarios.
  • Students will demonstrate the ability to use their understanding of legal rules to engage in analogical and deductive reasoning to solve legal problems presented by new factual scenarios.

  
  

  Graduates will demonstrate the ability to engage in legal research and communicate their analysis effectively in a legal context (i.e., oral and written analyses).

  Competencies:

  • Students will communicate their written analyses of legal problems in a clear, well-organized, and professional manner.
  • Students will communicate their oral analyses of legal problems in a clear, well-organized, and professional manner.
  • Students will demonstrate an understanding of hierarchy of law principles and the relationship between primary and secondary sources.
  • Students will demonstrate an ability to conduct thorough and efficient legal research.

  
  

  Graduates will demonstrate the ability to practice law in an ethical and professional manner.
  
  Competencies:

  • Students will demonstrate the ability to recognize ethical issues that may be presented in a particular factual scenario.
  • Students will demonstrate an understanding of the ethical duties imposed on counsel.
  • Students will demonstrate an ability to apply that understanding of ethical duties in new factual scenarios.

  
  

  Graduates will demonstrate competency in legal practice skills (e.g. conduct discovery, interview, counsel clients, address clients’ goals).
  
  Competencies:

  • Students will demonstrate the ability to use documents and other information in developing an understanding of a client’s case.
  • Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively interview and counsel clients.
  • Students will demonstrate the ability to draft documents used in legal practice.
  • Students will demonstrate the ability to develop effective strategies to address clients’ goals.

  
  

  Graduates will demonstrate an understanding of the transnational nature of the practice of law in the twenty-first century.
  
  Competencies:

  • Students will demonstrate a basic understanding of the structure and principles of a legal system other than the core American legal system.
  • Students will demonstrate a basic understanding of international or comparative law principles.

  
  

  Graduates will serve their communities in ways that reflect their Jesuit and Mercy education.
  
  Competencies:

  • Students will have opportunities to contribute to the betterment of the local communities.
  • Students will have opportunities to serve the underrepresented and traditionally marginalized communities.
  • Students will have opportunities to participate in legal and professional organizations that are dedicated to improving and educating the legal community and the law school on current legal issues.
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  Student Handbook

  Detroit Mercy Law Student Handbook

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  Contact Information

  University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
  651 East Jefferson Ave.
  Detroit, MI 48226

  Telephone: 313-596-0200
  Fax: 313-596-0280
  Email: law@udmercy.edu

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  Dean: Jelani Jefferson Exum
  Telephone: 313-596-0210
  Fax: 313-596-0280
  Email: lawdean@udmercy.edu

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  Associate Dean for Enrollment Management and Communications: Jennifer Rumschlag
  Telephone: 313-596-0264
  Fax: 313-596-0280
  Email: rumschjl@udmercy.edu

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  Dual JD Program Director: Katharine Fisher
  Telephone: 313-596-9840
  Fax: 313-596-0280
  Email: fisherkj@udmercy.edu

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  Bachelor's Degree

  Students must receive a bachelor's degree before entering law school. While many students apply in the final year of undergraduate studies prior to receiving their degree, others apply after receiving their degree. All undergraduate degrees are acceptable. Each year, the incoming class includes students with a variety of degrees in liberal arts, education, criminal justice, business, and STEM. We encourage candidates to maintain a cumulative undergraduate grade point average at or above 3.0 for admission; however, we consider a range of applicants based on all aspects of the application.

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  LSAT Score

  Students must have taken the LSAT within the past five years and have a current score available.  Applicants must have a high LSAT score in at least the 15th percentile of that test's administration to be considered. We encourage candidates to perform at the 50th percentile or better for admission; however, we consider a range of applicants based on all aspects of the application. Applicants may apply before sitting for the LSAT. We will complete and hold the application pending the LSAT score release.

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  Application

  Detroit Mercy Law accepts online applications submitted through LSAC.  Applications must include complete responses to all questions.
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  CAS Report

  Applicants must request that LSAC provide Detroit Mercy Law with a Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Report that includes all LSAT score(s), transcript(s), and TOEFL scores (if applicable).

  TOEFL scores, including the Test of Written English and the Test of Spoken English, are required from applicants who earned their undergraduate degree outside of the U.S., its territories, or Canada.  Applicants should contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) for TOEFL registration at www.toefl.org. Applicants submitting TOEFL results must request that ETS send TOEFL scores to LSAC. LSAC's TOEFL code is 0058.

  Applicants who completed more than one year of post-secondary work outside of the U.S., its territories, or Canada, with the exception of study abroad, consortium, or exchange programs sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian institution and stated as such on the home institution transcript, are required to use CAS for the authentication and evaluation of international transcripts. For less than one year of study, an applicant may submit transcripts of this work directly to Detroit Mercy Law.

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  Letters of Recommendation

  Two letters of recommendation are required, and one must come from a college professor, unless the applicant has been out of college for a number of years. Letters of recommendation should be submitted through LSAC.

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  Personal Statement

  The personal statement is an opportunity for the Admissions Committee to learn more about your qualifications and how you will contribute to the classroom and the profession. The statement should not exceed two pages and should include your name and LSAC account number on each page. Please share information about what inspired you to pursue a legal education, your professional goals, and your interests. The statement also serves as a writing sample and should adhere to conventional rules of writing.

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  Resume

  A one-page resume is preferred. Resumes should not exceed two pages. Please include an education section and experience section. In the education section, you may list any awards, scholarships, publications, and activities. In the experience section, you may include both paid and unpaid experiences. You may also include other sections, for example, languages, memberships, and interests. Do not include an objective or references section.

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  Dual JD Supplemental Form

  This is only required of applicants to the Transnational Canadian and American Dual JD Program. Please see the Supplemental Form section of the online application to download the form.

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  Addenda

  Please submit an explanatory addendum for each academic and criminal disclosure that includes specific dates, causes, circumstances, and outcomes for each disclosure. Other explanatory addenda are accepted, but not required. Addenda should not exceed one page in length, absent extraordinary circumstances.

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  Academic Credentials

  We encourage candidates to maintain a cumulative undergraduate grade point average at or above 3.0 and to perform at the 50th percentile or better on the LSAT for admission; however, we consider a range of applicants based on all aspects of the application.

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  Additional Criteria

  We consider a range of applicants based on all aspects of the application. Additional criteria include writing and analytical skills, leadership, work experience, and service. We recognize that a diverse student body enhances our community, and we value individuals who offer unique backgrounds and experiences.