JD

Description

The JD curriculum at Detroit Mercy Law provides students a strong foundation in the substantive and procedural law that forms the core of the traditional American law school curriculum; a thorough grounding in the ethical principles and rules governing the legal profession; high quality instruction in legal research, analysis, and writing; and experiential learning courses that allow students to represent clients and to participate in sophisticated simulated practice experiences. The curriculum integrates theory, doctrine, and practice. We strive through our curriculum to inculcate in students the competencies necessary to the practice of law as well as the highest ideals of the profession.

Graduation requires accumulation of 90 credit hours and includes required courses and electives.

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    Degree Requirements

    Foundation Courses:

    Core Courses:

    • LAW 2060 Constitutional Law*^^ (4 credits)
    • LAW 2220 Evidence*^^ (4 credits)
    • LAW 2470 Professional Responsibility (3 credits)
    • Upper Level Writing Requirement^ (2-3 credits)
    • Clinic^ (2-4 credits)
    • Law Firm Program^ (3 credits)
    • Global Law^ (1-3 credits)
    • Electives** (credits vary)

    * A minimum grade of 2.2 is required for course to meet graduation requirements.

    ^ Attributes of Upper Level Writing Requirement, Clinic, Law Firm Program, or Global Law course requirements will be listed on applicable courses in the Class Schedule.

    ^^ Students must take these courses within the first 60 hours.

    ** Students must take a minimum of 34 elective credit hours to satisfy the degree requirement of 90 credit hours.

     

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    Concentrations

    For a concentration in Immigration Law, students must complete 15 credit hours with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA in the following courses. Students may not opt to take any of these courses Pass/No Pass.

    One of the following courses:
    • LAW 2960 U.S. Immigration Law or
    • LAW 6230 U.S. and Canadian Immigration Law (both taught at the School of Law) or
    • 08 98 9571 Canadian Immigration Law (taught at University of Windsor) for 3 credits
    At least 12 credits from the following courses:


    For a concentration in Family Law, students must complete a minimum of 14 credit hours with a 3.0 GPA in the following courses. Students may not opt to take any of these courses Pass/No Pass.

    A minimum of six credit hours from the following courses:
    • LAW 2240 Family Law (2 or 3 credits)
    • LAW 3350 Juvenile Justice Law (3 credits)
    • LAW 3360 Children and the Law (3 credits)
    • LAW 4380 Selected Topics in Family Law Seminar (2 credits)
    Three credit hours from one of the following Law Firm Program offerings:
    • LAW 7080 Family Law Law Firm Program (3 credits)
    • LAW 7240 Children and the Law Child Welfare Proceedings Law Firm Program (3 credits)
    • LAW 7380 Juvenile Justice Law Firm Program (3 credits)
    Two credit hours selected from an approved externship or clinic including:
    • Family Court
    • Judicial Clerkships
    • Detroit Center for Family Advocacy William Booth (Salvation Army) Legal Aid Clinic
    • LAW 5100 Juvenile Appellate Clinic (3 credits)
    Students are strongly encouraged to cross enroll in one of the following psychology courses on the McNichols Campus for a minimum of three credit hours:
    • PYC 5000 Social Psychology
    • PYC 5420 Principles and Issues: Child and Adolescent Development

Accelerated 6-Year Law Scholars Program (3+3)

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    Program

    Detroit Mercy’s Accelerated 6-Year Law Scholars Program enables students to earn both a bachelor's degree and a Juris Doctor in six years rather than the traditional seven.

    During the first three years, students complete credits toward the bachelor’s degree.  During the last three years, students complete the JD requirements.  The credits earned after successfully completing the first-year law school curriculum transfer back to the undergraduate program for awarding of the bachelor’s degree in the approved undergraduate major.

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    Undergraduate Admissions & Requirements

    Undergraduate admissions and requirements are determined by participating undergraduate programs, not the School of Law.  Detroit Mercy’s participating undergraduate majors include:

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    Law School Admission Requirements

    Third-year Detroit Mercy undergraduate students in an approved major must meet the following criteria to be considered for admission to Detroit Mercy Law:

    • Completed at least three years of appropriate coursework at Detroit Mercy;
    • Completed the undergraduate major and core curriculum requirements with at least 90 credits;
    • Earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 by the end of their junior year;
    • Scored at least a 154 on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT);
    • Remained in good academic and disciplinary standing;
    • Completed the application process for Detroit Mercy Law; and
    • Met all of the fitness, character, and other criteria for admission required by Detroit Mercy Law.

    Participating in the 6-Year Law Scholars Program does not guarantee entrance to law school. If Detroit Mercy Law does not grant admission, then a student remains in the undergraduate program to complete the bachelor’s degree. Students may then apply to law school through the regular law school admission process and should consult with their academic advisor for the best course of action.

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    Continued Law School Eligibility

    Students must complete the full-time, first-year curriculum at Detroit Mercy Law and earn an overall grade point average of 2.2 to remain at Detroit Mercy Law. Students must satisfy all requirements to receive their undergraduate degree prior to taking additional credits beyond the first year at Detroit Mercy Law.

Admission Requirements

New students are required to receive a bachelor's degree before entering law school and must have taken the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) within the past five years.

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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.

Application Requirements

Files are reviewed for decision upon completion. A complete file includes the following components.

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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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    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.

Admission Decisions

The Admissions Committee considers a variety of factors in making admissions decisions.

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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.

Detroit Mercy Catalogs


Graduate Catalog
2022-2023