Juris Doctor Program

Full-Time Status

First-year full-time students are automatically registered for only the required courses offered in the first-year full-time curriculum. After the first year, full-time students are expected to enroll in no fewer than 12 units and no more than 17 units. Full-time students usually enroll in day courses but, space permitting, may elect evening offerings.

To be eligible for federal financial aid, students must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 units. For purposes of student loans and loan repayment, students taking 12 or more units per semester are considered full-time students.

Part-Time Status

First-year part-time students are automatically registered for only the required courses offered in the first-year part-time curriculum. After the first year, part-time students are expected to enroll in no fewer than 8 units and no more than 11 units. All part-time students, including those who transfer to full-time status after the first year, must take their remaining first-year classes at night. Law Student Services will enroll students in Law 114A: Civil Procedure 1 and Law 465: Critical Lawyering Skills in Fall and LAW 114B: Civil Procedure 2 in Spring.

Summer Sessions

Summer session courses may be credited toward the professional degree. Students may find it advantageous to take one or more courses offered in the summer so they may elect advanced or specialized courses in the third or fourth years.

The summer session consists primarily of evening classes and usually includes several bars or required classes. On-campus and Summer Abroad courses are open to students who have completed one year of study at the law school. Students may enroll in a maximum of 8 units during a summer session.

Grades earned in on-campus summer sessions or overseas summer programs are not used in calculating a student’s cumulative grade point average for purposes of academic qualification or disqualification at the end of the immediately preceding academic year.

Santa Clara University School of Law, one of the nation’s most diverse law schools, is dedicated to educating lawyers who lead with a commitment to excellence, ethics, and social justice. Santa Clara Law offers students an academically rigorous program including certificates in high tech law, international law, privacy law, public interest, and social justice law, as well as numerous graduate and joint degree options. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara Law is nationally distinguished for its faculty engagement, preparation for practice, and top-ranked programs in intellectual.