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    Oct 31, 2024  
2022-2023 Law School Student Handbook 
    
2022-2023 Law School Student Handbook [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Juris Doctor (Full-Time Day Program), JD


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Students must complete 88 units to graduate, 45 of which are derived from required courses. The remaining 43 units are comprised of additional program requirements and elective courses. Students may also elect to complete Specialization Certificates .

Student Learning Outcomes

  • At graduation, students will understand the legal rules, principles, and theories in core areas of substantive and procedural law in order to pass the bar and provide competent legal representation. 
  • At graduation, students will be able to apply legal analysis and reasoning to resolve legal problems and provide effective client representation.  
  • At graduation, students will be able to clearly and effectively communicate in a professional legal setting.    
  • At graduation, students will be prepared for professional success. 

Required Courses - 45 units


The following 45 units are used to calculate a students’ required course GPAs for purposes of academic standing  and merit scholarship eligibility:

Additional Requirements & Elective Courses - 43 units


Complete a minimum of 43 units from LAW or LLM prefix/subject courses, including the units used to satisfy the California Bar Exam Subject, Experiential Learning, and Upper-Division Writing course requirements below. Note: Although students are required to complete the requirements listed below, these units are not included in calculating their required courses GPAs for Academic Standing  purposes.

First Year Lawyering Elective Course


First year students who have a required course GPA below 2.3 at the end of the first semester may be required to take LAW 801E Legal Analysis  in place of the first year Lawyering elective. When space permits, other students may enroll in Legal Analysis with approval of the Associate Dean for Law Student Support.

Upper Division Writing Courses - 2 units


Effective with the 2022-23 incoming class, to satisfy the Upper Division Writing Requirement, students must complete 2 units from a number of upper division courses which have been certified as meeting the requirement. Students admitted in prior years, see the Law School Handbook applicable to the start year of your program for courses that meet the UDW Requirement.

Courses that satisfy the Upper Division Writing Requirement will be identified in the course schedule for each academic period.

Upper Division Experiential Courses - At least 6 units


  • All students are required to complete at least 6 units of Upper Division Experiential Coursework. Students graduating in the full-time day program must complete at least 3 of these units through a clinic, externship or field placement (“Non-Simulation Courses”) listed below.
  • Effective with the Fall 2022 incoming class, at least 2 units must be earned through one of the following on-site clinics: LAW 834C Environmental Law & Justice Clinic  , LAW 776C Veterans Legal Advocacy Clinic  , LAW 885B Women’s Employment Rights Clinic .
  • Students graduating in the part-time program may complete all 6 units of this requirement with Simulation Courses, but are strongly encouraged to complete at least 3 units through Non-Simulation Courses.

Course Schedule and Advising Appointments


Course schedule information may be found on the Law School’s Course Offerings web page. All students are encouraged to schedule academic advising appointments with Law Student Support by emailing lawstudentsupport@ggu.edu or by calling 415-442-6615.

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