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    Mar 29, 2024  
2022-2023 Law School Student Handbook 
    
2022-2023 Law School Student Handbook [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Juris Doctor (Joint Degree Program), JD/MBA


GGU provides students the opportunity to simultaneously pursue both the MBA and JD degrees. Students interested in the joint program should first apply to the School of Law. Matriculated JD students may apply to participate in this program after the completion of two semesters of law school, for full-time students, and after three terms for part-time students. Students’ LSAT scores will be accepted in lieu of the GMAT and Writing Proficiency Requirement in order to gain admission to the MBA program. All the other admission requirements of our traditional MBA program apply. Students’ Law School grades will also be considered in admission decisions. See Joint Degree Programs  and the Business Administration, Law Concentration, Joint MBA/JD for more information.

Students must complete 88 units to graduate, 76 of which must be from the School of Law. In addition to the requirements listed below, students will complete approximately 15 units of electives. Of the 88 units required for the JD program, 12 units of elective courses will be waived after completion of the MBA program requirements. Electives include additional units from the lists below and other classes on a variety of subjects listed in the course schedules each term.

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. 
  • Be able to apply legal analysis and reasoning to resolve legal problems and provide effective client representation.  
  • Be able to clearly and effectively communicate in a professional legal setting.    
  • Be prepared for professional success. 
  • Demonstrate a general management “holistic” perspective.
  • Demonstrate managerial and leadership skills, such as teamwork, critical thinking and problem solving, communications and presentations, self-awareness.
  • Master and apply general management analytic processes and tools for decision making.
  • Integrate strategic business objectives within competitive industry dynamics.
  • Integrate strategic business objectives within the socio-political-economic-ecological-global context.
  • Understand functional areas’ impact on business and departmental interaction issues.
  • Demonstrate integrated business level planning.
  • Demonstrate an understanding and ability to identify the ethical, environmental, and social implications of business issues and formulate appropriate responses.

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 - 31 units


Complete a minimum of 31 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.