Juris Doctor (JD)

8.1 JD - Course Descriptions*

NOTE*: All required courses are given each year at each campus. However, to offer students the broadest possible range of elective courses between the two campuses, elective courses are offered on a rotating basis depending in part on student interest and faculty availability. Not all listed electives are offered each year, and some electives may not be offered at all during the time a given student attends the School. It is anticipated that each elective will be offered at least once every three years at one campus or the other. Courses listed with “Required” are required for graduation; others are elective except to the extent a student must take courses offered during a particular semester/session to fulfill unit load requirements. All courses are letter-graded except those marked “P/F” for Pass/Fail grading.

Course Descriptions  

8.2 JD and HJD - Academic Program

8.3 JD - Length of Program

1. The JD curriculum is designed to be completed in 4 years; limits are set forth below. For additional information, see Section 8.6, Sample Curriculum.
   1. Fall Starts: Students beginning their program in the Fall semester have two schedule options to complete degree requirements.
      1. Option 1, 3.5-year program (accelerated program): Upon completion of graduation requirements (see Section 12 ), the student may finish their program at the end of the student’s fourth Fall semester. Such a student’s degree will be conferred the following January. Only stronger students (generally, students with a cumulative GPA of 2.2 or above) should consider accelerating the program. To accelerate, a student must complete at least 21 units during their three Summer sessions and through Legal Internship or Directed Study projects. Students wishing to accelerate should be aware that this requires substantial additional Summer session attendance during all summers in the program, and that a student must petition to the Dean to take more than 6 units during any Summer session, as noted in Section 8.2.F above. The School does not encourage acceleration and not all students will be able to accelerate.
      2. Option 2, 4-year program: Students who begin the program in Fall must complete their degree requirements by the end of the student’s fourth Spring semester. Degrees will be conferred in May.
   2. Spring-starts: Students beginning their program in the Spring semester have one schedule option, a 4-year program. Spring-start students must complete their degree requirements by the end of their fourth Fall semester, with a degree conferral date in January.
2. A student’s program may be required to depart from the above norms in special situations, such as when a student is on probation, is a transfer student, or has interrupted the customary sequence of study for any reason. Under special circumstances and with the Dean’s permission, an onsite JD student may take one or more core courses online after completing the first year.
    
3. Each student is responsible for planning their own program, within the limits of the School’s policies, so as to complete all course and graduation requirements within the time limits stated above. Students who do not carefully plan (by failing to take required Summer courses in an appropriate sequence, for example) may find it impossible to graduate at the intended time. The School has no provisions for partial course credit, so students may find it necessary to complete more than 84 units of credit to meet graduation requirements.
    
4. In extraordinary circumstances and for good cause shown, a student may petition the Dean for permission to extend their program by one term to include, for Spring-start students only, the fourth Spring semester or, for Fall start students only, the Summer session following the fourth Spring semester. Degrees will not be awarded to students who have not completed the required 84 units by that time, except with the Dean’s permission upon good cause shown. A student who fails to timely complete requirements for the JD degree but meets eligibility requirements of the State Bar of California based on law school attendance may nonetheless be eligible to sit for the California State Bar. The School does not undertake nor assume any duty to advise students of the State Bar’s eligibility requirements; information should be sought from the Office of Admissions, Eligibility Department, of the State Bar of California (www.calbar.ca.gov).
    
5. The Committee of Bar Examiners disallows the granting of a JD degree by an accredited law school to a student who has failed to complete the degree within 84 months of commencing the study of law.

8.3.1 HJD - Length of Program

A. The HJD curriculum is designed to be finished in either 32 months (2.5 years) or 40 months (3.5 years).

1. Option 1, the 32-month schedule: Upon completion of all graduation requirements, the student may finish the program at the end the student’s third spring semester (or eighth semester in the program). Only students who are not working full time should consider the 32-month schedule. These students’ degrees will be conferred on the last day of the Spring term, usually in May

2. Option 2, the 40-month schedule: Upon completion of all graduation requirements, the student may finish the program at the end of the student’s fourth fall semester (or tenth semester in the program). These students’ degrees will be conferred on the last day of the Fall term in December.

Whether students choose the 32-month or the 40-month schedule, the “cohort” is defined as students who complete their degree requirements in the same calendar year.

1. The cohorts GPA will be finalized at the end of the fall semester for purposes of recognition at commencement
2. The cohort will attend commencement in the Spring of the calendar year in which they complete their graduation requirements.
3. The cohort’s final GPA and class rank will be determined when the cohort completes their degree requirements.

D. Each student is responsible for planning their own program, within the limits of the School’s policies, so as to complete all course and graduation requirements within the time limits stated above.

E. Each student must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 units to remain in the program, unless otherwise   authorized by the Associate Dean. If, however, a student is not currently in the program because of a temporary withdrawal but has completed the first year of law school and is in good standing, the student may take less than 6 units before re-entry into the program. 

F. In extraordinary circumstances and for good cause shown, a student may petition the Dean for permission to extend their program. Degrees will not be awarded to students who have not completed the required 84 units by the expected end of the program, except with the Dean’s permission upon good cause shown. A student who fails to timely complete requirements for the JD degree but meets eligibility requirements of the State Bar of California based on law school attendance may nonetheless be eligible to sit for the California State Bar. The School does not undertake nor assume any duty to advise students of the State Bar’s eligibility requirements; information should be sought from the Office of Admissions, Eligibility Department, of the State Bar of California (www.calbar.ca.gov).

G. The Committee of Bar Examiners disallows the granting of a JD degree by an accredited law school to a student who has failed to complete the degree within 84 months of commencing the study of law.

8.4 JD - Required Courses

1. The curriculum consists of required courses, elective courses and a required unit of Legal Internship. Required courses are given each year and must be taken by all students at the designated time in the curriculum. Further, students who elect to begin their program in a Spring-start cohort will be required, in their first Spring and first Fall semester, to take designated courses that would otherwise be elective in nature (“designated electives”) thus reducing the number of true elective units available to meet the 84-unit graduation requirement. Some flexibility applies in the fourth year. (See below and Sections 8.5 , Elective Courses and 8.7 , Legal Internship.) Except as noted in the Course Descriptions, required courses are offered on a letter-graded basis.
    
2. Academic Year Required Courses
   1. First Year through Third Year: During the Fall and Spring semesters of the first three full curriculum years, students take a total of 18 units of required courses each year.
      Students who enroll as part of a Spring-start cohort will take, in their first Spring semester, a total of six units designated electives. In their remaining academic years, they will take 18 units of required courses.
   2. Fourth Year: In fourth year, required courses are prioritized and need to be taken only as necessary to complete the 84-unit and other academic requirements set forth in this Catalog. The following provisions apply in fourth year:
      1. students in their final semester must enroll in the number of units needed to equal or exceed the 84-unit graduation requirement.
      2. a fourth-year student must enroll in Constitutional Criminal Procedure and Bar Studies, and may enroll in the remaining fourth-year course offered in Fall semester, if necessary to meet that student’s required unit minimum. Thus, a fourth-year student expecting to complete law studies at the end of the Fall semester and who needs 6 units to graduate would be required to enroll in Constitutional Criminal Procedure (3) and Bar Studies (3). One who needs 9 units to graduate would also enroll in the remaining fourth-year course; and
      3. in Spring semester, only two fourth-year courses are offered and students planning to graduate upon completion of the Spring semester may take one or both to meet their required 6-unit minimum. Legal Internship or Directed Study may be offered as one of the required courses.
3. Summer Required Courses
   1. In addition to the required courses offered during the Fall and Spring semesters (regular academic year), each student must complete all of the following required Summer courses as follows:
      1. Legal Research (2 units) and Legal Writing (2 units), Summer session after completing the first-year curriculum (if Legal Writing was not completed earlier.);
      2. Advanced Legal Writing (2 units), Summer session after completing the second-year curriculum; and
      3. Appellate Advocacy (2 units), Summer session after completing the third-year curriculum.
   2. Each student must also complete additional elective course units that, when added to the foregoing and the Fall/Spring curriculum (including first Spring semester, for Spring-start students), will total at least 84 units by, for Fall start students, no later than the end of the fourth Spring semester following the first Fall semester of enrollment or, for Spring-start students, no later than the end of the fourth Fall semester of enrollment.
4. Additional Graduation Course Requirements
   1. All students must complete a 1-unit pro bono Legal Internship. (See Section 8.7 .)
   2. Students are expected to enroll and participate in the School’s customized Bar Review program.

8.4.1 HJD - Required Courses

A. The curriculum consists of required courses, required Lawyering Skills units, elective courses, and a required unit of pro bono Legal Internship. Required courses are given each year and must be taken by all students at the designated time in the curriculum. Except as otherwise noted, required courses are offered on a letter-graded basis.

B. Depending on whether the students are in the 32- or 40-month schedule, students will take 6-9 units of required courses in each semester. (See Section 8.6.1, Sample Curriculum Map.)

1. In required courses that are completed over two distinct semesters, such as Torts I and Torts II, successfully passing the first semester of the course is a prerequisite to enrolling and taking the second semester of the course. This policy applies to all HJD courses whose course coverage expands over two semesters. 

2. Students must complete the first year of law school (fall, spring, and summer) before continuing into the second year of law school unless otherwise authorized by the Associate Dean.

C. In addition, students must successfully complete five Lawyering Skills units: 2 Practical Skills units; 1 Litigation Skills unit; 1 Transactional Skills unit; and 1 Professional Development and Leadership unit. Beginning in Fall 2021, the five required Lawyering Skills units will be designated in specific semesters throughout the program.

1. The last day to register for a Lawyering Skills unit in any given semester is ten (10) calendar days before the weekend course is offered.
2. The last day to drop a Lawyering Skills unit and receive a refund is forty-eight (48) hours before the weekend course is offered, unless otherwise authorized by the Associate Dean.

D. All students must complete a 1-unit pro bono Legal Internship. (See Section 8.7)

E. All students must complete their Capstone course during their final semester of law school, unless otherwise authorized by the Associate Dean.

8.5 JD and HJD - Elective Courses

1. Generally, elective courses are given during Summer sessions in the JD Program and on a letter-graded basis, with exceptions as noted in the Course Descriptions. In addition, eligible students may earn elective credits for Legal Internship throughout the year. (See Section 8.7, Legal Internship.) When approved by the Dean, Lawyering Skills units may be made available as an elective course for students in the JD Program.
    
2. JD Program students may take Summer elective courses at either or both campuses; required courses must be taken at a student’s principal campus except that when Spring-start curriculum is not offered at a student’s principal campus, the student may take the Spring-start curriculum at the campus where it is offered.
    
3. Elective offerings depend on student demand, instructor availability, and other factors. The nature and quantity of elective course offerings vary from summer to summer. Not all electives are offered each year; some electives may not be offered at all during the time a given student attends the School. JD Program Spring-start students: Such students must complete 3 units of elective course work during the first Summer session following their Spring enrollment and take required courses each Summer session after completing their first year. They should be aware that their elective choices may be limited based upon required prerequisites and that, as compared to a student who begins in the Fall semester, they will have fewer true electives remaining to fulfill the 84-unit graduation requirement.
    
4. Online elective courses are offered by the School every semester. An HJD student may take an elective course after completing the first year of the program in any semester. A JD Program student may take a limited number of such courses as defined by the Committee of Bar Examiners (CBE). JD Program students may only take online elective courses in the summer, or if they are completing the program in four years, in the final spring semester.  Unit limits as set by the CBE are not subject to waiver for an individual student. HJD students are not subject to the current CBE limits for online courses and may take online elective courses when appropriate.

8.6 JD - Sample Four-Year Curriculum*

This section contains an example of the required JD curriculum (with elective units) for a student who begins law studies in a Fall semester and completes the 84-unit degree requirement at the end of the fourth Spring semester. (See below for Spring-start example.) Contact the Administration Office for other examples (e.g., completing at the end of the fourth Fall semester).

8.6.1 HJD - Sample Curriculum*

8.7 JD - Legal Internship - program available to students who commenced law studies prior to 2022

1. A student is eligible to apply for a Legal Internship after successfully completing the first-year curriculum, including Legal Research and Legal Writing. This program enables students to work under the supervision of practicing attorneys and judges for academic credit. It exposes students to real-world practice to enhance their understanding of the law and introduces them to the professional obligation to provide pro bono service. All Legal Internship credits are earned on a Pass/Fail basis. The program is overseen by the Dean or Associate Dean, who may delegate any such oversight duties to a faculty designate.
   
   A student should begin making plans one full semester before they intend to begin work on a Legal Internship, to allow time to complete the requirements detailed below.
    
2. Advanced students may apply for certification under the Practical Training of Law Students Rules of the State Bar of California, to enhance their clinical experience. (See also Section 13.G Practical Training of Law Students .)
    
3. Mandatory/Elective Credits
    
   1. Students are required to earn at least 1 unit of Legal Internship credit; they may elect to earn up to 6 units of combined Legal Internship/Directed Study with the permission of the Associate Dean.
       
   2. The required unit must be earned in an internship working on pro bono matters. (See item 4 below.) Most internships are available during regular business hours, but the Administration will work with students whose hours of employment conflict with regular business hours to find alternative internship opportunities.
       
   3. To avoid repetitive activity, from which the incremental learning experience is insufficient to justify additional credit, the Associate Dean or designee will almost never approve more than three units of Legal Internship with the same supervising judge or attorney or with the same organization. The Dean, Associate Dean or designee will consider approving an internship at a new site only after the student has fulfilled all requirements for, or terminated, their original proposal.
       
   4. Work performed by the student for compensation is not eligible for internship credit.
4. Required Training and Hours
    
   1. “50-hours plus Training” Legal Internship
      1. Hours: Subject to the provisions of paragraph D.1. above, each unit of Legal Internship credit approved requires the student to successfully complete at least 50 hours of law-related work.
      2. Internship Training: Before beginning the student’s first Legal Internship, they must successfully complete a one-time, Legal Internship Training session, typically held on a Saturday. The training session is not credit-bearing and so tuition is not charged. No further training will be required to earn additional internship units. A student is eligible to attend training after having completed both Legal Research and Legal Writing. One training session will be offered each semester, alternating between campuses. The training requirement is not subject to waiver and is a requirement for graduation.
      3. During their pro bono internship, each student must be enrolled in the internship class. The internship class is part of the 1-unit awarded for satisfactory completion of the pro bono internship. The class will be available but is not required in subsequent internships. 
          
5. Qualifications
   
   To participate in a Legal Internship, a student must: have successfully completed the first-year curriculum, (including Legal Research and Legal Writing); have taken the required training; be in good academic standing at the beginning of a specifically approved Legal Internship program; and have registered and made payment for the Legal Internship course.
    
6. Legal Internship Sites
    
   1. All work must be performed by the student without compensation and under the direct supervision of a judge or attorney who is unrelated to the student. A supervising attorney must be an active member of the State Bar of California who is practicing law. Students may intern for an attorney licensed outside of California for their pro bono internship if the attorney is licensed to practice in a State, the attorney’s practice is exclusively or primarily in a federal forum such as immigration, social security, or bankruptcy, and the student will be working on issues in the federal forum. Such students will not be eligible to participate in the Practical Training of Law Students program sponsored by the State Bar of California. It is the student’s responsibility to locate an acceptable position, but the School offers counseling to assist in finding internships.
       
   2. Pro bono internship sites: Students may perform their required pro bono internship unit by working on assignments in public law offices (e.g., Public Defender or other court-appointed defense counsel, County Counsel, City Attorney, or District Attorney), with judges, or with other governmental or non-profit organizations engaged in full-time legal activity. Work that, in the Associate Dean’s opinion, is of an essentially political or lobbying nature will not qualify for credit. Pro bono internship units may be earned with private attorneys only when all internship hours will be performed exclusively on pro bono cases (cases taken from inception for no compensation or possibility of compensation to the attorney) that serve some generally recognized public good (such as helping the disadvantaged or providing legal services to a non-profit organization); work on “low bono” cases (for which a private attorney receives some compensation) does not qualify as work on pro bono cases.
       
   3. For-profit internship sites (including work on low bono cases): Students may receive internship credit for work on matters for which the law firm or its attorneys will be compensated, but only after the student has completed the required 1-unit pro bono internship.
7. Procedures
    
   1. A student should sign up for Legal Internship Training no later than the semester/session before they intend to begin an internship.
       
   2. Qualified students who have located a Legal Internship must present, and obtain the Associate Dean’s/designee’s approval of, a properly completed Legal Internship Proposal form (from the Gateway (https://My.CollegesofLaw.edu/) before beginning work for credit. The completed form must provide all information required on the form or requested by the Associate Dean and must be signed by the proposed supervisor.
      
      If approved, the program of work/activity described in that proposal, including any special conditions imposed by the Associate Dean, will be the Legal Internship Program specifically approved for that student.
       
   3. The student may begin working toward credit only after they have received notice of approval from the Associate Dean or designee on the Legal Internship Proposal form and has paid tuition for the Legal Internship course.
       
   4. Students will not be approved to begin an internship after the end of the second week of a term, except in extraordinary circumstances approved by the Associate Dean.
       
   5. Students will not be approved to complete an internship outside of the State of California.
8. Registration and Payment
    
   1. After the Associate Dean or designee approves the internship, the Registrar will manually register the student prior to the start of the next academic term. Upon approval by the Associate Dean or designee for good cause, students may be manually registered for an internship that arises during a semester or to begin an internship during the semester break preceding the start of the semester for which the internship is approved.
       
   2. A student must pay tuition for all internship units upon registration for such units. The School charges tuition for each unit of Legal Internship at the same rate as all other courses.
9. Interim Evaluations
   
   The Associate Dean or designee will supervise a student’s internship performance. If the internship involves more than two units, the School will contact the student’s supervisor for a written interim evaluation of the student’s performance. If an interim evaluation report indicates that the student’s performance is unsatisfactory, or that the student’s program is not fulfilling the Legal Internship Program’s objectives, the School reserves the right to notify the student that approval for the Legal Internship is withdrawn. If approval is withdrawn, the student will not be entitled to earn any credit for that Legal Internship and will receive a grade of Fail.
    
10. Report/Log/Final Evaluation
     
    1. After completing the required number of hours, the student must provide the Chair with:
        
       1. A carefully drafted and proofread reflective report, in the format required by the School of at least four full typewritten pages (double-spaced), that summarizes the work performed by the student in the Legal Internship and identifies the manner in which the experience enhanced the student’s preparedness for the practice of law. Papers not meeting these requirements will be returned to the student for revision.
           
       2. A log of hours worked and a description of the work performed.
           
       3. A completed Final Evaluation Form from the supervisor verifying the number of hours of law-related work completed and that the quality of the work was of a satisfactory level to warrant credit. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the School that the Legal Internship has been completed and to request that the School send the Final Evaluation Form to the supervisor. It is also the student’s responsibility to ensure that the supervisor properly completes and returns the form to the School.
           
       4. Documentation in a format approved by the School that the student met with the supervising attorney or judge to evaluate the internship and the student’s performance, including whether the School’s student learning outcomes, and the student’s goals and learning objectives, have been met.
    2. The Associate Dean or designee is responsible for deciding whether the student is entitled to receive credit for the Legal Internship.
11. Time to Complete Internship
    
    All internship requirements MUST be completed by the last day of the semester or session during which the internship was undertaken, except in extraordinary circumstances approved in advance by the Associate Dean or designee. Prior to that deadline, a student may request the Associate Dean or designee, on the appropriate form, for a one-term continuation; additional extensions are not permitted. A grade of “Fail” will be awarded for Legal Internship to a student who either fails to complete his/her internship within the applicable time period (whether as originally approved or as extended pursuant to a timely-requested extension), or who otherwise fails to complete all internship requirements. The student’s account will not be credited for the tuition charged for a failed internship.

8.7.1 JD - Legal Internship- NEW program required for students who commenced law studies on or after January 2022

1. A student is eligible to apply for a Legal Internship after successfully completing the first-year curriculum, including Legal Research and Legal Writing. This program enables students to work under the supervision of practicing attorneys and judges for academic credit. It exposes students to real-world practice to enhance their understanding of the law. All credits for internships are earned on a Pass/Fail basis. The program is overseen by the Dean, or the Dean’s designee.  A student should begin making plans one full semester before they intend to begin an internship, to allow time to complete the requirements detailed below. Students will not be approved to complete an internship outside of the State of California.
    
2. Internship Requirements
   1. Legal Internship: This internship is required for graduation.  The Legal Internship must be at least one (1) unit,but may be up to three (3) units with the approval of the Dean or the Dean’s designee.
      1. In addition to the required number of hours of field-work, students must also complete the Legal Internship Orientation, attend Legal Internship classes (online), and complete all Legal Internship assignments in order to receive credit.  Completion of field-work, orientation, class, and assignments are not subject to waiver.
         1. Field-Work.  Each unit of Legal Internship credit approved requires the student to successfully complete at least 50 hours of law-related work in the field.
         2. Legal Internship Orientation: This introduction to the Legal Internship is required for all students at the conclusion of their first year.  The Orientation is offered online.  Once a student completes Orientation, they will have access to all of the forms and documents required for obtaining Legal Internship placement.
         3. Legal Internship classes: In the term during which the student is working at the internship placement, they must attend three (3) class sessions.  Classes meet online and are designed to complement the student’s internship experience.  Participation in all three (3) classes is required for successful completion of and the award of credit for Legal Internship.
         4. Legal Internship assignments: In addition to the work done in the field placement, there are several assignments throughout the term during which the student is enrolled in the Legal Internship.  Like the class in B.1.a.iii, these assignments are designed to complement the internship experience.  Satisfactory completion and submission of all assignments is required for successful completion of and the award of credit for Legal Internship.
      2. This Legal Internship must be earned in a placement where the student works completely on pro bono matters.  All work must be performed by the student without compensation and under the direct supervision of a judge or attorney who is unrelated to the student.  A supervising attorney must be an active member of a State Bar who is practicing law in the State of California.  Colleges of Law will provide students with a list of approved internship sites to facilitate the student obtaining internship placement, but it is ultimately the student’s responsibility to locate an acceptable position.
          
      3. Students may earn their required Legal Internship unit(s) by working in public law offices (e.g., Public Defender or other court-appointed defense counsel, County Counsel, City Attorney, or District Attorney) with judges, or with other governmental or non-profit organizations involved in full-time legal activity.  The Legal Internship unit(s) may be earned with private attorneys only when all internship hours will be performed exclusively on pro bono cases (cases taken from inception for no compensation or possibility of compensation to the attorney) that serve some generally recognized good (such as helping the disadvantaged or providing legal services to a non-profit organization; work on “low bono” cases (for which a private attorney receives some compensation) does not qualify as work on pro bono cases.
          
      4. Work performed by the student for compensation is not eligible for Legal Internship credit.
          
      5. The Dean, or the Dean’s designee, is responsible for deciding whether the student is entitled to receive credit for the Legal Internship.
   2. Advanced Legal Internship: This internship may be done only after a student has successfully completed and received credit for the required Legal Internship in B.1.  This internship must be at least one (1), but no more than three (3), units unless exceptional circumstances apply. In total, a student may elect to earn up to six (6) units of combined Legal Internship/Advanced Legal Internship/Directed Study.
      1.  To earn credit for Advanced Legal Internship, students must do the required number of field-work hours and complete all Advanced Legal Internship assignments in order to receive credit.  Completion of field-work and assignments is not subject to waiver.
         1. Field-Work: Each unit of Advanced Legal Internship credit approved requires the student to successfully complete at least 50 hours of law-related work in the field.
         2. Advanced Legal Internship assignments:  In addition to the work done in the field placement, there are several assignments throughout the period of the student is working at the placement. These assignments are designed to complement the internship experience.  Satisfactory completion and submission of all assignments is required for successful completion of and the award of credit for Advanced Legal Internship.
      2. Advanced Legal Internship unit(s) may be earned at placements where the student is doing pro bono work (as detailed in B.1 above) or may be at a for-profit placement for work on matters for which the law firm or its attorneys will be compensated (including work on low bono cases).
          
      3. Students enrolled in Advanced Legal Internship will be required to submit a log of their hours signed by their supervising attorney or judge, several writing assignments, and a placement evaluation to receive credit.  Participation in the Legal Internship class (see above B.1.a.iii) is not required.
          
      4. Under no circumstances may a student complete both Legal Internship and Advanced Legal Internship in the same academic term.
          
      5. Work performed by the student for compensation is not eligible for Advanced Legal Internship credit.
          
      6. The Dean, or the Dean’s designee, is responsible for deciding whether the student is entitled to receive credit for the Advanced Legal Internship.
3. Qualifications
   1. General Qualifications:
      1. To participate in Legal Internship, a student must:
         1. Have successfully completed the first-year curriculum (including Legal Research and Legal Writing;
         2. Have taken the required Legal Internship Orientation;
         3. Have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better at the beginning of a specifically approved Legal Internship; and
         4. Be registered for the Legal Internship course.
      2. To participate in Advanced Legal Internship, a student must:
         1. Have successfully earned at least one (1) unit of Legal Internship;
         2. Have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better at the beginning of a specifically approved Advanced Legal Internship; and
         3. Be registered for the Advanced Legal Internship.
   2. Certified Law Students
      1. Students who meet the criteria may, but are not required to, apply to be certified under the Practical Training of Law Students Rules of the State Bar of California.  Certified law students may perform any function on behalf of a client that would be appropriate for a licensed attorney as long as these functions are performed under the direct supervision of the supervising attorney and with the consent of the client. These functions include appearing on the client’s behalf in a trial, hearing, or proceeding. (See also Section 13.G Practical Training of Law Students.)
          
      2. Students may apply to be certified prior to either the Legal Internship or Advanced Legal Internship, as long as they meet the criteria.
4. Procedures
   1. Students must first complete the Legal Internship Orientation training at athe end of their first year of study at the School.
   2. Once Legal Internship Orientation is completed, students should access via Gateway to the forms and documents required to obtain and enroll in Legal Internship. Students are responsible for completion of all necessary forms, including obtaining signatures or other required information from potential supervising attorneys or judges.
   3. Students are responsible for finding their own placement location for the Legal Internship (and Advanced Legal Internship, if applicable).  Most internships are available during regular business hours, but the Administration will work with students whose hours of employment conflict with regular business hours to find alternative internship opportunities.
   4. Students may begin working toward credit only after the Dean, or the Dean’s designee, has approved their Legal Internship Proposal.
      1. To avoid repetitive activity, from which the incremental learning experience is insufficient to justify additional credit, the Dean, or the Dean’s designee, will almost never approve more than three (3) units of Legal Internship with the same supervising judge or attorney, or with the same organization. 
      2. The Dean, or the Dean’s designee, will consider approving an internship at a new site only after the student has fulfilled all requirements for, or terminated, his or her original proposal.
   5. Except in extraordinary circumstances, students will not be approved to begin an internship after the end of the second week of a term.  For Legal Internship, the student may be required to complete the class and assignments portion of the course in the term following the field-work if the Dean, or the Dean’s designee, believes, in their sole discretion, that there is not sufficient time to do so during the term in which the student completes the hours.  If this occurs, the student will receive a grade of  ”Incomplete” for the Legal Internship until all requirements (see B.1.a above) have been met. Students will not be able to enroll in Advanced Internship until the Legal Internship credit is awarded.  (See additional information in section F.1 below.)
5. Registration and Payment
   1. After the Dean, or the Dean’s designee, approves the placement, the Registrar will manually register the student for the internship unit(s).
   2. The School charges tuition for each unit of internship at the same rate as other courses.
6. Time to Complete Internship
   1. All internship requirements must be completed by the last day of the semester or session during which the internship was undertaken, except in extraordinary circumstances approved in advance by the Dean, or the Dean’s designee.  Prior to the end of the term, a student may use the appropriate form to request the Dean, or the Dean’s designee, grant a one-term continuation; additional extensions are not permitted.  A grade of “Fail” will be awarded for Legal Internship to a student who either fails to complete their internship within the applicable time period (whether as originally approved or as extended pursuant to a timely-requested extension), or who otherwise fails to complete all internship requirements.  The student’s account will not be credited for the tuition charged for a failed internship.
   2. The Dean, or the Dean’s designee, is responsible for deciding whether the student is entitled to receive credit for the Legal Internship.

8.8 JD - Certificates of Concentration - onsite JD program only

1. Students or alumni who have qualified for the JD degree may also earn a Certificate of Concentration in Business Law, Criminal Law, Family Law, or Estate Planning, to be awarded upon graduation or thereafter. This program is available to students who began law studies prior to 2022.
    
2. To earn a Certificate, an individual must, in addition to completing all requirements of the law program:
    
   1. Complete as part of the law program or within 3 summer sessions thereafter 8 units of elective courses qualified for credit toward a single concentration (with a grade of at least “C” or “Pass”).
       
   2. Submit a Petition for Certificate of Concentration form to the Administration Office, listing qualified courses completed, or courses the applicant wishes to have considered as qualified courses. Qualified courses are updated annually and listed on the Student Gateway.

3. No more than a total of two (2) units of Legal Internship and/or Directed Study credit may be applied toward a Certificate; credit is appropriate where, as determined by the Dean or Dean’s designate, the student’s activities focused on the student’s area of concentration or would tend to develop skills needed by a practitioner in that area.
    
4. Students who do not complete a Certificate of Concentration prior to graduation may do so within three summer sessions after graduation by fulfilling the requirements of Paragraph B above, by successfully completing qualified courses offered by the School for MCLE credit. Qualified courses in the graduate’s area of concentration completed with a grade of at least ”C” or ”Pass” will be counted toward those requirements whether completed before or within 3 summer sessions after graduation.

8.8.1 HJD Program - Lawyering Skills Concentration

This provision applies only to students enrolled prior to Fall 2021

The HJD Program includes four Lawyering Skills tracks: Litigation, Transactions, Practical Skills, and Professional Development and Leadership. Students may choose to concentrate in one track. To obtain a certificate of concentration, students must complete four (4) units in that track. 

8.8.2 JD and HJD Program - Concentrations in Business Operations, Entrepreneurship, Emerging Law, and Technology

With the advent of the Master of Arts in Law program, these new concentrations will become available

The concentrations in Business Operations, Entrepreneurship, Emerging Law, and Technology require students to complete three concentration courses approved for JD credit and a one-unit application of that learning through a weekend MA in Law Innovation Residency course, a directed study, or an internship.

8.9 JD - Directed Study

1. Students in good academic standing who have successfully completed the second year may petition the Associate Dean or designee for permission to enroll in up to 3 units, graded on a Pass/Fail basis, of Directed Study under the supervision of the Associate Dean, Dean or designee. Each unit of Directed Study requires the student to complete at least 50 hours of legal research and writing and completing a research paper or other project the scope and length of which has the Dean’s or Associate Dean’s prior approval. A student may earn no more than a total of 6 units of credit for Internship and Directed Study work, combined. All Directed Study credits are earned on a Pass/Fail basis.
    
2. Time to Complete Directed Study
   
   All requirements must be completed by the last day of the semester or session during which the Directed Study was undertaken, except in extraordinary circumstances approved by the Dean or Associate Dean. Prior to that deadline, a student may request the Dean or Associate Dean or designee, on the appropriate form, for a one-time continuation; additional extensions are not permitted. A grade of “Fail” will be awarded for Directed Study to a student who fails to complete their Directed Study within the applicable time period (whether as originally approved or as extended pursuant to a timely-requested extension), or who otherwise fails to complete all Directed Study requirements. The student’s account will not be credited for the tuition charged for a failed Directed Study.
    
3. Directed Study Requirements
   
   The student must provide:
    
   1. A written research paper conforming in scope and length to that approved by the Associate Dean or designee and
   2. A log of hours worked and the work performed.
       

No credit will be awarded for any Directed Study until all of the foregoing requirements have been met, the Dean or Associate Dean or desginee  has deemed the research paper or other project worthy of a grade of “Pass”, and the student has paid the tuition due. No partial units of credit can be earned.

4. The School charges tuition for each unit of credit awarded to the student for the completed Directed Study at the same rate as all other courses. Upon approval of the Directed Study, the student will be manually registered for the course and charged tuition for the unit(s).

8.10 JD - Registration Procedures

1. Approximately 8 weeks prior to the start of each semester or session continuing students will be notified by JURIS e-mail about the availability of registration materials through the Gateway (https://My.CollegesofLaw.edu/.) Materials will include information about tuition, fees, class schedules, academic calendar, registration deadlines, required books, and registration period dates. Students are responsible to purchase or otherwise obtain the required books through outside vendors.
    
2. Students enrolling for the first time will be e-mailed information about registration and Orientation. At Orientation, student identification photographs will be taken; these pictures may be used by the School at its discretion, including for pictorial class rosters distributed to faculty.
    
3. Before the start of the semester/session, the updated course syllabi will be available for the onsite JD Program through the Gateway (https://My.CollegesofLaw.edu/). Syllabi for the hybrid JD Program will be imbedded in the course Canvas course shell.
    
4. JD and HJD students will register online through the Academic Portal.  

9.1A - JD - Attendance Policy

1. The Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California (CBE) requires part-time students at an accredited law school such as this school to complete at least 1200 hours of study in residence. As the School’s JD Program is considered to be a part-time program by the CBE, the hours of study must extend over a period of not less than 120 weeks to meet the legal educational requirements to sit for the California State Bar Examination and be certified to practice law in California. Under CBE standards “regular and punctual attendance” at classes is necessary to satisfy the educational requirement.
    
2. Each student is responsible for satisfying the educational requirement of the CBE by regular and punctual class attendance. The CBE expects attendance at “at least 80% of the regularly scheduled class hours in each course in which a student is enrolled.” Students are considered absent if, for whatever reason, they are not marked present when roll is called or have not signed the roll sheet.
    
3. Under the School’s separate attendance standards, a student is expected to attend substantially all classes in each course and to be absent only under compelling or unavoidable circumstances. For example, absences for planned personal events such as vacations do not qualify as compelling or unavoidable circumstances. Under the School’s standards, a student is also expected to arrive punctually, return from break on time, and depart only at the end of each session, so as to attend substantially all the session and avoid disrupting the class.
    
4. Students may be marked absent for non-participation in class, without further notice. The study of law requires active participation by each student, so “attendance” requires more than mere physical presence during the class session. All students are expected to be prepared to brief and discuss assigned cases and materials. If an instructor deems student participation essential to the educational objectives of the class, they may mark a student absent from class if the student does not present a brief or a substantive response when called upon to brief a case or otherwise participate in class. If an instructor adopts this rule, it shall be applied equally to all students. If the student presents a case brief or otherwise participates in class discussion at the request of the instructor, the instructor shall not mark the student absent based on the quality of the student’s presentation.
    
5. A student’s attendance record is relevant to and may be considered in all matters involving the student, such as petitions to continue on probation or be readmitted, petitions for excess units during the Summer sessions, scholarship applications, and nominations to Inns of Court. Attendance, per se, will not be factored into a course grade unless so stated in the course syllabus.
    
6. A student who exhibits a pattern of absences, or untimely arrivals and departures, raises serious doubts that they are making a good faith effort to meet the School’s attendance standards and is subject to any disciplinary action that the Dean considers appropriate. For example, such discipline may include probation, loss of academic credit, course withdrawal, administrative withdrawal, or dismissal.
    
7. Serious doubts that a student is making a good faith effort to attend substantially all classes are also raised by a student’s absence: 1) in excess of those permitted by a special attendance policy announced in the syllabus of any course, or 2) from more than 20% of the regularly scheduled class hours in any course in which no special attendance policy is announced. Thus, a student incurs an excess absence: 1) when their absences exceed those permitted under an announced special attendance policy, or 2) if no special policy has been announced, when those absences exceed one class in a 1-unit course, two classes in a 2-unit course, or three classes in a 3-unit course. An excess absence will ultimately result in an administrative withdrawal of the student from The Colleges of Law. 
    
8. A student may petition the Dean for waiver of consequences for an excess absence in a single course. A student may file no more than two such petitions while enrolled at the School, whether or not the Dean has granted any of a student’s earlier petitions. Such a petition must be submitted within one week of the excess absence, explain the nature of each absence in that course, demonstrate that each absence was compelling or unavoidable, and show good cause why consequences should not be imposed. In deciding upon the petition, the Dean will consider whether the student’s absences in that course were compelling or unavoidable, as well as the extent to which the student’s overall pattern of absences demonstrates that the student has, or has not, been making a good faith effort to attend substantially all classes.  The student attends class through the deliberation, but will be administratively withdrawn if their petition is denied.
    
9. A student may be administratively withdrawn for any excess absence. However, after the third instance of a student incurring an excess absence during a student’s enrollment, the student will be administratively withdrawn, whether or not the Dean waived the imposition of consequences for earlier absences. An administratively withdrawn student lacks good standing and must seek re-entry/readmission to the School through the Academic Standards and Admissions Committee. Students are cautioned that the ASAC rarely grants re-entry/readmission. Further, re-entry/readmission may be subject to conditions imposed by the Committee of Bar Examiners (such as a requirement that the student seeking /readmission who had been academically disqualified during earlier enrollment must submit an LSAT score).
    
10. In addition to the above provisions, a student will be administratively withdrawn from the JD Program if the student is not in attendance over any period of 14 consecutive calendar days during a term, unless the student affirmatively indicates to the Registrar their intent to continue in the program.

9.1B - HJD - Attendance Policy

1. Students must log in and be engaged in each of their online courses every week to be given credit for weekly attendance in each course. Engagement is defined as completing all course assignments in a timely fashion and/or actively participating in online discussions as directed by their instructor and/or as outlined in the course syllabus or in Canvas.
    
2. A student’s engagement in an online course is equivalent to and takes the place of the student attending class in person. A student’s failure to engage in a course by not timely completing any or all the course assignments and/or actively participating in online discussions will be treated as an absence (similar to an absence in a traditional in person class).
    
3. A student’s engagement must be timely. Late assignments and/or late participation in online discussions will be treated as an absence.
    
4. A student’s engagement must be material. Material means that a student made a good faith effort at completing the assignment(s) or participating in the online discussion(s). A student’s lack of material engagement will be treated as an absence.
    
5. The CBE’s attendance requirements set forth in Section 9.1A for the onsite JD Program equally apply to the HJD Program. Similarly, the consequences for excessive student absences outlined in Section 9.1A(7) also equally apply to the HJD Program. As provided in Section 9.1A(7), an excess absence will ultimately result in an administrative withdrawal of the student from The Colleges of Law.
    
6. Residencies are mandatory and attendance is required. If a student cannot attend a residency because of a compelling or unavoidable circumstance, the student must notify the Associate Dean and the Program Manager in writing in advance, or as soon as possible after an emergency, and provide documentation of the compelling or unavoidable circumstance. A student may be administratively withdrawn from the HJD Program for missing more than one residency in a semester or for missing more than two residencies over the course of the HJD Program.

9.2 JD - Roll Call/Attendance Roster

1. The instructor will call roll at the beginning of each class. At the end of the class the instructor will circulate an attendance roster so that each student may sign. Students must be present at roll call and sign the attendance roster to be considered present.
    
2. By signing the attendance roster, students state to the School that they have attended substantially the entire class and did not leave the class before the instructor dismissed the class. Under no circumstances may a student sign the attendance roster for a class at which they were not in attendance for substantially the entire class, nor may any student sign the attendance roster for or on behalf of any other student. Violation of any of the provisions of this Paragraph is grounds for administrative discipline, up to and including expulsion, under Section 3.8, Student Code of Ethics and Conduct .

9.2.1 HJD - Attendance Roster for All Residency Weekends

1. The instructor will circulate an attendance roster at various times during the residency weekend so that each student may sign. Students must be present and sign the attendance roster to be considered present.  
    
2. By signing the attendance roster, students attest to the School that they have attended substantially the entire residency and did not leave the residency before the instructor dismissed the class. Under no circumstances may a student sign the attendance roster if the student was not in attendance for substantially the entire residency, nor may any student sign the attendance roster for or on behalf of any other student. Violation of any of the provisions of this Paragraph is grounds for administrative discipline, up to and including expulsion, under Section 3.8, Student Code of Ethics and Conduct. 

9.3 JD - Make-Up Classes

1. Occasionally a regularly scheduled class must be cancelled and rescheduled. The Administration Office will attempt to notify students by e-mail should this occur. Due to time constraints, it is not always possible to contact each student when a class is cancelled.
    
2. Make-up classes will be scheduled on evenings when classes are not usually held or on weekends. Attendance requirements for make-up classes are the same as for regularly scheduled classes. Thus, failure to attend a make-up class is counted as an absence.

9.4 JD - Ban on Commercially-Prepared Briefs

The use of commercially prepared briefs in the classroom is prohibited under any circumstances; students must prepare their own briefs.

10.1 JD - General Provisions

A. In administering its grading policies, the School seeks to maintain standards of scholarship that will benefit students as they prepare to meet the significant demands of law practice and the California Bar Examination. Further, the School is governed by the Committee of Bar Examiners (CBE), which requires that all California-accredited law schools:

“[M]ust adopt sound written scholastic standards that ensure that students who lack the capability to satisfactorily complete the law school’s JD Program are not allowed to continue in the program.”

All courses are graded on the same standards of scholarship. COL’s expectation is that the majority of students in any given course will perform satisfactorily (receiving a C or C+ in the course). Students in each course will be evaluated relative to the overall performance of students in a given course. There is not a defined scale of grading, such as 90% equals an A, or 70% equals a C. Rather, grades are assessed on a continuum based on student performance.

To ensure equity among multiple sections of the same course and relative uniformity of grades from academic year to academic year, all grades are subject to review and normalization. Grades become final after approval by the Associate Dean.

B. Letter Grades

1. A letter grading system is used for most courses. In letter-graded courses, grades are assigned from “A” to “F”, with numerical point equivalents on a 4-point scale:

2. Grade designations denote the following:

3. As a further guideline and not as a guarantee, letter grades on individual essay examination questions generally reflect the following appraisal by faculty members:

C. Pass/Fail-Graded Courses

Pass/Fail grading is used for Introduction to Law, Legal Analysis, Bar Studies, Legal Internship, Directed Study, and certain elective courses, particularly those based on oral performance. Pass/Fail grading is also used when a JD student takes a course taught in the Master of Legal Studies program; the JD student must earn a grade of “81” or above to be awarded a grade of “Pass” for the course.

Grades in Pass/Fail courses are not computed in the cumulative GPA but will appear on the student’s transcript. To pass and receive credit, a student’s performance must equal or exceed that which would earn a “C-” in a letter-graded course. No credit will be awarded for the grade of “Fail”, which denotes performance that would earn a grade of “D+” or below in letter-graded courses. The following grades may be assigned:

D. Other grade/status designations used to indicate a student’s grade or status at the School, and which may appear on the student’s transcript and/or other records, are:

10.2 JD - Calculation of Letter-Graded Exam Grades

A. Each letter-graded exam that is counted toward the final grade in any course is considered a separate, closed, and completed event. (An exam is defined to include an examination, paper, project, or other work product or activity used to measure performance.) Several steps may be involved in determining a letter-graded exam grade.

1. The instructor assigns a separate letter grade to each constituent part of the exam, such as each essay question on a typical three-essay exam. For example:

2. Based on COL’s 4-point scale (set forth below), the equivalent numerical points are assigned for each letter grade. For example:

3. If all parts of the exam are of equal weight (worth the same percentage of the exam grade), the points for all parts are added together and divided by the number of equal parts to determine the pre-rounded exam score. A pre-rounded exam score is calculated to the nearest thousandth (3 digits after the decimal point) and that number is not rounded. In the example, if the three essay questions are of equal weight, the pre-rounded score is calculated as follows and the pre-rounded score is 2.433.

(7.3 points divided by 3 (equal parts) = 2.433 points)

4. If the pre-rounded score is a number on the 4-point scale, the exam grade is the corresponding letter grade. For example, a pre-rounded score of 2.3 is the point equivalent of “C+”, which becomes the exam grade. If the pre-rounded score is not a number on the 4-point scale, the score is rounded up or down. The pre-rounded score is rounded down if it falls below the mid-point between the two numbers closest to the pre-rounded score on the 4-point scale. In the example in Paragraph 3 above, the pre-rounded score of 2.433 falls between “B-” (2.7) and “C+” (2.3). Because the pre-rounded score falls below the mid-point between the two (2.5), it is rounded down to 2.3 and the exam grade would be “C+”. In contrast, the pre-rounded score is rounded up if it falls at or above the mid-point between the two closest numbers on the 4-point scale. For example, a pre-rounded score of 2.566 points falls above 2.5, which is the halfway point between “B-” (2.7) and “C+” (2.3). The resulting exam grade would be “B-“.
   
   This chart shows pre-rounded scores, corresponding exam grades, and mid-points:

10.3 JD/HJD - Calculation of Course Grades

1. In the onsite JD Program, each letter-graded course is considered a separate, closed, and completed event, including courses longer than one semester. To calculate a course grade, the School multiplies each exam grade (usually for a midterm or a final examination, but also for an assignment or other graded activity) by its relative weight to the overall grade. For courses of one semester duration without a mid-term or other grading factor, the entire course grade is determined by the grade on the final examination.
    
2. In the Hybrid JD Program, each letter-graded course is considered a separate, closed, and completed event. The majority of HJD courses are one semester in length. To calculate a course grade, the School multiplies each exam grade (usually for a midterm and/or a final exam, but also for any other graded assignment, discussion, and/or activity) by its relative weight to the overall grade.

1. No assignments will be accepted once the final examination period begins, unless otherwise authorized by the Associate Dean.
2. In addition, as set forth in Canvas on the “Home” page of each course as well as in each course syllabus, a student’s final course grade may be lowered by up to two steps based on a student’s preparation for and engagement in a course and the timely completion of all required assignments. Specifically, each course syllabus provides as follows (italics added):

Grading

Students will receive a letter grade in this course based on their performance on [defined graded event(s)]. Students are required to complete all ungraded assignments in a timely fashion. Final grades may be lowered by up to two steps based on a student’s preparation for and engagement in this course and timely completion of all required assignments. Specifically, this means that a student’s course grade may be reduced either one or two steps depending on the number of missing, late, or incomplete assignments a student has accumulated over the course of the semester. (For example, a grade of B may be reduced to either a B- or C+; a grade of C+ may be reduced to either a C or C-.) See “Assignment Information” below for further details.

Assignment Information

Final grades may be lowered by up to two steps based on a student’s preparation for and engagement in this course and timely completion of all required assignments. There are numerous weekly assignments, each of which must be completed on time and in good faith. A student’s grade may be lowered for any of the following: (1) submitting assignments late (without the professor’s prior consent); (2) submitting incomplete assignments; (3) failure to submit assignments; (4) failure to participate in or be engaged in the course on a weekly basis; or (5) failure to attend, participate in, or be engaged in the residency weekends. Whether to adjust a grade under this policy is in the faculty member’s discretion.

3. Only exam grades, not pre-rounded grades, are used when calculating course grades. These examples compare the proper calculation of a course grade in Contracts (based on exam grades) with an improper calculation (based on pre-rounded grades):

10.4 JD - Calculation of Cumulative Grade Point Average

1. In calculating the cumulative GPA, only course grades are used-not exam grades or pre-rounded grades. For students beginning the program in a Fall semester and as explained in Paragraph B below, letter grades in Summer term are calculated into the GPA but generally are considered for the purpose of determining academic standing at the end of the following academic year. For students beginning the program in a Spring semester, cumulative GPA will be calculated and used for the purpose of academic standing at the end of the student’s first summer term, and then at the end of each subsequent Spring semester.
    
2. To calculate the cumulative GPA, multiply the final grade in each letter-graded course by its unit value, total the sum of the products for all such courses, and divide that sum by the total number of letter-graded units. The cumulative GPA is expressed on the transcript as a number. For example, the cumulative GPA for a first-year student starting in Fall semester who had course grades of “B” (3.0 points) in Contracts, “B+” (3.3) in Torts and “B” (3.0) in Criminal Law is calculated at the end of the first year as 3.12, in this manner:

The student advances in good standing past the first year of law school. Grades earned in subsequent years would then be added to the prior year(s) grades to determine a student’s cumulative GPA.

Summer Grades (counted towards GPA at end of Second Year)

For example, as the student above continues into the Summer session following his first year, and earns grades of “C” in Legal Research, “C+” in Legal Writing and Pass in Client Interviewing and Counseling, the grades earned are calculated below:

10.5 JD - Notification of Grades and Review of Papers

1. Grades are generally not available until very shortly before the start of the next semester/session. Grades are released for the Fall and Spring semesters only when grades from all courses taken by the student that semester have been submitted by the instructors and approved by the Associate Dean. Grades will be available online through the password-protected Portal. Grades will not be released by telephone.
    
2. Students may review their own examination papers and other papers used to determine course grades. Each student is encouraged to review the instructor’s written feedback and to compare the student’s exam answers to the instructor’s issue sheets, rubrics, or model answers, to better understand the grade assigned. If questions remain, a student may benefit from discussing their performance with the instructor.
   Review must be done within 30 days of the date the Administration Office sends the student e-mail notice that exam answers for the student’s courses are available for review. Papers will not be available after that time.
    
3. Student papers used as a basis to determine grades must be retained at the School according to State Bar policy. Papers may not be removed from the School’s premises for any reason; however, students may scan or make a copy of their own papers at their own expense using equipment on campus. Student papers are the property of the School and may be made available as examples to other students.

10.6 JD - Petition for Change of Grade

1. Except as otherwise provided in this Catalog, grades will not be changed after approval by the Associate Dean except to correct an arithmetic error or other material mistake by the instructor, such as incorrect calculation of points noted in the margin or clear failure to read two pages of an exam stuck together. An allegation that an instructor has not fairly graded an examination or other paper of the student, or has departed from established policy, is treated as an allegation of material mistake.
    
2. Authority to decide student petitions for change of grade is held by the faculty’s Academic Standards and Admission Committee (ASAC). The ASAC will not authorize a change in any grade without a showing of material mistake by the instructor by clear, convincing, and objectively verifiable evidence; the ASAC will not permit or require a change of any grading decision by an instructor that represents qualitative judgment concerning a student’s performance. Objectively verifiable evidence is not shown by a student’s belief that the analysis deserved a higher grade.
    
3. A student is not permitted to lobby an instructor for a change of grade. A student who has identified a potential material mistake may ask the instructor to review the claimed error. At the instructor’s election, the instructor may require the student to submit a written analysis of the claimed error or to present the analysis to the instructor in person.
    
4. A student who wishes to appeal a grade must do so by timely filing a written petition for grade change to the ASAC. All such petitions must: 1) be filed at the Administration Office within 14 calendar days of the date the Administration Office sends the student e-mail notice that exam answers for the student’s courses are available for review; 2) state clearly, specifically, and fully the basis for the claim of material mistake; 3) provide clear, convincing, and objectively verifiable evidence of the claimed mistake; and 4) include a copy of any written analysis submitted to the instructor.
    
5. Decisions on petitions to the ASAC are made pursuant to the procedures and standards set forth in the Charter for the Academic Standards and Admissions Committee of The Colleges of Law (“the Charter”), a copy of which is available on the Gateway (My.CollegesofLaw.edu/.) As stated in the Charter, decisions of the ASAC are final and not appealable within the School.

10.7 JD - Repetition of Courses

Except as provided by Section 6.9 Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP): JD Program , students may repeat courses only with the permission of the Dean or as required by decision of the Academic Standards and Admissions Committee (ASAC) as a condition of probation or readmission. When a course is repeated, both course grades will be shown on the student’s transcript. The most recent of the two course grades will determine a student’s academic standing and academic units earned, and, if a letter grade, will be used to calculate the student’s cumulative GPA. Thus, duplicate credit will not be granted for any repeated course. A student who has repeated a course is not eligible to receive the “highest grade in course” award for that course. Tuition will be charged for repeated courses.

10.8 JD - Academic Honors

1. The Dean’s Award for Academic Achievement is presented each year to the student in each class year with the highest cumulative GPA at the end of each Spring semester for students in the onsite JD Program and at the end of each Summer semester for students enrolled in the hybrid JD Program. The Dean’s Honor List is announced annually and includes students in each class year whose cumulative grade point averages place them in the top 15 percent of the class. Awards are given at an Awards Banquet each year; students who have completed at least one full year are eligible.
    
2. Honors are awarded at graduation to students who complete the degree requirements with distinction, as follows:
   1. High Honors: Students in the top 5 percent of graduating class, including the student with highest GPA, who will be designated Valedictorian and awarded Highest Honors.
   2. Honors: Students in next 10 percent of graduating class.

11.1 JD - General Provisions

1. Anonymous Grading
   1. All graded written examinations will be taken and graded on an anonymous basis; all graded written assignments will be submitted and graded on an anonymous basis except as provided below. All ungraded work may be evaluated non-anonymously and, of necessity, non-anonymous grading will be used for all performance-based graded activities.
   2. The Administration Office at each campus will provide students with a randomly selected exam number at the beginning of each academic year. The numbers are completely confidential and are not available to anyone outside the Administration Office. Students are cautioned not to reveal their exam numbers to faculty under any circumstance. The student’s exam number, not the student’s name, is to be written on the front of all exam answers and written assignments. It is up to each student to use the correct number on all exam answers and assignments. Graded written exams and assignments will be evaluated by student exam number, except as noted below.
   3. Instructors in some courses may evaluate graded written work on a non-anonymous basis where such evaluation is necessary to advance the educational objectives of the course (Appellate Advocacy Briefs, for example). Non-anonymous evaluation of graded written work may take place only with the Associate Dean’s permission and with prior notice to students. Instructors in all courses may evaluate responses to ungraded written exercises non-anonymously.
   4. Instructors in elective online courses may evaluate graded student work submitted through Canvas on a non-anonymous basis without any further notice.
2. Take-Home Examinations/Assignments
   Students must deliver take-home examinations/assignments to their instructor as directed, usually via unsecure ExamSoft upload, submission through the instructor’s TWEN page, via the Canvas LMS, or in hard copy, as specified by the instructor.  The Administration Office will not accept delivery of take-home examinations/assignments via fax or e-mail, except in emergency situations.
    
3. Weight of Examinations
   1. In each first-year course of more than one semester the midterm exam will count for 15 percent, and the final exam will count for the remaining 85 percent, of the final course grade.
   2. In advanced courses, the relative weight of the midterm and final examinations, and any graded assignments, will be announced at the beginning of each course.
   3. In the Hybrid JD Program, each course syllabus will clearly define how a student’s course grade will be determined and the weight given to each graded event. In many cases, a course grade may be determined solely based on a final examination, a final paper, or a final project. In other cases, a course grade may be determined by a combination of a midterm examination and a final examination, or a combination of graded assignment(s) and a final examination. The student is responsible for the information provided in the course syllabus regarding which assignments/exams will be graded and the relative weight of each. (See also Section 10.3B for additional relevant course grade information.)

11.2 Onsite JD - Exam Schedule

1. Posting of Exam Schedule
   A schedule listing the dates of the midterm and final examinations for the current semester or session will be posted on the Gateway. Examinations are typically administered from 6:30-9:30PM. Mid-semester exams, when given, will be administered during class as announced by the instructor.
    
2. Exam Schedule
   Examinations will be given on a per subject basis as indicated on the exam schedule. 
   ​
   1. ​Spring Start and First Year
      1. ​Spring-Start final exams will be given during the last class session of each course, when used.
      2. First-Year Exams
         1. Fall Semester: Torts and Contracts will be tested (grades for the course in Legal Analysis & Writing will be based on assignments and/or testing previously completed).
         2. Spring Semester: Torts, Contracts, and Criminal Law will be tested.
   2. Second Year
      1. Fall Semester: Civil Procedure, Community Property, and Real Property will be tested.
      2. Spring Semester: Civil Procedure, Wills & Trusts, and Real Property will be tested. 
          
   3. Third Year
      1. Fall Semester: Constitutional Law and Business Associations will be tested. (The final exam in Professional Responsibility will be given during the last class session; for the course in Evidence, a mid-term examination will be held during the Spring semester during a class session and the final exam will be given at the end of Spring Semester.)
      2. Spring Semester: Constitutional Law, Remedies, and Evidence will be tested. 
          
   4. Fourth Year
      Fourth-Year final examinations are given in the last class session or during Exam Preparation Week, as posted.
3. Summer Session Exam Schedule
   Exams will not be rescheduled to accommodate vacation plans. Students should consult course syllabi prior to making vacation plans to determine exam schedules. Final exams, when given for a Summer session course, will be given as follows:
   1. Onsite Courses: Final exams will be given during the last class session of an onsite course.
   2. Online Courses: Final exams will be given at each campus as per the posted exam schedule.

11.2.1 HJD - Exam Schedule

In the HJD Program, all final exams will take place during the last residency of the semester at the Ventura campus.

11.3 - Exam Supplies and Procedures

1. Examination Supplies
   Students must bring a sufficient supply of pens (blue or black ink only) to the exam. Students who are typing their exams must bring their own laptop and pens to be used in the event of laptop failure. The School will provide bluebooks and scratch paper. Earplugs are permitted but other devices (headphones, iPods, MP3 players, etc.) are not.
    
2. Exam Room Procedures
   1. All exams are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise posted. Anyone arriving after the exam has begun will not be given extra time at the end of the exam period. Students should arrive on campus early when taking examinations.
   2. Books, study notes, other course materials, purses, briefcases, headphones, iPods, and cell phones are not permitted in the exam room, unless placed in the front or back of the room away from the student’s desk. Students may not access such materials until after the exam has ended. Students may not bring timers into the examination room, nor may they use cell phones at any time during the exam in the exam room or outside of it. Eating, drinking (this includes water), and smoking in the exam room are absolutely prohibited.
   3. Prior to the exam: Just prior to the start of the exam, (unless otherwise posted) the proctor will make several announcements about examination policies in general and the examination to be administered in particular. Students will be held accountable for the content of the announcements.

11.4 - Conduct During the Exam

1. No breaks are given during examinations. A student may leave the examination room during the exam to use the restroom or lounge facilities. Exam questions and bluebooks may not be removed from the exam room. If a student becomes ill during the exam and cannot continue, the student should contact the proctor for instructions.
    
2. If a student finishes the exam more than 10 minutes before the end of the exam period, the student may hand their exam answers and the exam questions to the proctor and quietly leave the examination room. The student may not shut down, pack up or remove their laptop from the exam room until the exam is over. If less than 10 minutes remains in the exam period, the student must remain in their seat and wait until time is called. It is the student’s responsibility to see that their bluebooks have been received and checked-in by the proctor.
    
3. Unless otherwise expressly permitted by the instructor (as in an open-book exam), students may not use books, notes, or any review materials during an examination. Talking is prohibited during the exam. During an exam, use of any electronic device other than an ExamSoft-protected laptop computer and watch is forbidden and subject to disciplinary action.
    
4. When time is called, the student must stop writing or typing immediately. The proctor will report to the Dean any student who does not stop writing or typing when told to do so. If a student is in the middle of a sentence, they must stop at that point and not attempt to complete the sentence.
    
5. Handwritten exam answers cannot be considered for grading unless they are handed, in person, to the proctor before leaving the examination room. Outlines on separate pieces of (scratch) paper are not considered part of the exam answer and will not be accepted. It is the student’s responsibility to turn in to the proctor, in the correct manner, their correct bluebooks, the exam questions, and all scratch paper taken by the student, used or unused. Students who fail to properly turn in bluebooks, exam questions, or scratch paper, or who turn in blank, unintended, or incorrect bluebooks will receive a grade of “F” on the exam questions applicable to such bluebooks, with no right of make-up, substitution, or other special consideration. Students using ExamSoft will be required to electronically submit their exam answers within 12 hours of the end of the exam period unless otherwise instructed. A late fee applies. (See Section 11.6 )
    
6. When time is called at the end of the exam period, students must line up in an orderly manner to hand their exam answers for each exam question to the proctor. Students should not leave the exam room until their bluebooks have been recorded as received by the proctor. All students must also turn in the examination questions. Students may not take the questions from the exam room in any form.

11.5 - Handwriting the Exam (not preferred, see Use of Laptops, below)

1. Labeling Bluebooks
   1. Bluebooks and scratch paper will be distributed at the start of the exam period. Special time before the beginning of the examination period will not be given to label bluebooks. Students must label their bluebooks within the allotted time allowed for the examination. All exams must be properly labeled during the examination period. No extra time will be given to label answers after time has been called at the end of the examination. Students may not use highlighter pens on their examination answers. Students should label bluebooks in the following manner:

Exams must be written in blue or black ink, never in pencil, and on only one side of the page. Students must start each question in a new bluebook. Only answers recorded in the bluebooks or designated answer sheets distributed by the proctor may be submitted for grading. Outlines or other writing on loose or stapled pieces of paper will not be accepted as part of the student’s answer, unless otherwise specified at the start of the exam.

11.6 - Use of ExamSoft-Protected Laptops (preferred method for test taking)

1. Students may use laptops (PCs or Macs) to take graded examinations only if they are protected by ExamSoft software, which blocks access to other software. (ExamSoft is not available for practice exams except as necessary for ADA accommodations.) Detailed information about the use of ExamSoft is provided below and on the Gateway (https://My.CollegesofLaw.edu/).
    
2. Students wishing to use ExamSoft must make all the following prior arrangements:
   1. Prior to the examination period, register online with ExamSoft. Contact ExamSoft at www.examsoft.com/sbvcl. For technical support, call (866) 429-8889, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. EST.
   2. Prior to arriving at the School to take an exam, complete download of the current ExamSoft program, “Examplify,” as well as the exam file that will be used during the exam period.
   3. On the evening of the exam, bring a laptop to the assigned typing room and be prepared to begin the examination by 6:20 p.m.
3. ExamSoft users are expected to follow the examination procedures outlined above (except as applicable to the use of bluebooks), including the proper labeling of exam answers. Laptop users may use earplugs. Students are advised to bring a watch or clock, because the positioning of typing tables may make it difficult to monitor the time otherwise.
    
4. Students must start each question on a new screen.
    
5. Students may not shut down, pack up or remove their laptops from the exam room until the exam period has ended.
    
6. The School assumes no responsibility for any interruption in power, for any computer mechanical breakdown, or for any problem a student may encounter using a laptop or ExamSoft. No extra time or any other consideration will be allowed for any interruption, whether it is isolated or widespread. The student assumes all risks of using a computer to take an examination.
    
7. When time is called at the end of the examination, students must submit their exam answers via the Internet within 12 hours of the end of the exam period unless otherwise instructed. The student’s answer will subsequently be printed on one of the School’s printers for submission to the instructor. A late fee will be imposed for each late-submitted exam answer. Further, a student who fails to submit any exam answer within 48 hours after the end of the exam period will receive an “F” on that exam answer, unless the student establishes good cause for the failure to timely submit the answer.

11.7 - Special Accommodations for Examinations

Students with disabilities or other conditions necessitating special examination conditions should contact the Administration Office as early as possible after enrollment so that appropriate arrangements can be made. See Section 3.14, Accommodation for Students with Disabilities .

11.8 - Failure to Take an Examination

Students are required to take exams as scheduled; to “take” an exam means the student must sit for the exam sessions and provide a substantial answer to each essay question or other major component of the exam for each course tested. Failure to take either a midterm or final examination in a course will result in receiving an “F” for that course. A student who takes none of their scheduled exams for a semester or Summer session will be administratively withdrawn from the School other than in continued good standing.

11.9 - Requests for Early or Late Examinations

1. By written request made before the examination to the Registrar, a student who is unable, for good cause, to take an examination as scheduled may be permitted to take an exam at other than the regularly scheduled time. Students with potential good cause are encouraged to discuss their circumstances with the Registrar, to avoid jeopardizing their academic standing by taking exams while seriously ill or otherwise compromised.
    
2. Good cause is defined as, at the time of the examination, a religious holiday observance, unavoidable employment or military duty obligations, or extreme, immediate, unforeseeable, and unavoidable circumstances such as serious illness. Good cause does not include discretionary plans such as vacations. The good cause giving rise to the need to reschedule an examination must be fully documented in writing to the satisfaction of the Registrar.
    
3. A student should never contact the instructor about the need to reschedule an exam, to preserve the anonymity of the student’s exam.
    
4. In the case of an extreme emergency where the student is physically unable to contact the Administration Office before the exam, the student or their representative must contact the Office no later than 2 working days thereafter. The student must then provide a written explanation of the emergency together with documentation, such as a physician’s statement. The Dean will rule whether good cause for not taking the exam existed. Permission to take late exams is not automatically granted, and under no circumstances will it be granted where the student has failed to meet the requirements of this section.
    
5. Upon approval of the student’s timely request under Paragraphs A or D above, an early or late examination must be taken within 1 week of the day the exam had originally been scheduled. Students taking more than one such exam may be required to take such exams on consecutive days. Early or late examinations are scheduled only during regular office hours. A rescheduled exam will be deemed to have begun at the new scheduled time; students arriving late or unprepared to begin at the new scheduled time will not be given extra time. A fee may be charged to take an early or late examination.

11.10 - Make-Up Examinations

1. Students who are unable to take an early or late examination within the one-week period described above must timely request a make-up examination. (See Section 11.9 .) Untimely requests will not be considered.
    
2. A request for a make-up examination generally will not be granted except when serious illness of the student or other severe circumstances would justify a failure to sit for an examination, as set forth above, during the period prescribed for early/late examinations. In the rare instance that a request for a make-up examination is granted, a substantial fee will be charged.
    
3. In lieu of a make-up exam, the Administration may on occasion allow or require the student who has made a timely request for a make-up exam to receive a grade of Incomplete for the course and to take an exam at the next regularly scheduled examination period for the course concerned. This option is not available as to an untimely request.