1. Full-time Student Credit Load Requirements:
Full time students normally register for a minimum of 12 credits each semester and no more than 15 credits in a semester. To register for fewer than 12 credits in a semester (except for 2L students), or to register for more than 15 credits in a semester, a student must obtain approval from the appropriate program office before selecting courses. (Use the appropriate JD or LLM online form.)
Credit load requests are considered after the bidding period has been completed. If approved for less than 12 or more than 15 credits, tuition will still be charged at the full-time flat rate for the semester. Please see below regarding additional charges for excess credits.
Additional Charges for Excess Credits
Important information for JD Students:
JD students who want to graduate with more than 90 credits must obtain permission from the Office of Academic Services (use the credit load permission form found on this webpage). Once permission is granted, students will be charged on a per-credit basis for all credits in excess of 90 during their law school career, as well as fees. Courses that are not applicable toward your degree (i.e., language courses) do not count toward this cap. All earned credits (those counting toward the JD) have to be Law School credits or credits in approved law-related courses at another school of the University.
Important information for full-time LLM Students:
Full-time LLM students who want to complete more than 30 credits within the academic year must obtain permission from the Office of Graduate Affairs (use the LLM Credit Load Permission Form (PDF: 151 KB). If permission is granted (only in rare circumstances), students will be charged on a per credit basis for all credits in excess of 30 as well as fees. Courses not applicable toward your degree (i.e. language courses) do not count.
2. Part Time Students:
Part-time students may register for a maximum of 6 credits per semester. Students who are employed full-time, however, are strongly advised to limit the course load to 4 or 5 credits per semester. Regardless of the number of credits for which a student is registered, all part-time students are required to take their exams as scheduled, which may include daytime exams for an evening course; rescheduling is not permitted. Certain required courses for some programs and exams are not offered in the evening.
Part-time students, who want to register for more than 6 credits in a semester, must obtain approval from the appropriate program office before selecting courses. (Use the LLM form (PDF: 151 KB). Credit load requests are considered after the bidding period has been completed.
3. Adding a Law School course or seminar after add/drop ends:
Students may not add courses or seminars after the first week of classes.
In rare cases when there are compelling personal circumstances (e.g., grave illness, family emergency) a student may submit a petition to the Assistant Dean for Academic Services and Registration for review by the Vice Dean to late add no later than the third week of classes. For seminars, both approval of the instructor and the Vice Dean is required.
4. Seminars/Colloquia:
All students are limited to two seminars/colloquia each semester unless prior approval is obtained from the appropriate program office and the Vice Dean. The limit does not apply to the seminar portion of a clinic. If you do not obtain approval, COURSES will not permit you to register for more than two seminars/colloquia. Seminar waivers will be reviewed after the first round of bidding each semester.
5. Simulation Courses:
A simulation course is defined as a mock or model class where students receive tangible experience in tasks and processes related to a particular area of law. They are often courses where students draft briefs and/or memos, conduct mock arguments, mock trials or mock negotiations. The simulation designation has been listed with the footnote “Sim” in the schedule of classes. This course type is a small class similar to a seminar. Courses coded as simulation also meet the ABA requirements for simulation.
6. Dropping a Course:
After add/drop closes on COURSES, you must complete and submit a drop form. Students should go to the appropriate program office to complete and submit the drop form. You will also be required to visit the Office of Financial Services to learn how your drop may affect your financial aid package or loans. The following are guidelines about dropping a course:
a. AFTER Add/Drop ends:
Except as provided below, a course may be dropped through 5:00 p.m. on the (general) last day of classes for that semester without a notation of WD.
NOTE: Full-time students must remain registered for the required number of credits for full-time status.
b. If any work has been evaluated or if any exam is given:
You may not drop a course even if a final grade has not been received.
c. Seven-Week Classes:
Please carefully note that if you are taking a seven-week course, the last day of the course is the deadline to drop it.
7. Dropping a seminar, colloquium, simulation or writing credit AFTER add/drop ends:
You must obtain the signature of the professor and an advisor of the appropriate office using an add/drop form as COURSES will be closed for add/drop at that time. If permission has been granted on an add/drop form, a seminar, colloquium, simulation or writing credit may be dropped through 5:00 p.m. on the last day of classes for that semester (or for a seven-week course, on the last day of that class) without a notation of WD provided that no work has been evaluated. No drops will be permitted once the reading/exam period has begun.
8. Dropping a class with no WD:
A student may drop a course up until the last day of classes without receiving a WD on his or her transcript. Please note, however, that if a faculty member requires you to drop a course, seminar, colloquium or simulation for failure to attend classes, you will be withdrawn with the notation of “WD.” The faculty request to withdraw a student supersedes the dropping with no WD policy.
9. Year-Long Course:
You must complete the full year in order to receive credit for either semester, and you must be registered for both the fall and the spring semesters to have a space in the class. You must obtain the fall portion of a year-long class in order to be registered by the Office of Records and Registration for the spring portion. If there is a conflicting course on your schedule or registration for the spring section would put you at a credit overload, you will be dropped from the conflicting course and/or randomly dropped from a course to allow the Office of Records and Registration to add you to the spring portion. Registering for only one semester is not permitted. Please see the registration calendar for the deadline to adjust your schedule.
10. Permission of Instructor Courses:
Please follow the information stated in the course description regarding enrollment in permission of instructor courses. The professor will provide the Office of Records and Registration with a list of permitted students or the student may submit a permission of instructor form. At that time, a waiver will be entered on your COURSES record and the Office of Records and Registration will notify you that you are able to register for the class. You are responsible for bidding zero points on the class, effectively registering yourself.