Law, JD

Degree Requirements

Syracuse University College of Law awards the Juris Doctor degree to students who successfully complete a minimum of 87 credits. Each student must earn a cumulative grade point average and a final-year grade point average of 2.2 on a 4.0 scale to satisfactorily complete the course of study.

For further information regarding admissions, please contact the College of Law Admissions Office, 315-443-1962, admissions@law.syr.edu

For further information regarding Scholarships and Financial Aid, please contact the College of Law Financial Aid Office, 315-443-1962, financialaid@law.syr.edu

For further information regarding academic programs, and policies, please contact the College of Law Office of Student Life, 315-443-1146, studentlife@law.syr.edu

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Graduates will develop knowledge of a broad cross-section of constitutional, statutory, regulatory, and common law.

2. Graduates will competently comprehend, interpret, and analyze constitutions, statutes, regulations, and judicial decisions.

3. Graduates will speak and write effectively about the law in a manner appropriate to the audience.

4. Graduates will research law and investigate facts proficiently.

5. Graduates will approach legal problems practically.

6. Graduates will appreciate the important roles lawyers play in society, and recognize the impact of law on people and institutions.

Performance Criteria

1-a. Demonstrate competence in the courses that are required of all students

1-b. Demonstrate competence in one or more specialized areas of United States or international law

1-c. Demonstrate an understanding of the theories, historical development, and application of United States law

1-d. Demonstrate knowledge of the basic structure and procedures of government, including the role of legislatures, executives, courts, and administrative agencies, in making, interpreting, and enforcing law

2-a. Identify the key facts, issues, reasoning, holdings, assumptions, and policies that underlie judicial decisions and independently critique them

2-b. Apply principles of statutory interpretation to construe statutes and regulations

2-c. Determine the applicable legal rules from multiple sources of the law and seek to reconcile any competing principles

2-d. When analyzing legal problems, identify relevant issues, apply relevant law, anticipate contrary arguments, evaluate potential outcomes, and formulate coherent strategies

3-a. Listen actively, be respectful in their professional interactions, and collaborate when appropriate.

3-b. Explain legal issues understandably orally and in writing

3-c. Communicate persuasively when advocating

3-d. Write legal and other types of documents that are accurate and well-organized, follow accepted rules of grammar and citation, and use appropriate tone

4-a. Efficiently find governing law and relevant secondary sources

4-b. Identify relevant facts, ascertain methods for discovering those facts, and evaluate the facts obtained

5-a. Propose solutions to problems that take into account applicable law, client interests, changed circumstances, alternative options, and practical constraints

5-b. Manage their time to meet deadlines

6-a. Identify and resolve ethical issues consistent with the profession’s ethical standards

6-b. Demonstrate commitment to the profession by helping to meet the legal needs of their communities and by promoting the fair administration of justice

6-c. Recognize differing perspectives in resolving legal issues