INTERNATIONAL LAW SCHOOL
Academics
Academics
Juris Doctor Program Overview
The Juris Doctor (JD) program is a comprehensive three-year, full-time program encompassing six traditional semesters and three mandatory summer sessions. Successful completion of 83 credit hours is required for the conferral of the JD degree.
JD Degree Requirements
The Juris Doctor degree requires the satisfactory completion of 83 credit hours through a continuous three-year period of full-time residential study (six semesters) and mandatory summer sessions. Exceptions to the full-time residency requirement may be granted by the Dean upon written request detailing the grounds for the exception. In all cases, all degree requirements must be fulfilled within a five-year period, with the sole exception of obligations due to mandatory military service. This five-year completion requirement aligns with the accreditation standards of the American Bar Association.
Each credit hour at the Law School corresponds to 14 hours of classroom instruction, based on a 16-week semester. Consequently, all graduates of the Law School will have completed a minimum of 1,162 hours of classroom instruction (83 credits x 14 hours).
JD Curriculum
The JD curriculum comprises courses mandatory for all students to graduate. The philosophy and focus of Handong International Law School (HILS) necessitate a comprehensive curriculum that includes Christianity and Law, major areas of law commonly tested on U.S. bar exams, substantial coverage of international law, and fundamental legal skills. The specific content of the core curriculum may be subject to periodic faculty review.
- The JD curriculum offers comprehensive coverage of essential legal areas. The core curriculum currently includes:
- - Substantive U.S. Law: Courses typically assessed on bar examinations, such as Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Evidence, Property, and Torts.
- - International Law: Courses in Public International Law and Private International Law.
- - Legal Skills: Courses in Legal Research and Writing and Advanced Legal Writing and Advocacy.
- - Christianity and Law: This course is taken every semester by all students which includes lecture and discussion.
Due to the breadth of coverage and the size of the student body, the JD curriculum follows a structured format. While a significant portion of the curriculum is required, students have the opportunity to select elective courses in areas such as corporate and commercial law, international law, lawyering skills, and jurisprudence.
Special Curricular Components
- The JD curriculum incorporates several distinctive elements:
- - 1L Orientation: An intensive program involving lectures, discussions, and materials designed to introduce first-year students to fundamental legal concepts and principles of U.S. law.
- - 1L Summer Program: This required program aims to enhance the legal analysis and advocacy skills of first-year students.
- - 2L Experiential Learning Summer Program: This mandatory program provides second-year students with opportunities to develop and practice essential legal professional skills through supervised practical experience, earning academic credit. Students may also fulfill this requirement by successfully completing the Experiential Learning Summer Class offered at HILS
