Degree Requirements
Requirements for the Juris Doctor Degree
The University of Dayton School of Law offers a full-time program to earn your Juris Doctor degree. You must complete a minimum of 90 credit hours to obtain a J.D. You can complete the program in either five or six semesters, and can begin classes in either the summer or fall semester.
Students Who Began Their Legal Studies in August 2019 or After
The following overview of our curriculum applies to students who began their legal studies in August 2019 or after.
First Semester
- Civil Procedure Doctrine & Skills I (3 credits)
- Legal Profession I (3 credits)
- Real Property Doctrine & Skills I (4 credits)
- Torts Doctrine & Skills I (3 credits)
- Learning Skills Lab (1 credit)
- Learning Community
Every student must participate as required in the first-semester Learning communities Program, unless the student is a transfer student who did not enroll at the Law School as a first-year student. (March 20, 2013)
Second Semester
- Civil Procedure Doctrine & Skills II (3 credits)
- Contracts Doctrine & Skills I (3 credits)
- Criminal Law Doctrine & Skills (4 credits)
- Legal Profession II (3 credits)
- Torts Doctrine & Skills II (2 credits)
Third Semester
- Legislation (2 credits)
- Constitutional Law Doctrine & Skills I (3 credits)
- Contracts Doctrine & Skills II (3 credits)
Fourth Semester
- Constitutional Law Doctrine & Skills II (3 credits)
Upper-Level Writing Requirement
Students must take one of the following courses:
- Appellate Practice & Procedure (2 credits)
- Transactional Drafting (2 credits)
Additional Upper-Level Requirement
- Fundamentals of Evidence (3 credits)
- Professional Responsibility (2 credits)
- Externship or Law Clinic Intern (4 credits) - required coursework after the second year.
- Capstone (3 or 4 credits) - required coursework after the second year.
- Real Property II (3 credits)
- Criminal Procedure - Investigative (3 credits)
- Bar Practice & Process (LAW 6895) - (3 credits) required coursework in the last semester.
ADR Requirement
Students must take one of the following courses:
- ADR for the Litigator (3 credits) or Conflict Management and ADR (3 credits)
- Interviewing, Counseling, Negotiations (3 credits)
Students Who Began Their Legal Studies From August 2016 to May 2019
The following overview of our curriculum applies to students who began their legal studies from August 2016 to May 2019.
First Semester
- Civil Procedure Doctrine & Skills I (3 credits)
- Legal Profession I (3 credits)
- Real Property Doctrine & Skills I (4 credits)
- Torts Doctrine & Skills I (3 credits)
- Torts I Lab (1 credit)
- Learning Community
Every student must participate as required in the first-semester Learning communities Program, unless the student is a transfer student who did not enroll at the Law School as a first-year student. (March 20, 2013)
Second Semester
- Civil Procedure Doctrine & Skills II (3 credits)
- Contracts Doctrine & Skills I (3 credits)
- Criminal Law Doctrine & Skills (3 credits)
- Criminal Law Lab (1 credit)
- Legal Profession II (3 credits)
- Torts Doctrine & Skills II (2 credits)
Third Semester
- Legislation (2 credits)
- Constitutional Law Doctrine & Skills I (4 credits)
- Contracts Doctrine & Skills II (3 credits)
Fourth Semester
- Constitutional Law Doctrine & Skills II (2 credits)
Upper-Level Writing Requirement
Students must take one of the following courses:
- Appellate Practice & Procedure (2 credits)
- Transactional Drafting (2 credits)
Additional Upper-Level Requirement
- Fundamentals of Evidence (3 credits)
- Professional Responsibility (2 credits)
- Externship or Law Clinic Intern (4 credits) - required coursework after the second year.
- Capstone (3 or 4 credits) - required coursework after the second year.
- Real Property II (3 credits)
- Criminal Procedure - Investigative (3 credits)
- Bar Practice & Process (LAW 6895) - required coursework in the last semester.
ADR Requirement
Students must take one of the following courses:
- ADR for the Litigator (3 credits) or Conflict Management and ADR (3 credits)
- Interviewing, Counseling, Negotiations (3 credits)