The John Marshall Law School

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Academic Rules

Juris Doctor (JD) students | Master of Laws (LLM) students | Master of Science (MS) students | Joint JD/LLM students
Joint degree (JD/LLM) students remain subject to applicable academic rules of the JD program.

Graduation Requirements: The Juris Doctor Degree

The Juris Doctor degree is conferred upon candidates who have fulfilled the following requirements:

1. Earned credit for at least 90 semester hours of law study (60 of these hours must be earned at The John Marshall Law School).
2. Academic standing: Obtained an overall grade point average of at least 2.25.
3. The maximum period of time for a law student to complete requirements for the degree is 84 months.

Students are responsible for ensuring that they have complied with the Juris Doctor requirements. The student is urged to obtain a credit check from the Office of Academic Services before or during his/her fifth semester in residence, if one has not already been issued by the school. Students are also advised to take more than the minimum number of academic credits required (90) in the event that they receive a failing grade in their final semester.

Full-time/Part-time Programs and Enrollment

Course content is the same in the full-time and part-time programs. The disciplines of study, instruction, research, and examination are also the same. Students will initially register in either the full-time or part-time program. A part-time student may transfer to the full-time (day) program after completing one entire semester of study, with approval from the director for academic services.

Course Load

A normal academic course load is 15 semester hours in the full-time program and 10 or 11 semester hours in the part-time program.

The minimum course load is 12 semester hours in the full-time program and eight semester hours in the part-time program. Under no circumstances are part-time students permitted to register for more than 11 hours. Full-time students may not register for more than 16 hours.

A student's status as a full-time or part-time student is determined by his/her registration each semester. A full-time student is a day student who registers for 12 or more credits and passes at least nine credits. All other students are part-time students.

A student who wishes to withdraw from a course during the semester must request permission from the Registrar. Permission to withdraw from a course after six weeks into the semester will be granted only with proof of extraordinary circumstances, such as grave illness. Students will automatically receive a failing grade for any unauthorized or nonapproved withdrawal.

Attendance

The board of law examiners in each state requires a certificate of attendance from an applicant's law school in order to take the bar examination. To execute this certificate faithfully, the school must insist on regular attendance, so students are required to attend all scheduled classes. Unless permission is granted by the Assistant Dean for Academic Services, no credit will be given for courses in which the student is absent more than 25% of the total number of class meetings. A student absent for more than 25% of the total number of class meetings will not be allowed to write the examination and will receive a grade of WF (withdraw/fail) for the course.

The John Marshall Law School recognizes the diversity of religious practices of its students, faculty, and staff. Therefore, we have established a new policy of attendance to accommodate religious observance. In addition to the 25% allowed absences, students will be excused without penalty for two class sessions in each course enrolled every semester, if absent for religious reasons.

Examinations and Grades

A written examination at the conclusion of each course will ordinarily be the principal determinant of a student's grade. However, interim examinations, briefs of cases, and other assignments may be taken into account.

Class preparation and participation are essential components of the educational process. Individual professors may develop class rules and grading procedures that take into account a student's fulfillment of those responsibilities.

Please examine the final exam schedule carefully and retain it for your information. Each student is responsible for verifying the date, time and place of his/her examinations and for taking them as scheduled by the law school.

During the exam period, students may check the lobby/student lounge monitor two hours before each scheduled exam time to verify assigned room numbers.

Special accommodations may be given only in circumstances of examination conflict, documented disabilities or personal emergency:

• Conflicts: Defined as two examinations taking place 1.) on the same calendar day or 2.) at 6:00 pm one evening and 9:30 am the next morning, OR three examinations taking place within four consecutive calendar days.
• Disability: Granted after the student has contacted Mara Yamshon at (312) 427-2737 ext. 689, completed the three-step disability accommodation process and received accommodations.
• Personal Emergency, such as hospitalization or a death in the family. Authority to grant/deny accommodation requests resides within the office of Academic Services. Documentation is required.

To reschedule exams or to arrange accommodations for exams due to a disability contact Lynne Tagatz in Academic Services, (312) 427-2737, ext. 778 by the last day of classes for the semester/term.

Students who fail to take an examination or complete requirements for their course will receive a grade of "WF," unless prior accommodations have been granted due to personal hardship. If accommodations have been granted, the grade of "NG"(Incomplete) shall stand on the student record for no longer than one semester. The grade of Incomplete shall automatically convert to an "F" at the end of classes for the following semester unless the student has taken, before such date, the examination or has arranged for a definite date to take the examination.

A student who, for good cause shown in writing, does not complete a paper in a seminar by the end of classes for that semester, shall receive a grade of "Incomplete." If the paper is not completed by the end of classes for the following semester, the grade of "Incomplete" shall automatically convert to an "F." Each professor shall have the responsibility for notifying the Registrar that the work has been completed.

A student who does not officially drop a course, drops without permission, fails to take an examination, or fails to complete course work, receives a grade of "WF" for that course.

Examination Review

A student who wants to review his/her examination booklet after the grades have been submitted to the assistant dean for academic services should make an appointment with his/her professor.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Good Academic Standing

To be in good academic standing, a student must maintain a grade point average of 2.25 in all the work undertaken.

The grade of F or WF earns no academic credit. Registration, class attendance, and participation in Law School activities is conditioned upon good academic standing.

For the purpose of determining a student's academic standing, cumulative grade point averages will be determined only at the completion of the fall and spring semesters.

Individual students whose overall class rank after completion of the required first year classes (at the end of the second semester on day division schedule, at the end of the third semester on the evening schedules) indicates that they will have difficulty doing adequate work in upper division classes and are at risk of failing pertinent licensing examinations, shall be considered "at risk." The faculty may, by rule, establish special academic rules and requirements for "at risk" students. See the Student Handbook for more information.

Repeating Courses

A student who receives a failing grade (F or WF) in a required course must repeat that course at the earliest opportunity. There is no restriction on the grade that can be earned upon repetition. Otherwise, a student may not repeat any course for academic credit in which a grade has been received.

All grades received by the student, including failing grades, will be included in the computation of grade averages.

Tuition will be charged for repetitions.

Probation and Academic Dismissal Policy

A student who attains a grade point average of below 1.75 in the first semester of law school will be dismissed. A student whose cumulative grade point average is below 2.25 at the end of any fall or spring semester will be placed on academic probation, and must raise his or her cumulative grade point average to at least 2.25 by the end of the next semester and summer adjoining the next semester in which the student enrolls. A student is eligible for probation only once; if a student's cumulative grade point average again falls below 2.25 after any subsequent fall or spring semester, the student will be dismissed.

THE GRADING CURVE

Curve I

In Civil Procedure I, Constitutional Law I, Contracts I & II, Criminal Law, Property, and Torts, provided the enrollment is 20 or more students, faculty shall conform their grades to the following standards:

Required Grades

• Grades of A+, A, and A- shall be awarded to no fewer than 20% and no more than 30% of the class.
• Grades of B+, B, and B- shall be awarded to no fewer than 35% and no more than 45% of the class.
• Grades of C+, C, and C- shall be awarded to no fewer than 15% and no more than 25% of the class.
• Grades of D and F shall be awarded to no fewer than 10% and no more than 20% of the class.

Required Cumulative Average

For the class as a whole, the cumulative average grade shall fall between 2.40 and 2.80, inclusive.

Curve II

In every JD elective course with more than 30 students, and other JD core with 20 or more students (excluding Trial Advocacy and Lawyering Skills), faculty shall conform their grades to the following standards:

Required Grades

• Grades of A+, A, and A- shall be awarded to no fewer than 25% and no more than 40% of the class.
• Grades of B+, B, and B- shall be awarded to no fewer than 35% and no more than 50% of the class.
• Grades of C+, C, and C- shall be awarded to no fewer than 10% and no more than 25% of the class.
• Grades of D and F shall be awarded to no fewer than 0% and no more than 10% of the class.

Required Cumulative Average

For the class as a whole, the cumulative average grade shall fall between 2.70 and 3.10, inclusive.

Retention Figures

The following information is provided pursuant to Department of Education requirements:

Grading System

Provisions

Because of the required 2.25 cumulative grade point average, a student must earn a number of grades above "C" to remain in school and graduate. A student who receives only C's during his or her first two semesters will have a cumulative average of 2.00 and will be ineligible to continue in school. For these reasons, any grade of C is considered marginally acceptable.

A student on probation must take a minimum of 12 semester hours in the full-time program or 8 semester hours in the part-time program. Failure to register for the required number of hours without prior approval of the assistant dean for academic services will be treated as the equivalent of failure to attain a 2.25 grade point average for the semester.

Readmission

Students dismissed for academic reasons may apply for readmission. The current readmission policy is set forth in the Student Handbook. Readmission is not a matter of right; instead, it is within the sound discretion of the appropriate committee. Any student applying for readmission bears the burden of demonstrating that his/her performance to date does not accurately reflects his/her ability to successfully complete law school.

Bar Passage Rates

May 2009 first-time takers 92%

Interruption of Study

Applicants who seek to resume their legal studies will be evaluated according to the length of the absence, their college record and law school performance. Those interested must write the registrar for instructions.

Enrollment in Another Law School

With prior approval, John Marshall students may take up to 6 hours of elective credit at another American Bar Association-approved law school. Credit for the work is subject to certain restrictions, including a requirement that the student achieve a minimum grade of C. Courses in which students received grades lower than a C will not be accepted. Credit accepted from other approved law schools is not computed in the John Marshall cumulative average. Approval will not be granted if the same course is given at John Marshall, except for summer programs offered by a law school in another city. The student's last 30 semester hours must be taken at The John Marshall Law School, unless approved by the assistant dean for academic services. Students who have transferred into John Marshall may not subsequently take additional hours at another law school. In order to participate in summer abroad programs at another law school, a student must have completed a minimum of 29 semester hours and be in good standing.

Dean's List

Students qualify at the completion of each fall and spring semester for the Dean's List. To qualify, a student's semester GPA must be in the top 25% of his or her class designation.

Graduating with Honors

Summa cum laude- J.D. graduates in the top 1% of their class designation will earn this honor.

Magna cum laude- J.D. graduates in the top 4% of their class designation will earn this honor.

Cum laude- J.D. graduates in the top 15% of their class designation will earn this honor.

Order of John Marshall- J.D. graduates in the top 15% of their class designation will earn this honor.

Disability Policy

There are a number of students with disabilities enrolled in the law school. The school works with these students to accommodate their individual needs. A student who asks for reasonable accommodations due to a specific disability must provide acceptable evidence of the disability. The school may require the student to take designated tests at his or her expense from a qualified medical or educational professional chosen by the school. Please see Mara Yamshon, our Disabilities Counselor, for further information.

Discipline and Behavior

Each student is admitted upon the condition that if a student's continued enrollment in the law school, in the opinion of the faculty, would not be in the law school's best interests or if he or she is not a person of character or integrity to be qualified for admission to the legal profession, he or she may at any time be suspended or dismissed by the faculty. A student may be similarly disciplined if his or her behavior endangers the activity, safety, welfare, or property of a member of the law school community or of the law school itself. Rules pertaining to this procedure are found in the Student Handbook.

Transcripts

No official transcript of record is given directly to a student or to a graduate. An official transcript will be sent to another school or to any authorized agency upon request to the office for academic services. A transcript will not be issued unless all fees owed to the school are paid. There is a $5 fee for each transcript requested.

Academic Rules for Advanced Degree Programs

The academic rules of the JD program will apply to the LLM and MS programs except to the extent that the following is different from the JD program academic rules:

Classes Outside Program

With the approval of the program director, an LLM student may take up to six credit hours in classes outside of his/her own program. A student may take more than six credit hours of classes outside his/her own program only with permission of the program director and the associate dean for advanced studies and research.

Time to Complete Program

A student will have five years from the date of matriculation to complete the LLM or MS program. A student cannot take off more than two consecutive semesters without permission of the program director.

Transfer Credits

A program director may accept up to nine transfer credit hours from a matriculated student seeking to enter a John Marshall LLM or MS program from another institution.

Degree Completion

Under special circumstances, the program director may allow a student to take one or more courses at other institutions toward completion of the program's requirements for graduation from The John Marshall Law School.

Minimum Grade Point Average to Graduate

A student must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 to receive a degree in an LLM or MS program.

Academic Probation and Dismissal for Poor Scholarship

Academic standing will not be determined until the student completes his/her first six hours of credit (referred to as the "first trial period"). Upon the completion of the first trial period, a student must achieve a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.5 or better in order to be in good standing. If, at anytime after the first trial period, the student's CGPA falls below 2.0, he/she will automatically be academically dismissed.

A student whose CGPA is between 2.0 and 2.499 after the trial period will be placed on academic probation and must raise his/her CGPA to 2.5 or better by the time he/she completes the next six credit hours (referred to as the "second trial period"). If such a student does not raise his/her CGPA to 2.5 or better within the second trial period, that student will be academically dismissed. Probation status will remain in effect until the student completes the second trial period. During the second trial period, the student must take a minimum of four credit hours and maximum of six credit hours unless otherwise approved by the Center director.

If such a student on probation raises his/her CGPA to 2.5 or better within the second trial period, the student will be in good standing. However, if a student has once been on probation and successfully raised his/her CGPA to 2.5 but has his/her CGPA go below 2.5 at the end of any subsequent semester, the student shall be academically dismissed at the end of that semester.

Honors

A student with a grade point average of 3.6 or higher at the completion of degree requirements, will graduate with honors.

Repeating "F"

Each student shall repeat a required class in which he/she has received a failing grade. A student may repeat an elective class in which he/she has received a failing grade. Both grades will be calculated in the computation of grade point averages.

Full-Time Student Definition

For administrative and financial aid purposes, a student taking five or more hours in a semester is counted as a full-time student.

Transfers

Transfers from other external programs and from other internal programs must have approval of the associate dean for advanced studies and research.

Student Code of Conduct

The Student Code of Conduct for the JD students shall apply to all LLM and MS students.

Joint Degree Students

Joint degree (JD/LLM) students remain subject to applicable academic rules of the JD program. ( view JD program rules )