Academics
In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M. Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 8 credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in history, public policy and dispute resolution) and J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration).
The law school offers concentrations in intellectual property law and commercial law. In addition, clinical experience is offered through the Student Trial Advocacy Program, Free Legal Aid Clinic, and the Criminal Appellate Practice Program in cooperation with the Michigan State Appellate Defender Office. There are some 28 seminars. Second- and third-year students have a choice of interning on a part-time basis with distinguished local judges and in a variety of governmental and nonprofit agencies. Students earn 2 credits per semester in these internships. Students may earn credit or income for research projects with faculty members. Special lecture series include I. Goodman Cohen Lecture in Trial Advocacy, Driker Forum for Excellence in the Law, and Bernard Gottfried Memorial Labor Law Symposium. There is a 6-week summer exchange program with the University of Warwick, England; students may also study for 1 semester in the London Law Programme of the University of Detroit-Mercy School of Law and at the Hague, Netherlands. The Supportive Services Program offers academic and related support to students. The Intellectual Property Law Institute, a consortium with 2 other universities, offers additional intellectual property courses to law students. The most widely taken electives are Criminal Procedure, Taxation, and Evidence.
To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 86 total credits, of which 32 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law I, Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Writing and Research, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of Professional Responsibility and the Legal Profession. The required orientation program for first-year students is 4 days for students in the day program and 5 days for students in the evening program, during which students begin their legal writing classes.
In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0 and have completed the upper-division writing requirement.