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2024-2025 Graduate Catalog
Law (J.D.)
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 Return to: Graduate Degree and Program Requirements
Admissions Information
Student Learning Outcomes
90 Credit Hours Required
DEGREE:
Juris Doctor
Program Description
The mission of the University of South Dakota School of Law is to prepare lawyers and judges for the federal, state, and American Indian justice systems in South Dakota and to provide South Dakota residents and other students an affordable legal education imparting the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for the practice of law or other careers in a culturally diverse and global environment. Students at the Law School are a highly selective group that has demonstrated intellectual aptitude and personal characteristics desirable in the legal profession, including a desire to serve others.
A primary objective of the Law School curriculum is to develop analytical and other skills that are fundamental for the legal profession. The faculty employ a variety of pedagogical techniques to achieve that objective, including Socratic dialogue, the case method, lecture, and simulation. The curriculum is designed to familiarize students with basic legal doctrines and to instill in them the values of the legal profession and the judicial system.
Students also have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of co-curricular and extracurricular activities at local, regional, and national levels. These student activities complement the formal components of the curriculum and assist in the development of legal skills. Activities include, but are not limited to, participation in the South Dakota Law Review, the Moot Court Board, the Alternative Dispute Resolution Board, and Trial Advocacy Competition.
Concurrent Degree Program Description
The School of Law offers a concurrent degree program with other colleges/schools of the University of South Dakota leading to the juris doctor degree and a master’s degree in one of the following nine disciplines:
- College of Arts & Sciences
JD/Master of Arts in English
JD/Master of Arts in History
JD/Master of Arts in Psychology
JD/Master of Public Administration
JD/Master of Science in Administration
JD/Master of Science in Sustainability (Plan B only)
JD/Master of Business Administration
JD/Master of Professional Accountancy
JD/Master of Arts in Educational Administration & Leadership
Dual Degree Programs in Environmental Law, Energy Regulation, and Food and Agriculture Policy
Vermont Law School and the University of South Dakota School of Law offer three dual-degree opportunities that enable qualified students to earn two degrees in three years: a J.D. from South Dakota and one of the following Master’s degrees from Vermont Law School: a Master of Environmental Law and Policy (JD/MELP), a Master of Energy Regulation and Law (JD/MERL), and a Master of Food and Agriculture Law and Policy (JD/MFALP). The dual-degree program is comprised of courses taught at Vermont Law School’s Summer Session and courses offered by distance learning from Vermont Law School during the regular academic year, or a combination of Summer Session, distance learning courses, and internships.
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Graduation Requirements - 90 Credit Hours
First-Year Required Courses: Total 31 credit hours
The first-year curriculum is designed to give students a broad understanding of the American legal system and the role of law in our society. These required first-year courses expose students to the fundamental principles of needed legal skills, including legal analysis.
Second-Year and Third-Year Curriculum
The required, upper-division courses include Evidence (LAW 823 ), Professional Responsibility (LAW 857 ) Criminal Procedure (LAW 834 ), a code course (minimum 3 credit hours), 6 credits of experiential learning course work, an “upper-level writing requirement” - which shall consist of one writing experience in each year of upper-level study (indicated with * in years 2L and 3L), and Critical Legal Skills (LAW 835 ). These courses complete the core curriculum and are taken after the first year. As part of the experiential learning requirement, upper-division students will have the option of choosing among clinical, practicum, and externship courses that provide them with the opportunity to serve live clients while developing and refining their practice skills. Full-time and flex students are first eligible to enroll in an externship the Fall of their 2L year. Students in this course acquire practical experience in a law firm, governmental agency, or other law office. Other live-client courses include the WORKS Clinic which provides assistance to divorcing couples. In addition to these courses, students explore a variety of other areas throughout the remainder of the elective curriculum. Students must earn a total of 90 credits in order to graduate.
Upper-Division Required Courses (18-20 cr hrs required):
Electives (36-39 cr hrs required):
Some students may wish to focus their studies and activities in a particular area of law. For these students, the Law School offers curriculum and career planning advice in the form of curricular tracks. Curricular tracks are provided in the following areas:
- Business Law
- Civil Litigation
- Commercial Law
- Constitutional Law
- Criminal Law & Procedure
- Employment Law
- Environmental Law
- Estate Planning
- Indian Law
- Real Estate Law
- Tax Law
Note:
Each student shall complete an “upper-level writing requirement” - which shall consist of one writing experience in each year of upper-level study - in order to be qualified to graduate from The University of South Dakota School of Law. Each year’s component of the requirement may be satisfied by completing a designated writing course (W). The following courses fulfill the Upper-Level Writing Requirement:
- Editing & Advocacy
- Independent Research
- Jurisprudence
- Law Office Management
- National Security Law
- Reproduction and the Law
- Water Law
- Law Review
- Drafting & Transactional Skilss
- Employment Discrimination
- Indian Law at the Supreme Court
- Tribal Courts & Tribal Law
- Law Practice Drafting
- Company 101
Flex-Time Requirements
This option will permit certain well-qualified students to take less than the normal load of credits each semester and to graduate with a juris doctor degree within five years instead of three years. Flex-time students follow the same class schedule as all other students, but take fewer hours each semester. The program’s flexibility is designed to admit a limited number of well-qualified students who could not otherwise attend law school on a full-time basis. The Law School does not offer evening or weekend courses. Flex-time students may apply to transfer to the full-time program after completion in good standing of the first year of law studies (which is the equivalent of the first two years in the flex-time program). Students who transfer into the full-time program complete the program in four additional semesters. Flex-time students who are not in good standing at the end of the first year of law studies (two years in the flex-time program) are subject to the dismissal and probation provisions of the Law School’s Academic Rules and Student Policies. Students who remain in the flex program will complete their degree after the tenth semester.
FIRST SEMESTER: Total 9 credit hours
SECOND SEMESTER: Total 7 credit hours
THIRD SEMESTER: Total 7 credit hours
FOURTH SEMESTER: Total 9 credit hours
FIFTH SEMESTER: Total 10-11 credit hours
- LAW 823 - Evidence 3 cr
- LAW 834 - Criminal Procedure 3 cr
- LAW XXX - Select a minimum of 5 elective credits
Note: Starting with the fifth semester students may select among a combination of elective courses and the additional Upper-Division Code (minimum 3 credits required), Experiential (6 credits required), and Writing course requirements, each of which may be taken at any point after the conclusion of the 1L year (see full description of these courses below). In addition, during the ninth or tenth semester, students must complete the bar examination preparation course, LAW 835, Critical Legal Skills. After completion of their required courses, students must complete 36-39 elective credits.
SIXTH SEMESTER: Total 10-11 credit hours
SEVENTH SEMESTER: Total 10-11 credit hours
- LAW XXX - Select a minimum of 10 elective credits
EIGHTH SEMESTER: Total 10-11 credit hours
- LAW XXX - Select a minimum of 10 elective credits
NINTH SEMESTER: Total 8-11 credit hours
- LAW XXX - Select a minimum of 8-9 elective credits
- Note: Students must take LAW 835, Critical Legal Skills, during either the 9th or 10th semester.
TENTH SEMESTER: Total 9-11 credit hours
- LAW XXX - Select a minimum of 9 elective credits
- Note: Students must take LAW 835, Critical Legal Skills, during either the 9th or 10th semester.
Program Leading to Professional Licensure
Location Matters. This program allows only on-campus courses during the first semester and is designed to meet the educational requirements for a professional license or certification required for employment in South Dakota. If you intend to apply for licensure or certification outside of South Dakota upon completion of your program, please review and understand the licensure or certification requirements in that state. For more information, visit USD’s Licensure-Track Programs page for links to the USD program websites and state licensure board websites.
This program is authorized to offer supervised field study experiences (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) in South Dakota. Please be aware that there may be some restrictions on your ability to engage in supervised field study outside of South Dakota. If you have questions regarding supervised field study, please contact a program representative.
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Return to: Graduate Degree and Program Requirements
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