Evening students will typically have already taken Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law I: The Federal System, Contracts, Legal Practice: Writing and Analysis, and Torts during the first year, and have had the opportunity to request a seat in the optional one-week, 1-credit course “First-Year Week One Simulations.” In the upperclass years, evening students take the remaining first-year courses (typically, Criminal Justice, Property, and a course designated as meeting the first-year elective requirement).

Georgetown Law’s course offerings are both wide-ranging and deep. As you review the JD degree requirements, you will note that after you set aside credits for the required courses described below, you will have a large number of elective credits to build your portfolio. Useful aids in planning your upperclass curriculum will be our Curriculum Guide, the Registrar’s Registration Information page, our academic advisors and our career counselors.

Upperclass Legal Writing Requirement

The upperclass legal writing requirement is intended to provide students with the opportunity to refine the research and writing skills learned in the first year. It is also meant to develop the skills necessary to undertake writing projects on their own following graduation from law school. Students choose topics, submit outlines, prepare and submit a first draft, and complete a final paper of 6000 words or more (excluding footnotes) in consultation with faculty members in approved seminars (see the “WR” notation in the course schedule) or supervised research projects. See the Georgetown Law Student Handbook of Academic Policies for more information about this requirement.

Professional Responsibility Requirement

Each student must successfully complete an upperclass course meeting the Professional Responsibility requirement. To search for courses currently being offered that satisfy this requirement, see the courses listed at the bottom of the Legal Profession/Professional Responsibility cluster description. J.D. students may not satisfy their Professional Responsibility requirement by completing any Professional Responsibility courses offered in the Graduate Program.

Experiential Requirement

Students who matriculated at the Law Center in Fall 2016 or later must earn a minimum of 6 credits in experiential courses.