Requirements for the JD

	Juris Doctor Degree
Program Length	This is a full-time program of legal education. As such, the American Bar Association specifies that the program must be completed in no fewer than 24 months and no more than 84 months from the date of matriculation as a degree-seeking first-year law student.
Credits	86 total credit hours 65 of 86 credits must be a William & May standard letter grade The American Bar Association specifies that no more than 20 percent of the required credit hours may be taken in any one semester. At William & Mary, this means students may not take more than 17 credits in any one semester.
Required Courses	First Year Law 100 - Leadership & Professional Development Law 101 - Criminal Law Law 102 - Civil Procedure Law 107 - Torts Law 108 - Property Law 109 - Constitutional Law Law 110 - Contracts Law 130- Legal Research & Writing I Law 131 - Lawyering Skills I Law 132 - Legal Research & Writing II Law 133 - Lawyering Skills II Second Year Law 140 - Advanced Writing & Practice or any course designated as Legal Writing Requirement Second or Third Year Law 115 Professional Responsibility or Law 117 The Legal Profession
Program Requirements	Experiential Learning Writing - satisfied with Legal Research & Writing I and II and Advanced Writing & Practice or upper level writing course
Graduate Employment Survey	You will not be certified to graduate without completing and updating the Survey.

In addition, you, as a law student, must maintain good academic standing as defined by the Law School.

**Directed Reading in Advanced Legal Analysis & Doctrine - required for only those students who have been identified, based on academic performance, as likely to benefit from additional bar exam preparation studies. The Dean’s Office will be responsible for identifying and contacting such students and granting exceptions to the requirement, on a case-by-case basis for good cause.

Note that curricular requirements are subject to change.