Skip to Main Content

Download as PDF

Law

Overview

Official Name of Program

Law

Plan Code

LAW-JD

Department(s) Sponsoring Program

Career

Law

Degree Designation

JD - Juris Doctor

HEGIS Code

1401.00

NYSED Program Code

83216 - LAW-JD

CIP Code

22.0101

The Full-Time Juris Doctor (J.D.) program at CUNY School of Law is a rigorous, three-year course of study designed to prepare students for the practice of law with a focus on public interest and social justice. The curriculum combines a strong foundation in legal theory with hands-on clinical training and experiential learning.

 Students are required to complete a minimum of 86 credits, including:  

  • Required Core Courses in Constitutional Law, Civil Procedure, Criminal Law, Contracts, Property, Torts, Lawyering Seminar, Legal Research, and Professional Responsibility.  

  • Skills-Based Learning, including lawyering seminars and clinics that integrate legal doctrine with practice-based experience.  

  • Upper-Level Electives that allow students to specialize in areas such as immigration, family law, human rights, and criminal defense.  

  • Experiential Clinic Requirement, participating in one of CUNY Law’s nationally recognized clinics or practice-based programs.  

 The curriculum is designed to develop practice-ready attorneys committed to advancing justice and serving underserved communities.  

 

Requirements

Completion requirement
Earn a minimum GPA of 2.5
Earn at least 86 credits
Successful participation in a clinic
Passing grades in all required courses
Completion requirement
Fulfill ALL of the following requirements:
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
  • 0365171
  • 0365311
  • 0365191
  • 0365681
  • 0365301
AND
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
  • 0365181
  • 0365221
  • 1542601
  • 0365551
  • 0365711
AND
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
  • 0366141
  • 0365891
  • 0369371
  • 1175901
  • 0365741
  • 0366051
Completion requirement

Students must complete at least 4 of the following courses*

Complete at least 4 of the following Courses:
  • 1508621
  • 0366151
  • 0367221
  • 0365571
  • 1256061
  • 0368181
  • 0366071
  • 0366551
  • 0365771
  • 0368441
  • 0366951
  • 0365981
  • 0367091
  • 0366841

Students may fulfill their credit requirements with bar elective courses along with other electives.  Availability of courses offered are based on a semester by semester basis. 

* Full-time students with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher by the end of their third semester (not including summer sessions) may opt out of the bar elective requirement and take a sufficient number of additional elective credits to satisfy graduation requirements. CUNY School of Law does not round GPAs up or down for this opt-out.   

Students must also complete: 

  • LAW 779: Mastery of Core Doctrine** 

  • ** Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher at the end of their fifth semester (not including summer sessions) may opt out of Mastery of Core Doctrine requirement. CUNY School of Law does not round GPAs up or down for this opt-out.   

Students must complete a clinic (12 credit minimum) from the following courses***: 

Earn at least 12 credits from the following:
  • 0368931
  • 1508541
  • 0368821
  • 0368961
  • 1550741
  • Y9FxBF8q3Aw1mnL1GUxI
  • 0366281
  • 1556461
  • 0368921
  • 1513501
  • 0366261
  • 0368971
  • 0368831
  • 0368031
  • 1291931
  • 1514661
  • 1508601

*** Availability of clinics offered are based on a semester by semester basis. 

39 - 45
2025 Spring Term -
7
Requirements
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
39 - 45
2025 Spring Term -
10
Requirements
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
  • --
39 - 45
2025 Spring Term -
12 - 16
Requirements
  • --
    OR
    Upper-Level Elective
    (3 - 4 cr)
  • --
    OR
    Upper-Level Elective
    (3 - 4 cr)
  • --
    OR
    Upper-Level Elective
    (3 - 4 cr)
  • Upper-Level Elective
    (3 - 4 cr)
    OR
    --
39 - 45
2025 Spring Term -
10 - 12
Requirements
  • --
    OR
    Upper-Level Elective
  • --
    OR
    Upper-Level Elective
    (2 - 3 cr)
  • --
    OR
    Upper-Level Elective
    (6 cr)
  • Upper-Level Elective
    (2 - 3 cr)
    OR
    --
39 - 45
2025 Spring Term -
0
Requirements
  • Clinic (12 Credit Minimum)
    OR
    Upper Level Elective
39 - 45
2025 Spring Term -
0
Requirements
  • Clinic (12 Credit Minimum)
    OR
    Upper Level Elective

Copyright © 2020 The City University of New York School of Law | 2 Court Square, Long Island City, NY 11101-4356 | Phone: 718-340-4200
All Rights Reserved. Content may not be reproduced without permission.