Juris Doctor Curriculum

https://law.creighton.edu/

Creighton University School of Law was founded in 1904, not just to prepare lawyers but to develop leaders. To provide a powerful education, based on a solid mission statement and rooted in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. We believe in the Jesuit idea of educating the whole person, of empowering our graduates to find their place in the world. The Creighton School of Law believes you must develop as a whole so that you will contribute to the greater good through leadership and service throughout your life.

MISSION STATEMENT

At Creighton School of Law, our mission is to provide the men and women of our student body intellectual challenge, academic rigor and an opportunity to develop a foundation of moral values for lifelong service in the law, to offer an environment to our faculty which encourages personal growth and scholarly achievement and to continue our long-established tradition of service to the Bar and citizens of the community.

After completing your first year at Creighton University School of Law you are required to earn 58 additional hours to graduate. To achieve that, you must take an average of 15 hours in each of your last four semesters. To reduce that number, you may take summer courses.

Experiential Learning Requirement

Students are required to complete six (6) credit hours toward the Experiential Learning requirement for graduation. Please note: LAW 345 and LAW 418 - only one can be used toward the Criminal Law Area of concentration.

Cross-cultural Competency Requirement

  1. First year Orientation workshop focused on cross-cultural competency;
  2. 1L Seminar module focused on cross-cultural competency;
  3. All students shall successfully complete an upper-level course satisfying the Cross-cultural Competency requirement (see the list of courses below); and
  4. 3L Meeting workshop focused on cross-cultural competency.

JD Curriculum requirements: 90 credits

FIRST YEAR
Semster 1
LAW 100Introduction to Law0
LAW 1411L Seminar0
LAW 103Civil Procedure I3
LAW 111Contracts I3
LAW 117Legal Research and Writing I2
LAW 125Property Law4
LAW 131Torts4
Semester 2
LAW 104Civil Procedure II3
LAW 107Constitutional Law4
LAW 112Contracts II3
LAW 115Criminal Law3
LAW 118Legal Research and Writing II3
SECOND YEAR
Required Second-Year courses, students may take these courses in either Fall or Spring semester of the second year (limit of 18 credits per term):
LAW 203Professional Responsibility3
LAW 205Legal Research and Writing III3
LAW 335Business Associations3-4
LAW 341Criminal Procedure3
LAW 355Evidence3
LAW 457Trusts and Estates3
Electives - Choose from 300, 400, or 500-level each semester to reach 18 credits
THIRD YEAR
Recommended course for all 3L students; required course for those 3L students in the bottom 1/3 of the class.
LAW 302Comprehensive Review3
Cross-cultural Competency Requirement3
Choose three (3) credit hours from below.
Experiential Learning Requirement6
Choose six (6) credit hours from below.
Elective Courses28
Total Credits90-91
Cross-cultural Competency Courses
3 credit hours required
LAW 300The Impact & Legacy of the Holocaust on the Law3
LAW 306Introduction to English Criminal Court Advocacy2
LAW 321Cross-cultural Competency Seminar1-3
LAW 333Contemporary Issues in Juvenile Law2
LAW 346Employment Discrimination2-3
LAW 350Elder Law3
LAW 370Immigration Law2-3
LAW 384International Human Rights2
LAW 389Race and Law3
LAW 395Poverty Law: Legal Needs of the Underrepresented2
LAW 398Employment Law3
LAW 403Native American Law3
LAW 415Bankruptcy Legal Clinic Classroom Component1
LAW 419Faith, Morality and Law Seminar1
LAW 422Classroom Component-Juvenile Justice Clinic1
LAW 435Selected Research Topics1-3
LAW 437Selected Research Topics SA/UN1-3
LAW 440Trademarks and Unfair Competition2-3
LAW 445Wrongful Convictions3
LAW 456Women and Law3
LAW 520Externship Classroom Component1
LAW 522Classroom Component-Milton Abrahams Legal Clinic1
LAW 550Pro Bono Service Distinction0
Experiential Learning Courses
6 credit hours required
LAW 301Arbitration/Trial Theory1
LAW 306Introduction to English Criminal Court Advocacy2
LAW 308Advanced Trial Practice3
LAW 310Alternative Dispute Resolution3
LAW 312Advanced Legal Writing and Drafting2,3
LAW 313Advanced Legal Research2
LAW 315Arbitration3
LAW 327Arbitration Advocacy3
LAW 328Client Interviewing and Legal Counseling3
LAW 333Contemporary Issues in Juvenile Law2
LAW 344The Law and Practice of Jury Selection2
LAW 345Defense of Criminal Cases2
LAW 348Criminal Process of Adjudication3
LAW 353Estate Planning2
LAW 358Family Law Practice3
LAW 369Advanced Legal Clinic1-4
LAW 372International Business Contracting3
LAW 378Foreign, Comparative, and International Legal Research2
LAW 388Milton R. Abrahams Legal Clinic1-3
LAW 404Mediation Process3
LAW 410Negotiation3
LAW 412Bankruptcy Legal Clinic2-4
LAW 415Bankruptcy Legal Clinic Classroom Component1
LAW 418Prosecution of Criminal Cases2
LAW 421Juvenile Justice Clinic3
LAW 422Classroom Component-Juvenile Justice Clinic1
LAW 424Advanced Juvenile Justice Clinic1-4
LAW 431Scientific Evidence3
LAW 434Commercial Contract Drafting3
LAW 441Witness Examination Skills3
LAW 445Wrongful Convictions3
LAW 454Pretrial Litigation3
LAW 455Trial Practice3
LAW 486Appellate Litigation3
LAW 500Externships1-6
LAW 520Externship Classroom Component1
LAW 522Classroom Component-Milton Abrahams Legal Clinic1
Law Non-classroom credit hour courses
LAW 397Cyberlaw2
LAW 435Selected Research Topics1-3
LAW 485Competitions1-3
LAW 487Law Review1-3
LAW 500Externships1-6

Focused Legal Studies Through Concentrations

Students who wish to focus their legal studies may choose one or more concentrations to complement the JD curriculum requirements.

Students may choose to add one of the following Concentrations to their JD studies: