Anaya Nolan
Berkeley Law, the law school of the University of California, Berkeley, offers a rigorous academic program with a variety of course options. To obtain a J.D. degree, students must complete 85 units of credit, including a writing project and six experiential credits. A credit hour is defined as three to four hours of work per week for 15 weeks, encompassing classroom time, preparation, exams, research, and other academic activities. First-year students typically take between 14 and 16 units each semester, while upper-year students have more flexibility in their course selection and workload. Berkeley Law also allows transfer students from other law schools to receive credit for up to 32 units. The school's grading system is designed to encourage academic excellence, with designations of P for the bottom 60%, H for the next 30%, and HH for the top 10% of students. Students are expected to maintain academic integrity and honesty in their examinations and coursework.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Credit hours | 1 credit hour = 3-4 hours of work per week for 15 weeks, including classroom time, preparation, and exams |
| First-year students | 14-16 units each semester (up to 17 with Dean's approval) |
| Transfer students | Up to 32 units and 2 semesters of residence credit for work at other law schools |
| JD degree requirements | 85 units, including experiential credits and a writing project |
| Clinic courses | Death Penalty Clinic, EBCLC, Environmental Law Clinic, International Human Rights Clinic, Policy Advocacy Clinic, and Samuelson Clinic |
| Waitlists | Automatic movement of top student into class when a seat becomes available |
| Grading | "P" for bottom 60%, "H" for next 30%, "HH" for top 10%; ungraded P/NP classes also offered |
| Workload | Varies, but can be demanding with 80+ hour work weeks |
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What You'll Learn
- First-year students must take 14-16 units each semester, with a maximum of 18 units
- Transfer students can get credit for up to 32 units from other law schools
- A credit hour is equivalent to 3-4 hours of work per week for 15 weeks
- Students must get prior permission to take courses at another accredited law school
- Students must attend 700 minutes of class time per unit of credit
First-year students must take 14-16 units each semester, with a maximum of 18 units
First-year students at Berkeley Law are required to take 14-16 units each semester, with a maximum of 18 units. This means that students are taking around 15 credits per semester, with each credit representing approximately three to four hours of work per week for 15 weeks. This includes classroom time, preparation for class, studying and exam time, and time spent on research, writing, and revising papers and other assignments.
The first-year program is prescribed, and students are not permitted to take more than one one-unit class in the spring of their first year. During this time, students are also required to take a course on legal research and writing in the fall, followed by a course on written and oral advocacy in the spring.
While Berkeley Law offers a range of courses, from lectures with end-of-semester exams to smaller seminars with paper and class participation-based grading, first-year students must focus on their prescribed curriculum. This ensures that they receive a solid foundation in their legal education and that faculty resources are adequately allocated to support their academic needs.
Additionally, students must be mindful of the American Bar Association (ABA) rules, which require a course to have 700 minutes of class time for each unit of credit. This means that attending half the classes would result in not fulfilling the credit requirements for that course.
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Transfer students can get credit for up to 32 units from other law schools
Transfer students can receive credit for up to 32 units from other law schools, but only if the schools are fully or provisionally approved by the American Bar Association. Transfer students must also have completed a minimum of 28 semester units at the time of review, and the work for which transfer credit is sought must be of very high quality.
Transfer students who have not completed equivalent training in research and advocacy must complete the required moot court program or its equivalent before graduating. The Dean will determine whether and to what extent courses taken at another law school will be counted toward satisfaction of the program requirements of the School of Law.
Additionally, students who wish to take work in another accredited law school toward satisfaction of the J.D. degree requirements must obtain prior permission from the Dean. This permission is only given to second- and third-year students in good standing, and only for good cause. Students must receive at least a "C" in the course for it to be transferred toward their J.D. degree.
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A credit hour is equivalent to 3-4 hours of work per week for 15 weeks
At Berkeley Law, a "credit hour" is defined as three to four hours of work per week for 15 weeks. This includes classroom time, time spent preparing for class, studying for and taking exams, researching, writing, and revising papers, as well as completing any other final projects, presentations, or performances. For these calculations, 50 minutes of classroom instruction is considered one hour, and the 15-week period includes the exam period.
The credit system at Berkeley Law is designed to ensure that students receive an adequate program of professional training and that faculty resources are evenly distributed. For the J.D. degree, no more than 18 units of credit from specific rules can be counted toward the total of 85 units required. Transfer students from other law schools may be granted credit for up to 32 units and two semesters of residence credit.
First-year students at Berkeley Law have a prescribed program that includes between 14 and 16 units each semester, with the possibility of 17 units with the Dean's approval. During this initial year, students are restricted to taking classes only at the Law School and are limited to one one-unit class in the spring.
Berkeley Law offers various opportunities for students to engage in faculty-supervised research, writing, and study projects. With the Dean's permission, second- and third-year students can earn unit credit in Law 297, 298, or 299. These projects provide a chance for in-depth exploration of legal topics and can contribute to the overall credit count required for graduation.
Additionally, Berkeley Law encourages academic integrity and honesty in all examinations and academic activities. Students are expected to rely on their own knowledge and not use unauthorized materials or plagiarize. The school also has a waitlist system that automatically moves the top student into a class when a seat becomes available, reducing stress and confusion.
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Students must get prior permission to take courses at another accredited law school
At Berkeley Law, students are required to obtain prior permission from the Dean if they wish to take courses at another accredited law school to satisfy the requirements for their J.D. degree. This permission is typically granted only to second- and third-year students who are in good standing and can demonstrate a valid reason for their request. Additionally, students must achieve a grade of at least a "C" in the course for it to be transferred towards their J.D. degree.
The Dean has the authority to set limits on the number of courses and the amount of unit credit that will be permitted, and may require students to meet certain conditions before granting credit towards their J.D. degree. This process ensures that students receive an adequate program of professional training and that faculty resources are fairly distributed.
Transfer students at Berkeley Law may be allowed credit for up to thirty-two units and two semesters of residence credit for work completed at other law schools. However, they must complete the required moot court program or its equivalent before graduating if they have not previously undertaken equivalent training in research and advocacy. The Dean ultimately determines whether and to what extent courses taken at another law school will count towards the program requirements.
Students participating in concurrent degree programs may, with the Dean's discretion, receive up to ten in-person semester units of credit towards their J.D. degree requirements. These units must be earned through in-person courses that satisfy the degree requirements of the other school or department. Berkeley Law strongly prefers students to be enrolled at the school during their final semester.
Additionally, with prior approval from the J.S.D. Program Faculty Director, students may enrol in fewer than 12 units of independent study in a given semester, allowing them to take a teaching pedagogy course alongside one other course.
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Students must attend 700 minutes of class time per unit of credit
Students at Berkeley Law must attend 700 minutes of class time per unit of credit. This rule is in accordance with the American Bar Association (ABA) and is a requirement for receiving credit for a course. If a student misses half of their classes, they will not fulfil this requirement. Therefore, it is important for students to schedule make-ups for all missed classes to ensure they meet the minimum class time requirement.
At Berkeley Law, a "credit hour" is defined as an amount of work that approximates three to four hours of work per week for 15 weeks. This includes classroom time, time spent preparing for class, studying for and taking exams, researching, writing and revising papers, and completing other projects or presentations. For the purposes of these calculations, 50 minutes of classroom instruction counts as one hour, and the 15 weeks includes the exam period.
The number of credits required for a degree at Berkeley Law can vary depending on the program. For example, the J.D. degree requires 85 units, while the first-year program includes between 14 and 16 units each semester, or 17 units with the approval of the Dean. Additionally, students must complete six experiential credits and a writing project before graduating.
It is important to note that transfer students may be allowed credit for up to 32 units and two semesters of residence credit for work completed at other law schools. However, they must still meet the minimum class time requirement per unit of credit at Berkeley Law to receive credit for their courses.
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Frequently asked questions
85 units are required for the J.D. degree.
Transfer students may be allowed credit for up to thirty-two units and two semesters of residence credit for work completed at other law schools.
First-year students must take between 14 and 16 units each semester, or 17 units with the Dean's approval.
Students must complete a writing project before graduation, which can be satisfied by submitting either one long paper as part of an independent study/course or two smaller papers.
