JD in Law

Degree Requirements

Required Courses

First Year
LAW 5010Civil Procedure I3
LAW 5015Civil Procedure II2
LAW 5020Contracts I3
LAW 5025Contracts II3
LAW 5035Criminal Law4
LAW 5040Property I3
LAW 5070Torts4
LAW 5080Legal Analysis, Research, and Communication I3
LAW 5085Legal Analysis, Research & Communication II3
LAW 5090Foundations of Legal Studies II (if assigned)1
LAW 5095Lawyering: Problem Solving and Dispute Resolution2
Second Year
LAW 5220Constitutional Law4
LAW 5260Evidence4
Second or Third Year
LAW 5045Property II3
LAW 5240Criminal Procedure3
LAW 5280Professional Responsibility3

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Completion of a Writing Requirement

  1. Every J.D. student must complete a rigorous upper-level writing experience in either the second or third year of study.
  2. A "rigorous writing experience" means an experience that culminates in an individually authored paper of at least 20 pages (double-spaced), based on independent research, through a process that includes preparation of a substantial draft, review and feedback by a faculty member, and revision of the draft.
  3. Any of the following activities may satisfy the upper-level writing requirement, provided that the activity meets the definition of a "rigorous writing experience" in the individual case:
    1. completion of any course designated as a writing course,
    2. completion of a writing section attached to a traditional course,
    3. completion of an independent research project under L5875 Research, or
    4. membership on one of the journals of the University of Missouri School of Law.
  4. A "designated writing course" is one in which all students complete a rigorous writing experience as defined in section (2) above and in which, in lieu of a final examination, a substantial portion of the final grade for the course is based on that writing.
  5. In every case, the supervising full-time faculty member must certify that the writing requirement has been satisfied before a notation will be made in the student's record.
  6. As stated in the Student Handbook, "[g]rading is done anonymously in all classes where it is possible." With the exception of Independent Research, if grading is to be done other than anonymously, the syllabus shall so state.

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Professional Perspectives Requirement

  1. As lawyers, each of you will be required to complete a required number of Continuing Legal Education requirements each year. 
  2. As law students at MU, you have a similar requirement.
  3. You MUST complete a certain number of Professional Perspective hours each year to be eligible to graduate from this law school.
  4. Professional Perspective's hours are designed to further your legal knowledge by presenting you with information about current legal events from current practitioners, including judges, and about other legal or legally-related matters. These hours are also designed to present you with needed information about career planning, the job market, and placement.
  5. Matters counting for Professional Perspectives credit are broken into two categories:
    1. Professional Perspectives are those programs that give students a new or different prospective on the law or its practice.
    2. Career Component credits are those programs that give students information about career planning and placement.
    3. Any program approved for credit will designate the category applicable to that program.
  6. Matters qualifying for Professional Perspectives credit will appear on the School of Law Calendar. It is your responsibility to select the events you wish to attend within the guidelines set out below.
  7. Many programs sponsored by the School of Law automatically qualify for Professional Perspectives credit. When listed on the law school calendar, qualifying programs are so designated.
  8. Programs sponsored by student or other groups may qualify for Professional Perspectives credit, but ONLY if an application for credit is filed 2 full business days in advance of the event with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Application forms are available in the Dean's Office.
  9. Every event for which Professional Perspectives credit is offered MUST be overseen by a responsible person who agrees to maintain an attendance record for that event. 
  10. Because Professional Perspectives credit is required, it is an event for which attendance counts. As a result, please note that it is an offense under the Honor Code to misrepresent one's own or another's attendance or absence from such an event. This would include signing in for an event and then leaving before the conclusion of that event.
  11. The Professional Perspectives requirement for each class of students is as follows:
    1. For First Year Law Students:
      1. 1 Professional Perspective program in the fall semester;
      2. 1 Career Component program in the fall semester;
      3. 1 Professional Perspective program in the spring semester;
      4. 1 Career Component program in the spring semester;
    2. For Second and Third Year Law Students:
      1. 2 Programs each semester;
      2. At least two of the programs during the year MUST be for general Professional Perspectives credit;
      3. At least one program during the year MUST be for the Career Component credit.

MU Law Scholars-Accelerated Bachelors to JD in Law

MU Law Scholars is a six year JD to bachelors degree program with automatic admission to law school.  To enroll students must have a 29 or above on the ACT or 1330 on the New SAT, and be in the top 10% of their graduation high school class.  If the students school does not use class rank, the students core GPA must be at least 3.71. 

In addition, students must:

  • Complete at least 90 undergraduate semester hours of courses on the MU campus
  • Complete all general education and major requirements within the 90 hours and attain a GPA of 3.5 or higher; only "elective" hours remain.
  • Take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) no later than December of the third year and score in the 75th percentile or above, (the actual score may vary from test to test, the 75th percentile is approximately a 157).

Note: The committee reserves the ability to refuse admission based upon criminal matters, academic dishonesty, or other matters that would justify denial of an applicant in any event. 

Students may select any undergraduate major in the College of Arts and Sciences or any other college or school with permission from the specific program.  Students will be entering law school before they finish their undergraduate degree and their undergraduate degree will be finished while in law school.  

Although the Law School requires no specific undergraduate major or academic prerequisites, courses such as Writing about Literature, introductory logic or mathematical logic, and an introductory political science may be beneficial for Law Scholars.  In addition, students are encouraged to complete a service-learning project, participate in undergraduate research, or complete an internship that is relevant to both an undergraduate education and a career in law.

Students are encouraged to apply to the MU Honors College, which provides students access to small, selective classes with other high-ability students.    

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