IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law
Degree Programs
Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.)
The McKinney curriculum will help you understand the law at every level, from the most abstract concepts to the fundamentals. You’ll also gain the practical skills you need to succeed in the legal profession of your choosing.
To graduate with a Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) degree from IU McKinney Law, you must satisfy the following requirements. The Student Handbook outlines these requirements in detail.
In brief, to receive a J.D., you must:
- Complete 90 credit hours
- Maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.3 on a 4.0 scale
- Complete all curricular requirements
- Complete a substantial research paper
- Complete the equivalent of six semesters of full-time resident study or eight semesters of part-time resident study
- Complete all of these degree requirements within 84 months of matriculation
Curricular requirements
To graduate, the following core courses are required:
First Year Courses:
Civil Procedure I and II
Constitutional Law
Contracts and Sales I and II
Criminal Law
Legal Communication and Analysis I and II
Legal Research
Property
Torts
Additional Requirements:
Advanced Research and Writing Requirement
Evidence
Professional Responsibility
Administrative Law (for those matriculating in or after 2021)
At least 6 hours of experiential learning
5 curricular courses, subject to certain exceptions (for students matriculating in 2017 and beyond and who graduate in August 2021 or later)
If you are a full-time day student, you are required to register for the full load of 32 credit hours in your first two semesters and complete all basic-level required courses before registering for advanced courses.
If you are a part-time evening student, in your second year you may take upper-level courses while completing the required first-year offerings in the evening.
Please refer to the Student Handbook for more details concerning graduation requirements.
Summer J.D. classes
Each summer the faculty offer selected required and elective courses. You can accelerate your studies by attending summer sessions. If you’re in the part-time division, you must attend three summer sessions to complete degree requirements in four calendar years.
Learn more about the courses offered at McKinney Law or contact us for more information.
Bar requirements
Once you complete these degree requirements, you can be certified as eligible for the bar examination in the state in which you intend to practice. Prior to being certified to sit for the bar, the law school and bar examiners will review the information you supplied in your law school admission application in addition to your record while in law school. If you have any doubts about meeting bar requirements, you are advised to contact the board of bar examiners of the respective state for specific information.
Please keep in mind the bar requirements of most states include character and fitness qualifications. During your tenure as an applicant and law student, you are under an ongoing obligation to maintain the accuracy of your file, which includes, but is not limited to, disclosing any character and fitness incidents that happened prior to the start of your legal education throughout your time as a law student. Please refer back to the Obligations section of the Admissions website.
Last Updated: March, 2024
