Academics
In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M. Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 6 credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.L.R.H.R. (Juris Doctor/Master of Labor Relations and Human Resources), J.D./M.P.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration), and J.D./M.S. (Juris Doctor/Master of Science).
Students must take 14 credits in their area of concentration. The College of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, environmental law, family law, international law, litigation, media law, tax law, health law certificate in law and social work, indigenous law, intellectual property and communications law, and public law and regulation. Clinics include the Rental House Clinic, Tax Clinic, Small Business and Nonprofit Clinic, and the Chance at Childhood Clinic. Many seminars in specialized areas are offered each year, allowing students to explore areas of interest in depth with expert faculty members. The MSU Law Career Services assists students in identifying, preparing for and applying for internships, including judicial clerkships. In addition to the MSU Law Review, there are 6 additional student-run publications. Students may also enroll in directed studies and apply for positions as research assistants. Various externship programs are available, including a federal externship in Washington, D.C. and a Summer International Externship Program in Canada. There are student-faculty, and alumni-sponsored lecture series featuring experts on current matters of law. The Law College offers a cooperative study program with the University of Ottawa and a joint J.D./LL.B. program. Through the Canadian summer program, students participate in the Houses of Parliament in Ottawa and Montreal. The Law College also sponsors a summer abroad program in Guadalajara, Mexico and law students participate in other ABA-approved programs. The Law College houses the Office of Diversity Services. There are also a variety of student organizations that focus on issues and services for minority students. The most widely taken electives are Environmental Law, Intellectual Property, and Sports Law.
To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 88 total credits, of which 44 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure I and II, Constitutional Law I, Contracts I and II, Property, Research, Writing, and Advocacy I and II, Torts, and Writing Skills Workshop. Required upper-level courses consist of Business Enterprises, Constitutional Law II, Criminal Law, Evidence, and Professional Responsibility. The required orientation program for first-year students consists of 3 days of intensive study in research and writing. Students are taught research skills, use of library techniques, how to brief a case, and how to write an exam.
In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0 and have completed the upper-division writing requirement.