Program of Study for J.D. Degree
To earn a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the University of Washington School of Law, a student must meet the
residence requirements and must complete at least 135 quarter hours of credits satisfactory to the Law School, including credits for all required courses. Details on credit distributions and limitations are given in the
Graduation Requirements.
Under ABA Accreditation Standard 311 (formerly Standard 304), all law schools shall require that the course of study for the J.D. degree be completed no sooner than 24 months and not longer than 84 months after a student has commenced law study at the law school or a law school from which the school has accepted transfer credit. Additionally, a law school shall not permit a student to be enrolled in any term [semester] in coursework that, if successfully completed, would exceed 20 percent of the total coursework required by that school for graduation. For schools on other academic schedules, such as the quarter system, the maximum term course load is proportionate to that for schools on semester systems.
A student may earn up to 18 quarter credits towards the Juris Doctor degree with advanced course work taken in other units of the University (see
Concurrent Degree Programs); but in no case will Law School credit be given for courses taken before matriculation in the Law School.