Examination Policies

Excerpts from 2006-07 Student Bulletin & Handbook of Policies

Scheduling

Final examination schedules are normally finalized in the middle of each semester. For fall semester a final exam schedule is typically available by mid October. Spring semester schedules are usually prepared by Spring Break in mid­March.

All exams will be scheduled for 3 hrs. unless you tell the Registrar’s Office otherwise. Schedule increments must in the ½ hours [per Pat Trainor email 4-22-08]

Examination Procedures

The UNM School of Law uses an anonymous grading system. Every semester each student receives a unique number that is used in lieu of the student’s name on all exams. When taking exams students may opt to type or write in designated classrooms. The Student Code of Conduct governs all aspects of this process (see Appendix A). Exams are administered by the law school Assistant Dean for Registration.

First­Year Practice Exams

These fall semester exams are designed to familiarize new law students with testing procedures and give first­year course instructors the opportunity to give students feedback on their classroom performance to date. These exams are typically scheduled in early October and do not count toward final course grades unless so designated by the professor.

Mid­Term Examinations

Occasionally a faculty member may structure a course such that interim or mid­term examinations are administered and the exam grades earned are included in the calculation of the final course grade. If such mid­terms are given, regular examination procedures will be followed. It is recommended that faculty make sure that mid­terms do not conflict with other student obligations or courses.

Take­Home Examinations

  1. Faculty shall be able to use take­home examinations.
  2. The deadline f \or the decision on whether to give a take­home examination should be when the examination schedule is set, approximately mid­semester.
  3. Students shall be informed during the first week of the semester of the possibility of eventual administration of a take­home examination.

In­House Examinations

  1. All in­house examinations are administered by the law school Assistant Dean for
    Registration. Strict examination rules are followed f or all examinations. These rules will be distributed to all students by email prior to the examination period. Ignorance of any rule or procedure will not be accepted as an excuse for violations.
  2. Students may elect to write (bluebooks) or type (use of laptop computer or typewriter)
    examinations. To qualify to use personal laptop computers, an exam software will be installed on the computer, and students are required to attend a training session on the use of the software prior to the exam period. The law school does not provide laptop computers for examinations.
  3. No electronic devices of any type (such as, but not limited to, cell phones, walkman radios or tape recording equipment) are allowed in the examination rooms. The use of earplugs or cotton are permitted.
  4. No food of any type will be allowed in examination rooms. Only drinks in sealed containers will be allowed in examination rooms.
  5. Students qualifying by medical documentation f or special examination accommodations should see the law school Assistant Dean for Registration prior to the examination period.
  6. Any examination not falling within the examination period will be deemed a paper. Such papers must have a completion or due date prior to the reading period or the examination period.

Law Faculty Policy Concerning Released Examinations

Members of the Law faculty are not required to release past examinations, but many choose to do so. The Law Library maintains an archive of released exams dating back to 1982. In addition to providing an historical record, Law students like to use them to prepare for future Law School exams, although we encourage them to consult with their professors to determine which, if any, of the released examinations will be helpful for study purposes, because the law may have changed since the exams were written.

Release of examinations is consistent with the law school policy that no essay examination should be reused.