Academic Policies and Regulations

Draft

Excerpts from 2006-07 Student Bulletin & Handbook of Policies

Classification of Law Students.

• Full-Time Law Student: Full–Time is defined as a student enrolled f or a minimum of 12 credit hours and a maximum of 16 hours. See Semester Course Loads (page 22) for specific information and exceptions.

The Juris Doctor Degree

• Full­Time Law Program: The UNM School of Law offers a full­time course of study leading to the degree of Juris Doctor (J.D.). Applicants for admission to the School of Law are required to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), to register for the Law School Data Assembly Service, and to have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university before time of registration. Beginning law students will be admitted at the opening of the fall semester only. The normal period for a full­time law student to complete requirements for a J.D. degree is two to three years. The maximum period for a full­time law student to complete requirements for a J.D. degree is five years from the date of matriculation.
• Credit Hours and Grade Point Average: The student must earn at least 86 hours of law credit with a passing grade and a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (C) or better within five years of the date of first enrollment No more than 42 semester hours may be earned at other law schools. (See "Visiting Student Status.")
• Clinic. The student must participate satisfactorily in at least six hours of clinical law school credit, as prescribed by the faculty. No extern field experience courses or skills courses apply toward this requirement. There are prerequisites and/or co­requisites for some clinical courses. A student must have a cumulative law school G.P.A. of 2.00, and must have successfully completed 40 credit hours to be eligible to enroll in a clinical course. A student on academic or professional probation will not be permitted to enroll in any clinic until removed from probation, even if it means skipping a term due to the 30-day grade deadline rule to determine academic standing.
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Honors, Awards, and Prizes

• Top Grade: A law professor has the option of noting the student who earned the top grade in each of his or her courses. Such notations are marked on the student’s record.
• [8-22-06 Faculty Meeting Minutes--All full- time faculty members are members of the Order of the Coif]

Definitions of Good Standing.

• Professional Good Standing. Good standing in a professional school means more than just academic good standing. The University of New Mexico School of Law recognizes its responsibility to maintain a program that prepares its students for admission to the bar and for effective and responsible participation in the legal profession, including, but not limited to, the capacity to honestly and competently represent the interests of others. In conformity with the American Bar Association’s Academic Standards (2004), UNM School of Law will monitor the progress of law students throughout their studies, and will not continue the enrollment of a student whose inability to do satisfactory work is sufficiently manifest so that, in the Dean’s judgment, the student’s continuation in school would inculcate false hopes in the student, represent a risk to the public, or detrimentally affect the education of other students. The definition and list of “Relevant Conduct” f or the Standard of Character and Fitness found in the Comprehensive Bar Admission Requirements (2005) of the National Conference of Bar Examiners and the American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar serve as the school’s guideline in assessing the professional behavior and capacity of students. (See Appendix B­1.) On account of neglect of study, incapacity f or the law, untruthfulness or nondisclosure of required information, or conduct or character not in keeping with the standards of the school or the legal profession, the University of New Mexico School of Law reserves the right to terminate the attendance of any student, to remove any student from the list of candidates for the Juris Doctor degree, or to otherwise discipline any student. Any person, by registering in the University, agrees to this reserved right of the law school to place such person on disciplinary probation or to sever his or her connection with the law school, regardless of academic standing, at any time circumstances warrant. Any student who is not in professional good standing may be placed on probation or have their attendance be terminated by administrative action. The student shall be notified in writing at their official address of any such action. A student who is placed on probation may be required to comply with conditions of probation as determined by the Dean. Failure to comply with such conditions may result in immediate suspension. A student whose attendance is terminated for failure to be in professional good standing may petition f or relief by way of the procedure set forth for suspension as explained on page 33 of this handbook. UNM School of Law reserves the right to demand reasonable proof from any student who is suspended or whose attendance is terminated that the student is capable of being in professional good standing before readmission.
• Academic Good Standing: A student is considered to be in good academic standing as long as he/she maintains a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00. A student whose attendance is terminated f or failure to be in academic good standing may petition for relief by way of the procedure set forth f or suspension as explained on page 33 of this handbook.

Student Employment

• [from 05-09-06 Faculty Meeting Minutes: The former requirement disallowing 1L students from working during their first semester of law school has been eliminated for a 3-year pilot period.]

Flex Time Program

• [from 12-12-07 Faculty Meeting Minutes: Flex Time Program which will allow students to complete the JD Program in 5 years will be implemented in Fall 2008. ]

Misc. Curriculum Information gleaned from faculty meeting minutes:

• 8-30-05 “Difficult Dialogue Series.” The series was created to assist students in learning how to discuss sensitive or controversial issues with other students in a professional forum.
• 8-30-05 The Tax Clinic is part of the Law School’s Economic Development program.
• 12-13-05 For the student writing requirement, a second reader is an option decided by the first reader.
• 12-12-06 Practicum is part of the first year curriculum.