The JD Program
At Marquette Law, all law students—full time and part-time--graduate with a Juris Doctor degree. This professional degree signals that you have successfully completed a rigorous, general legal education—one that will prepare you to communicate with clients and other decision-makers, identify, analyze, and research legal problems, and exercise professional and ethical judgment. We have set out below Areas of Study. These Areas of Study are guides for law students as they navigate law school. Yet no matter what Area of Study you choose—or even if you choose to follow no particular Area of Study—you will graduate with a Juris Doctor degree from Marquette University Law School. In contrast, every law student must complete our graduation requirements to graduate and be eligible to receive the diploma privilege in Wisconsin.
Areas of Study and Bar Admission
Wisconsin has what is called the diploma privilege. The diploma privilege is the Wisconsin Supreme Court rule that permits Juris Doctor graduates of ABA accredited law schools located within the state of Wisconsin (including Marquette) to be admitted to the practice of law in Wisconsin without having to take a bar exam based upon 1) the receipt of the Juris Doctor degree and 2) meeting requirement as to the character and fitness to practice law. If a student intends to be admitted to a bar in a state other than Wisconsin and must therefore take a bar exam, that students should consult with the Director of Bar Preparation, as the below Areas of Study may not reflect courses recommended to prepare a student to take a bar exam.