Part-Time Option

Degree Requirements and Year-One Courses

Marquette University Law School offers a part-time option for students who wish to pursue a J.D. Part-time students may complete the 90 credits required for the J.D. degree in as many as six years or, with summer attendance, in as few as four. Admission and graduation requirements are identical for part-time and full-time students, making it possible to convert from part-time to full-time status at any time after the first academic year. A minimum of two courses must be taken each semester.

All students should work closely with the Law School’s Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Nadelle Grossman, and Assistant Dean of Students Anna Fodor before enrolling, as some classes require specific sequencing and prerequisites.

Part-time students should plan to attend parts of at least three days for the first two years. All 1L courses are offered during the day. After completing the 1L curriculum, students may choose to attend two or more days per week, depending on how quickly they wish to complete the program. Part-time students have until the end of their second year to complete the 1L course requirements.

Entering part-time students may take two or three 1L courses in each of their first two semesters. They must take Legal Analysis, Writing, and Research 1 and at least one, but no more than two, of the following three courses in their first semester: Criminal Law (3 credits), Torts (4 credits), or Contracts (4 credits).

In the second semester, part-time students must take Legal Analysis, Writing, and Research 2 and at least one, but no more than two, of the following three courses: Constitutional Law (4 credits), Property (4 credits), or Civil Procedure (4 credits).

Please note that Legal Analysis, Writing and Research 1 & 2 MUST be taken in consecutive semesters.

Year Two Schedule

During the second year of law study, part-time students take any remaining 1L course requirements. By the end of the second year, all part-time students will have completed the courses required 1L courses.

During the second year, part-time students may also enroll in upper-level electives. These electives will be chosen in consultation with Dean Grossman and/or Dean Fodor.

Additional Degree Requirements and Course Streams

In addition to the required 1L courses, students must complete the following requirements for graduation: The Law Governing Lawyers; Evidence; Trusts and Estates; an advanced legal research course; a process elective; a perspectives course; a public law course; a seminar; and a workshop. In selecting electives, students have the opportunity to choose from among nineteen specialized course streams:

Advanced Legal Research
Business & Commercial Law
Criminal Law
Dispute Resolution
Environmental Law
Estate Planning
Family Law
Health Care Law
Intellectual Property & Technology Law
International Law
Labor & Employment Law
Legal Analysis, Writing, & Research
Litigation
Public Interest Law
Public Law
Real Estate Law
Sports Law
Taxation
Water Law

A minimum of six credits in experiential courses. Students may satisfy this requirement by completing six or more credits in the following types of courses:

Advanced Legal Research Courses
Workshops
Clinics
Supervised Field Placements
Judicial Internships – Appellate
Judicial Internships – Trial – Federal Trial Courts Only

Additional Information

For additional information about the part-time option--applying for admission, scholarship and financial aid questions, or scheduling a visit, contact the Law School's Office of Admissions (414-288-6767).

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