Residence and Degree Requirements
Two-Year J.D. students will enroll in the program for two years in residence at Wake Forest Law. Admitted students will receive up to 30 hours of law school credit for certain courses in their previous legal education. The Associate Dean for International Affairs, the Executive Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and the Director of International Programs will determine courses that will receive credit. Students must complete a minimum of 60 credit hours, in residence at Wake Forest Law, to graduate with the J.D. degree.
The goal of Wake Forest University School of Law is to put Two-Year J.D. students in the best position possible to pass a state bar exam after only two years of study in the institution. The traditional J.D. program requires 90 completed credits and lasts three years. This means that students in the traditional program have one additional year to take required courses and electives. In order to ensure success in the program, and after graduation, Two-Year J.D. students are required to enroll in all of the courses required for traditional three-year JD students.
All Two-Year J.D. students are required to participate in the first year law student orientation programming prior to the start of classes. In some cases, it may also be required that students participate in an earlier orientation for international students.
During the first year of study at Wake Forest Law Two-Year J.D. students will take required courses in contracts, torts, civil procedure, property, constitutional law, and legal writing. During the second year they will take constitutional law again (the second part), legislative and administrative law, evidence, and professional responsibility. Students will have some room in their schedule during their second year to take elective courses. Each student will be matched with a faculty adviser to help with course selection for the second year. During the second year, however, it is strongly encouraged that students take courses that are tested on the bar exams, such as secured transactions, sales, and family law. Exceptions to required coursework may be made for students who have previously studied in the LL.M. Program at Wake Forest University School of Law.
Post-graduation, Wake Forest University School of Law will work with graduates to integrate them into the robust alumni network All students will receive career and professional counseling from the Office of Career and Professional Development and the International Graduate Programs Office.
