Program of Study

  1. For graduates of United States law schools, the graduate law program consists of elective courses and a thesis together comprising twenty semester units of credit.
  2. For graduates of foreign law schools, the graduate law program consists of two required courses, or their equivalent, worth three semester units of credit, and elective courses worth a total of 17 semester units of credit. The required courses are Law 200A, U.S. Legal System Seminar, a one semester, two-unit course; and Law 207, Legal Research, a one-unit course.
  3. On a showing that the LL.M. student has already received credit for courses equivalent to the required courses, the LL.M. director may waive either or both of the required courses. If the director waives a required course, the director may require the student to take other courses specially designed for, or of special value to LL.M. students.
  4. With the approval of the LL.M. Director and the candidate's faculty advisor, graduates of a foreign law school may, in lieu of the writing requirement contained in 6.1E, write a graded thesis equivalent in quality and substance to a substantial law review article worth between four to eight semester units of credit.
  5. Credits earned in an approved LL.M. preparation program may be considered the equivalent of the course entitled U.S. Legal System Seminar, but shall not transfer to reduce the 20 semester units of credit required to earn an LL.M. degree.
  6. LL.M. students may enroll in any course. Enrollment in clinical courses requires approval of the instructor and completion of any prerequisite requirements. Students may not receive credit for courses that are substantially similar to courses previously taken at a law school.
  7. With the consent of the LL.M. director, and on a showing that the course complements the student's course of study or research, an LL.M. student may enroll in one course (up to three units) offered by University departments outside the law school.
  8. LL.M. students may not receive credit toward their degree for courses taken at another law school.
  9. A student who has successfully completed at least 10 units of law study in a UC Davis law school program may apply to transfer to the LL.M. program.  The dean will decide how many credits and semesters of residence will be awarded for the work in the prior program.
  10. The policy on the transfer of UC Davis LL.M. students into the J.D. program is as follows:
    1. UC Davis LL.M. students may be eligible for admission into the J.D. program as transfer students, upon recommendation by the Associate Dean of International Programs. This policy does not apply to LL.M. students from other law schools or to students in the UC Davis LL.M. Program in International Commercial Law.
    2. UC Davis LL.M. students who desire to enter the J.D. program will not be required to take the LSAT, but must adhere to all other steps of the J.D. transfer application process, including submission of a complete application, as set forth by the Office of Admission and Financial Aid.
    3. UC Davis LL.M. students who desire to enter the J.D. program must submit a statement of purpose indicating their reasons for wishing to enter the J.D. program and how completion of the J.D. program will enhance their career goals.
    4. The decision as to whether to accept a UC Davis LL.M. student for transfer into the J.D. program will be made on the basis of the information contained in the student's LL.M. transfer application, including but not limited to student's academic performance as a UC Davis LL.M. student, the LL.M. student's statement of purpose, and any recommendations that have been submitted by UC Davis professors outside the LLM program.
    5. UC Davis LL.M. students and UC Davis LL.M. graduates who are interested in transferring into the J.D. program may apply for transfer admission after the UC Davis LL.M. student's first semester, but not more than three years after graduating from the UC Davis LL.M. program.
    6. In consultation with the Assistant Dean of Admission and Financial Aid and the Director of the LL.M. program, the Dean shall be responsible for consideration of requests by UC Davis LL.M. students for transfer into the J.D. program.
    7. The primary criterion for acceptance into the J.D. program shall be academic performance at UC Davis during at least two semesters of the LL.M. program. UC Davis LL.M. students who have not achieved a grade point average of 3.3 at the conclusion of the LL.M. program will generally not be accepted. In calculating the grade point for transfer purposes, grades for U.S. Legal System Seminar, Legal Research, Introduction to U.S. Legal Methods A and B, U.S. Legal Methods A and B, and LL.M. Essay Writing A and B will not be counted. To be eligible for transfer to the J.D. program, UC Davis LL.M. students must have at least 15 units of graded coursework.
    8. UC Davis LL.M. students who are accepted for transfer into the J.D. program will receive credit toward the J. D. degree for all coursework completed during their LL.M. program except that the total number of credits earned for courses taken in the UC Davis LL.M. program may not exceed one-third of the credits required for the J.D. degree, and students will not receive credit for U.S. Legal System Seminar,  Legal Research, Introduction to U.S. Legal Methods A and B, U.S. Legal Methods A and B, and LL.M. Essay Writing A and B.
    9. UC Davis LL.M. students accepted for transfer into the J.D. program must take all first year courses except for first year courses completed during their LL.M. year.
    10. UC Davis LL.M. students transferring into the J.D. program must complete all requirements for the J.D. degree no later than 84 months after beginning the LL.M. program.
    11. UC Davis LL.M. students will receive an LL.M. degree upon successful completion of the LL.M. program and will receive a J.D. degree upon successful completion of the J.D. program. UC Davis LL.M. students accepted for transfer into the J.D. program must choose one of the following options:
      1. J.D. Program A: The former LL.M. student completes all three years of a standard J.D. program. The former LL.M. student retains the LL.M. degree but receives no credit for any LL.M. course work.
      2. J.D. program B: UC Davis LL.M. students who are accepted into the J.D. program and who choose this option will be considered holders of the LL.M. degree until completion of the J.D. program. Because the J.D. degree is based in significant part upon work completed for the LL.M. degree, the LL.M. degree will at the time of graduation from the J.D. program merge completely into the J.D. degree and will no longer exist as an independent degree.
    12. LL.M. students with a J.D. degree from an American law school will be ineligible for transfer into the J.D. program.
    13. The above procedure is the exclusive means by which UC Davis LL.M. students may be admitted to the J.D. program.
    14. Applicants seeking to appeal the admission decision must adhere to the appeal process, including deadlines, set forth in the J.D. Program Admissions Procedures and Criteria.
regid
6.2