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JD students must complete a total of 111 units to earn their degree. These consist of a series of first-year required courses, plus an additional 81 quarter units of elective coursework.

In the process of completing their units, they must satisfy the following curricular requirements:

• Experiential learning requirement

• Ethics requirement;

• "R" paper writing requirement

• Professional Writing (PW) requirement

• Learning outcomes requirement;

In accordance with ABA accreditation standards, JD students may not count toward the JD graduation requirement more than thirty-one (31) quarter units of the following types of coursework: externship, directed research, directed writing, senior thesis, research track, courses taken outside the Law School, moot court (Kirkwood competition), Trial Lawyer Skills Workshop opens in a new tab, and Law Journal Discussion Group opens in a new tab.

Additionally, students must make satisfactory academic progress (see the section on ‘Satisfactory Academic Performance.’)

To graduate, a JD student must be “in residence” as a law student for at least nine (9) quarters and no more than twelve (12) quarters, at a time when the law school is in session. For purposes of the JD degree, the term “in residence” means that a student:

• Takes at least 9 quarter units of credit that can be counted toward the degree each quarter.

• By the date all grades for the quarter are due, passes at least 8 such units each quarter.

• Pays full tuition to the law school.

• Does not work more than 20 hours per week during the term. (See section entitled ‘Limitations on Working opens in a new tab’ for more information.)

• A student must be in residence during the quarter in which the final degree is conferred or during the quarter immediately preceding degree conferral.