Juris Doctorate

Program Description/Overview

The Law School currently offers only a part-time, four-year curriculum. Each course offered is carefully structured for the student to achieve knowledge of the subject sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the California Bar Examination and/or to prepare him or her for the competent and ethical practice of law.

Program Learning Outcomes/Goals

San Francisco Law School has four learning outcomes: Doctrinal Knowledge, Professional Analysis, Communication Skills and Professional Responsibility.

1. Doctrinal Knowledge:  Students will master knowledge and understanding of pertinent principles and theories of the law, their relationships, and limitations.
2. Professional Analytics: (aka Thinking Like a Lawyer) Students will analyze the legal rules and principles applicable to a problem and formulate legal theories; Students will apply problem solving skills to diagnose a legal problem, generate alternative solutions, and develop a plan of action.
3. Communication Skills: (oral and written) Students will communicate effectively, whether advocating, advising a client, eliciting information, or effectuating a legal transaction.
4. Professional Responsibility: Students will have knowledge and understanding of established standards related to a lawyer’s professional conduct including the ability to recognize and resolve ethical issues and multicultural issues arising in practical situations.

Programmatic Accreditation

The San Francisco Law School has been continuously accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California since 1927- the year the State Bar was founded. Students who graduate from San Francisco Law School are eligible to practice law in the State of California upon passage of the California Bar Examination and successfully fulfilling all other licensing requirements.

Credit Units

Total Credit Units: 87

Total Core Credit Units: 79

Total Elective Credit Units: 8

Total Concentration Credit Units: N/A

Elective Requirements

Elective courses are offered throughout the year in a variety of subjects. Eight (8) units of elective courses are required to meet the 87-unit graduation requirement. Elective courses are offered from time to time based on student interest and instructor availability. Following are examples of elective courses:

• LAW70041 - Mediation II (1 unit)
• LAW70140 - Consumer Credit Protection (1 unit)
• LAW70170 - E-Discovery (1 unit)
• LAW70185 - Secured Transactions (1 unit)
• LAW70190 - Elder Law (1 unit)
• LAW70195 - Mock Trial Court Competition (2 units)
• LAW70200 - Elimination of Bias (1 unit)
• LAW70210 - Entertainment Law (1 unit)
• LAW70221 - Entertainment Law II (1 unit)
• LAW70230 - Employment Law (1 unit)
• LAW70281 - Immigration Law (2 units)
• LAW70310 - Intellectual Property (1 unit)
• LAW70340 - Disability Law (2 units)
• LAW70360 - Law Practice Management (1 unit)
• LAW70410 - Bankruptcy Law (1 unit)
• LAW70430 - Advanced Criminal Law (1 unit)
• LAW70440 - Mediation (1 unit)
• LAW70450 - Moot Court Competition (3 units)
• LAW70460 - Contracts Drafting (1 unit)

Curriculum Plan