Juris Doctor - Full-Time Day Program

Our three-year curriculum in residence is designed for students who can devote full-time effort to the study of law.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted from Sept. 1 - April 1 for priority consideration for all J.D. programs, including part-time. Learn about the application process and apply online via LSAC.org.

Scholarships for Full-Time Day Students

All accepted students are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships awarded by the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University. Incoming student scholarships are renewed annually, provided the student remains in good standing. The Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University does not offer conditional scholarships.

No separate applications are required. Read more about scholarships.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Competitive tuition rates and generous financial aid make the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University affordable. And a number of employers offer tuition reimbursement that can be applied to law school tuition.

Students work directly with Duquesne University's Office of Financial Aid to apply for federally funded or institutional aid such as Stafford Loans, GradPLUS Loans, and private educational loans. Interested students should submit a FAFSA before May 31. Applicants to the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University DO NOT have to complete the Duquesne Financial Aid Application. Learn more about applying for aid as a graduate student.

Curriculum

First Year Day Required Courses

Course Credits
Civil Procedure and Drafting I (fall) 3
Civil Procedure II (spring) 2
Contracts I and II (fall and spring) 6
Criminal Law (spring) 3
Legal Research and Writing I and II (fall and spring) 5
Property I and II (fall and spring) 6
Torts I and II (fall and spring) 5

Second Year Day Required Courses

Course Credits
Advanced Legal Reasoning (fall- required for bottom 25% of class following 1st year) 2
Constitutional Law I and II (fall and spring) 5
Business Associations (fall OR spring) 3
Criminal Procedure: The Police Function (fall OR spring) 2 or 3
Evidence (fall OR spring) 3
Professional Responsibility (may be taken in the second or third year- fall or spring) 3

Third Year Day Required Courses

Course Credits
Core/Applied Competencies I and II ( fall and spring- required for bottom 1/3 following first year) 6
Professional Responsibility (may be taken in the second or third year- fall or spring) 3
Sales (fall or spring) 2

Course Descriptions may be found on the Law School Registrar's Curriculum page.

Courses shown are required. Students are advised that the graduation requirement for all divisions is 87 credits total.

All matriculating students are required to satisfy an Upper Level Writing requirement and 6 credits of Experiential Learning.

Because Duquesne periodically reviews and revises its curriculum, course offerings and credit hours are subject to change at any time.

Program Information

Our three-year curriculum in residence is designed for students who can devote full-time effort to the study of law.

Program Type

Major

Degree

Doctorate

School

Thomas R. Kline School of Law

Duration

3 years

Required Credit Hours

87

Modality

In-Person

Learning Outcomes

A. Knowledge and understanding of substantive and procedural law

A.1. Fundamentals & Bar Exam: Remember and explain the black-letter law in the core doctrinal areas.

A.2. Legal Policy: Recognize the law's theoretical frameworks and trace their influence and the influence of extra-legal factors (e.g., politics, history, culture, etc.) on the development of substantive doctrine.

A.3. Legal System: Explain and differentiate among key conceptual categories of law and understand the hierarchy of authority.

A.4. Practical Knowledge Development: Integrate information from multiple sources (e.g., opinions, statutes, regulations, rules, scholarly analysis) to identify operative legal rules, principles and concepts.

A.5. Specialty Areas: Remember and explain the black-letter law in the substantive and procedural law on specialized topics.

B. Legal analysis and reasoning, legal research, problem-solving, and written and oral communication in the legal context

B.1. Interviewing, Counseling, and Negotiating: Investigate and analyze facts to achieve a client's objectives or otherwise solve a legal problem and recommend a solution.

B.2. Legal Analysis and Reasoning: Critically read the applicable authority, including identifying the key rules within each authority; synthesize the relevant rules into an analytical framework, identifying which rules the court is most likely to apply, and apply the rules to the relevant facts.

B.3. Legal Research: Create and execute an effective, efficient legal research strategy to conduct legal research with the appropriate use of sources and technology.

B.4. Problem Solving: Develop systems and procedures for effectively working with other people and to ensure that time, effort, and resources are allocated efficiently in a legal practice.

B.5. Written and Oral Communication: Draft legal and non-legal documents in the manner expected of a competent new lawyer and communicate orally in a manner appropriate for the audience and purpose.

C. Exercise of proper professional and ethical responsibilities to clients and the legal system

C.1. Cultural Competence: Work with others of diverse backgrounds and understand the importance of building an inclusive community characterized by interdependence, dignity, equality, compassion, and respect.

C.2. Diligence: Demonstrate a strong work ethic, engage in productive time management, understand the principles of timely project submittal, and be punctual and respectful.

C.3. Leadership: Exemplify servant leadership through ethical conflict resolution and emotionally intelligent engagement in teambuilding, collaboration, and cooperation.

C.4. Pro Bono: Possess knowledge and understanding of the lawyer's professional and civic responsibility to advance the mission of community service.

C.5. Professional Integrity: Uphold a strong sense of honor and conduct affairs with honesty, dignity, and care, while treating others with civility, fairness, and respect.

D. Other professional skills needed for competent and ethical participation as a member of the legal profession

D.1. Judgement: Recognize the importance of relevant non-legal considerations when advising clients regarding available outcomes and avenues, such as moral, emotional, economic, social, and political considerations.

D.2. Respect for Others: Practice in a diverse society and world by engaging competently with persons from a variety of backgrounds and holding a variety of views.

D.3. Reflection and Self-Evaluation: Develop an ability to critically evaluate the performance of self and others when performing legal tasks including recognizing, evaluating, and understanding one's own roles in resolving ethical dilemmas.

D.4. Self-Care: Seek and use resources when necessary to address personal challenges including managing workload and stress; recognize common causes of lawyer misconduct and be aware of sources of support for lawyers.