Academic Standards and Related Procedures - J.D.

A first year student will be dismissed if at the end of two semesters of work that student fails to maintain a cumulative average of 2.3 in all courses undertaken and completed. No rounding up of an average below 2.3 is permitted.

A first year student will be placed on probationary status if at the end of two semesters of work that student has not been dismissed and has a cumulative average of 2.6 or below.

1. A student who is on probationary status may enroll in no more than three (3) courses during each of the semesters on probation, and those courses must be letter graded and have a total unit credit of not more than eleven (11) and not less than eight (8) units.  In the first semester, students must enroll in any mandatory academic support course offered by the School of Law.  In addition to the mandatory support course, the student may only enroll in courses that are approved by the Dean of Students.  Should the student remain on probation a second semester, during that second semester, s/he may only take courses that are approved by the Dean of Students.  The student may retake first-year courses in which s/he received a letter grade of below C–, but students who repeat a course will be subject to the retake rules (see Rule IV.H).  The student must attend class regularly, is ineligible for externships, and must participate in such support activities as may be required by the Dean of Students after consultation with the student.
2. At the end of the first semester on probation, the student will be dismissed if s/he has achieved a GPA of 2.6 or lower for that semester, and will be removed from probationary status if s/he has achieved a GPA of at least 3.0 for that semester; otherwise, the student will remain on probation.  At the end of the second semester on probation, a student who has not achieved a GPA of at least a 2.8 for the two semesters on probation will be dismissed. 
3. A student who has successfully completed one semester of probation will be dismissed nonetheless if s/he accumulates an average of less than 2.6 in all work undertaken and completed during any two concurrent semesters following successful completion of probation.  The grade point average for this purpose shall be calculated without regard to the student's retroactive decision to elect to have one course graded on a P/U/NC basis (that is, the “shadow” grade actually earned will be included in the grade point average calculation).  No rounding up of an average below 2.6 is permitted.
4. A student who has successfully completed two semesters of probation will be dismissed nonetheless if s/he accumulates an average of less than 2.6 in all work undertaken and completed during any two concurrent semesters following successful completion of probation. The grade point average for this purpose shall be calculated without regard to the student's retroactive decision to elect to have one course graded on a P/U/NC basis (that is, the “shadow” grade actually earned will be included in the grade point average calculation).  No rounding up of an average below 2.6 is permitted.
5. A student who has been on probation and who achieves an average of 2.6 to 2.999 during the first two semesters following the successful completion of probation will be subject to the special academic requirements set forth in paragraph V.C below for the remainder of law school.  The grade point average for this purpose shall be calculated without regard to the student's retroactive decision to elect to have one course graded on a P/U/NC basis (that is, the “shadow” grade actually earned will be included in the grade point average calculation). A student who does not comply with these special requirements will be dismissed.

1. A student who has a GPA in the bottom 7% of the first year class at the conclusion of his or her first year will be subject to the following academic requirements and limitations for the 3rd and 4th semesters of law school: such a student is ineligible for full-time externships and courses outside the School of Law, must attend classes regularly, obtain academic counseling and course selection approval from the Dean of Students, and must participate in one of the Fall semester academic support courses. They will also be permitted to apply for enrollment in academic support courses in other semesters.
2.  A student not already subject to C.1. above and who has a GPA in the bottom 14% of the first year class at the conclusion of his or her first year will be subject to the following academic requirements and limitations for the 3rd and 4th semesters of law school: such a student must obtain academic counseling and course selection approval from the Dean of Students, and must attend classes regularly. The law school will offer those students guaranteed enrollment in one of the Fall semester academic support courses, and will permit them to apply for enrollment in academic support courses in other semesters.

A student who has not been placed on probation after the first year will be dismissed if s/he accumulates an average of less than 2.3 in all work undertaken and completed during the third and fourth semesters or during the fifth and sixth semesters. The grade point average for this purpose shall be calculated without regard to the student's retroactive decision to elect to have one course graded on a P/U/NC basis (that is, the “shadow” grade actually earned will be included in the grade point average calculation).  No rounding up of an average below 2.3 is permitted.

A student who was not placed on probation after the first year, but during the third and fourth semesters achieves an average of 2.3 to 2.699, will be subject to the special academic requirements set forth in paragraph V.C above for the remainder of law school.  The grade point average for this purpose shall be calculated without regard to the student's retroactive decision to elect to have one course graded on a P/U/NC basis (that is, the “shadow” grade actually earned will be included in the grade point average calculation). A student who does not comply with these special requirements will be dismissed.

The following rules govern “Hybrid” students (students who are readmitted, after withdrawal or dismissal, and/or are under such circumstances that they enroll in at least one advanced course before completing all required first year courses).  [Reminder: Students with reduced course loads in the first year are also subject to section XII.D.1.]:

1. A student will be dismissed if that student withdraws after the first semester of the first year and, upon return, accumulates an average of less than 2.3 in all first year courses taken both before and after withdrawal.
2. A student will be placed on probationary status and will be subject to section V. if that student withdraws after the first semester of the first year and upon return achieves an average of 2.6 or below in all first year courses taken both before and after withdrawal.
3. A student who has an average of less than 2.6 on all work undertaken and completed during his/her first two semesters following the semester in which s/he completes his/her first year courses will be dismissed.
4. A student who achieves a GPA in the bottom 7% of the first year students during the academic year in which s/he completed his/her first year courses will be subject to Rule V.E.

A student dismissed for scholastic deficiency pursuant to Rule V.A. (for first year students) or Rule V.D., E. or F. (for upper division students) may be readmitted, or may be readmitted upon conditions, or if applicable, may be allowed to graduate, upon approval of a written petition to the Dean of the Law School.  Such petition must affirmatively show that the prior dismissal does not indicate a lack of capacity to complete the law school’s program of legal education and be admitted to the bar. The petition must be accompanied by documentation or other evidence, where possible.  A petitioning student must adequately explain why s/he did not seek to withdraw from school or to postpone an examination or examinations and also must adequately explain a failure to notify the Dean of Students about problems arising during any examination.  The Dean may delegate the power to decide petitions arising under this rule (but not to the Dean of Students) and the Dean or delegate shall conduct such proceedings as seem appropriate under the circumstances including at least a personal interview with the student.  No appeal from the Dean's decision is permitted and the faculty will have no jurisdiction to consider any such appeal.