The list includes 62 first-year, required, law school professional development initiatives based on information from law school websites as of November 2019.
The list was compiled by Rupa Bhandari, Asst. Dean & Adjunct Prof., Santa Clara Law and Prof. Jerry Organ, Co-Director of the Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions, University of St. Thomas School of Law.
Mandatory 1L Class: 1 Credit Courses
Mandatory 1L Class: 2/3 Credit Courses
School/College | Course | Format |
---|---|---|
Elon University School of Law | Lawyering, Leadership & Professionalism | 1 credit in August and 1 credit in Spring trimester |
University of Florida Levin College of Law | Introduction to Lawyering & the Legal Profession | 2 credit Fall semester class focusing on evolving nature of legal services, types of law practices, demographics of the legal profession and skills |
Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law | The Legal Profession | 3 credit Spring semester class examines what professionalism means for lawyers |
University of North Dakota School of Law | Professional Foundations | 2 credit class examining professional role, identity, and practice for lawyers |
Penn State Dickinson Law | Problem Solving I: The Lawyer and Client | 2 credits in Fall |
University of St. Thomas School of Law | Moral Reasoning for Lawyers (Fall), Serving Clients Well (Spring), and Mentor Program | 1 credit for each |
University of San Diego School of Law | Experiential Advocacy Practicum | 1 credit each semester |
Mandatory 1L Class: Integrated Courses
School/College | Course | Format |
---|---|---|
University of California, Irvine School of Law | Legal Profession I & II | 2 credits each semester + assigned mentor |
Case Western Reserve University School of Law | Legal Writing, Leadership, Experiential Learning, Advocacy, and Professionalism | 6 credits over two semesters |
City University of New York School of Law (CUNY) | Lawyering Seminar I and II | 8 credits over two semesters focusing on legal reasoning, professional responsibility, legal writing, and other lawyering skills |
George Washington University Law School | Fundamentals of Lawyering I & II | 3 credits Fall semester and 3 credits Spring semester, examining professional identity, client communication, and professional development with legal research/writing |
Gonzaga University School of Law | Litigation Skills + Professionalism Lab & Transactional Skills | 2 credits Fall semester and 2 credits Spring semester |
The University of Kansas School of Law | Lawyering Skills II | 3 credits in Spring with integrated professional development |
University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Law | Legal Research, Writing | 2 units in Fall; 4 in Spring; also introduces many facets of professionalism and skills necessary to make ethical and professional choices |
Northeastern University School of Law | Legal Skills in Social Context | 8 credits over two semesters, combining legal research and writing, problem solving skills, and real client work in 1L year |
Samford University Cumberland School of Law | Lawyering & Legal Reasoning I & II | 3 credits each semester with integrated professional development |
St. Mary’s University School of Law | LCAP Legal Communication, Analysis, and Professionalism | 6 credits over two semesters |
Seton Hall University School of Law | Introduction to Lawyering I & II | 3 credits each semester with integrated professionalism |
Graduation Requirement
School/College | Course | Format |
---|---|---|
Baylor Law School | Professional Development Program | 5-18 hours over three years modeled after CLEs |
University at Buffalo School of Law | No Course Title | 1L Career Office programming required to register for 2L classes |
Chapman University's Dale E. Fowler School of Law | No Course Title | All students are required to complete 5 sessions of professional development training + events identified by Career Office by end of 1L year of legal study |
University of Chicago Law School | Kapnick Leadership Development Institute | Partnership with Business school, begins at off-site retreat pre 1L classes (at Orientation) and continues with modules in 1L year |
University of Cincinnati College of Law | Professional Development Program | Must attend 3 annual planning meetings with Center for Professional Development + do professional development plan and reflective piece |
University of Denver Sturm College of Law | Career and Professional Development Credit | Each 1L must complete 5 sessions of their choice (from core competencies) during 1L year + 2 individual Career Office meetings after 1L year |
DePaul University College of Law | Preparing to Practice I & II | 0 credits, Fall (job search skills) & Spring (communication, time management, social media) |
Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law | Professional Fundamentals | Fall semester – 0-credit |
University of Houston School of Law | Passport to Success Program | 4 mandatory 1L learning sessions, as well as year-round advising and 30+ networking and recruiting events for all students |
University of Idaho College of Law | Professionalism Education Program | Grad Requirement |
Michigan State University College of Law | Foundations of Law | 0 credit, mostly academic skills + a little professionalism |
University of Missouri School of Law | No Course Title | Job Search Skills, Career Exploration, and Professional Development. 1Ls must attend a boot camp and some programming. Grad requirement. |
Nova Southeastern Shepard Broad College of Law | Legal Skills and Professionalism I & II | 0 credits |
University of Oregon School of Law | No Course Title | Professional Planning Requirement- must complete program |
Pace University Elisabeth Haub School of Law | No Course Title | Register with Center for Career and Professional Development, have at least 1 in person meeting, earn 6 PD credits from workshops & events |
Pepperdine University School of Law | Professional Development Class | The Parris Institute for Professional Formation consists of (1) Launch Week, (2) The Parris Institute 1L Series, and (3) Academic Mastery Workshops, Preceptor and Mentor program and upper division programming |
St John’s University of Law | Professional Development Class | Fall 0 credit Job search strategies, hiring timeline, how to draft legal resume/cover letter, interviewing, and professionalism |
Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School | Professional Development Series | No Course Title |