JD Curriculum, Fall 2004
General Law Program
Although George Mason offers a number of structured specialization options, students are not required to specialize in their legal studies. Many students enter law school without a clearly defined area of interest. Those students may pursue a general course of study, choosing electives as their interests develop.
JD Course Requirements
All George Mason law students, whether pursuing a specialty track or the General Law Program, are required to satisfactorily complete 84 credit hours for graduation. Forty-five of those credit hours are in general courses; thirty-nine credit hours are in elective courses. In addition, students must complete the School of Law's writing requirement.
All students must take the following required courses during their tenure at George Mason University School of Law:
| Required Courses | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Legal Research, Writing and Analysis I | 2 |
| Contracts I | 3 |
| Property | 4 |
| Civil Procedure | 4 |
| Torts I | 3 |
| Economic Foundations of Legal Studies | 3 |
| Legal Research, Writing and Analysis II | 2 |
| Torts II | 3 |
| Contracts II | 3 |
| Criminal Law | 3 |
| Appellate Writing | 2 |
| Constitutional Law | 4 |
| Legal Drafting | 2 |
| Administrative Law | 3 |
| Professional Responsibility | 2 |
| Constitutional Law II* | 2 |
* Note: Constitutional Law II is a requirement for students who entered law school in Fall 2003. This means that it is first required in Spring 2005.
Schedule of Required Courses for the General Law Program
DAY DIVISION
First Year - Fall
Legal Research, Writing, and Analysis I
2
Torts I
3
Contracts I
3
Property
4
Economic Foundations of Legal Studies
3
Total Credits
15
First Year - Spring
Legal Research, Writing & Analysis II
2
Torts II
3
Contracts II
3
Civil Procedure
4
Criminal Law
3
Total Credits
15
Second Year - Fall
Appellate Writing
2
Constitutional Law
4
Electives
6-9
Total Credits
12-15
Second Year - Spring
Legal Drafting
2
Administrative Law
3
Constitutional Law II*
2
Electives
5-8
Total Credits
12-15
Total Hours
84
EVENING DIVISION
First Year - Fall
Legal Research, Writing, and Analysis I
2
Torts I
3
Contracts I
3
Economic Foundations of Legal Studies
3
Total Credits
11
First Year - Spring
Legal Research, Writing, and Analysis II
2
Torts II
3
Contracts II
3
Civil Procedure
4
Total Credits
12
Second Year - Fall
Appellate Writing
2
Constitutional Law
4
Property
4
Total Credits
10
Second Year - Spring
Legal Drafting
2
Administrative Law
3
Constitutional Law II*
2
Criminal Law
3
Electives
0-2
Total Credits
10-12
Total Hours
84
* Note: Constitutional Law II is a requirement for students who entered law school in Fall 2003. This means that it is first required in Spring 2005.