The Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) program is designed to provide a general legal education. Within the broad curriculum available at Texas Tech University School of Law, students may specialize in a particular area of law through their choice of electives.
Students entering in the 2016-2017 catalog year, must successfully complete a minimum of 90 credits with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.250. Students typically satisfy graduation requirements within six semesters, however, does not guarantee that the offered curriculum will include a combination or sequence of courses that will enable a student to complete the law degree other than through the normal program of study (i.e., three consecutive academic years of two semesters each).
All students take an Oath of Professionalism upon matriculation and are required to adhere to the standards set forth in the Honor Code. The Honor Code is contained in the Student Handbook, along with additional academic requirements for graduation and for maintaining good standing. For more information, visit www.law.ttu.edu/policies.
Flex-Time Scheduling Option
Texas Tech Law offers a Flex-Time Scheduling Option, which is available for a limited number of entering students seeking a J.D. degree. Under this option, an individual will typically take a semester load that includes fewer hours than normal load requirements. Depending on their schedule, students will typically take two or three classes each semester, will typically attend class year-round, and will typically complete the program in four to six years as opposed to the normal three. This option is ideally suited for working professionals or caretakers who have flexibility in scheduling their other obligations. All required courses are offered during the day, although a limited number of electives are offered in the evenings, on the weekend, or online. This scheduling option is not available to students in, or accepted into, the full-time J.D. program.
Curriculum
Each first-year student enrolls in 29 semester credit hours during their first year as a law student. Students must take 26 hours of advanced required courses during their second and third years. Fifteen of those hours must be taken during the second year. Students then choose from elective courses to complete a minimum total of 90 credit hours for graduation. In addition, law students have an upper level writing requirement and an experiential learning requirement that they must meet during their second or third year to satisfy graduation requirements. View Course Descriptions for more information.
Public Service Requirement
A crucial part of a legal education involves preparing students for all aspects of their professional commitments as lawyers. Accordingly, all students are required to participate in the legal profession’s commitment to public service by performing 30 combined hours of legal pro bono work and community service during their time in school. Texas Tech Law provides a myriad of opportunities throughout the year to perform legal pro bono work and community service for low-income and disadvantaged people in Lubbock and throughout the state.
