Juris Doctor: Advanced Standing (J.D.)
The Advanced Standing Juris Doctor (JD) Program at Franklin Pierce School of Law is designed for lawyers with law degrees from other countries, or LLM graduates, to complete a U.S., ABA-accredited JD degree. Students may transfer in up to 28-transfer qualifying credits for prior law study.
Students follow a rigorous course of study that prepares them for practice and the bar exam, including:
- Administrative Process
- Article II Sales
- Business Associations
- Civil Procedure
- Contracts*
- Constitutional Law
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Process
- Evidence
- Torts
- The Legal Profession*
- Legal Research and Information Literacy*
- Legal Writing I*
- Legal Writing II
- Professional Responsibility
- Property
- Upper Level Skills
- Upper Level Writing
- Wills, Trust & Estates
- A clinic or J.D. legal residence of no more than 4 credits
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LCR 905 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| LGP 909 | Civil Procedure | 4 |
| LGP 918 | Constitutional Law I | 3 |
| LGP 900 | The Legal Profession | 1 |
| LGP 920 | Contracts | 4 |
| LGP 952 | Property | 4 |
| LGP 960 | Torts | 3 |
| LSK 921 | Legal Analysis, Writing, and Research I | 3 |
| LSK 922 | Legal Analysis, Writing, and Research II | 3 |
| Perspectives Course | ||
| LPI 912 | Fundamentals of Law Practice | 3 |
| or LIP 944 | Fundamentals of Intellectual Property | |
| Upper Level Required Courses | ||
| LGP 921 | Constitutional Law II | 3 |
| LGP 951 | Professional Responsibility | 3 |
| LBS 907 | Business Associations I | 3 |
| LGP 924 | Evidence | 3 |
| LBS 942 | Wills Trusts and Estates | 3 |
| Upper Level Writing Requirement | 2 | |
| Upper Level Experiential Learning Requirement | 6 | |
| Transfer Credits | 28 | |
| Elective Courses | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 85 | |
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| LGP 909 | Civil Procedure | 4 |
| LGP 920 | Contracts | 4 |
| LSK 921 | Legal Analysis, Writing, and Research I | 3 |
| LGP 900 | The Legal Profession | 1 |
| LGP 960 | Torts | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| LGP 918 | Constitutional Law I | 3 |
| LCR 905 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| LPI 912 or LIP 944 |
Fundamentals of Law Practice or Fundamentals of Intellectual Property |
3 |
| LSK 922 | Legal Analysis, Writing, and Research II | 3 |
| LGP 952 | Property | 4 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| LGP 921 | Constitutional Law II | 3 |
| LGP 951 | Professional Responsibility | 3 |
| LBS 907 | Business Associations I | 3 |
| Elective Courses | 4-8 | |
| Credits | 13-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| LGP 924 | Evidence | 3 |
| LBS 942 | Wills Trusts and Estates | 3 |
| Elective Courses | 7-11 | |
| Credits | 13-17 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Advanced Standing Candidates are expected to transfer 28 credit hours into the program during matriculation | 28 | |
| Credits | 28 | |
| Total Credits | 85-93 | |
- Legal analysis and reasoning: Graduates will be able to identify, comprehend, and apply the relevant substantive and procedural laws to solve a legal issue, informed by an understanding of the diversity of viewpoints on and contexts for any issue.
- Written and oral communication: Graduates will be able to present material effectively in these formats for both objective analytical and advocacy purposes across a range of settings, including in the courtroom.
- Professionalism: Graduates will be able to act in an ethical, respectful, and self-aware manner with all other stakeholders, including clients, employers, and the court.
- Legal research: Graduates will be able to navigate and assess relevant legal authorities using appropriate tools.
- Public service: Graduates will be able to contribute productively to strengthening the justice system, with a sensitivity toward the needs of people facing societal barriers.
- Problem solving: Graduates will be able to engage in focused and pragmatic collaboration toward goals.
- Client counseling and management: Graduates will be able to provide trustworthy and responsive action upon clients’ matters.
- Factual investigation and analysis: Graduates will be able to implement a strategic plan for information-gathering, which includes the ability to iterate on the plan as needed, and evaluate the results of the information obtained.