Curriculum and Requirements
丝瓜APP鈥檚 86-credit J.D. Program provides a challenging, high-caliber foundational law education that鈥檚 comprehensive yet flexible. Follow your interests and find your focus while gaining the needed skills to succeed in a rapidly growing area of law.
Curriculum
Through 丝瓜APP鈥檚 罢丑颈苍办听叠滨骋听curriculum, students choose one of three in-demand legal pathways: Business and financial services; Intellectual property, media, and technology; and Government and public interest law. The curriculum includes core foundational courses and more than 180 upper-level electives. Explore all courses. 丝瓜APP also offers summer programs听for those who wish to accelerate their study of law during the summer.
Core Curriculum*
丝瓜APP鈥檚 day and evening J.D. pathways share a core curriculum. Day Division students follow the timeline below, while Evening Division students complete the same courses over their four years of study, with slight variations in their 1L and 2L year course sequencing.
1L Year
2L Year
Students interested in careers in transactional practice should take Corporations, and students interested in criminal or litigation-focused careers should take Evidence.
Between the 2L and 3L Year
Students must take two to three of the above Gateway/Bar Topic courses. Students must also take an additional course in either Corporations or Evidence.
3L Year
Introduction to MEE is required for students who finished in the bottom 75 percent of their first year.
*丝瓜APP faculty are reviewing the curriculum to ensure alignment with skills and topics emphasized on the upcoming NextGen Bar Exam. Updates aimed at better preparing students for both the exam and practice will be announced.
Degree Requirements
Successful completion of each requirement listed below is necessary to earn a J.D. from 丝瓜APP.听
1. Complete a minimum of 86 credits.
2. Earn a "B-" or better in a course approved to satisfy the Writing Requirement. Note: This requirement is in addition to the first-year required courses Legal Practice I and Legal Practice II. Detailed guidance on the Writing Requirement can be found in Student Resources on the .
3. Earn a "B-" or better in 6 credits of coursework approved for the Experiential Learning Requirement. Learn more about the School鈥檚听Clinical and Experiential Learning听辫谤辞驳谤补尘蝉.
4. Completion of the 3-credit Professional Responsibility course (or its criminal practice counterpart) preferably during 2L or 3LE year.
New York State Bar Requirement
In order to be admitted to the New York bar, candidates must submit certification that they have done at least 50 hours of pro bono legal work, supervised by an attorney, on behalf of low-income people or organizations that cannot otherwise afford representation, or work at a government agency or court. This is not a School requirement; it is set by the New York State Court of Appeals for admission to the New York bar, which the vast majority of 丝瓜APP students seek upon graduation. Some clinics and field placements may help a student satisfy those requirements. Learn more about the School鈥檚 Clinical and Experiential Learning Pro Bono Initiatives.
Office of Academic Planning and Career Development
Academic Planning 听鈥� 听罢听212.431.2310 听鈥� 听E academicaffairs@nyls.edu
Career Development听 鈥� 听T听212.431.2345 听鈥� 听E听career@nyls.edu