Academics

The academic program at the UNC-CH School of law consists of the basic curriculum leading toward the J.D. degree and a number of dual degree programs. Eighty-six hours are required for graduation, at least 65 of which must be at regularly scheduled class sessions at the Law School. The entire curriculum in the first year consists of required courses; the only required course beyond the first year Professional Responsibility which introduces students to legal ethics and the law and rules governing lawyers.

Students may take law school courses that are not available here at either Duke University School of Law or North Carolina Central University School of Law. Additionally, each student may receive credit for graduate courses taken outside the Law School for a total of three credits. These courses must be significantly related to legal education and must be approved in advance by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

The UNC-CH School of Law currently has 47 full-time faculty members, four of whom are clinical faculty members who teach in the Research, Reasoning, Writing and Advocacy and in the Externship programs. The School has an additional 47 adjunct faculty members plus 17 who teach in the Research, Reasoning, Writing and Advocacy program and 13 who teach Trial Advocacy each year. Teaching is highly valued at Carolina Law.