Full-Time
McGeorge School of Law offers programs leading to the Juris Doctor (JD) degree through a Full-Time Division and a Part-Time Division. The two divisions have the same curriculum, faculty, and methods of instruction; maintain the same scholastic standards and degree requirements; and adhere to the same objectives.
Full-Time students take Skills Lab, Civil Procedure, Contracts, Criminal Law, Global Lawyering Skills I & II, The Legal Profession, Statutes and Regulations, Property, and Torts during the first-year; Global Lawyering Skills III, Constitutional Law and Evidence during the second-year; and Professional Responsibility during either the second- or third-year. First-year required courses must be taken with the division in which a student is enrolled unless an exception is approved by the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. Upper-division electives and required courses may be taken during the day or evening hours, as individual schedules permit.
Required Units
88 semester units are required for graduation. Of those 88 units, 72 semester units must be earned in graded courses.
Required Courses
| First Year | ||
| LAW 100 | Skills Lab- Torts | 1 |
| LAW 104 | The Legal Profession | 1 |
| LAW 105 | Civil Procedure | 4 |
| LAW 110 | Contracts | 4 |
| LAW 115 | Criminal Law | 4 |
| LAW 125 | Property | 4 |
| LAW 131 | Torts | 4 |
| LAW 134 | Global Lawyering Skills I | 2 |
| LAW 135 | Global Lawyering Skills II | 3 |
| LAW 517 | Statutes and Regulations | 3 |
| Second Year | ||
| LAW 136 | Global Lawyering Skills III | 3 |
| LAW 163 | Constitutional Law | 4 |
| LAW 174 | Evidence | 4 |
| Full-Time students who are selected for University of the Pacific's Law Review Comment may count GLS III towards the simulation section of the Experiential Curriculum requirement. | ||
| Second or Third Year | ||
| LAW 185 | Professional Responsibility | 2 |
| Total Hours | 43 | |
Minimum GPA
The minimum cumulative GPA required for graduation is 2.33.
Bar Exam
If a student sits for any bar exam (excluding the Patent Bar) prior to completion of all degree requirements, they will not earn a JD degree from McGeorge. An exception may be made for a student who wishes to sit for the Delaware or North Dakota bar exam, which is offered only one time per year.
Period of Study
Students must complete their JD degree within 84 months of matriculation.
Application for Graduation
Students must complete the Application for Graduation via insidePacific no later than the Add/Drop Deadline two semesters before they intend to graduate.
Any student who anticipates that they will graduate earlier or later than expected is advised to seek academic advising with the Office of Student Affairs and must notify the Registrar of any changes to their expected graduation date.
Part-Time
McGeorge School of Law offers programs leading to the Juris Doctor (JD) degree through a Full-Time Division and a Part-Time Division. The two divisions have the same curriculum, faculty, and methods of instruction; maintain the same scholastic standards and degree requirements; and adhere to the same objectives.
Part-Time students take Skills Lab, Civil Procedure, Criminal Law, Global Lawyering Skills I & II, The Legal Profession, and Torts during the first-year; Global Lawyering Skills III, Contracts, Statutes and Regulations, Property, Constitutional Law during the second-year; Evidence during the third-year; and Professional Responsibility during either the third- or fourth-year, or any summer. To stay on track for graduation, part-time students generally must take 2-5 units each summer. First- and second-year required courses must be taken with the division in which a student is enrolled unless an exception is approved by the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. Upper-division electives and required courses may be taken during the day or evening hours, as individual schedules permit.
Required Units
88 semester units are required for graduation. Of those 88 units, 72 semester units must be earned in graded courses.
Required Courses
| First Year | ||
| LAW 100 | Skills Lab- Torts | 1 |
| LAW 104 | The Legal Profession | 1 |
| LAW 105 | Civil Procedure | 4 |
| LAW 115 | Criminal Law | 4 |
| LAW 131 | Torts | 4 |
| LAW 134 | Global Lawyering Skills I | 2 |
| LAW 135 | Global Lawyering Skills II | 3 |
| Second Year | ||
| LAW 110 | Contracts | 4 |
| LAW 125 | Property | 4 |
| LAW 136 | Global Lawyering Skills III | 3 |
| LAW 163 | Constitutional Law | 4 |
| LAW 517 | Statutes and Regulations | 3 |
| Part-Time students are eligible to solicit for University of the Pacific Law Review Comment Staff during their third year. For students who complete both Global Lawyering Skills III and Comment, Global Lawyering Skills III may count towards the simulation section of the Experiential Curriculum requirement. | ||
| Third Year | ||
| LAW 174 | Evidence | 4 |
| Third or Fourth Year, or Any Summer* | ||
| LAW 185 | Professional Responsibility | 2 |
| Total Hours | 43 | |
*To stay on track for graduation, part-time students generally must take 2-5 units each summer.
Minimum GPA
The minimum cumulative GPA required for graduation is 2.33.
Bar Exam
If a student sits for any bar exam (excluding the Patent Bar) prior to completion of all degree requirements, they will not earn a JD degree from McGeorge. An exception may be made for a student who wishes to sit for the Delaware or North Dakota bar exam, which is offered only one time per year.
Period of Study
Students must complete their JD degree within 84 months of matriculation.
Application for Graduation
Students must complete the Application for Graduation via insidePacific no later than the Add/Drop Deadline two semesters before they intend to graduate.
Any student who anticipates that they will graduate earlier or later than expected is advised to seek academic advising with the Office of Student Affairs and must notify the Registrar of any changes to their expected graduation date.
Juris Doctor Certificate of Concentration Programs
McGeorge's diverse electives and co-curricular offerings allow you to explore a variety of legal career opportunities. If you have a particular career path in mind, our certificates of concentration will enhance your JD experience and allow you to master a specific practice area.
For general questions about the Certificate of Concentration Programs, contact the Office of Student Affairs at sacstudentaffairs@pacific.edu or 916.739.7089.
- Business
- Capital Lawyering
- Elder and Health
- Intellectual Property
- International
- Tax
- Trial & Appellate Advocacy
- Water and Environmental
Business Certificate of Concentration
Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Atlantic once said, “A business has to be involving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts.” That is what the Business Concentration strives to provide for interested students. The demands and complexities of a global economy require a strong basis in business law. To fulfill the Business Concentration, students complete a series of courses designed to equip new lawyers with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in a legal career with a business emphasis. This concentration is for students interested in pursuing a general business practice or a specialized business practice such as bankruptcy, corporate, commercial, employment, international, or real estate law.
How to Apply
Apply by submitting the online application, which requires that you attach your resume. This application should be submitted at the earliest stages of your planning but, in no event, after the add/drop deadline of your final law-school term.
Requirements & Curriculum
Students must complete Business Associations and the required number of core and elective courses designated below. With the approval of the Director of the Business Law Concentration, a tax or business course of at least two units, whether domestic or international, not included on the list of elective courses may be substituted. If a student completes more than one core course, the additional core course(s) will automatically be applied toward the satisfaction of the requirement for elective courses. 12 to 16 units are required for the completion of the Business Law Concentration.
| 12 to 16 units are required for completion of Concentration | ||
| REQUIRED COURSE | ||
| LAW 151 | Business Associations | 4 |
| CORE COURSES (complete one) *If a student completes more than one Core Course, the additional course(s) will automatically be applied toward the satisfaction of the requirement for Elective Courses. | ||
| LAW 210 | Business Planning | 2-3 |
| LAW 220 | Banking Law | 3 |
| LAW 225 | Bankruptcy | 2-3 |
| LAW 255 | Federal Securities Regulations | 3 |
| LAW 260 | Commercial Law | 3 |
| LAW 300 | Federal Income Taxation | 3 |
| LAW 310 | Taxation of Business Entities | 3 |
| LAW 433 | Employment Law | 3 |
| LAW 500 | Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 555 | Labor Law | 3 |
| LAW 625 | International Business Transactions | 3 |
| ELECTIVE COURSES (complete three) | ||
| LAW 214 | Small Business Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 240 | Insurance Law | 2-3 |
| LAW 257 | Making Deals | 2 |
| LAW 280 | U.S. Antitrust and International Competition Law | 2 |
| LAW 297 | Sports Law | 2-3 |
| LAW 302 | Estate and Gift Tax/Estate Planning | 3 |
| LAW 325 | Taxation of Real Estate Transactions | 3 |
| LAW 340 | Tax Practice and Procedure | 2 |
| LAW 375 | U.S. Taxation of International Transactions | 3 |
| LAW 405 | Worker's Compensation Law | 2 |
| LAW 410 | White Collar Crime | 2 |
| LAW 503 | Legislation and Statutory Interpretation | 3 |
| LAW 507 | Environmental Law | 3 |
| LAW 560 | Land Use Planning | 2 |
| LAW 586 | Federal Indian Law | 2-3 |
| LAW 617 | Practice and Business of Cannabis Law | 2 |
| LAW 630 | International Banking | 2 |
| LAW 635 | Transnational Litigation | 3 |
| LAW 647 | International Economic Law | 2 |
| LAW 650 | European Union Law | 1-3 |
| LAW 675 | U.S. & International Sale of Goods | 2 |
| LAW 689 | International Arbitration | 3 |
| LAW 699F | Cybersecurity Law & Policy | 1-2 |
| Choose only one of the following Intellectual Property Courses (2-3 units): | ||
| Copyright Law | ||
| Patent Law | ||
| Survey of Intellectual Property Law | ||
| Trademark Law | ||
| International Intellectual Property | ||
| One Externship or Legal Clinic with a tax or business law focus (advance approval required) | 2-4 | |
Questions?
Professor Christine Manolakas, Director of the Business Certificate of Concentration: cmanolakas@pacific.edu | 916.739.7110
Capital Lawyering Certificate of Concentration
Capital Lawyering Concentration students complete a series of required and elective courses specially designed to prepare them to work in the Capital arena. Graduates are employed in the California legislature, Governor’s Office, in local, state and federal agencies, in private firms that specialize in political law or lobbying, in nonprofit agencies that engage in issue advocacy, and in law firms with regulatory practices in areas such as communications, energy, the environment, health, and employment. The curriculum ensures that students graduate with real-life experience and on-the-job contacts within the government, policy, and capital lawyering community. Students also participate in Capital Center student groups, attend Capital Center events, and network with Capital Center alumni.
How to Apply
Interested students should complete the online application, which includes your resume and a brief Personal Statement (minimum 200 words). Please submit your application as early as possible in your McGeorge career to best plan your course of study. In no case may applications be submitted or accepted after the Add/Drop Deadline of your final law school term. Students must schedule an appointment with the Capital Lawyering Concentration Director to plan their required curriculum and activities.
Requirements & Curriculum
Capital Lawyering students must complete a minimum of 14 units approved by the Capital Lawyering Concentration Director, comprised of required courses, an experiential learning course, and approved electives.
| 14 units minimum required for completion of Concentration | ||
| CORE COURSES (complete all) | ||
| LAW 517 | Statutes and Regulations | 3 |
| LAW 576 | Cap. Lawyering and Pol. Making | 2 |
| Experiential Course (complete one) | ||
| LAW 853 | Legislative & Public Policy Clinic (Students are strongly encouraged to take Lawmaking in California prior to enrolling in the Legislative & Public Policy Clinic.- 1st Semester) | 6 |
| Relevant Externship (approved by director) | ||
| Externship | ||
| Externship-Semester in Practice Accelerated Honors Program | ||
| Externship - Semester in Practice | ||
| Note: Evening students with jobs that meet the requirements of the externship may receive a waiver of this requirement. | ||
| ELECTIVE COURSES | ||
| LAW 187 | Law and Ethics in Government | 2-3 |
| LAW 209 | Local Agency Practice | 2 |
| LAW 230 | Water Resources Law | 2-3 |
| LAW 235 | Environmental Practice | 3 |
| LAW 240 | Insurance Law | 2-3 |
| LAW 304 | Mental Health - Policy and Law | 2 |
| LAW 500 | Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 503 | Legislation and Statutory Interpretation | 3 |
| LAW 507 | Environmental Law | 3 |
| LAW 550 | Immigration Law and Policy | 3 |
| LAW 555 | Labor Law | 3 |
| LAW 560 | Land Use Planning | 2 |
| LAW 567 | Election Law | 2 |
| LAW 568 | California Initiative Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 580 | Public Education Law | 2-3 |
| LAW 699F | Cybersecurity Law & Policy | 1-2 |
| LAW 699G | Information Privacy Law | 2 |
| LAW 699H | Race, Mass Incarceration & Criminal Justice Reform | 3 |
| LAW 699I | Leadership in Organizations | 2 |
| LAW 699J | Gaming Law and Regulation | 1 |
| LAW 699S | Reproductive Rights and Justice | 1 |
| LAW 701 | Poverty Law | 3 |
| LAW 745 | Elder Law and Social Policy | 3 |
| LAW 780 | Sexual Orientation and Gender ID | 2 |
| LAW 802 | Negotiation and Settlements Seminar | 2 or 3 |
| LAW 822 | Lawmaking in California (Strongly recommended for students planning to take the Legislative and Public Policy Clinic.) | 2 |
| LAW 853 | Legislative & Public Policy Clinic (2nd Semester) | 3 |
| LAW 922 | Pacific Legislative Law Review | 1 |
| Additional Clinic or Externship with a Capital Lawyering Focus | 3 | |
Questions?
Professor Erin O'Neal, Director, Capital Center for Law & Policy and Capital Lawyering Concentration: eoneal@pacific.edu | 916.325.4635
Elder and Health Certificate of Concentration
This concentration combines two dynamic and closely related areas of the law. Both legal areas are interdisciplinary and grounded in policy, legal compliance, and ethics. A legal practice in either broad area provides stimulating and rewarding work. As one of only four ABA Accredited Schools in California with a Health Law Concentration and only three in the nation with an Elder Law Concentration, the McGeorge Elder & Health Law Concentration provides students with a robust and relevant opportunity to focus their study on two of the most needed areas of practice now and in the future.
How to Apply
Apply by submitting the online application, which requires that you attach your resume and Statement of Purpose (at least 200 words on why you want to obtain the certificate of concentration and how it fits into your career goals). This application should be submitted at your earliest stages of planning, and in no case may be submitted after the Add/Drop Deadline of your final law school term. Students must schedule an appointment with the Faculty Director to plan their required curriculum and activities.
Requirements & Curriculum
Students must complete the core and elective courses designated below. Membership and participation in the McGeorge Health Law Association is encouraged. With prior written approval, the Certificate of Concentration Director may vary the requirements of this program in individual cases for good cause or depending on offerings in any year.
| 13 units minimum required for completion of Concentration | ||
| REQUIRED CORE COURSES (complete two courses) | ||
| LAW 500 | Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 570 | Health Law | 3 |
| LAW 745 | Elder Law and Social Policy | 3 |
| EXPERIENTIAL COURSES (complete one course) | ||
| LAW 747 | Elder & Health Law Clinic | 1-3 |
| LAW 954 | Externship (approved by director) | 3 |
| ELECTIVE COURSES (complete five units) | ||
| LAW 170 | Wills and Trusts | 3 |
| LAW 302 | Estate and Gift Tax/Estate Planning | 3 |
| LAW 304 | Mental Health - Policy and Law | 2 |
| LAW 526 | Mediation | 3 |
| LAW 528 | Online Dispute Resolution | 1 |
| LAW 573 | Bioethics and Public Health Law | 1-3 |
| LAW 699S | Reproductive Rights and Justice | 1-2 |
| LAW 802 | Negotiation and Settlements Seminar | 2 or 3 |
| Additional Clinic or Externship | 3 | |
Questions?
Professor Melissa Brown, Director of the Health Concentration: mbrown1@pacific.edu | 916.739.7378
Intellectual Property Certificate of Concentration
Intellectual property law is one of the most dynamic fields in the legal profession — for lawyers with and without undergraduate degrees in science. In order to meet the growing demand for lawyers in this area of practice, McGeorge offers courses in intellectual property law and a specialized curriculum leading to a J.D. degree with an Intellectual Property Concentration. Careers in Intellectual Property Law include: Patent Lawyer, Copyright Lawyer, Entertainment Lawyer, Trademark Lawyer, Intellectual Property Litigator, Media Lawyer, Trademark Examiner, Patent Examiner, In-house Counsel for movie studios and biotech, publishing, software, and Internet companies, or Artist's Representative.
How to Apply
Apply by submitting the online application, which requires that you attach your resume and Statement of Purpose (at least 200 words on why you want to obtain the certificate of concentration and how it fits into your career goals). This application should be submitted at your earliest stages of planning, and in no case may be submitted after the Add/Drop Deadline of your final law school term. Students must schedule an appointment with the Faculty Director to plan their required curriculum and activities. The Director has discretion to substitute core and elective courses.
Requirements & Curriculum
- Complete at least three (3) Core Courses
- Complete at least two (2) units of Elective Courses. Students who complete all four Core Courses may apply two (2) units towards their elective units.
- A minimum of 14 units are required to complete the Intellectual Property Certificate of Concentration.
- The Director has discretion to substitute core and elective courses.
| 14 units minimum required for completion of Concentration | ||
| CORE COURSES (complete at least three courses) | UNITS | |
| LAW 265 | Copyright Law | 3 |
| LAW 266 | Patent Law | 3 |
| LAW 275 | Survey of Intellectual Property Law | 3 |
| LAW 285 | Trademark Law | 2 |
| ELECTIVE COURSES (complete two courses) | ||
| LAW 267 | Patent Prosecution | 2 |
| LAW 280 | U.S. Antitrust and International Competition Law | 2 |
| LAW 290 | Computer and Internet Law | 3 |
| LAW 297 | Sports Law | 2-3 |
| LAW 680 | International Intellectual Property | 1-3 |
Questions?
Professor Michael Mireles, Director of the Intellectual Property Concentration: mmireles@pacific.edu | 916.739.7154
International Certificate of Concentration
Globalization is transforming the practice of law, obliging an increasing proportion of legal professionals to learn how to respond to the challenges presented by transnational and intercultural practice. McGeorge’s International Certificate of Concentration offers a strong foundation for a broad array of careers, whether your interests draw you toward public service or the private sector, to work abroad or in California, to litigation, transactions or a legislative/regulatory practice. Students who complete the certificate of concentration requirements will graduate with a solid grounding in public and private international law, in-depth exposure to at least one specialized doctrinal area, and advanced skills training that can help to provide a bridge to practice.
How to Apply
Apply by submitting the online application, which requires that you attach your resume and Statement of Purpose (at least 200 words on why you want to obtain the certificate of concentration and how it fits into your career goals). This application should be submitted at your earliest stages of planning, and in no case may be submitted after the Add/Drop Deadline of your final law school term. Students must schedule an appointment with the Faculty Director to plan their required curriculum and activities.
Requirements & Curriculum
Students must complete at least 11 units in the course categories designated below, including at least one capstone or experiential course or activity. With prior written approval, the Concentration Directors may vary the certificate requirements for good cause.
| 11 units minimum required for completion of Concentration | ||
| CORE COURSES (6 units minimum) | UNITS | |
| LAW 600 | Public International Law 1 | 3 |
| Plus at least one of the following courses | ||
| LAW 625 | International Business Transactions 1,2,3 | 3 |
| LAW 635 | Transnational Litigation 1,2 | 3 |
| SPECIALIZED COURSES (minimum 5 units) | ||
| LAW 280 | U.S. Antitrust and International Competition Law | 2 |
| LAW 375 | U.S. Taxation of International Transactions | 3 |
| LAW 550 | Immigration Law and Policy 1 | 3 |
| LAW 608 | International and Foreign Legal Research | 1-2 |
| LAW 614 | International Protection of Human Rights | 3 |
| LAW 619 | International Criminal Law 3 | 2-3 |
| LAW 620 | International Environmental Law | 3 |
| LAW 621 | International Water Resources Law Seminar (Course qualifies for experiential or capstone credit.) 4 | 3 |
| LAW 630 | International Banking | 2 |
| LAW 631 | International Negotiations (Course qualifies for experiential or capstone credit.) 4 | 2 |
| LAW 647 | International Economic Law | 2 |
| LAW 650 | European Union Law 3 | 1-3 |
| LAW 675 | U.S. & International Sale of Goods | 2 |
| LAW 680 | International Intellectual Property 3 | 1-3 |
| LAW 689 | International Arbitration (Course qualifies for experiential or capstone credit.) 4 | 3 |
| LAW 692 | Comparative Freedom of Expression (offered only at McGeorge's summer program in Salzburg, Austria.) 5 | 1 |
| LAW 705 | Introduction to Space Law | 1 |
| LAW 865 | Immigration Clinic (Course qualifies for experiential or capstone credit.) 4 | 3 |
| LAW 990 | Directed Research | 1-2 |
1Courses are typically offered every academic year. Courses not so marked are typically offered once every two years.
2Courses are requirements of the McGeorge LLM in Transnational Business Practice.
3Courses will likely be taught by adjunct professors, including in some cases members of McGeorge's International Board of Advisors or faculty emeriti.
4Courses qualify for experiential or capstone credit.
5Courses are offered only at McGeorge's summer program in Salzburg, Austria.
Questions?
Professors Omar Dajani odajani@pacific.edu | 916.739.7018 & Jarrod Wong jwong@pacific.edu | 916-739-7231, co-directors of the International Certificate of Concentration
Tax Certificate of Concentration
A basic understanding of the law of federal taxation is a valuable asset upon entering the legal profession. The Tax Law Concentration is intended to provide students the opportunity to pursue a focused and integrated course of study regarding federal tax law. Graduates with the Tax Law Concentration find employment opportunities as tax, business, or estate planning specialists in private firms. Accounting firms, corporations, real estate entities, charitable organizations, and state and federal governmental agencies are also interested in graduates with a strong background in federal taxation.
How to Apply
Apply by submitting the online application, which requires that you attach your resume. This application should be submitted at the earliest stages of your planning but, in no event, after the add/drop deadline of your final law-school term.
Requirements & Curriculum
Students must complete the required core courses designated below. The balance of the required units must be selected from the elective list below. If both Business Planning and Taxation of Business Entities are successfully completed, all six units earned will count toward the completion of the Tax Law Concentration. With prior approval, the Director of the Tax Law Concentration may vary the requirements of this program in individual cases for good cause. Twelve units are required for the completion of the Tax Law Concentration.
| 12 units minimum required for completion of Concentration | ||
| CORE COURSES (complete both courses) | UNITS | |
| LAW 300 | Federal Income Taxation | 3 |
| Complete One: | ||
| LAW 210 | Business Planning | 2-3 |
| LAW 310 | Taxation of Business Entities | 3 |
| ELECTIVE COURSES (complete two courses) | ||
| LAW 302 | Estate and Gift Tax/Estate Planning | 3 |
| LAW 340 | Tax Practice and Procedure | 2 |
| LAW 325 | Taxation of Real Estate Transactions | 3 |
| LAW 375 | U.S. Taxation of International Transactions | 3 |
| Externship or Legal Clinic with a tax law focus (only one - advanced written approval required) | 3-4 | |
Questions?
Professor Christine Manolakas, Faculty Director, Tax Concentration: cmanolakas@pacific.edu | 916.739.7110
Trial & Appellate Advocacy Certificate of Concentration
Students who wish to become litigators receive specialized practical training to prepare for careers in litigation, civil and/or criminal trial and appellate work, or dispute resolution. A wide range of courses enables students to learn and demonstrate competencies in writing, appellate and trial advocacy, evidence, trial preparation and conduct, alternative dispute resolution, negotiation, and counseling and representation of clients.
How to Apply
Apply by submitting the online application, which requires that you attach your resume. This application should be submitted at your earliest stages of planning, and in no case may be submitted after the Add/Drop Deadline of your final law school term. The Faculty Director will schedule a meeting with the applicant if required.
Requirements & Curriculum
Students must complete the Core and required Elective Courses listed below. A minimum of 14 total credits is required, in addition to Evidence and GLS III, which are required of all students.
In addition to the one required Elective course from each of the three Elective categories below (Pretrial, ADR, and Capstone), which will total at least six (6) credits, the student may choose courses from any of the four Elective sections to accumulate the 14-credit minimum.
Note that not all courses are offered every year. Students should plan their curriculum with this in mind, checking the Academic Schedule for the coming year and for the year thereafter (see, e.g., the projection of courses for 2020-21 (pdf))1
With prior written approval, the Concentration Director may vary the requirements of the program in individual cases for good cause.
| 14 units minimum required for completion of Concentration (plus GLS III and Evidence) | ||
| CORE COURSES | ||
| LAW 136 | Global Lawyering Skills III | 3 |
| LAW 812 | Trial Advocacy & Evidence Skills (required) | 3 |
| Clinic or Externship with a substantial litigation or ADR focus (advance written approval from the Concentration Director is required). Federal Pretrial/Trial Litigation Seminar, with its associated Clinic, may be used to meet both (a) the Clinic or Externship requirement and (b) either Pretrial Advocacy or Alternative Dispute Resolution. The student must complete both semesters. | 3 | |
| ELECTIVE COURSES - PRETRIAL ADVOCACY (complete at least one course) | ||
| LAW 804 | Criminal Pretrial Litigation | 2 |
| LAW 809 | Civil Pretrial Litigation | 2 |
| LAW 821 | Taking and Defending Depositions | 2 |
| LAW 824 | Written Discovery | 2 |
| LAW 895 | Federal Pretrial/Trial Litigation Seminar | 2 |
| ELECTIVE COURSES - ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (complete one course) | ||
| LAW 308 | Art of Plea Bargaining | 2 |
| LAW 526 | Mediation | 3 |
| LAW 631 | International Negotiations | 2 |
| LAW 689 | International Arbitration | 3 |
| LAW 802 | Negotiation and Settlements Seminar | 2 or 3 |
| LAW 826 | Negotiating Disputes Into Deals | 1 |
| LAW 895 | Federal Pretrial/Trial Litigation Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 909 | Prisoner Civil Rights Mediation Clinic (May be used to meet both (a) the Clinic or Externship Requirement and (2) the Alternative Dispute Resolution requirement.) | 3 |
| ELECTIVE COURSES - OTHER LITIGATION-RELATED (optional) | ||
| LAW 209 | Local Agency Practice | 2 |
| LAW 400 | Advanced Criminal Procedure | 2 |
| LAW 410 | White Collar Crime | 2 |
| LAW 415 | Criminal Law Defenses | 2 |
| LAW 433 | Employment Law | 3 |
| LAW 635 | Transnational Litigation | 3 |
| LAW 699AK | Jury Selection | 2-3 |
| LAW 699EE | Expert Testimony Using Technology | 2-3 |
| LAW 706 | Persuasive Public Speaking | 2 |
| LAW 882 | California Parole Hearings and Litigation | 1 |
| If a student finds a course added or returning to the Schedule that may qualify as an "Other Litigation-Related Elective" (e.g., Federal Courts), the student may apply to the Director for use of that course towards the Concentration requirements. | ||
| LAW 969 | Mock Trial Evidence I and II | 1 |
Questions?
Professor Dan Croxall, Director of the Trial & Appellate Advocacy Certificate of Concentration: dcroxall@pacific.edu | 916.340.6177
Water and Environmental Law Certificate of Concentration
Water and Environmental law lies at the intersection of environmental responsibility and society's use of and impact on the natural world. The curriculum spans local, national and international laws. Professional opportunities vary from advocacy to regulatory compliance. This concentration provides McGeorge students with an opportunity to deeply explore the body of knowledge necessary to pursue a career working in water and environmental law.
How to Apply
Apply by submitting the online application, which requires that you attach your resume and Statement of Purpose (at least 200 words on why you want to obtain the certificate of concentration and how it fits into your career goals). This application should be submitted at your earliest stages of planning, and in no case may be submitted after the Add/Drop Deadline of your final law school term. Students must schedule an appointment with the Faculty Director to plan their required curriculum and activities.
Requirements & Curriculum
Students must complete three required and at least two elective courses as designated below for a minimum of 13 total units (nine required plus at least four elective units including a capstone). Not every course will be offered every academic year so please plan carefully. Please contact the Concentration Directors if you need course planning assistance.
One elective must be the capstone course with a significant writing requirement, as designated by the Concentration Directors each academic year. For Directed Research, Externships for Credit, or Legislative & Public Policy Clinic, work must be focused on water or environmental issues and approved in advance by the concentration directors. Upon request and approval, the Concentration Directors may vary the requirements of this program for good cause.
| 13 units minimum required for completion of Concentration | ||
| CORE COURSES (complete all three) | ||
| LAW 230 | Water Resources Law | 3 |
| LAW 500 | Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 507 | Environmental Law | 3 |
| ELECTIVE COURSES (complete one or more from this list) | ||
| LAW 235 | Environmental Practice | 3 |
| LAW 509 | Special Topics in Environmental Law (Ocean & Coastal Law) | 2 or 3 |
| LAW 510 | Natural Resources Law | 3 |
| LAW 511 | Climate Change Law & Policy | 2 |
| LAW 560 | Land Use Planning | 2 |
| LAW 620 | International Environmental Law | 3 |
| LAW 621 | International Water Resources Law Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 990 | Directed Research (Advance approval required) | 1-2 |
| Externship with an environmental or water law focus (Advance written approval required; a maximum of three Externship units may be earned towards the elective courses requirement) | 3 | |
| ADDITIONAL ELECTIVE COURSES (optional to complete up to one from this list) | ||
| LAW 209 | Local Agency Practice | 2 |
| LAW 576 | Cap. Lawyering and Pol. Making | 2 |
| LAW 853 | Legislative & Public Policy Clinic | 3 |
Questions?
Contact Professors Jennifer Harder jharder@pacific.edu | 916.739.7189 or Rachael Salcido rsalcido@pacific.edu | 916.739.7354, co-directors of the Water and Environmental Law Certificate of Concentration
Directed Study
McGeorge is committed to the success of each student. We designed the Directed Study Program to bolster a student's command of and confidence in core legal skills, with the goal of increasing success in law school and paving the way to passing the bar exam.
Any student whose cumulative GPA, at the end of the first academic year, falls below 3.0 shall be placed in the Directed Study Program. Once placed in the Directed Study Program, a student will remain subject to its requirements even if in subsequent years the student is no longer has a cumulative GPA below 3.0. Students who have a cumulative GPA of 2.9 to 3.0 may petition the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs to be removed from Directed Study and students who have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 to 3.1 or higher may petition the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs to be included in some or all parts of Directed Study.
All students who qualify for Directed Study are required to participate in academic counseling with a representative from the Office of Student Affairs, each year.
The Directed Study requirements are as follows:
Full-Time Division
| Second Year | ||
| LAW 190 | Remedies | 3 |
| Second or Third Year | ||
| LAW 151 | Business Associations | 4 |
| At least one of the following bar courses: | ||
| LAW 155 | Community Property | 2 |
| LAW 165 | Criminal Procedure | 3 |
| LAW 170 | Wills and Trusts | 3 |
| Third Year | ||
| LAW 711 | Practical Analysis, Strategies, & Skills (PASS) I | 3 |
Part-Time Division
| Third Year | ||
| LAW 190 | Remedies | 3 |
| Third or Fourth Year, or any Summer | ||
| LAW 151 | Business Associations | 4 |
| At least one of the following bar courses: | ||
| LAW 155 | Community Property | 2 |
| LAW 165 | Criminal Procedure | 3 |
| LAW 170 | Wills and Trusts | 3 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| LAW 711 | Practical Analysis, Strategies, & Skills (PASS) I | 3 |
When Principles of Agency is offered, students who qualify for Directed Study and who have a cumulative GPA below a 2.5 at the end of the first academic year, must also take Principles of Agency during the fall semester of their second year.
Experiential Curriculum
As part of our commitment to teaching practical lawyering skills, all McGeorge students complete the Experiential Curriculum, which includes coursework where the focus is on learning by doing. Students learn to apply legal theory to practice, develop professional lawyering skills, and become reflective practitioners and lifelong learners.
Requirement
Students are required to complete two transformational capstone experiences: (1) McGeorge Legal Clinic or Externship for 3 units minimum, and (2) a second McGeorge Legal Clinic, Externship, Mock Trial, or Moot Court for 3 units minimum, and additional units of other experiential courses, including simulation courses, equaling 11 total units. (This rule is interpreted to mean students may count 6 or 7 units in the transformational capstone category, leaving 4 or 5 additional units in other experiential courses, which may include Legal Clinics, Externships, or simulations.)
Experiential courses include:
| Legal Clinics: | ||
| LAW 747 | Elder & Health Law Clinic | 1-3 |
| LAW 850 | Homeless Advocacy Clinic | 1-3 |
| LAW 853 | Legislative & Public Policy Clinic | 3 |
| LAW 859 | Small Business Law Clinic | 3 |
| LAW 865 | Immigration Clinic | 1-3 |
| LAW 874 | Federal Defender Clinic | 3 |
| LAW 875 | Bankruptcy Clinic | 1-3 |
| LAW 909 | Prisoner Civil Rights Mediation Clinic | 3 |
| Externships: | ||
| LAW 954 | Externship | 3-4 |
| LAW 956 | Externship - Judicial | 2-14 |
| LAW 960 | Externship-Semester in Practice Accelerated Honors Program | 7 |
| LAW 961 | Externship - Semester in Practice | 2-14 |
| Mock Trial: | ||
| LAW 969 | Mock Trial Evidence I and II | 1 |
| LAW 970 | Mock Trial Team | 1-3 |
| Moot Court: | ||
| LAW 807 | Advanced Appellate Advocacy Seminar | 2 |
| Simulation and Practicum Courses: | ||
| LAW 136 | Global Lawyering Skills III (Students who take both Global Lawyering Skills III and University of the Pacific Law Review Comment may count Global Lawyering Skills III towards the simulation section of the Experiential Curriculum requirement.) | 3 |
| LAW 210 | Business Planning | 2-3 |
| LAW 211 | Entrepreneurial Management | 2 |
| LAW 235 | Environmental Practice | 3 |
| LAW 257 | Making Deals | 2 |
| LAW 266 | Patent Law | 3 |
| LAW 285 | Trademark Law | 2 |
| LAW 300 | Federal Income Taxation | 3 |
| LAW 308 | Art of Plea Bargaining | 1 or 2 |
| LAW 310 | Taxation of Business Entities | 3 |
| LAW 325 | Taxation of Real Estate Transactions | 3 |
| LAW 405 | Worker's Compensation Law | 2 |
| LAW 433 | Employment Law | 3 |
| LAW 440 | Family Law | 2-3 |
| LAW 526 | Mediation | 2-3 |
| LAW 528 | Online Dispute Resolution | 1 |
| LAW 560 | Land Use Planning | 2 |
| LAW 568 | California Initiative Seminar | 2 |
| LAW 608 | International and Foreign Legal Research | 1-2 |
| LAW 624 | Legal Spanish for U.S. Lawyers | 2 |
| LAW 625 | International Business Transactions | 3 |
| LAW 631 | International Negotiations | 2 |
| LAW 689 | International Arbitration | 3 |
| LAW 694 | International Dispute Resolution | 1 |
| LAW 699A | California Craft Beer Law | 2 |
| LAW 699I | Leadership in Organizations | 2 |
| LAW 699T | Law and Legal Technology | 1-2 |
| LAW 706 | Persuasive Public Speaking | 1-2 |
| LAW 745 | Elder Law and Social Policy | 3 |
| LAW 800 | Client Interviewing and Counseling | 2 |
| LAW 802 | Negotiation and Settlements Seminar | 2 or 3 |
| LAW 803 | Advanced Legal Research - Blended | 2 |
| LAW 804 | Criminal Pretrial Litigation | 2-3 |
| LAW 809 | Civil Pretrial Litigation | 2 |
| LAW 812 | Trial Advocacy & Evidence Skills | 3 |
| LAW 815 | Advanced Trial Advocacy | 3 |
| LAW 821 | Taking and Defending Depositions | 2 |
| LAW 822 | Lawmaking in California | 2 |
| LAW 824 | Written Discovery | 2 |
| LAW 826 | Negotiating Disputes Into Deals | 1 |
| LAW 882 | California Parole Hearings and Litigation | 1 |
| LAW 979 | Interviewing and Counseling Team | 1 |
Waiver for Part-Time Students
Students who work full time (approximately 40 hours/week) during normal business hours may request a waiver of the Externship/Legal Clinic portion of the Experiential Curriculum. Waiver requests will be reviewed by the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and/or Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and granted for good cause only. Each student requesting a waiver will be contacted to meet personally with either the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and/or Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Before waiving the requirement, the law school will work with the student to assess if there might be a creative way for the student to fulfill this requirement without needing a waiver. For example, there are a limited number of remote externships available to students who have full-time jobs. Remote externships provide an opportunity for hands-on legal work in non-business hours and may be a good fit for some students who are working full time.
Institutional Learning Outcomes
At McGeorge, our learning outcomes are the lawyering skills that students are expected to obtain through the completion of a legal education. Consistent with ABA Standards, upon completion of a JD degree, graduates of the McGeorge School of Law will demonstrate mastery of the following student learning outcomes at the level needed for admission to the bar and effective and ethical participation in the legal profession as an entry level attorney. McGeorge School of Law has designed its curriculum to prepare students with the key skills and competencies needed to demonstrate these learning outcomes in the legal profession.
Each student will:
- Demonstrate the ability to identify and understand key concepts in U.S. substantive law, legal theory, and procedure.
- Apply knowledge and critical thinking skills to perform competent legal analysis, reasoning, and problem solving.
- Demonstrate the ability to strategize, develop, and conduct efficient legal research in U.S. law.
- Demonstrate the ability to identify and understand foundational concepts in international law and to perform international legal research.
- Demonstrate communication skills, including effective listening and critical reading, writing in objective and persuasive styles, and oral advocacy and other oral communications.
- Demonstrate professional judgment, ethics, and professionalism through conduct consistent with the legal profession's values, standards, and discipline.
- Demonstrate the ability to understand, collaborate, and engage with people of diverse backgrounds and experiences in a variety of legal settings and contexts.
- Demonstrate understanding of the legal profession’s commitment to access to justice.
- Demonstrate understanding of career options and steps toward defining and achieving career goals in light of personal values.
