Law, JD
Students at Northeastern University School of Law gain unparalleled networking opportunities from the moment they walk in the door. While many law schools talk about offering work experience, Northeastern Law has been the nation’s leader in experiential legal education for five decades. Northeastern launched its Cooperative Legal Education Program in 1968 and today offers the largest and most extensive hands-on professional program in the country. Students devote several of their upper-level terms to working full-time as legal professionals. Through the co-op program, students have the opportunity to experience various fields of law in multiple practice settings.
Northeastern Law students gain real work experience and networking opportunities that far exceed the offerings of other law schools. With more than 1,500 employers in more than 40 states and a number of countries around the world, Northeastern students create professional networks in legal offices ranging from large firms in Boston to government agencies in Washington, D.C., to human rights organizations in Geneva. Through these connections and with access to the more than 8,000 alumni, Northeastern Law students graduate with not only a resumé packed full of experience but also a network that is unrivaled.
The School of Law offers a curriculum that provides students the tools they will need to pursue a successful legal career. In their first year, JD students complete required coursework. In their second and third years, they explore areas of interest by completing multiple full-time co-ops and taking courses that provide insight into many areas of the law.
Concentration Options
The JD program offers several concentrations. A student who seeks to complete a concentration may not also seek an interdisciplinary graduate certificate in the same subject area.
- Business and Commercial Law
- Criminal Law and Justice
- Environmental and Energy Law
- Health Law and Policy
- Intellectual Property and Innovation
- International Business Law
- International Law and Human Rights
- Labor, Work, and Income
- Law and Development
- Poverty Law and Economic Justice
- Privacy Law
Note: Students may choose one or more concentration areas but are not required to complete a concentration.
Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificates
JD students have the option to pursue one of the following interdisciplinary graduate certificates. Students seeking an interdisciplinary graduate certificate may not pursue a concentration in the same subject area:
- Health Law and Policy
- Poverty Law and Economic Justice
- Privacy Law
- Women, Gender, Sexuality, and the Law
Dual Degrees
The School of Law offers multiple dual degrees.
For a more comprehensive description of policies, procedures, and requirements pertaining to the JD program, please refer to the School of Law's website.
Complete all courses and requirements described below.
Milestones
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Public Interest Requirement 1 | ||
| Upper-Level Rigorous Writing Requirement 2 | ||
| Experiential Education Requirement 2 | ||
| Co-op Requirement: Co-ops corresponding to three terms 3 | ||
| Note: All courses used to satisfy JD requirements must be completed with a passing grade. Students must satisfactorily complete all JD requirements, including the public interest requirement, the upper-level rigorous writing requirement, the experiential education requirement, and the co-op requirement. | ||
First-Year Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Term | ||
| LAW 6100 | Civil Procedure | 5 |
| LAW 6105 | Property | 4 |
| LAW 6106 | Torts | 4 |
| LAW 6160 | Legal Skills in Social Context | 2 |
| LAW 6165 | LSSC: Legal Research and Writing Component | 2 |
| Spring Term | ||
| LAW 6101 | Constitutional Law | 4 |
| LAW 6102 | Contracts | 5 |
| LAW 6103 | Criminal Justice | 4 |
| LAW 6160 | Legal Skills in Social Context | 2 |
| LAW 6165 | LSSC: Legal Research and Writing Component | 2 |
Upper-Level Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Responsibility | ||
| LAW 7443 | Professional Responsibility | 3 |
| or LAW 7509 | Professional Responsibility Seminar | |
| Electives | 46 | |
Rules and policies applicable to elective coursework are described in the School of Law Student Information Handbook.
Concentration Options
Students may choose one or more concentration areas but are not required to complete a concentration. Students may choose to pursue concentrations by taking at least 12 credits of courses that satisfy the requirements of the concentration, along with an appropriate clinic, paper, or co-op. Concentration requirements are described in more detail in the Student Information Handbook.
A student who seeks to complete a concentration may not also seek an interdisciplinary graduate certificate in the same subject area.
- Business and Commercial Law
- Criminal Law and Justice
- Environmental and Energy Law
- Health Law and Policy
- Intellectual Property and Innovation
- International Business Law
- International Law and Human Rights
- Labor, Work, and Income
- Law and Development
- Poverty Law and Economic Justice
- Privacy Law
Concentration in Business and Commercial Law
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| Complete two of the following: | ||
| LAW 7303 | Antitrust | 3 |
| LAW 7479 | Basic Income Taxation | 4 |
| LAW 7503 | Business Bankruptcy | 3 |
| LAW 7400 | Corporate Taxation | 4 |
| LAW 7323 | Corporations | 4 |
| LAW 7434 | Secured Transactions | 4 |
| LAW 7313 | Secured Transactions (as an alternative to LAW 7434) | 3 |
| LAW 7324 | Securities Regulation | 3 |
| Relevant Elective Courses | ||
| Complete at least two core courses or two of the following: | ||
| LAW 7449 | Alternative Dispute Resolution | 3 |
| LAW 7521 | Branding Law and Practice | 4 |
| LAW 7610 | Community Business Law Clinic | 6 |
| LAW 7315 | Consumer Bankruptcy | 3 |
| LAW 7607 | Consumer Law | 3 |
| LAW 7556 | Corporate Finance | 3 |
| LAW 7417 | Entertainment Law | 3 |
| LAW 7329 | Environmental Law | 3 |
| LAW 7629 | Inside Counsel | 2 |
| LAW 7369 | Intellectual Property | 3 |
| LAW 7633 | IP CO-LAB Clinic | 6 |
| LAW 7565 | Intellectual Property Transactions Practice | 3 |
| LAW 7603 | International Business Transactions | 3 |
| LAW 7559 | International Trade | 3 |
| LAW 7424 | Labor Law 1 | 4 |
| LAW 7546 | Law of Financial Institutions | 3 |
| LAW 7350 | Negotiation | 3 |
| LAW 7447 | Quantitative Methods | 3 |
| LAW 7423 | State Local Taxation | 3 |
| LAW 7638 | Trademark Law | 3 |
| LAW 7572 | Transactional Drafting Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 7622 | Whistleblower Law | 2 |
Concentration in Criminal Law and Justice
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| LAW 7301 | Advanced Criminal Procedure: Adjudication | 3 |
| LAW 7495 | Advanced Criminal Procedure: Investigation | 3 |
| Relevant Elective Courses | ||
| Complete two of the following: | ||
| LAW 7528 | Balancing Liberty and Security Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 7597 | Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Clinic | 6 |
| LAW 7326 | Criminal Trial Practice | 2 |
| LAW 7332 | Evidence | 4 |
| LAW 7398 | Federal Courts and the Federal System | 4 |
| LAW 7619 | Healthcare Fraud and Abuse Law | 3 |
| LAW 7336 | Immigration Law | 3 |
| LAW 7526 | Juvenile Courts: Delinquency, Abuse, Neglect | 3 |
| LAW 7351 | Prisoners' Rights Clinic | 6 |
| LAW 7654 | Race, Justice, and Reform | 6 |
| LAW 7358 | Social Welfare Law | 3 |
| LAW 7622 | Whistleblower Law | 2 |
| LAW 7612 | Wrongful Convictions and Post-Conviction Remedies | 3 |
Concentration in Environmental and Energy Law
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| Complete two of the following: | ||
| LAW 7634 | Energy Law and Policy | 3 |
| LAW 7329 | Environmental Law | 3 |
| LAW 7538 | International Environmental Law | 3 |
| LAW 7559 | International Trade | 3 |
| LAW 7394 | Land Use | 3 |
| LAW 7514 | Natural Resources Law | 3 |
| Relevant Elective Courses | ||
| Complete at least two core courses or two of the following: | ||
| LAW 7300 | Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 7602 | Bioproperty | 3 |
| LAW 7320 | Constitutional Litigation | 3 |
| LAW 7323 | Corporations | 4 |
| LAW 7600 | Current Issues in Health Law and Policy | 3 |
| LAW 7569 | International and Foreign Legal Research | 2 |
| LAW 7350 | Negotiation | 3 |
| LAW 7561 | Private Litigation in the Public Interest | 3 |
| LAW 7463 | Non-Profit Organizations | 3 |
| LAW 7527 | Public Health Legal Clinic | 4 |
| LAW 7447 | Quantitative Methods | 3 |
| LAW 7428 | State Local Government | 3 |
| LAW 7929 | Moot Courts and Legal Competitions (National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition) | 1-4 |
Concentration in Health Law and Policy
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Course | ||
| LAW 7335 | Health Law | 3 |
| Core Course | ||
| Complete one of the following: | ||
| LAW 7494 | Bioethics and the Law | 3 |
| LAW 7600 | Current Issues in Health Law and Policy | 3 |
| LAW 7606 | Drug Law and Policy | 3 |
| LAW 7512 | Problems in Public Health Law | 3 |
| Relevant Elective Courses | ||
| Complete at least two core courses or two of the following: | ||
| LAW 7300 | Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 7624 | Advanced Legal and Interdisciplinary Research | 2 |
| LAW 7602 | Bioproperty | 3 |
| LAW 7469 | Disability Law | 3 |
| LAW 7410 | Domestic Violence Clinic | 6 |
| LAW 7617 | Economic Perspectives on Health Policy | 4 |
| LAW 7582 | Elder Law | 3 |
| LAW 7536 | Employment Law Safety Health | 3 |
| LAW 7329 | Environmental Law | 3 |
| LAW 7541 | Global AIDS Policy Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 7619 | Healthcare Fraud and Abuse Law | 3 |
| LAW 7670 | Legislation and Regulation | 3 |
| LAW 7463 | Non-Profit Organizations | 3 |
| LAW 7561 | Private Litigation in the Public Interest | 3 |
| LAW 7527 | Public Health Legal Clinic | 4 |
| LAW 7447 | Quantitative Methods | 3 |
| LAW 7588 | Reproductive and Sexual Rights and Health | 3 |
| LAW 7358 | Social Welfare Law | 3 |
Concentration in Intellectual Property and Innovation
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| Complete two of the following: | ||
| LAW 7590 | Copyright Law | 3 |
| LAW 7369 | Intellectual Property | 3 |
| LAW 7501 | Patent Law | 3 |
| LAW 7638 | Trademark Law | 3 |
| Relevant Elective Courses | ||
| Complete at least two core courses or two of the following: | ||
| LAW 7344 | Accounting/Finance for Lawyers | 3 |
| LAW 7303 | Antitrust | 3 |
| LAW 7602 | Bioproperty | 3 |
| LAW 7521 | Branding Law and Practice | 4 |
| LAW 7643 | Creative and Innovative Economies: IP, Commercial Development, and Sustainable Business Practice | 3 |
| LAW 7417 | Entertainment Law | 3 |
| LAW 7541 | Global AIDS Policy Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 7675 | Information Privacy Law | 3 |
| LAW 7640 | Information Security Law | 3 |
| LAW 7633 | IP CO-LAB Clinic | 6 |
| LAW 7565 | Intellectual Property Transactions Practice | 3 |
| LAW 7639 | Internet Law | 3 |
| LAW 7635 | Laboratory Seminar in Applied Design and Legal Empowerment | 3 |
| LAW 7669 | Law and Technology | 3 |
| LAW 7670 | Legislation and Regulation | 3 |
Concentration in International Business Law
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| Complete two of the following: | ||
| LAW 7323 | Corporations | 4 |
| LAW 7603 | International Business Transactions | 3 |
| LAW 7559 | International Trade | 3 |
| LAW 7525 | Law and Economic Development | 3 |
| Relevant Elective Courses | ||
| Complete at least two core courses or two of the following: | ||
| LAW 7580 | Community Economic Development | 3 |
| LAW 7549 | Comparative Law: Law, Markets and Democracy in East Asia | 3 |
| LAW 7400 | Corporate Taxation | 4 |
| LAW 7541 | Global AIDS Policy Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 7336 | Immigration Law | 3 |
| LAW 7369 | Intellectual Property | 3 |
| LAW 7565 | Intellectual Property Transactions Practice | 3 |
| LAW 7569 | International and Foreign Legal Research | 2 |
| LAW 7491 | International Human Rights and the Global Economy | 3 |
| LAW 7554 | International Investment Arbitration and Litigation Practice | 2 |
| LAW 7350 | Negotiation | 3 |
| LAW 7434 | Secured Transactions | 4 |
| LAW 7313 | Secured Transactions (as an alternative to LAW 7434) | 3 |
| LAW 7572 | Transactional Drafting Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 7622 | Whistleblower Law | 2 |
Concentration in International Law and Human Rights
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| LAW 7338 | International Law | 3 |
| LAW 7491 | International Human Rights and the Global Economy | 3 |
| Relevant Elective Courses | ||
| Complete at least two of the following: | ||
| LAW 7597 | Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Clinic | 6 |
| LAW 7549 | Comparative Law: Law, Markets and Democracy in East Asia | 3 |
| LAW 7469 | Disability Law | 3 |
| LAW 7541 | Global AIDS Policy Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 7676 | Energy Justice: Theory, Law, and Policy for a Just Clean Energy Transition | 3 |
| LAW 7666 | Human Rights, the Environment, Development and Community Resilience | 3 |
| LAW 7651 | Human Rights in the United States | 3 |
| LAW 7657 | Immigrant Justice Clinic | 6 |
| LAW 7336 | Immigration Law | 3 |
| LAW 7569 | International and Foreign Legal Research | 2 |
| LAW 7603 | International Business Transactions | 3 |
| LAW 7538 | International Environmental Law | 3 |
| LAW 7559 | International Trade | 3 |
| LAW 7525 | Law and Economic Development | 3 |
| LAW 7351 | Prisoners' Rights Clinic | 6 |
| LAW 7561 | Private Litigation in the Public Interest | 3 |
| LAW 7512 | Problems in Public Health Law | 3 |
| LAW 7527 | Public Health Legal Clinic | 4 |
| LAW 7550 | Refugee and Asylum Law | 3 |
| LAW 7588 | Reproductive and Sexual Rights and Health | 3 |
| LAW 7581 | Rights of Noncitizens | 3 |
| LAW 7358 | Social Welfare Law | 3 |
Concentration in Labor, Work, and Income
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| Complete two of the following: | ||
| LAW 7424 | Labor Law 1 | 4 |
| LAW 7429 | Labor Law 2 | 3 |
| LAW 7540 | Employment Law—Compensation, Benefits, and Retirement | 3 |
| LAW 7539 | Employment Law—Job Security and Rights | 3 |
| LAW 7536 | Employment Law Safety Health | 3 |
| LAW 7448 | Employment Discrimination | 3 |
| LAW 7511 | Labor Arbitration Workshop | 3 |
| LAW 7358 | Social Welfare Law | 3 |
| Relevant Elective Courses | ||
| Complete at least two core courses or two of the following: | ||
| LAW 7300 | Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 7449 | Alternative Dispute Resolution | 3 |
| LAW 7469 | Disability Law | 3 |
| LAW 7417 | Entertainment Law | 3 |
| LAW 7398 | Federal Courts and the Federal System | 4 |
| LAW 7335 | Health Law | 3 |
| LAW 7336 | Immigration Law | 3 |
| LAW 7535 | Legal Interviewing Counseling | 3 |
| LAW 7350 | Negotiation | 3 |
| LAW 7515 | Sports Law | 3 |
| LAW 7622 | Whistleblower Law | 2 |
Concentration in Law and Development
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| LAW 7525 | Law and Economic Development | 3 |
| LAW 7580 | Community Economic Development | 3 |
| Relevant Elective Courses | ||
| Complete two of the following: | ||
| LAW 7300 | Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 7479 | Basic Income Taxation | 4 |
| LAW 7610 | Community Business Law Clinic | 6 |
| LAW 7549 | Comparative Law: Law, Markets and Democracy in East Asia | 3 |
| LAW 7607 | Consumer Law | 3 |
| LAW 7400 | Corporate Taxation | 4 |
| LAW 7323 | Corporations | 4 |
| LAW 7469 | Disability Law | 3 |
| LAW 7530 | Education Law | 3 |
| LAW 7329 | Environmental Law | 3 |
| LAW 7541 | Global AIDS Policy Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 7335 | Health Law | 3 |
| LAW 7619 | Healthcare Fraud and Abuse Law | 3 |
| LAW 7666 | Human Rights, the Environment, Development and Community Resilience | 3 |
| LAW 7651 | Human Rights in the United States | 3 |
| LAW 7369 | Intellectual Property | 3 |
| LAW 7538 | International Environmental Law | 3 |
| LAW 7491 | International Human Rights and the Global Economy | 3 |
| LAW 7559 | International Trade | 3 |
| LAW 7424 | Labor Law 1 | 4 |
| LAW 7394 | Land Use | 3 |
| LAW 7664 | Law and Inequality | 3 |
| LAW 7669 | Law and Technology | 3 |
| LAW 7546 | Law of Financial Institutions | 3 |
| LAW 7670 | Legislation and Regulation | 3 |
| LAW 7514 | Natural Resources Law | 3 |
| LAW 7362 | Poverty Law and Practice Clinic | 6 |
| LAW 7561 | Private Litigation in the Public Interest | 3 |
| LAW 7447 | Quantitative Methods | 3 |
| LAW 7588 | Reproductive and Sexual Rights and Health | 3 |
| LAW 7324 | Securities Regulation | 3 |
| LAW 7358 | Social Welfare Law | 3 |
| LAW 7428 | State Local Government | 3 |
| LAW 7423 | State Local Taxation | 3 |
Concentration in Poverty Law and Economic Justice
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| Complete two of the following: | ||
| LAW 7580 | Community Economic Development | 3 |
| LAW 7665 | Housing Law | 3 |
| LAW 7525 | Law and Economic Development | 3 |
| LAW 7664 | Law and Inequality | 3 |
| LAW 7362 | Poverty Law and Practice Clinic | 6 |
| LAW 7358 | Social Welfare Law | 3 |
| Relevant Elective Courses | ||
| Complete at least two core courses or two of the following: | ||
| LAW 7300 | Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 7608 | American Legal Thought: Traditional and Critical | 3 |
| LAW 7597 | Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Clinic | 6 |
| LAW 7306 | Civil Trial Practice | 2 |
| LAW 7607 | Consumer Law | 3 |
| LAW 7487 | Critical Race Theory | 3 |
| LAW 7469 | Disability Law | 3 |
| LAW 7410 | Domestic Violence Clinic | 6 |
| LAW 7606 | Drug Law and Policy | 3 |
| LAW 7617 | Economic Perspectives on Health Policy | 4 |
| LAW 7530 | Education Law | 3 |
| LAW 7582 | Elder Law | 3 |
| LAW 7448 | Employment Discrimination | 3 |
| LAW 7540 | Employment Law—Compensation, Benefits, and Retirement | 3 |
| LAW 7333 | Family Law | 3 |
| LAW 7541 | Global AIDS Policy Seminar | 3 |
| LAW 7335 | Health Law | 3 |
| LAW 7657 | Immigrant Justice Clinic | 6 |
| LAW 7336 | Immigration Law | 3 |
| LAW 7535 | Legal Interviewing Counseling | 3 |
| LAW 7350 | Negotiation | 3 |
| LAW 7463 | Non-Profit Organizations | 3 |
| LAW 7512 | Problems in Public Health Law | 3 |
| LAW 7527 | Public Health Legal Clinic | 4 |
| LAW 7447 | Quantitative Methods | 3 |
| LAW 7550 | Refugee and Asylum Law | 3 |
| LAW 7588 | Reproductive and Sexual Rights and Health | 3 |
| LAW 7581 | Rights of Noncitizens | 3 |
| LAW 7488 | Sexuality, Gender, and the Law | 3 |
| LAW 7428 | State Local Government | 3 |
Concentration in Privacy Law
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| Complete two of the following: | ||
| LAW 7675 | Information Privacy Law | 3 |
| LAW 7640 | Information Security Law | 3 |
| LAW 7639 | Internet Law | 3 |
| LAW 7672 | Data Privacy Compliance in the 21st Century | 3 |
| Relevant Elective Courses | ||
| Complete at least two core courses or two of the following: | ||
| LAW 7494 | Bioethics and the Law | 3 |
| LAW 7602 | Bioproperty | 3 |
| LAW 7610 | Community Business Law Clinic | 6 |
| LAW 7607 | Consumer Law | 3 |
| LAW 7530 | Education Law | 3 |
| LAW 7539 | Employment Law—Job Security and Rights | 3 |
| LAW 7417 | Entertainment Law | 3 |
| LAW 7475 | First Amendment | 3 |
| LAW 7335 | Health Law | 3 |
| LAW 7369 | Intellectual Property | 3 |
| LAW 7565 | Intellectual Property Transactions Practice | 3 |
| LAW 7633 | IP CO-LAB Clinic | 6 |
| LAW 7546 | Law of Financial Institutions | 3 |
| LAW 7622 | Whistleblower Law | 2 |
For a more comprehensive description of program requirements, please consult the 2020–2021 Student Information Handbook.
Program Credit Requirement
83 total credit hours required: 34 credits earned during the first year and a minimum of 49 credits earned during upper-level academic terms.
| 1 | Information about the public interest requirement is provided in the Student Information Handbook. |
| 2 | The same course cannot be used to satisfy both the rigorous writing and experiential education requirements. |
| 3 | Transfer students should consult the Student Information Handbook for applicable requirements. All students with questions about satisfying co-op requirements should consult the Center for Co-op and Career Development. |