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.
Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificates
The School of Law offers JD students the option to pursue one of the following interdisciplinary graduate certificates:
- Health Law and Policy
- Human Rights Law
- Legal Design
- 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.
- Concentrations and course offerings may vary by campus and/or by program modality. Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for the course availability each term at your campus or within your program modality.
- Certain options within the program may be required at certain campuses or for certain program modalities. Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for requirements at your campus or for your program modality.
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 |
| Electives | ||
| Complete 46 credits of elective coursework. | 46 | |
Rules and policies applicable to elective coursework are described in the School of Law Student Information Handbook.
Program Credit Requirement
83 total credits required.
- 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.
- Concentrations and course offerings may vary by campus and/or by program modality. Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for the course availability each term at your campus or within your program modality.
- Certain options within the program may be required at certain campuses or for certain program modalities. Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for requirements at your campus or for your program modality.
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 | ||
| Two practical experiences during separate terms when the student is not registered for coursework other than the practical experience(s), including at least one co-op in the form of a field placement with a related seminar; and 1,000 hours of relevant work experience. 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, field placement, practical experience, and relevant work experience requirement. | ||
First-Year Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Students will take the following courses during their first four semesters: | ||
| LAW 6100 | Civil Procedure | 5 |
| LAW 6101 | Constitutional Law | 4 |
| LAW 6102 | Contracts | 5 |
| LAW 6103 | Criminal Justice | 4 |
| 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 |
| LAW 6160 | Legal Skills in Social Context | 2 |
| LAW 6165 | LSSC: Legal Research and Writing Component | 2 |
Upper-Level Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Field Placement | ||
| Complete one of the following two pairs of courses: | 8 | |
| Reflections on Lawyering | ||
or LAW 7941 | Public Interest / Public Service Field Placement | |
| Field Placement Seminar | ||
or LAW 7946 | Field Placement | |
| Professional Responsibility | ||
| LAW 7443 | Professional Responsibility | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Complete 38 credits of LAW courses not already taken to fulfill another requirement. | 38 | |
Rules and policies applicable to upper-level courses are described in the School of Law Student Information Handbook.
Program Credit Requirement
83 total credit hours required.
- 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 the nature of these requirements should consult the Student Information Handbook and the Center for Co-op and Career Development.