Skills Curriculum Courses
The skills curriculum, a mandatory component of the Program of Study for all JD students, trains students in essential lawyering skills and practical legal knowledge aimed at producing practice-ready graduates. Skills instructors include judges, practitioners and professors who provide practical training; and the courses are designed to provide students with an opportunity to experiment, assess and develop certain skills necessary for the practice of law in related areas of interest.
All students upon graduation must earn eight skill credits. Effective Fall 2014, all students entering Loyola Law must also successfully earn one skills credit in each of the following required skills competetencies:
Students may satisfy this requirement through a variety of designated skills courses as indicated on the course calendar.
Effective Fall 2014, all students entering Loyola will have the option to complete their skill requirement in one of five practice tracks: Civil, Criminal, Transactional, Maritime, and Social Justice. The practice tracks allow students to develop skills related to a particular practice area.
All skills courses appear on a student's official transcript reflecting certain areas of skill development. Most skills courses are ungraded; however, some skills courses may require an assignment and the instructor may provide a “skills grade.” A “skills grade” is separate from an academic grade and will not
impact a students cumulative GPA. Skills grades include "HS" - highly skilled; "S" - satisfactorily skilled; and "DS"- deficiently skilled. A "DS" grade will not receive skill credit.
In the skills curriculum, “Local Rules” govern the procedure for enrollment, registration, attendance, withdrawal, grading, assignments and expectations. The "Local Rules" are designed to train students to understand procedural protocols similar to practice. Students are presumed to have read the “Local Rules” and understand all policies and procedures related to skill courses.
Earning Skills Credit through Continuing Legal Education
Students are able to earn skill credit by attending qualifying professional Continuing Legal Education presentations. To receive skills credit for attending a CLE, students must submit the proper application form and supporting documentation during the year in which they attended the CLE presentation. The CLE presentation must meet all of the criteria established on the application form in order to qualify for skills credit.
Earning Skills Credit in Academic Courses
Students are able to earn a skill credit in some academic courses. The courses that earn skill credit have been approved by a faculty committee and are published in an inventory on the skills website.
Earning Skills Credit in Clinic
One semester of L897 Clinic Seminar earns three skills credits and establieshes skills compency requirement (1) Client Interviewing; (3) Cultural Competence and Interpersonal Skills; and (4) Law Office Management and Professionalism. A second semester of clinic earns an additional three skills credits and satisfies all four skills competency requirements.
To view the Skills Calendar, Local Rules, course descriptions and relevant forms please visit law.loyno.edu/skills-curriculum.