The Juris Doctor Program

The Juris Doctor program at Hastings prepares students to become thoughtful, analytical and skilled lawyers.  The education we provide is a window into the breadth and diversity of the law, offering students an opportunity not only to learn the fundamentals but also to explore in depth special areas of study.  The degree is a three-year, full-time program that requires students to complete 86 units of study.  Prior to graduation all students at Hastings will have written a substantial research paper and argued an appellate case in our nationally renowned moot court program.

Most students at Hastings choose to hone their lawyering skills through our robust clinical and  externship program, which enables them to spend a semester working for a judge or have hands-on experience representing clients while working individually with a professor-practitioner. Many students also elect to deepen their knowledge of a particular area of the law by pursuing one of our concentrations in civil litigation, criminal law, intellectual property, international law, public interest law, taxation, or law and health sciences.

The J.D. program at Hastings has other definitive advantages. Hastings sponsors nine student-written law journals - more than most law schools - giving our students an excellent opportunity to gain experience with legal scholarship. Our five legal centers offer abundant opportunities for students and practitioners to work together on pioneering areas of the law. Hastings also boasts one of the most extensive international exchange programs in the country - 12 programs in all - which allow our students to increase their understanding of foreign law and to provide them with the information, skills, and experience to work effectively as attorneys in a global legal environment. Lastly, Hastings maintains a comprehensive academic support program, which provides our students with a broad variety of services to complement and support their education.