Juris Doctor Program

In keeping with the tradition of excellence in graduate education at HPU, the J.D. degree is designed to provide students with a robust foundation in the knowledge, skills, and values that ensure success as legal professionals prepared to make significant contributions to society. As outlined in the Prospectus approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law at High Point University requires courses in the foundational subjects of Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Research and Writing, Professional Responsibility, Property, and Torts. The Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law also has required courses in professional and ethical formation as well as required courses that provide varied and robust experiential learning opportunities.

The J.D. program mission, learning outcomes, and required curriculum are outlined below. From these program components, several distinctive features highlight why a prospective law student will be interested in obtaining a J.D. degree from High Point University:

To benefit from a law curriculum that grounds students in the values, knowledge, and mindset of a free society, and instills in them key life skills (excellence in oral and written communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, cultural competence, and collaboration) that ensure their success in a competitive and rapidly changing world;
To profit from inclusive teaching approaches that not only emphasize the cognitive aspects of learning but also address the affective components, so as to build students’ self-efficacy and a strong sense of professional identity;
To benefit from abundant experiential learning opportunities that allow students to apply what they have learned in the classroom in real-world contexts;
To receive an education where the ethical practice of law is emphasized pervasively throughout the curriculum;
To benefit from outstanding faculty who will provide the high level of mentorship for which HPU faculty are known;
To receive comprehensive bar and career preparation services to ensure student success upon graduation; and
To prepare for their future profession on a campus that is known for its inspiring environment and exceptional facilities.

Program Mission

The Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law at High Point University seeks to foster an environment in which students, faculty, and staff are free to engage in robust, uninhibited, and respectful discussion and debate, employing critical analysis and reasoned argument to equip students with the legal knowledge, skills, and values necessary to become lawyer-leaders who serve their clients and communities with civility and grace.

Program Learning Outcomes

To accomplish this mission, the law school has established the following program learning outcomes.

Upon completing the Juris Doctor degree at the Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law at High Point University, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the law and the legal profession, including an understanding of

Substantive and procedural law
Principal sources of law
The structure of the legal profession and its role in society

2. Interpret and apply the law effectively by

Identifying and articulating the legal issues presented in a fact situation
Identifying and applying the relevant rules of law
Drawing and explaining appropriate legal conclusions

3. Engage in successful legal research and problem solving by

Finding legal authority relevant to the legal issues in a particular context
Identifying the relative weight of authority for primary and secondary sources available for given subject areas
Using various sources to address and resolve complex legal issues

4. Demonstrate effective and appropriate written and oral communication skills in legal contexts by

Speaking and writing in a clear, logical, and effective manner appropriate to the audience and purpose
Presenting a persuasive formal argument, both orally and in writing, to an impartial tribunal

5. Demonstrate the ability to identify and meet professional and ethical responsibilities through an understanding of

The values of the profession and the rules and standards governing lawyers’ professional conduct
How moral principles, faith, and values can be integrated with lawyers’ professional responsibilities

6. Reflect the development of a professional identity, including the ability to

Articulate a decision-making framework that will guide the graduate in making ethical decisions in the practice of law
Articulate a strategic plan for achieving the graduate’s career goals
Understand practices for maintaining personal well-being while pursuing the graduate’s professional pathway
Understand principles for effective leadership in organizational contexts

7. Exhibit cross-cultural competence when exercising legal skills, including the ability to

Engage inclusively and effectively with clients, lawyers, and others who have different life experiences and viewpoints
Identify ways to improve access to justice and the quality of justice in the legal system

J.D. Curriculum

The J.D. degree at HPU Law requires a minimum of 90 credit hours. HPU Law’s first-year curriculum includes the following courses:

First Year Required Courses—31 total credit hours

Fall Semester—15 credits total

LAW 7100 Professional Pathways (1)
LAW 7110 Civil Procedure (4)
LAW 7120 Contracts (4)
LAW 7130 Torts (3)
LAW 7140 Legal Research & Writing I (3)

Spring Semester—16 credits total

LAW 7200 Professional Formation (1)
LAW 7210 Constitutional Law (4)
LAW 7220 Property (4)
LAW 7230 Criminal Law (3)
LAW 7240 Legal Research & Writing II (3)
LAW 7250 Access to Justice Practicum (1)

In addition to the course credits outlined above that are required in the first year, twenty-five (25) course credits are required in the upper-level courses listed below. Except as noted, students may take these upper-level courses in their second or third year. Students will satisfy the remainder of the credit requirements (34 credits) through elective courses.

Upper Level Required Courses—25 total credit hours

Must be taken in student’s second (2L) year—

LAW 8100 Professional Responsibility (3)
LAW 8110 Evidence (4)
LAW 8250 Advocacy Skills Practicum (1)

Must be taken either in student’s second (2L) or third (3L) year—

LAW 8120 Business Associations (4)
LAW 8130 Sales (2)
LAW 8140 Constitutional Criminal Procedure (2)

Must be taken in student’s third (3L) year—

LAW 9250 Leadership Practicum (1)
LAW 9500 Bar Readiness Workshop (2)

Experiential Skills Requirement—Six Credit Hours Required

LAW 8250 Advocacy Skills Practicum is a required upper-level experiential skills course, which counts as one credit hour of the six hours required. To satisfy this experiential skills requirement, students must therefore take at least five additional credit hours from a menu of upper-level simulation, clinic, and externship courses that focus on developing students’ practical lawyering skills. The law school administration will identify these courses and communicate this list of courses to students. Students may not use the same courses to satisfy both the Experiential Skills Requirement and the Upper-Level Rigorous Written Skills Requirement.

Upper-Level Rigorous Written Skills Requirement—One Credit Hour Required

To satisfy this requirement, students must take at least one credit hour from a menu of upper-level seminars, independent studies, and other courses that include a major paper assignment. The law school administration will identify these courses and communicate this list of courses to students. Students may not use the same courses to satisfy both the Experiential Skills Requirement and the Upper-Level Rigorous Written Skills Requirement.

Resources:

Please take a moment to utilize the Kahn Law Library for resources and recommendations.

Course Descriptions

Review detailed descriptions of our Juris Doctor courses, designed to provide comprehensive legal education and professional development.

Learn More

ABA Disclosures

As required by the ABA and U.S. Dept. of Education, review our policies on credit hour determination, in compliance with ABA Standard 310(b)