Projected Curriculum and Academic Program
In keeping with the tradition of excellence in graduate education at HPU, the J.D. degree will be 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 SACSCOC, HPUSL will require courses in the foundational subjects of Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Research and Communication, Professional Responsibility, Property, and Torts. HPUSL will also have required courses in professional and ethical formation as well as required courses that provide varied and robust experiential learning opportunities.
HPUSL will recruit and retain exceptional faculty, recognized nationally for their legal expertise and innovative, inclusive approaches to teaching and mentorship. In early 2023, HPULS will announce its first cohort of extended faculty, which will include distinguished jurists and preeminent lawyers. The quality of the J.D. degree will be further enhanced through procedures that systematically evaluate instructional results, HPUSL operations, and HPUSL services. In all areas, HPUSL will maintain high academic and professional standards. It will systematically evaluate the J.D. program’s instructional effectiveness through an assessment of faculty performance and instructional outcome measures.
As the curriculum and program continue to be developed, 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.