Program Overview
The program of study at John Marshall leads to the Juris Doctor degree upon successful completion of the required and elective curriculum. Students may enroll in either the full-time day program or in the part-time program where classes are offered primarily during the evening hours.
The full-time day program requires study in residence for six semesters over three academic years. Some part-time students may take their required classes during the day with the full-time students. The part-time program is designed to provide a means to achieve a legal education to those who, for whatever reason, are unable to devote full time to the study of law. The part-time program requires study in residence for eight semesters over four academic years, plus some summer sessions.
The academic year consists of two semesters of fourteen weeks duration followed by an examination period of approximately two weeks in length. There is an abbreviated summer session of seven weeks of instruction followed by an examination period. The summer session is intended primarily for students in the part-time division, although full-time students may enroll in the summer session courses to lighten their class load during the next academic year.
Classes in the full-time day division are normally scheduled during regular business hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, while required classes in the part-time evening division are scheduled three evenings per week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) from 6:15 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Students are required to take all required classes in the year and division in which they are enrolled. Elective classes may be taken by both full and part-time students when the classes are offered.