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College of Law

The University of Iowa College of Law, founded in 1865, is the oldest law school in continuous operation west of the Mississippi River. More than 650 students and a full-time faculty of around 50 are engaged at the college in a cooperative study of law, legal institutions, professional ethics, the role of law in public policy matters, and the intersection of law and other disciplines.

The college's student/faculty ratio of 11-to-1 is one of the best in American legal education.

Through traditional Socratic classes, research seminars, closely supervised writing exercises, ambitious professional skills training programs, and clinical experiences, the college seeks to produce public-spirited leaders who will be rigorous thinkers, trusted advisors, forceful advocates, creative policy makers, and innovative scholars.

The Boyd Law Building, a 200,000-square-foot facility, provides a home for the college and its programs. Its spacious library, three courtrooms, clinic suite, building-wide audiovisual system, and extensive computer technologies are recognized as outstanding features in an educational facility specially designed for modern legal training.

The Iowa Law Library, one of the nation's premier law libraries, has the largest collection of legal volumes and volume equivalents among all public law schools. Its staff numbers 32 full-time-equivalent library professionals and other personnel, and it provides comfortable seating for more than 700 patrons, with 441 private study carrels, each equipped with its own data port. The library boasts a fully computerized information retrieval system. The online electronic card catalog provides instant information about all cataloged materials. The library also is on the University's wireless network.

The College of Law celebrates diversity. In 1967 it undertook one of the nation's first and most aggressive affirmative action programs aimed at attracting a more racially and ethnically diverse student body. The college's success in this continuing effort has resulted in a minority student population that makes up approximately 18 percent of its current student body (the State of Iowa's minority population is around 5 percent).

The faculty also is diverse. Among the college's full-time professors, five are from minority backgrounds, including African American, Asian American, and Hispanic American, and 17 are women. There are specialists in many area of the law, and four professors hold Ph.D. degrees in law-related disciplines in addition to their J.D. degrees.

The college offers a challenging curriculum that is carefully balanced between substantive courses, perspective offerings, examination of ethical values and professionalism, and skills-training programs, including a highly active in-house legal clinic. Iowa's writing program—one of the strongest among law schools nationwide—is an integral part of all students' academic experience. During both semesters of their first year, students take one small-section class taught by a full-time professor and one small-section course in legal analysis, writing, and research.

A requirement of four additional writing units at the upper level must be fulfilled with at least two units of faculty-supervised written work. The remaining two units may be completed through a range of options, including writing for one of the school's four law journals, participating in the clinical program, exercises in appellate advocacy, or specific seminars or independent writing projects.

The Writing Resource Center supports and builds upon classroom writing instruction and assists students with a broad range of writing tasks (see "Resources"/"Writing Resource Center" later in this section). The center and the writing program as a whole exemplify the personalized attention and dedication to individual learning for which the college is renowned in legal circles.

The college is proud of its four student-run scholarly journals. The Iowa Law Review has served as a scholarly legal journal since 1915, analyzing developments in the law and recommending new paths for the law to follow. It frequently is ranked among the top 20 legal periodicals in the country, based on the frequency with which it is cited. 

The Journal of Corporation Law is the nation's oldest student-run legal periodical specializing in corporate law. It provides the legal and academic communities with high-quality articles on corporate issues and business law.

Transnational Law & Contemporary Problems addresses legal issues confronting the global community. Since it began publication in 1991, it has earned an excellent reputation based on its symposiums on issues such as world food policy and global environmental regulation. 

The Journal of Gender, Race & Justice hosts a symposium at the college each year, attracting nationally renowned legal scholars and practitioners who discuss topics such as criminal justice, education, and critical race feminism. The journal publishes the papers presented at the symposium.

In keeping with its educational mission of encouraging the acquisition of broad social awareness and technical professional competence, the University of Iowa College of Law offers a strong program of study in the rapidly expanding fields of international and comparative law. It does so for three reasons: in an era of global interdependence, an effective lawyer must understand international law and foreign legal systems; as professionals and community leaders, lawyers familiar with international and comparative law are crucial to the formulation of public policy at all levels of society; and the study of international and comparative law provides an essential theoretical foundation for all lawyers by affording unique insight into the nature of law and legal process.

All College of Law students benefit from international exposure through association with students in the college's Master of Laws program in international and comparative law. LL.M. students take most of their classes with J.D. students. In addition, each year foreign-trained law professors and jurists pursue research in the Law Library; they also may audit or speak in classes.

The journal Transnational Law & Contemporary Problems offers students a law review experience dedicated to international issues, and the college fields a team every year in the Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition. Students also have opportunities to get involved with two faculty-run centers, the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights and the University of Iowa Center for International Finance and Development, as well as student groups such as the International Law Society and the Iowa Campaign for Human Rights.

Over the years, the college has enjoyed great success in preparing women and men to be professional and civic leaders. In the 20th century, Iowa graduates served as U.S. senators and representatives, state governors, and presidents of the American Bar Association, of major universities, and of the country's largest corporations. Iowa also has been a leader in preparing American law teachers. The college is resolved to continue its traditional role of training future lawyers for positions of professional and community leadership in the 21st century.

Professional Programs (J.D., LL.M.)

• Juris Doctor
• Master of Laws in international and comparative law

The College of Law collaborates with a variety of University of Iowa graduate programs to offer joint J.D./graduate degree programs. See "Joint J.D./Graduate Degrees" later in this section.

Full-Time Policy

The faculty believes that students receive a better legal education when they devote substantially all of their time to educational pursuits. For this reason, students are expected to pursue their law training full time. This policy is consistent with the accreditation standards of the American Bar Association and the Association of American Law Schools.

In extraordinary circumstances, it may be possible for students to enroll for fewer than 10 s.h. per semester. Students who believe they may be unable to attend full time should contact the dean's office before registering for classes.

Entrance Date

Approximately 195 J.D. students enroll in late August, at the beginning of the fall semester. All students attend courses full time during fall and spring semesters and may attend the summer term at any point during their academic careers. Entrants can expect to graduate no earlier than 27 months after beginning law study.

Admission to the Iowa Bar

A rule adopted by the Iowa Supreme Court requires all law students who intend to apply for admission to the Iowa Bar to register that intention with the court by November 1 of the year they begin law school. Details are available from the College of Law registrar or the clerk of the Iowa Supreme Court.

Juris Doctor

The Juris Doctor requires 84 s.h. of credit. All entering students are required to take all courses designated as first-year courses and may not register for different courses or fewer semester hours without the associate dean's permission. No student may be enrolled during any fall or spring semester for more than 15 s.h. applicable to the J.D. or for more than 12 s.h. during any two adjacent summer sessions.

In order to be eligible to be granted the J.D., a student must:

receive credit for 84 s.h. earned in required and elective courses;

take and complete all required courses;

satisfy the writing requirements;

complete the course of study required for the degree in no fewer than 27 months and no more than 84 months after commencing law study at the College of Law or at a law school from which transfer credit has been accepted;

achieve a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 2.10 (a C average); and

satisfy the requirement of receiving "substantial instruction in other professional skills generally regarded as necessary for effective and responsible participation in the legal profession," as set forth in ABA accreditation Standard 302(a)(4) and ABA Standard Interpretations 302-2 & 302-3. 

Receiving credit in a course is dependent upon successful completion of a final examination, or all assigned work, or both. In order to take the final examination, students must satisfy all requirements established by the instructor, including class attendance, written work, special readings, oral reports, and so forth.

First-Year Curriculum

One of the distinctive benefits of law study at Iowa is the College of Law's focus on providing students with a foundation in basic skills that will support more advanced study and professional work. The first-year curriculum emphasizes careful reading, essential writing skills, legal research, and argumentation. Students concentrate on developing analytical skills (for example, reading and understanding judicial opinions), gain a sense of the role of legal institutions in society, and focus on developing good writing and research skills.

All first-year students take 091:130 Legal Analysis Writing and Research I and 091:131 Legal Analysis Writing and Research II (LAWR), a two-semester, 4 s.h. course designed to equip them with effective skills in oral and written communication, legal research, and analysis. LAWR is staffed by full-time faculty members with expertise in teaching legal research and writing. Class size is small, with around 20 students in each section of the course.

LAWR helps students develop legal analysis skills gradually. It teaches the value of critical reading, how to analyze facts and frame legal issues, how to determine which facts are legally significant, and how to extract legal rules from judicial opinions. As the year progresses, students learn how to generate arguments and counter arguments, and how to interpret facts in order to predict the likely outcome of a client's case. They also learn varied methods of legal analysis, including precedential analysis and analysis by analogy.

The first-year program emphasizes writing in small increments, with short assignments, frequent feedback, and revisions of written assignments. Because students will eventually practice in a range of legal settings, the program exposes them to varied forms of written documents, such as memoranda, trial briefs, client letters, motions, and appellate briefs, and provides instruction in appropriate formats for the varied documents (e.g., questions presented, argument headings).

LAWR uses peer review, requiring students to assess, discuss, and critique their peers' writing assignments. This cooperative process helps students gain insight into their own legal writing abilities and learn to appreciate different approaches to the same task. It also prepares them for the experience of collaborating as practicing lawyers.

Students begin to learn about research early in the first year, completing increasingly complex research tasks as the year progresses. LAWR reinforces research techniques covered in the classroom by integrating them into written assignments. It also teaches students the fundamentals of legal research by requiring hands-on library workshops.

First-year courses are as follows. Entering first-year students are expected to take all first-year courses and may not register for different courses or fewer hours without the associate dean's permission.

Fall Semester 

Spring Semester 

A mandatory curve is applied to the grade distribution in all courses.

Upperclass Curriculum

In the second and third years, students take courses in a broad array of substantive areas of the law, with focus on fact gathering, interviewing, counseling, drafting, transaction planning, negotiation, and litigation. They also concentrate course work or writing and research opportunities in particular areas of interest.

Very few common requirements exist in the second and third years. All students must take 091:232 Constitutional Law II, a course in professional ethics, and a skills course.

Writing Requirement

All students must earn four upper-level writing units in order to graduate. At least two of the four units must be earned under direct faculty supervision, in courses, seminars, research projects, or legal clinical work. The remaining two may be earned through a combination of courses and activities that carry writing credit, including 091:402 Moot Court Board, advanced appellate advocacy activities, and journals, including the Iowa Law Review, the Journal of Corporation Law, the Journal of Gender, Race & Justice, and Transnational Law & Contemporary Problems.

Concentrated Study Opportunities

Students may pursue their interest in a particular subject area by selecting appropriate course work and independent research projects. For example, in the intellectual property and competition law focus area, students may take several courses: 091:208 Antitrust Law (3 s.h.), 091:283 Copyrights (3 s.h.), 091:286 Introduction to Intellectual Property Law (3 s.h.), 091:324 Patent Law (2 s.h.), 091:369 Trademarks and Unfair Competition Law (2 s.h.), 091:608 Advanced Topics in Intellectual Property, 091:604 Patent Prosecution Seminar (3 s.h.), 091:241 Business Associations (3 s.h.), 091:306 Cyber and Electronic Law (2 s.h.), 091:355 Securities Regulation, 091:618 Cultural Property/Heritage, and 091:624 Cyberspace Law Seminar.

Seminars

Students should direct questions about a seminar's requirements to the College of Law registrar or the instructor before the seminar begins, because they may not be permitted to drop the class after it meets the first time.

Seminars usually offer up to 4 s.h., including up to two writing units. Seminar formats vary widely; consult the College of Law Guide to Courses and semester registration materials for details. Students are graded on the basis of a research paper, and at the instructor's discretion, for class participation and other seminar requirements.

A common seminar format consists of a class portion for 2 s.h., and a writing portion for 2 s.h. Reduction of credit for seminars requires the instructor's consent. In some seminars, the instructor may permit the student to enroll for the class portion but not the writing portion. The students' performance in the class portion is evaluated on the same basis as for other courses--by examinations, papers, class participation, or other methods at the faculty member's discretion. Students must obtain the instructor's consent before registering.

Papers produced for seminars may be eligible for entry in competitions sponsored by varied groups. Cash prizes frequently are available. Competition announcements are posted on the bulletin boards outside the college's Writing Resource Center.

Clinical Programs, Internships, Clerkships, Externships

Students who have completed the equivalent of three semesters toward the J.D. (at least 39 s.h.) are eligible to apply their theoretical knowledge to real cases and projects under the supervision of faculty members and other attorneys through participation in the College of Law's Clinical Law Programs.

Around 30 students participate in the in-house program each fall and spring semester and each summer session. They may represent individual and organizational clients in a variety of areas, including immigration, domestic violence, criminal defense, consumer law, disability, civil rights, employment law, and general civil practice. Students also may provide estate planning, document drafting, and other transactional services or work on policy, legislation, and other systemic matters. 

Other students may enroll in externships in Iowa City and the surrounding area, where they act as staff attorneys, assisting in all phases of the legal process. Typical placements include the City Attorney's Office, the Human Rights Commission, and Student Legal Services in Iowa City; the federal public defender and Kids First in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Iowa Legal Aid; and HELP Legal Services and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Davenport, Iowa. Also available is a clinical semester, in which students spend an entire semester in the Iowa Attorney General's Office, the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Youth Law Center, or the federal court, all in Des Moines.

Some students are placed in judicial externships, which provide opportunities to work closely with a federal district court judge or state appellate judge. Students register for 091:399 Judicial Externship and earn 9 s.h. per semester; in some cases, they may arrange to earn 15 s.h. with an independent writing component. Under the supervision of the judge and the judge's staff, the student researches and drafts a wide variety of legal memoranda, orders, and opinions. The extern also assists in hearings and performs other duties associated with a judicial clerkship. Each judicial extern meets weekly with a faculty supervisor to discuss the externship work in chambers and takes part in biweekly classroom discussions with other externs.

Judicial externs must have strong research and writing skills and must be able to produce acceptable work under tight deadlines. Externs conduct much of their work independently. Only students who are able to meet these requirements should apply for judicial externships.

Students may earn a maximum of 15 s.h. in the Clinical Law Programs and a maximum of 20 s.h. for clinic and non-law courses offered in other University of Iowa colleges.

The College of Law also is involved in programs that do not offer academic credit. Each summer it participates in the County Attorney Internship Program, through which students work as paid employees for county attorneys throughout the state. The college also helps place students in a variety of unpaid clerkships and internships nationwide that provide insight into the workings of the legal system.

Academic Advising

The associate dean for academic affairs works with the dean on academic programs and issues of the law school.

The associate dean of students provides academic advice and counseling to students; advocates for student concerns; offers information and makes referrals for students with professional, personal, or family problems; facilitates operation of the student discipline system; and arranges reasonable accommodations for disabled students. The associate dean of students also advises law students pursuing combined degrees in University of Iowa graduate programs and serves as the liaison with those programs.

Each year one or two tenured faculty members are selected by the Iowa Student Bar Association to serve as College of Law ombudspersons. Students who have a problem or grievance should seek an ombudsperson's help. All complaints are handled in strict confidence.

The College of Law registrar is in charge of student record keeping and should be students' first recourse for information about course enrollment, scheduling, combined program status, student certification for state bar applications, and progress toward graduation.

The Student Services Committee oversees coordination and periodic review of how the college provides academic and curricular counseling to law students. The committee reviews and coordinates the college's efforts to provide information, offer services and programs, and make referrals regarding its students' mental and emotional health. The committee has oversight for assignment of faculty academic advisors to law students, for matters of faculty/student collegiality, and for the Academic Achievement Program.

Academic Achievement Program

The College of Law Academic Achievement Program (AAP) helps students achieve their potential as they go from successful undergraduate careers to the unique challenges of law study. Although AAP focuses on helping first-year students, its programs are open to all.

AAP presents a variety of programs, including a fall-semester lecture series for new students. Examples of content areas include time management for law study, developing effective study groups, outlining and organizing class notes and course materials, taking essay exams, and answering multiple choice tests. Several weeks before exams, a voluntary practice exam is administered.

Spring semester programming responds to special challenges of the second semester, including reviewing and learning from fall exams, refining study habits, preparing for exams, and other matters.

In addition to offering group programs, AAP provides individual help with study skills. When personal issues affect a student's concentration or studying, the program provides direct help and refers students to University and community support resources.
 

Joint J.D./Graduate Degrees

The college has developed joint degree programs with a number of University of Iowa graduate programs through the Graduate College, under which students pursue degrees simultaneously in both colleges.

Joint degree students may count up to 6-12 s.h. earned for the graduate degree toward the 84 s.h. required for the J.D., providing the courses are relevant to both degrees and the credit is earned after admission to the joint degree program and after matriculation at the College of Law.

Separate application to each degree program is required. Applicants must be admitted to both programs before they may be admitted to the joint degree program. Applicants to graduate programs must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College or Graduate College section of the Catalog.

Graduate departments establish their own requirements for the joint degree program, including the number of semester hours earned for the J.D. that may be counted toward the graduate degree.

The College of Law offers joint graduate programs with the following academic units and programs: the Tippie College of Business and its Departments of Accounting, Economics, and Management and Organizations; the Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication and Social Work and the Departments of American Studies, Anthropology, Chemistry, English, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Religious Studies, Sociology, and Spanish and Portuguese (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences); the Departments of Educational Policy and Leadership Studies and Rehabilitation and Counselor Education (College of Education); the Schools of Library and Information Science and Urban and Regional Planning (Graduate College); the Carver College of Medicine; and the Master of Public Health Program (M.P.H. degree) and the Department of Health Management and Policy (College of Public Health).

Many departments have advisors for their joint programs. For more information, consult the associate dean of the College of Law and the individual academic units.

Students in joint degree programs pay tuition for only one of the two programs—the one with the higher tuition.

Master of Laws

The Master of Laws (LL.M.) program in international and comparative law is an important component of the College of Law's international approach to legal education. The program is designed for graduates of J.D. programs in the United States who wish to deepen their understanding of international and comparative law, including the law pertaining to international business transactions, and for foreign-trained jurists who wish to receive advanced training in these areas or a comparative orientation to and specific training in U.S. law and legal institutions.

The LL.M. program admits 10-15 students per year, allowing each student to receive substantial attention from the faculty. Admission is competitive.

The LL.M. requires a minimum of 24 s.h. earned in College of Law courses that include a strong focus on international and comparative law. With their advisor's approval, LL.M. students may count up to 6 s.h. of law study abroad, or non-law graduate-level courses or externships, toward the degree.

LL.M. students take courses (except 091:506 LL.M. Tutorial and 091:657 LL.M. Seminar) together with J.D. students, from the law school's rich offerings on U.S., international, and comparative law. This method of instruction ensures that the foreign-trained students have an effective comparative experience through broad contact with U.S. law students and professors, and the U.S. students benefit similarly from close contact with the foreign-trained lawyers.

LL.M. applicants who are graduates of U.S. law schools must have been granted a J.D. from a school that is a member of the Association of American Law Schools or is approved by the American Bar Association. Graduates of foreign law schools must have completed the basic course of university studies that qualifies them to sit for the bar examination (e.g., the French maîtrise, the German first state bar examination). If the home country bar exam does not require a specific degree, applicants should be experienced members of the bar or have completed the equivalent of the first university degree in law. Applicants without a degree from a four-year English-language university must score at least 580 (paper-based), 237 (computer-based), or 92 (Internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Applicants who score lower than 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (Internet-based) may be required to take English language course work upon entering the University.

All applicants must present evidence of high academic potential, such as high class rank in their previous law studies; strong recommendations, especially from law professors who supervised their work in classes or seminars; and challenging professional work experience. The College of Law relies heavily on academic references to assess applicants' credentials. Because U.S. applicants and all others with first-language fluency in English are required to produce a substantial publishable paper in the program, these applicants must show evidence of ability to carry out complex research and writing projects.

Cocurricular Programs

Students may earn a maximum of 6 s.h. of the 84 s.h. required for the J.D. through participation in the college's rich cocurricular programs and/or non-law classes.

Moot Court

The Moot Court appellate advocacy programs familiarize students with writing appellate briefs, acquaints them with citation form, develops research skills, and strengthens persuasive ability in oral argument at the appellate court level.

Each academic year, the Moot Court office administers 091:210 Appellate Advocacy I in the fall semester, and two Moot Court competitions in the spring semester. Students who rank in the top scoring positions of Appellate Advocacy I are eligible for the advanced competitions in the spring semester. Advanced competitions include 091:404 Van Oosterhout Baskerville Moot Court Competition and 091:430 Jessup International Moot Court Competition.

The appellate advocacy program is administered by the Moot Court Board, which consists of student judges and an executive board.

Trial Advocacy

The Trial Advocacy Program (091:370 Trial Advocacy) is a student-run, faculty-supervised program in which students develop and refine skills used to prepare and try civil and criminal cases. The heart of the program is the 2 s.h. course in trial advocacy taught by law school faculty, federal and state judges, and experienced trial attorneys. Students are on their feet during most class sessions, practicing the arts of jury selection, opening statement, direct and cross examination, introduction of exhibits, use of expert testimony, and closing argument. The course culminates with a full-scale trial--from the filing of pretrial motions to the rendering of a jury verdict--conducted by student cocounsel before a visiting judge and a jury of laypersons.

The Stephenson Competition is named after Judge Roy L. Stephenson, a U.S. District Court and Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals judge and a 1940 graduate of the College of Law. Students who demonstrate superior ability in advocacy skills during the trial advocacy courses participate in a series of mock trials judged by local members of the bench and bar. Individuals selected from the competition represent The University of Iowa in the national trial competition.

Journals

IOWA LAW REVIEW

Since its inception in 1915, the Iowa Law Review has served as a scholarly legal journal, noting and analyzing developments in the law and suggesting future paths for the law to follow. Students have managed the Review since 1935, editing and publishing articles by professors and students. The Review is published five times annually and is staffed by second-year student writers and third-year editors. The Review also publishes the Iowa Law Review Bulletin, an online companion that features responses to the pieces published in the Review. To learn more, visit the Iowa Law Review web site.

JOURNAL OF CORPORATION LAW

The Journal of Corporation Law is the nation's oldest and most cited student-published legal periodical specializing in corporate law. The journal's scope includes antitrust, intellectual property, labor law, securities, taxation, employment discrimination, insurance, products liability, and regulated industries, as well as traditional corporate topics. Selected articles submitted from practitioners and academics are published in each of four annual issues. Several student articles also are selected for publication.

All students who have completed two semesters of class work are eligible to write for the journal. Students who have achieved third-year status at the College of Law are eligible for selection to the journal's editorial board and may receive additional academic credit. They also may be eligible for a monetary stipend. See the Journal of Corporation Law web site.

JOURNAL OF GENDER, RACE & JUSTICE

The Journal of Gender, Race & Justice pushes at the boundaries of traditional legal scholarship and theory in its focus on social justice issues. Each spring the journal hosts a live symposium, bringing nationally renowned legal scholars and practitioners to the College of Law to discuss topics regarding the relationships among the law and race, gender, sex, sexual identity, economic class, ability, and other identity characteristics. The journal publishes the papers presented at the symposium. Each issue also includes articles written by Iowa law students.

All students completing two semesters are eligible to write for the journal. Students who have third-year standing at the College of Law are eligible for a position on the editorial board. First-year students also may participate in the journal. To learn more, visit the Journal of Gender, Race & Justice web site.

TRANSNATIONAL LAW & CONTEMPORARY PROBLEMS

Transnational Law & Contemporary Problems (TLCP) is produced three times a year by Iowa law students. TLCP content includes matters that are of interest to the international and comparative law community and that are not commonly found in other journals and reviews. The journal features symposia with articles by distinguished legal scholars and practitioners; living history interviews with people of international accomplishment; and articles reviewing foreign legislative developments, treaties, conventions, and other international agreements. The journal also publishes articles written by Iowa law students and sponsors an internationally-advertised student writing competition each year.  The journal annually organizes and sponsors a symposium on a contemporary international issue. Past conference symposia topics include climate change, international subprime mortgage crisis and war crimes.

Law students who have completed at least two semesters may earn up to 2 s.h. of credit by writing for TLCP. Highly qualified students who complete the writing and secondary hour requirements may be chosen to fill an editorial position, for which they earn additional credit. They also may be eligible for a monetary stipend. For more information, visit the Transnational Law & Contemporary Problems web site.

Study Abroad

A consortium of six American law schools, coordinated through The University of Iowa College of Law, offers an annual study abroad program in which students attend a spring semester at Florida State University's London study center. There they study American and English law with faculty from the American schools and the University of London. Students participating in the program register for 660:824 London Law Consortium.

The College of Law also offers up to 8 s.h. of credit for intensive course work at Arcachon, France, in conjunction with the University of Bordeaux. Courses are offered for four weeks in May and June and are taught in English by professors from Iowa and Bordeaux. Application deadline is February 1. Students participating in the program register for 660:823 Program in Comparative Law in Bordeaux, France.

Two Iowa law students may attend the Bucerius Law School in Hamburg, Germany, each fall semester in an exchange program with that school. Students earn 12-15 s.h. of credit through course work taught in English.

Two students may attend the Universidade Católica Portuguesa School of Law (Lisbon Campus) each fall semester in an exchange program.  Students earn 12-15 s.h. of credit through courses taught in English.

Three students each year may participate in an exchange program at the Radboud University in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, during fall and spring semesters. They earn 12-15 s.h. of credit in courses taught in English. 

Academic Recognition

Order of the Coif

The Order of the Coif, a national legal honor society, has a chapter at The University of Iowa. The order is dedicated to scholarship and advancement of high ethical standards in the legal profession. Membership is drawn from the top 10 percent of the graduating class. Initiates are selected by the faculty after graduation.

Prizes and Awards

Hancher-Finkbine Medallions are awarded each year by the University to outstanding graduates; honorees are chosen from nominations made by University departments and colleges based on learning, leadership, and loyalty.

The Philip G. Hubbard Human Rights Award is presented each year by the University to recognize outstanding contributions to human rights and equal opportunity, as described in the University's Human Rights Policy.

The Sandy Boyd Prize is presented to the student who has demonstrated outstanding ability and creativity in the development of written legal scholarship.

The Alan I. Widiss Faculty Scholar Award is presented to the student who has made an especially outstanding and distinctive contribution to the development of written legal scholarship.

The Randy J. Holland Award for Corporate Scholarships is presented to the student who has written an outstanding scholarly paper in the area of corporate law.

The Robert S. Hunt Legal History Award is presented to a student who has written an outstanding scholarly paper in the field of legal history.

The Donald P. Lay Faculty Recognition Award is presented to the student who has made distinctive contributions to the College of Law's cocurricular, community, or education programs.

The Iowa State Bar Association Prize is presented to the student who possesses the attitude, ability, and other qualities that indicate success as a future leader of the bar association.

The Antonia "D.J." Miller Award for Advancement of Human Rights recognizes outstanding contributions by a student to the advancement of human rights in the law school community.

The Dean's Achievement Award is presented each year to a student, who, through his or her achievements, has exemplified, promoted, or contributed to cultural, racial, or ethnic diversity in the law school.

The National Association of Women Lawyers Award is presented to a law student who contributes to the advancement of women in society and women in the legal profession and who also has attained high academic achievement.

The Erich D. Mathias Award for International Social Justice is presented to a student who has made an outstanding contribution or demonstrated commitment to attaining international social justice.

The John F. Murray Award recognizes the student with the highest academic standing in the graduating class.

The ALI-ABA Scholarship and Leadership Award is presented to a student who represents an outstanding combination of scholarship and leadership, the qualities embodied by the American Law Institute and the American Bar Association.

The Russell Goldman Award recognizes the student who has demonstrated the most improved academic performance after the first year.

The Iowa College of Law Appellate Advocacy Award is presented to a student for outstanding achievement in and service to the appellate advocacy program.

The Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers Award is presented to a student for outstanding achievement in the Roy L. Stephenson Trial Advocacy Competition.

The International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award is presented to a student who has demonstrated distinction in trial advocacy skills.

The Michelle R. Bennett Client Representation Award recognizes outstanding service in the college's clinical law programs.

The ABA/BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Intellectual Property is presented to a student who has demonstrated excellence in the study of intellectual property law.

The American Bankruptcy Institute Medal for Excellence in Bankruptcy Studies is presented to a student who has demonstrated excellence in the field of bankruptcy.

The Joan Hueffner and Stephen Steinbrink Real Estate Law and Property Award is presented to a student who has demonstrated excellence and promise in the field of real estate law.

Student Organizations

Link to the student organizations' web sites on the college's Journals & Student Groups web page.

The Alternative Dispute Resolution Society promotes awareness of varied alternative dispute resolution processes, including arbitration, mediation, and other forms of negotiation; explores legal and other careers in alternative dispute resolution; and equips students with the knowledge and practical skills necessary for effective participation in alternative dispute resolution.

The American Association for Justice promotes justice and fairness for injured persons, safeguards victims' rights, and strengthens the civil justice system through education and disclosure of information critical to public health and safety. The University of Iowa chapter provides prospective plaintiff attorneys with opportunities to network with established attorneys, attend conventions and continuing legal education (CLE) meetings, participate in a trial advocacy competition, and more.

The American Constitution Society (ACS) is a new nonpartisan organization whose goal is to foster discussion of important issues of law and policy.

The Asian American Law Students Association (AALSA) seeks to instill greater awareness among law students of the needs of the Asian American community, and to encourage a greater commitment toward meeting those needs.

The Iowa chapter of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) focuses on the relationship of black attorneys to the American legal structure and works to foster an attitude of professional competence. BLSA strives to promote the needs and goals of black law students, instill a greater awareness among law students of the needs of the black community, and encourage a greater commitment toward meeting those needs. The chapter seeks involvement in the local community and in recruitment programs. Membership is open to all students who support the association's goals.

The Christian Legal Society maintains a Christian law fellowship at the College of Law whose mission is to enable its members to love their Lord and to love their neighbors as themselves.

The Environmental Law Society provides an educational forum for environmental law topics. During spring semester, the organization sponsors a lecture series featuring professors and experts in environmental law. The group also provides limited legal research and counseling services for attorneys, organizations, and citizens who have questions concerning environmental law. Membership is open to all College of Law students.

The Equal Justice Foundation (EJF) supports public interest law concerns, with emphasis on promoting equal access and adequate representation in the courts and other forums for citizens and citizens' groups. The University of Iowa chapter's professional activities are aligned with those of the national organization. They include work in varied legal activities statewide; College of Law activities, including coordination with other student organizations to provide the college with a better public interest support base; promotion of public interest career opportunities; and provision of information about public interest activities and concerns. Membership is open to all College of Law students.

The Federalist Society fosters critical thought and debate about the application of conservative and libertarian principles to the law. Its mission is to promote, advocate, and defend its founding principles and further their application through its activities, which are aimed at reordering the legal system's priorities to place a premium on individual liberty and the rule of law, and restoring recognition of those principles among law students, faculty members, lawyers, and judges.

The Intellectual Property Law Society (IPLS) promotes exploration of traditional areas of intellectual property law (patent, trademark, copyright) and related areas such as antitrust and entertainment law. The society provides a forum for faculty and student discussion of contemporary issues relating to intellectual property law and its practice; fosters interaction between law students and intellectual property law practitioners through a mentor program that pairs members with intellectual property law practitioners; and offers symposia. All members of the University community are welcome to attend a Society meeting or symposium.

The International Law Society aims to increase student and faculty awareness of international law and related issues. The society's brown bag lunch lecture series and annual spring conference expose students and faculty to a wide variety of contemporary legal issues surrounding the study and practice of international law. Members also work to support the activities of the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights; promote the Iowa-Arcachon, France, summer program in comparative and international law; participate in the annual Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition; and bring together faculty members and students who share an interest in international affairs.

The Iowa Campaign for Human Rights (ICHR) promotes human rights awareness and education at the College of Law, among University of Iowa students, and across the Iowa City community.

The Iowa Student Bar Association (ISBA) acts as the College of Law's student government. Governed by an executive council, the association provides a collective voice for the student body and a source of organization and funding for a variety of college activities and programs. Law students may get involved with the association by serving as class representatives or on faculty-student committees, which deal with admissions, curriculum, financial aid, placement, and so forth. The association presents speakers, sponsors events with other organizations, publishes a newsletter, and sponsors social events. Its legal guardian program assigns entering law students to upperclass students, who provide encouragement and information.

The J. Reuben Clark Law Society emphasizes three basic values and attitudes toward the practice of law and the place of law in modern society: public service, loyalty to the rule of the law and the Constitution of the United States, and appreciation for the religious dimension in American society and in lawyers' personal lives.

The Jewish Law School Association (JLSA) strives to provide social, educational, religious, political, cultural, and professional resources and opportunities for all Jewish law students at Iowa. The society educates and involves its members in the social, moral, and ethical obligations of the profession; plans and implements programming to facilitate a sense of community among Jewish law students; and raises awareness of Jewish cultural and educational issues at the college. 

The Latino/a Law Student Association (LLSA) promotes viable changes within existing legal institutions in order to develop constructive legal and community programs, produce competent and effective Latino and Latina attorneys, and utilize available resources—activities necessary to safeguard and advance the rights and opportunities of oppressed peoples. To achieve these goals, LLSA recruits for the law school. LLSA's philosophy is that national unity is fundamental for the collective awareness needed to bring about progressive policies in legal education. The association welcomes all students.

Law Students for Reproductive Justice (LSRJ) is committed to increasing education and professional training in reproductive rights law. The society supports Iowa law student activism, advocacy, and networking in order to ensure that new lawyers can successfully defend and expand family planning rights and reproductive freedoms.

The Legal Cinema Studies Society provides regular screenings of fiction, nonfiction, and international films addressing legal issues and the legal profession. Each screening is followed by a discussion section that addresses relevant legal issues and examines pop culture expressions of the world of law and lawyers. The society's membership is intended for College of Law students, but the group welcomes all who wish to attend screenings and discussion sections.

The Middle Eastern Legal Student Association (MELSA) aims to increase student and faculty awareness of issues pertaining to the Middle East and how they affect the legal profession.

The Native American Law Students Association (NALSA) promotes awareness of legal, political, cultural, and social issues that affect Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other indigenous peoples. NALSA also seeks to promote the study of federal Indian law and provides a forum for the exploration of issues in tribal sovereignty, natural resources, family law, trust obligations, and cultural identity.

The Organization for Women Law Students and Staff (OWLSS) aims to address the changing needs and problems of women in the legal profession and to develop, recommend, and implement new programs, especially those that meet the needs of women at the College of Law. It also sponsors programs of interest to the general law school community. OWLSS has sponsored fall recruitment of prospective women law students, a safety-in-numbers program, brown bag lunches with guest speakers, sponsorship of members to the annual National Women and the Law Conference, a support network, a regular newsletter, and joint programs with women student groups in medicine and dentistry. Membership is open to all College of Law students, faculty members, and staff members.

The Outlaws provides a common forum for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered persons interested in the law, and promotes a climate of mutual support, protection, and professional advancement. Membership is open to all College of Law students and faculty members.

Founded in 1902, Phi Alpha Delta (PADS) is the nation's oldest and largest law fraternity. It was the first law fraternity to remove membership restrictions based on race, color, creed, national origin, and grade-point average. Iowa's Hammond Chapter was established in 1908 and became the first PADS chapter to accept students of all races and religions. It participates in fund-raisers and other service projects to benefit local and national service organizations. Membership is open to all College of Law students.

Phi Delta Phi (PHIDS) promotes the highest standards of ethics and professionalism in law schools and the legal profession. Since its establishment in 1869, the fraternity has initiated more than 200,000 members. It has more judges, American presidents, governors, senators, representatives, and cabinet members among its membership than does any other legal fraternity.

The Pro Bono Society exists to reinforce the value of public service and volunteerism in the legal profession. Membership in the Pro Bono Society is earned through objectively measured activities during the academic year. Iowa law students who complete and report 15 hours of voluntary public service in each of two consecutive semesters are considered for membership. Time donated to a charitable or public service cause, which may be law-related or not, is considered voluntary public service; the requirement is interpreted broadly, so that students may volunteer in an area of interest to them. Members receive a certificate of membership and are invited to attend the annual recognition dinner. The society is a project of the Iowa Student Bar Association.

The Society for International Human Rights at Iowa (SIHRLI) brings together College of Law students who share an interest in the study of international human rights issues. Members support other law students' efforts to incorporate this interest into their future legal careers. 

The Sports Law Society connects College of Law students interested in sports law with professionals in the sports industry. Membership is open to all College of Law students.

Admission

Undergraduate Education and Law School

Applicants for admission to The University of Iowa College of Law must complete all requirements for the baccalaureate degree before beginning law school.  In addition, the baccalaureate degree must be earned from an undergraduate institution that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Department of Education. This is in line with standards that are set by the College of Law's primary accrediting agency, the American Bar Association.

Fulfillment of the basic requirements does not guarantee admission. The College of Law Admissions Committee selects applicants it deems best able to help the college fulfill its primary mission of providing a high quality legal education in a diverse and stimulating environment and preparing students to serve as leaders in their professional and civic communities. Some additional consideration is given to applicants who are residents of Iowa.

The services that College of Law graduates are called upon to perform are so varied, and the possible fields of endeavor so broad and diverse, that the college prescribes no uniform undergraduate program for those planning to enter law school. With the assistance of faculty advisors, each student should develop an undergraduate program that explores and develops that student's particular intellectual interests. Reading, writing, research, public speaking, critical thinking, and a healthy respect for the historical perspective are important academic skills for students considering law school.

Iowa strongly endorses the three basic objectives recommended by a committee of the Association of American Law Schools: education for comprehension and expression in words; education for a critical understanding of the human institutions and values with which the law deals; and education for greater power in thinking. Anyone thinking of attending law school should keep these objectives in mind while planning an undergraduate course of study.

The association's recommendations emphasize that undergraduate education of students for a full life through liberal education is far more important than education directed too pointedly toward later professional training and practice. Students are urged not to sacrifice broad perspective for detailed specialization.

Selection of Applicants

The college uses multiple criteria in evaluating applicants for admission. Part of the entering class is admitted under a "presumptive admit" process, in which the faculty admissions committee admits students primarily, but not solely, on the strength of their numbers, namely the cumulative undergraduate grade-point average and LSAT score (see "Law School Admission Test" below). Before admission offers are made, each applicant's complete file is reviewed to ensure that the overall record suggests the applicant's suitability for admission, in keeping with the primary mission of the law school.

Although undergraduate academic record and performance on the LSAT are both important admission criteria, the college recognizes that in some circumstances they do not accurately reflect an applicant's potential to succeed in the study of law, develop skills as a leader, enrich the learning environment of his or her fellow students, and serve the public interest as a lawyer.

To evaluate applicants' total suitability for admission, the college has developed a "numbers-plus" admissions policy, under which part of each entering class is admitted. Under the "numbers-plus" policy, undergraduate record and LSAT scores are supplemented by nonquantifiable factors that may provide insight to an applicant's overall potential for success in the study and practice of law.

For example, an applicant who can substantiate that his or her standardized test scores are not predictive of academic performance in law school may receive proportionately greater consideration from the committee for his or her grade-point average. Other factors the committee may consider include special academic or professional abilities not reflected in the grade-point average, disability or serious health factors that affected prior academic performance, extracurricular activities, exceptional school-year work commitments due to family financial circumstances, postbaccalaureate academic success (including graduate study), law-related employment experience, public service commitment, leadership in groups historically underrepresented in the legal profession, educational or socioeconomic disadvantage, native language other than English, unusual motivation or perseverance in overcoming obstacles to law study, and any other information the committee considers relevant to the applicant's potential for law study.

Candidates who wish to bring such factors to the committee's attention may do so by including addenda and other documentation with their applications.

Entrance Date

Admission is for August. Applications are accepted beginning September 1 of the year before admission, with an application deadline of March 1 in the year of admission. Because the college has a rolling admissions process, applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible.

Each application must include an application fee, which is nonrefundable. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds who cannot afford the fee should apply for a waiver. If you seek a waiver, you must submit a written request and a recent FAFSA or income tax statement along with your application.

For additional information, contact the College of Law Office of Admissions, c/o College of Law, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1113.

Application Process

LSDAS REPORT AND TRANSCRIPTS

The University of Iowa College of Law participates in the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS). Applicants must register for this service through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC); foreign-educated applicants are exempt from this requirement. Prospective law applicants can find the information they need to complete their application for admission to the law school in the council's free, annual publication, Law School Admission Information Book, and on LSAC's web site. It takes approximately three weeks from the time the College of Law requests the LSDAS report until it arrives.

Applicants whose fall course work does not appear on the Law School Data Assembly Service report should send an official transcript of that course work to the LSDAS.

Applicants are responsible for submitting an official transcript from each college or university they have attended to Law School Admission Council, Box 2000, Newtown, PA 18940-0998.

Each applicant's undergraduate institution must forward the applicant's class rank or the grade distribution for the applicant's class to the College of Law, if such information is available. Information about class rank is helpful in the application process, but not required. Currently enrolled or former University of Iowa students need not provide this information.

Before classes begin, every applicant who accepts admission to the College of Law must file official transcripts showing conferral of degree with the University's Office of Admissions.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

The college requires applicants to submit at least two, but not more than three, letters of recommendation. Recommendations from professors or others who can comment on the candidate's critical thinking, writing skills, and potential for success in law school are particularly welcome.

The college participates in the Letter of Recommendation Service offered by the Law School Admission Council. A letter of recommendation form can be downloaded on the council's web site. Individuals writing letters of recommendation should send their letters, with the required forms, to Law School Admission Council, P.O. Box 8508, Newtown, PA 18940-8508.

LAW SCHOOL ADMISSION TEST

Applicants for admission must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). The test is given several times each year and may be taken at numerous locations in the United States and abroad. Test application forms may be obtained from the Law School Admission Council.

Applicants are urged to take the test no later than the fall preceding the fall semester for which they are applying. Applicants' LSAT scores may not be available until approximately four weeks after their test date.

The February test date is the last one that the admissions committee can consider for applicants requesting admission the following fall. Scores more than five years old are not accepted.

Applicants whose first language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Testing System (IELTS) exam.

DEFERRALS

Admission is for the year of application; deferrals are granted only in extraordinary circumstances.

DEPOSIT UPON ACCEPTANCE

All applicants must make a nonrefundable deposit of $250 (U.S.). Fall entrants accepted before March 15 must submit the deposit by April 1; those accepted after March 15 have two weeks to submit the deposit.

Fall entrants must pay a second nonrefundable deposit of $150 (U.S.) by June 1.

For those who enroll, the deposit is credited toward tuition and fees. All accepted applicants, including recipients of scholarships, fellowships, and loans, are required to pay the deposit. Applicants who fail to make the deposit by the specified time forfeit their place in the entering class.

Financial Support

The College of Law administers its substantial scholarships and fellowships to advance the goals of its selective admission policy. Work-study funds and loans are awarded on the basis of need or merit to provide access to legal education for the talented and diverse students admitted to the college. A number of part-time employment opportunities also are available to upper-level students.

Inquiries regarding financial aid should be directed either to the University's Office of Student Financial Aid or to the College of Law Office of Financial Aid.

All financial aid information is subject to change without notice.

Application for Financial Aid

Eligibility for financial aid is based on need established by completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the required supporting documents. The FAFSA should be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov after January 1 each year and should be completed as soon as possible thereafter, since some financial aid is subject to the availability of funds.

Although financial aid awards are not made until after applicants are admitted to the College of Law, applicants should not wait for the notice of admission before filing the FAFSA. Admitted students who provide the required documents are informed of their eligibility for financial aid on the award notification letter. Students must reapply for aid every year.

Applicants are urged to investigate other sources of aid. Public libraries, private and civic organizations, and the Internet are excellent sources for information about financial aid resources.

Scholarships, Fellowships

MERIT-BASED SUPPORT

All students admitted to the College of Law are considered for merit-based scholarships and fellowships based on their academic achievement. A separate application is not required. Recipients are notified by letter. Awards may range from $500 to full tuition with a research assistantship component in upper-level years.

NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS

All admitted students who file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and required supporting documents are considered automatically for need-based scholarships. Recipients are notified by award letter. Awards may range from $500 to full tuition.

IOWA LAW SCHOOL FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS

The University of Iowa Law School Foundation Scholarships include scholarships based on need, merit, or a combination of need and merit. These scholarships are available to a limited number of students who meet the criteria established by the scholarship donors. All admitted students are considered for the merit-based scholarships, and all admitted students who file the FAFSA and required supporting documents are considered automatically for the need-based scholarships. A separate application is not required. Recipients are notified by award letter. Awards may range from $500 to full tuition.

LAW OPPORTUNITY FELLOWSHIP

The College of Law is committed to affording opportunity for a legal career to persons historically underrepresented in the legal profession. The Law Opportunity Fellowship Program was established by the University to provide access to law school for students from groups and backgrounds historically underrepresented within the legal community. Among criteria considered in awarding the fellowships are educationally and/or socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, leadership potential, academic merit, and importance of the fellowship award to the student's financial ability to attend law school.

The Law Opportunity Fellowship may provide up to full tuition for three years and the opportunity to hold a research assistant position for the second and third years. All admitted students who file the FAFSA and required supporting documents are considered for the Law Opportunity Fellowship. A separate application is not required. Recipients are notified by award letter.

Employment

The College of Law does not employ students during their first year of law school, due to the intensive course schedule. In no event may a full-time student work more than 20 hours per week.

RESEARCH ASSISTANT POSITIONS

Research assistant positions are available with many faculty members for second- and third-year students. Students classified as nonresidents who hold one-quarter-time research assistantships (10 hours per week) automatically qualify for resident tuition status during the semester(s) in which they serve as research assistants.

UI PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT

The University offers a variety of part-time employment positions for students. Students do not need to apply for financial aid in order to work in these positions. Information about part-time employment is available from the University's Office of Student Financial Aid.

FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM

The Federal Work-Study Program provides a need-based employment opportunity for a limited number of students in their second and/or third year at the law college. College Work-Study may reduce the student's William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan eligibility. Students must demonstrate financial eligibility for work-study through the FAFSA and its required documents.

Loans

All admitted students who file the FAFSA and required supporting documents are considered for the University of Iowa Law Foundation Loan, the Federal Perkins Loan, and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans.

IOWA LAW SCHOOL FOUNDATION LOAN, FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN

These are low-interest loans based on exceptional financial need. Interest does not accrue and payments are not required until the student is no longer enrolled at least half-time in school.

FEDERAL DIRECT FORD/STAFFORD LOANS AND FEDERAL GRADUATE/PROFESSIONAL PLUS LOANS

The Federal Direct Ford/Stafford Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized) and the Federal Graduate/Professional PLUS Loans are funded by the federal government. The three loan programs may have different interest rates and interest subsidies based on eligibility as determined by the FAFSA and other required documents, and based on the annual maximum loan amounts. Interest on the Unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loan and the Graduate/Professional PLUS Loan accrues while a student is in school, but principal and interest payments may be deferred while a student is in school. Eligibility for the Graduate/Professional PLUS Loan also includes a determination that the applicant does not have an adverse credit history.

Academic Rules and Procedures

Transfer Credit

No more than 30 s.h. may be transferred to Iowa from another law school. To qualify for transfer credit, courses must have been completed at a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. Grades received at another law school are not counted in calculating the cumulative grade-point average.

Courses Taken Before Admission to the College of Law

Students may not count toward the J.D. any credit they earned in courses they took before matriculating at the College of Law, with the exception of transfer students from other law schools.

Courses Taken Outside the College of Law

Students who take courses outside the College of Law must first obtain permission from the associate dean. If "special permission of the instructor required" is indicated on ISIS (Iowa Student Information Services web site), the student also must obtain the instructor's signature.

Students not enrolled in a joint degree program may apply toward the J.D. a maximum of 6 s.h. earned in courses outside the College of Law or through cocurricular hours. Such courses are approved only if they contribute directly to the professional competence of an attorney or broaden the student's understanding of law, the legal process, or any particular legal subject. More information about limitations on accreditation of non-College of Law courses is available from the associate dean.

Courses Taken at Another Law School After Enrollment at Iowa

With the permission of the dean, enrolled students may receive credit for courses taken and passed at other law schools accredited by the American Bar Association, up to a maximum of 30 s.h. Grades of C and higher are reflected on the student's transcript as credit for the designated semester hours.

Externships and Summer Legal Placements

Students may earn academic credit for externships with nonprofit or governmental organizations throughout the United States, and in some circumstances, abroad. Externship credit counts toward the maximum of 20 s.h. that may be earned for clinical work, nonclinical externships, and non-law classes. Students may earn credit for only one nonclinical externship during their law school tenure, no matter what amount of credit that externship carries. 

Most externships are done during summer, with students registering for 091:395 Summer Legal Placement in order to earn 3 s.h. of credit. Students must spend at least 150 hours on site. They are assigned to a section supervised by a faculty member, who conducts a virtual seminar for the section's students during the externship. The faculty supervisor also conducts regular conferences with individual students (usually by telephone) and reviews their written reports on the work in progress.

Externships also may be scheduled for the fall or spring semester. In unusual circumstances, externships for up to 15 s.h. of credit may be approved.

Students considering externships are responsible for initiating contact with appropriate sponsoring organizations and for securing an externship position. The College of Law Career Services Office offers assistance with arranging externships. Information also is available at Legal Externships on the college’s web site. 

Applications for summer externships are due by April 1, except in extraordinary circumstances. Students interested in externships should contact the College of Law Career Services Office.

Grading Policy

The College of Law has adopted a numbering system for grading, effective for students who entered the college in May 2004 and later.

A numerical grade is assigned to each student in each course, except as otherwise provided (e.g., for courses graded pass/fail, for courses that continue the following term, for grades of incomplete). Grades are recorded in the University's permanent record.

The highest grade awarded at the College of Law is 4.3, the lowest 1.5. No academic credit is given for grades below 1.8 or for grades of "fail."

Numerical grades may be translated into a letter grade as follows.

4.3–4.2 = A+

4.1–3.9 = A

3.8–3.6 = A-

3.5–3.3 = B+

3.2–3.0 = B

2.9–2.7 = B-

2.6–2.4 = C

2.3–2.1 = C-

2.0–1.8 = D

1.7–1.5 = F

Professors may disenroll students for cause or reduce grades for inappropriate academic conduct, for example, plagiarism. Such measures are subject to appropriate due process.

With the dean's permission, a student may retake a course in which he or she has received a failing grade. The second grade is recorded either as pass--a grade of 2.1 or higher--or fail and is not used in computing the student's cumulative grade-point average. Rather, the first grade received for the course remains on the transcript and is used in computing the grade-point average.

If the course being retaken is sectioned, the dean designates the section to which the student will be assigned.

The faculty has adopted a mandatory grade curve for all courses.

Pass/Fail Grades

Credit for certain courses is offered only on a pass/fail basis. In the case of a failing academic performance in a pass/fail course, the faculty supervisor or instructor may assign a failing numerical grade, i.e., between 1.7 and 1.5. Individual faculty members may allow students to withdraw from a course rather than receive a failing grade.

Miscellaneous Grading Marks

Marks other than pass, fail, and numerical grades are as follows.

R means registered. It indicates that a student has completed the first half of a year-long program, such as a seminar or journal, for which a grade cannot be assigned until the second half of the program has been completed.

W means withdrawn. It carries no course credit and is not used in computing the cumulative grade-point average.

I means incomplete. It carries no course credit toward a degree until it is changed, nor is it used in computing the cumulative grade-point average. A mark of I may be reported only in exceptional cases and only if the unfinished part of the work is small and is unfinished for reasons acceptable to the instructor, and if the student's standing in the course is satisfactory. Students remove an incomplete by completing the unfinished work during their next period of residence.

Class Ranking

Students in the top 10 percent in each class may be informed of their exact rank; grade-point averages at the 12.5 percentile and 37.5 percentile are posted.

Students are ranked following the fall semester and spring semester each year. Final class standing is determined each August and is available in September. It includes students who completed all graduation requirements in August, May, and the previous December. For purposes of ranking underclass students, the same system is used, based on the expected graduation date.

Release of Transcripts

A student's grades are not given to persons outside the College of Law, including prospective employers, without written permission of the student.

Class Attendance and Preparation

Students must attend classes regularly and punctually. They must be prepared to participate in class discussions. A student may be dropped from a course or failed, at the discretion of the instructor, for excessive absence or for repeated lack of adequate preparation. In addition, students are expected to attend special class meetings and be punctual in submitting course assignments, in accordance with ABA Standard 304(d).

Examination Policy

One examination is given in each course, with few exceptions. Before taking an exam, each student is assigned an identification number for that exam, to ensure anonymity in grading. Students must write their examination number on scratch paper and any other materials that are distributed at the start of the examination and collected at its conclusion. The instructor submits a grade for each identification number. The grade is kept on file for two years at the College of Law.

To preserve anonymous grading, students must not identify themselves and must not place their name on the examination answer or other materials that the instructor might see. They also may not discuss the examination with their instructors until the exam has been graded and the grades released. Students who have questions should pose them to a proctor during the examination or to the College of Law dean of students or registrar after the exam.

Students may be offered the option of taking some exams on their personal laptops. Each course's instructor determines whether this option is available for his or her specific course.

Students who have more than one examination scheduled for the same day, two consecutive exams (i.e. Wednesday afternoon, Thursday morning), or exams four days in a row may schedule a make-up time for one of the exams. Students who have exams three days in a row may reschedule one only with permission of the instructor.

Students are expected to take the exam on the next scheduled makeup date immediately following the regularly scheduled exam. Whenever possible, the dean sets aside one to three days as an upperclass study period between the end of regular classes and the first regularly scheduled upperclass exam. See the College of Law Student Handbook for all policies related to examinations.

Exam Accommodations for English Language, Physical, or Medical Reasons

A student who is at a substantial disadvantage in taking an exam within the specified time limit because he or she does not have English as a primary language or because he or she has a physical or recognized medical disability may be granted additional time to complete the exam commensurate with the extent of the disadvantage. A student seeking such additional time must make a request to the dean of students by the deadline announced each semester, unless the disability comes into existence after that deadline has passed, stating the nature of the disability and the examination(s) for which the student seeks additional time.

An undergraduate degree from an English-language college or University is considered evidence that the student is not qualified to be granted extra exam time due to not having English as a primary language. When additional time is granted, it generally is reduced each semester as the student becomes more proficient in English. 

Program Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

The College of Law is committed to making all of its programs, activities, and services accessible to students with disabilities. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, it strives to provide equal access to all academically qualified students and does not discriminate against students on the basis of disability. The college provides reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities, commensurate with the nature and extent of the disability and consistent with federal law, state law, and policies of The University of Iowa and the College of Law. Students may request accommodations for any University of Iowa sponsored curricular, cocurricular, or extracurricular program, including those in the College of Law.

The College of Law’s cocurricular and extracurricular programs include, but are not limited to, Appellate Advocacy I, Trial Advocacy Board, the Iowa Law Review and its editorial board, Moot Court Board, Advanced Moot Court Competition, Van Oosterhout-Baskerville Moot Court Competition, National Moot Court Competition, The Journal of Corporation Law and its editorial board, Transnational Law & Contemporary Problems and its editorial board, The Journal of Gender Race & Justice and its editorial board, Jessup International Moot Court Competition, and Jessup International Law Moot Court team. 

Withdrawal and Leave of Absence

First-year students who withdraw during the academic year or who fail to reenroll for the second semester must apply for reentry to the College of Law. They must compete with other applicants for a place in the first-year class for the year in which they wish to return. For each readmission application, the reason for the withdrawal and the quality of work done before withdrawal or failure to reenroll is considered. For admission purposes, individuals who have earned fewer than 27 s.h. of credit at the time of withdrawal or failure to reenroll are considered first-year students.

Second- and third-year students who fail to enroll for any semester during the academic year and who have not been granted a leave of absence by the dean of students must obtain permission from the Admissions Committee if they wish to reenroll. Requests for permission to reenroll must be submitted no later than 90 days before the opening of classes for the semester or summer session in which the student seeks to reenroll.

The dean of students may grant a second- or third-year student a leave of absence for up to one year, if the student shows good cause. First-year students may be granted leaves of absence only under extraordinary circumstances, such as a medical or family emergency, or as a reasonable accommodation for a disability.

Students who withdraw from the College of Law after they have paid tuition are entitled to a pro rata refund of that tuition depending on the effective date of their withdrawal. Consult with the College of Law registrar or college's Office of Financial Aid for details. 

Student Conduct

Students are expected to act in a manner appropriate at a professional school. An act or omission that is dishonest or designed to take unfair advantage may subject a student to sanctions as serious as expulsion from school. Misconduct policies and procedures are published annually in the College of Law Student Handbook.

Research Centers and Programs

Participation in research centers and outreach programs is an important part of the College of Law's service to professional and civic communities. The college was home to the nation's first agricultural law center. Since that center's closing, several new centers and institutes have been founded in diverse fields such as child and maternal health care, disability law and policy, human rights law, not-for-profit entities, public affairs, and public international finance. These programs enjoy increasing national and international recognition for their specialized research projects and service activities. Several have enjoyed success in attracting competitive grants from state, federal, and private sources.

Innovation, Business, and Law Center

The Innovation, Business, and Law Center is an interdisciplinary teaching and research venture that brings together faculty members who teach and study problems of business, technology, innovation, regulation, and legal policy from diverse perspectives. The center's purpose is twofold: to offer an innovative curriculum and outstanding legal training in areas pertaining to government regulation of entrepreneurship, innovation, and management of resources; and to encourage creative individual and collaborative interdisciplinary research in these areas.

Program in Law and History

The Program in Law and History, founded in 2009, builds on The University of Iowa's tradition of scholarship and teaching in the field of legal history. Faculty members from law, history, and other disciplines are affiliated with the program. As part of its work to foster continued research and teaching at the intersection of law and history, the program presents a series of legal history workshops and the Donald Sutherland lecture in legal history; promotes awareness of the College of Law's extensive library resources in legal history; and promotes the teaching of legal history.

University of Iowa Center for Human Rights

The University of Iowa Center for Human Rights was founded in 1999 as an outgrowth of the University's year-long commemoration celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The center's mission is to promote and protect human rights at home and abroad by providing distinguished multidisciplinary leadership in human rights research, education, and public service. Its focus includes all categories of human rights, from first-generation civil and political rights, to second-generation economic, social, and cultural rights, to third-generation group or community rights.

University of Iowa Center for International Finance and Development

The University of Iowa Center for International Finance and Development is a project to help laypersons understand the often impenetrable world of international finance and development. The center's web site features a 300-page e-book, written by a University of Iowa law professor and a group of his students, that explains the complex world of international finance and development in plain language. It also offers related news, issues discussions, briefing papers, frequently asked questions, and links to other useful sites.

Institute of Public Affairs

The Institute of Public Affairs provides services and information to help maintain and strengthen the effectiveness of Iowa’s local governments. Efforts include facilitation of goal setting and strategic planning, public policy and organizational assistance, professional development and training, timely and topical conferences and workshops, publications, outreach, and linkage with other University programs and activities. The Institute provides training for newly elected mayors and council members through a municipal leadership academy and publishes the Iowa Municipal Policy Leader’s Handbook for city officials. It also holds the annual Iowa Municipal Management Institute, a professional development conference for city and county managers and administrators in Iowa.

Larned A. Waterman Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center

The Larned A. Waterman Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center was created in 2000 to help nonprofit organizations throughout Iowa. The interdisciplinary center works to increase accessibility to educational and service programs focused on strengthening nonprofit organizations. It collaborates with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions. It also introduces students to the nonprofit sector and develops their sense of public and community service.

Law, Health Policy & Disability Center

The Law, Health Policy & Disability Center is an emerging leader in law, technology, education, and research. Its aim is to improve quality of life for persons living with disabilities. Based at the University of Iowa College of Law, the center concentrates on public policy and its impact on persons with disabilities, with emphasis on employment, self-determination, and self-sufficiency.

National Health Law and Policy Resource Center

The National Health Law and Policy Resource Center promotes laws and public policies that foster and facilitate accessible, affordable, high-quality health care for all Americans, particularly members of vulnerable and disadvantaged populations. It provides a nonpartisan forum for informed dialogue on health law and policy issues, based on the best available data and information, between academics, practitioners, and public policy makers. It conducts the Program on Aging and the Program on Maternal and Child Health and maintains the Conflict Management Institute. Its activities include an information clearinghouse, research and demonstration projects, education and training, and technical assistance and consultations. 

Facilities and Resources

Boyd Law Building

The Willard L. Boyd Law Building exemplifies Iowa's continuing commitment to legal education and the legal profession. The large, circular structure reflects the special character of the Iowa law school and allows the college to operate in a physical environment in which every square foot of space is designed to promote the college's academic and professional programs.

Classrooms in the Boyd Law Building provide an atmosphere conducive to the college's goals. They are air conditioned, carpeted, and properly lit. The building's largest classroom seats only 100 people. Small seminar rooms and special-purpose learning areas are distributed throughout the building, permitting students and faculty members to work together in close professional interaction. The newly renovated clinic suite functions as a teaching law firm, offering ease of access, usability, and visibility. The student lounge, faculty lounge, and faculty offices are located on the same floor, encouraging interaction between students and faculty members.

Iowa Law Library

The centerpiece of the Boyd Law Building is the University of Iowa Law Library, which occupies space on four floors and is one of the major repositories of legal materials in the United States. Iowa's collection, containing 1,298,646 volumes and volume equivalents, is ranked second in the number of volumes and volume equivalents and second in the number of titles among all U.S. law school libraries. The collection covers a full range of Anglo-American, foreign, international, and comparative law; contains in-depth collections on law of the United States and of every state and territory; and has extensive holdings of early English legal source materials. Since 1968 the library has been a selective Federal Documents Depository.

The Law Library has an open-stack policy that makes its collection accessible to all patrons, who are served by a full staff of professional librarians. The Westlaw and LexisNexis computerized information retrieval systems are available for training and research activities, and a full range of legal and nonlegal databases are available through the online catalog.

The library's entire collection is cataloged on the University's InfoHawk database, including the collection of U.S. government documents. InfoHawk also features an automated circulation system for checking materials out of the library. The library uses OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) for online cataloging and interlibrary loan.

Iowa Legal Studies Workshop

The Iowa Legal Studies Workshop gives authors at the College of Law an opportunity to receive constructive, critical analyses of their written work. The workshop draws inspiration for its format from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. It welcomes law faculty at all ranks and from all areas of expertise as well as faculty from other colleges across the University.

Writing Resource Center

The Writing Resource Center is dedicated to strengthening law students' command of writing skills central to the study and practice of law. The first writing center in the country established specifically for a law school community, the Writing Resource Center serves as an extension of the classroom and supplements the college's first-year legal writing, analysis, and research program.

Members of the Writing Resource Center staff help law students with a broad range of writing, including class assignments, seminar papers, law journal articles, and symposium presentations. They also assist students with résumés, application letters, and writing samples.

In addition to helping students with general writing skills in one-on-one tutorial sessions, the center's staff members train editors in editing skills, set up individualized programs of study, offer grammar and style workshops, provide guidance on avoiding plagiarism, and suggest strategies for overcoming writer's block and adapting material for varied audiences.

The Writing Resource Center is staffed by writers, including graduate students enrolled in the Iowa Writers' Workshop, second- and third-year law students, lawyers, and a director who holds a Ph.D. in the area of writing instruction. 

Career Services Office

The College of Law Career Services Office provides career planning and job search assistance to law students. Each year the office sponsors a comprehensive series of programs on career options and job search skills. It also maintains a library of resources and provides individual advising by professional staff. Job search assistance also is available to alumni.

The special rigor that characterizes Iowa's distinctive brand of legal education attracts a wide variety and growing number of recruiters to campus each year. During a typical academic year, approximately 150 employers send representatives to Iowa City to conduct job interviews, and many more firms use the college's Career Services Office to search for prospective employees through written inquiries and off-campus interviews.

Iowa graduates traditionally have had excellent success in finding employment; usually, more than 98 percent are employed within a few months of graduation. The career services staff is happy to talk with prospective students regarding the college's programs and the success of its graduates.

Bookstore

The College of Law has its own bookstore, which carries all assigned texts and materials for law classes. It also stocks a variety of professionally prepared outlines, hornbooks, and other study aids, as well as a limited selection of school supplies and merchandise, including pens, notebook paper, binders, computer disks, exam software, stamps, t-shirts, and sweatshirts. The bookstore also can make change.

Photocopied handouts and teaching materials assigned by course instructors are available through the bookstore.

Students may charge costs for books, class materials, supplies, and merchandise directly to their University accounts. The bookstore does not accept credit cards. 

Information Technology

Since electronic information technologies are vital in legal and business work, the College of Law encourages all law students to become proficient with computers. Access to word processing software also helps law students draft the many papers, articles, and other manuscripts that are a regular part of the law curriculum. The college has installed 41 personal computers attached to a local area network for use by its students. Students also are encouraged to purchase personal computers and Microsoft Windows software, if possible, and to use them in connection with their law school work.

The law college provides network and Internet access from all student library carrels. To participate, law students supply their own laptop computers, which must meet required specifications. Specifications are available from the Law Library computer support office. Wireless Internet access is available throughout the Boyd Law Building.

The college's computers are loaded with WordPerfect and Microsoft Office software, and the college provides training for and access to the two major online computer research databases, West Publishing Company's WESTLAW and Mead Data's LEXIS. Once students complete the training, they have unlimited free access to these services at home via their own PCs and on the student and public workstations in the Law Library.

The Law Library also provides CD-ROM workstations that allow access to databases in CD-ROM formats. Some of the titles available are United Nations documents, complete from 1945; Index to Legal Periodicals; TIARA, a database containing treaties; and numerous U.S. government documents published on CD-ROM.

The University provides free e-mail accounts to its students, faculty, and staff through its Information Technology Services office (ITS). Students can sign up for e-mail accounts online or at the ITS offices in University Capitol Centre. ITS advises University of Iowa students, faculty, and staff on computer hardware and software needs and can provide information about educational discounts on some purchases. ITS also offers a wide variety of free computer short courses throughout the year. For information on computing resources at the University, consult the Information Technology Services web site.

Copy Services

Networked copy machines are available on each floor of the Law Library. Students may set up a copying account at the circulation desk. They also may use networked printers in the library and charge them to their University account. 

A University-operated copy service on the first floor of the Boyd Law Building provides high-volume, high-quality copying. Prices are comparable to those at commercial concerns, and students may charge copying to their University accounts.

Legal Aid for Students

Students in need of legal assistance may consider turning to the University's Student Legal Services. The Legal Services Corporation of Iowa also provides civil representation to indigent clients.

College of Law Events

Parents and Partners Day

Each fall, the parents, spouses, and friends of all students are invited to the campus for activities sponsored by the Iowa Student Bar Association and the Iowa Law School Foundation. Past activities have included a simulated class, a brunch, an auction, and a tour of the college. The weekend is a good opportunity for families and friends to see what the life of a law student is really like.

Supreme Court Day

The College of Law hosts the Iowa Supreme Court on The University of Iowa campus each fall. Third-year students present oral arguments in a moot case to the court, and faculty members host receptions at their homes for the justices, attorneys, and students, providing an opportunity for informal visits with members of the court.

Iowa Law School Foundation

During the three years that students spend at the College of Law, many of the classes, programs, and projects in which they participate are partially or totally supported by private gifts from law alumni and friends.

The Iowa Law School Foundation was created by the 1952 graduating class to promote close relations between the college and its alumni and to solicit gifts for scholarships, faculty support, and other projects that benefit the college.

Foundation funding benefits faculty positions, student scholarships, loans, research assistantships, guest speakers, and student orientation activities; the clinical law, Moot Court, Trial Advocacy, and Client Counseling programs; and the student-edited law journals. It also helps support Iowa Advocate, the law school's alumni magazine. Published once a year, the magazine features articles and news about the college and its alumni, faculty, and students.

In order to support these programs and activities, the Iowa Law School Foundation actively solicits contributions from the college's approximately 9,900 alumni.

Courses

The following list includes all approved College of Law courses. The college does not offer each course every year. For information on current course offerings, consult the College of Law registrar. The College of Law Guide to Courses contains a list of courses that have been offered within the past two academic years. It also lists courses the college expects to offer during the next academic year.

First Year

Second and Third Year

Law Study Abroad