The American Bar Association (ABA) sets requirements for the study of law at all of the law schools it has accredited. The residency requirement states that students must attend classes a prescribed number of days and weeks. Full-time students at the Michigan State University College of Law complete their J.D. degree in three years. A student may accelerate by completing some course work in the summer. The time limit for the completion of the requirements for the J.D. degree is seven calendar years from the date of enrollment in the first courses included for degree certification. The degree may not be completed in less than two calendar years.
In order to considered full-time for academic purposes, students must carry the minimum number of credits per semester or summer session as defined below:
| Master of Laws (LL.M.) |
6 credits |
| Master of Jurisprudence (M.J.) |
6 credits |
| Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.) |
6 credits |
| Juris Doctor (J.D.) |
12 credits |