Michael D. Sant’Ambrogio, DEAN
The College of Law’s history dates to 1891 when the Detroit College of Law was established to serve residents of Detroit. Before the Law College’s founding, the only way a Detroit resident could become a member of the bar without leaving the city to study was by “reading” law in local attorneys’ offices. The Law College’s founders were a group of such “readers”—law clerks and students in southeastern Michigan. As a result, during the first two years of the school’s history, its directors were themselves students—a unique situation.The first class of 69 graduates included a future circuit court judge and a future ambassador. A woman in the first class and an African American in the second exemplified the Law College’s commitment to offering all sectors of the population an opportunity for a quality legal education.In 1995, the Law College affiliated with Michigan State University, thereby providing students with access to a wealth of resources and opportunities while preserving the school’s student-centric culture. Over the years, the affiliation relationship grew progressively closer, until MSU and MSU Law leadership committed to full in October 2018. As of August 17, 2020, MSU College of Law was fully integrated into the university, and exists as a constituent college of MSU.Michigan State University College of Law has preserved the historic DCL values of access and opportunity, work ethic, and immersion in the profession, while embracing the opportunities that come from being part of a Big Ten university.
Mission
The mission of the Michigan State University College of Law is to provide a rigorous educational program, preparing a diverse community of students to become leaders in private legal practice, business and industry, government service, and legal education. The Law College draws upon a century of service, an association with a major research institution, a commitment to broad educational access, scholarly excellence, and service to society.
The Law College teaches core legal skills, supplemented with academic concentrations, specialized programs, and scholarly research. The college stresses ethics, good lawyering, professionalism, and service. Consistent with these values, it instructs students in the arts of client representation and trial advocacy, and the tenets of legal principles, private rights, and public policy.
The Law College strives continuously to strengthen academic quality in all of its programs and activities. The college is committed to offering opportunities for professional growth, innovation, research, and scholarship to its faculty. The faculty embraces its mandate to provide excellence in instruction with significant contributions to legal research, public service, and community outreach. The staff contributes service, support, and creativity.
The Law College aspires to preserve its educational heritage while seeking sound innovation through a flexible and creative program of academic growth, development, and opportunity. The College fosters an environment of trust, collegiality, and inclusion for faculty, students, and staff.
Legal Education
The Michigan State University College of Law legal education program leading to a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree is designed to offer integrated learning, combining theory with practice. The Law College wants its graduates to be ready to practice law in real-world settings. This goal is accomplished in and out of the classroom. The classroom provides skill-based learning — especially writing and advocacy skills — and legal theory. Out of the classroom, experiential learning opportunities such as internships, externships, and clinical experiences provide opportunities to apply classroom lessons.
A distinction of an Michigan State University Law education is the substantive collaboration with other disciplines and programs at Michigan State University. College areas of focus and certificate programs allow students to build expertise in a specific area of law, and include opportunities to take graduate-level courses throughout MSU. This interdisciplinary approach to legal education results in a greater understanding of how law is practiced in society and how it affects other disciplines. For those who wish to take Integrated learning a step further, dual-degree programs allow students to earn both a law degree and another graduate degree in four years. Of particular note is the dual-degree program with the University of Ottawa School of Law, which enables students to earn the U.S. and Canadian J.D. in four years. This program provides a deeper understanding of international law and practice in cross-border situations.
Michigan State University Law offers other degree opportunities: The Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree is designed for students who have earned their J.D., LL.B. or comparable law degree. The Master of Jurisprudence (M.J.) degree is designed for individuals who do not have a law degree, such as doctoral students in other disciplines, policymakers, government officials, business executives, intellectual property agents, journalists, media professionals, scientists and computer programmers. The Master of Jurisprudence (M.J.) degree in Legal Doctrine and Analysis is designed for students who have met the admission criteria for the J.D. degree and have successfully completed the first-year required J.D. curriculum.
Juris Doctor
Admission
Admission to the J.D. program is based on the following:
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:
The Michigan State University College of Law full-time program is designed for students who can devote most of their time to the study of law. By definition, full-time students do not hold employment that requires them to work more than 20 hours a week or have other commitments which preclude them from focusing exclusively on their legal studies. Classes are held at varying times between 8:00 a.m. and 9:45 p.m., Monday through Friday, and a normal course load is 14 to 16 credit hours per semester.
The Michigan State University College of Law part-time day option offers a flexible alternative to our full-time program. Students who elect this option can customize their schedules to fit their needs. Students who pursue this option either work more than 20 hours per week or have other commitments that are not conducive for full-time study.
Both full- and part-time students may enroll in a seven-week summer session. Most summer program courses require prior legal education. Students who have not completed the first-year curriculum may be limited in their course selection because they may not satisfy course prerequisites.
Both degree programs are offered entirely online and are designed for working professionals in the food and agriculture industry, law, government, and related areas who wish to enhance their working knowledge or to seek careers in the field of international food law. Academic Requirements
LL.M. students with a prior J.D. degree must complete 26 credits. International LL.M. students who do not have a prior J.D .degree from a U.S. law school must complete 28 credits. M.J. students must complete 30 credits. All students must complete the program within five academic years with a 2.0 minimum cumulative grade-point average.
LL.M. and M.J. in Intellectual Property and Communications Law
Both degree programs offer advanced course work in a full range of intellectual property and communications law.
Students are strongly encouraged to design their own courses of study with the assistance of their faculty advisors. The LL.M. and M.J. curriculum includes a wide variety of courses and seminars.
Academic Requirements
LL.M. students must complete 24 credits within two fall and spring semesters with a 2.0 minimum cumulative grade-point average. M.J. students must complete 30 credits within two fall and spring semesters with a 2.0 minimum cumulative grade-point average. A longer time period may be granted with a waiver.
LL.M. in the American Legal System
For many attorneys around the world, the successful practice of law requires an understanding of the American legal system. The LL.M. program in the American Legal System is designed exclusively for foreign-educated lawyers who want to advance their careers with knowledge of the laws and regulations of the United States.
All students must complete 24 credits within two academic years with a 2.0 minimum cumulative grade-point average. A longer time period may be granted with a waiver.
This program is designed to give current J.D. students who do not plan to complete the J.D. program the opportunity to receive the M.J. degree after successfully completing the first-year J.D. curriculum.Admission
Students must meet the admission criteria for the Juris Doctor (J.D.).