Spring 2023 Quick Guide


Spring 2023 Schedule of Classes (with Classroom Assignments and Exam Information). The most recent version of the Spring 2023 class schedule is available here. This version includes revised exam information as of March 5, 2023.

Please note the following additions and changes to the schedule since the start of initial registration (some of this information is new).

Additional Courses
-Genocide & Crimes Against Humanity (Prof. Weber): This class has been added to the schedule. It may be taken as either a regular course (see pg. 4 of the schedule) or a seminar (see pg. 8). It will meet Wed. 4:00-5:50pm.
-Legal Writing 4 for International LL.M. Students (3 cr., 118-51, Prof. Sodetz): This additional section has been added to the schedule and will be offered Mon./Wed. 6:00-7:25pm (see pg. 3 of the schedule).
-The Role of State Attorneys General (2 cr., 438-81): This class has been added to the schedule. It will be co-taught by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Prof. Carolyn Shapiro and will meet Mon. 4:00-5:50pm.The course description is available here (scroll down).
 
Canceled Courses
-Agency Law (277-51)
-Laws of Retirement (425-51)
-Litigation Technology (J.D. section) (254-51)
-Trademarks & Unfair Competition (416-51)

Other Changes
-Commercial Law: Secured Transactions (Prof. Spak): This class will be taught online.
-Employee Benefits Law & Litigation (Prof. Soubly): This class may now be taken either as a regular course or as a seminar (it was originally listed just for regular course credit).
-GDPR Practicum (Prof. Goldstein): This class will be taught online.
-Law of Privacy (Prof. De Armond): This class will be taught online.
-Legal Theory (Prof. Donelson): This class was listed for seminar credit only on the original schedule (see pg. 8 of the schedule); it is now also listed for regular course credit (see pg. 4). It will meet Tues/Thurs. 10:00-11:25am.
-Startup Lawyering (Prof. N. Kim): In addition to the class sessions (Mon/Wed. 11:15-12:40pm), students must be available on the following  Wednesdays, 12:40-1:40pm, to work with students in the Start-Up Accelerator program at the Kaplan Institute: January 25, February 1, February 15, March 1, March 22, March 29, and April 12. The course will end on April 12.

Add-Drop Period. If you have not already done so, please check the registration system to see whether you were admitted to all of the courses you requested during the initial registration period. The add/drop period is open and will continue through Tuesday, January 31, 5:00pm.

You may withdraw from any course except a required course, a clinical course, Law Review, Moot Court, or an intersession class at any time prior to the date of the final exam or final paper (see §3.10(c) of the Student Handbook). There is no tuition penalty if you drop a course during the first two weeks of classes. You will not receive a tuition refund, however, if you drop a course after Tuesday, January 31, 5:00pm.


Applications for Graduation. If you are graduating this semester, please submit an Application for Graduation (click here) no later than Tuesday, January 31, 5:00pm.


Academic Calendar for 2022–2023. The academic calendar is available here.


Classrooms for Remote Use. If you are taking an online class this semester, we have reserved rooms at the Law School for you to use if you won't have sufficient time to travel from home to school (or vice versa) in between your online class and an on-site class you have the same day. These rooms will remain the same throughout the semester. Click here for the list. Please note: You will each connect to class individually in Zoom and should have earphones or headphones with you.


Experiential Course Requirement. Students must complete a total of six credits from an approved list of experiential courses (click here for the list). Most students will already satisfy four of these credits through the required sequence of Legal Writing 3 and Legal Writing 4. However, students who opt for the Legal Writing 4 Equivalency Class (see page 2 of the schedule for information about Legal Writing 4 Equivalency) should consult the list of approved courses to determine whether the qualifying activity counts toward the experiential requirement. Law Review does not count toward the requirement. 


64-Credit Classroom Course Requirement. At least 64 of the 87 credits required for graduation must be in courses that require attendance in regularly scheduled classroom sessions or direct faculty instruction. Clinical coursework counts toward the 64-credit requirement, but externships, extracurricular activities (including credits earned for participation in a law journal, moot court competitions, trial advocacy competitions, or as a Teaching Assistant), and courses taken in another academic unit (e.g., the Stuart School of Business) do not count toward the 64 credits.


Pass/Fail Elections and Limitations. Pass/fail elections for the Spring semester must be made online no later than Tuesday, January 31, 5:00pm. In order to make an election, you should:

  1. Log into Web for Students.

  2. Select the "Take Class Pass/Fail" option under the "Online Forms" heading

  3. Select the course you would like to take on a pass/fail basis

  4. Submit your selection

The Registrar's Office will review your request and inform you if there is any problem with your request.

Although there is no overall limit on pass/fail credits, there are two types of limits to the pass/fail credits you can take:

Pass/fail election: Students may elect up to 6 credits pass/fail during their entire time at Chicago-Kent. This pass/fail election applies to upper-level elective courses that normally are letter-graded; classes that are only offered pass/fail do not count toward this 6-credit limit. The following classes may not be elected pass/fail: (1) required courses, including Professional Responsibility; (2) seminars, whether or not being taken to fulfill the graduation seminar requirement; (3) courses that have been designated by instructors as ineligible for the pass/fail election (these courses are indicated on each semester’s schedule of classes); (4) courses that are graded only on a pass/fail basis (as noted above), such as clinical courses, Moot Court, and Law Review; (5) Financial Services LL.M. courses; (6) Trial Advocacy and Appellate Advocacy courses; and (7) courses taken to fulfill the requirements of any certificate program. Fall pass/fail registration will open shortly before the start of the Fall semester. A student taking a course on a pass/fail basis must earn at least a C to receive a P (Pass). If you pass the course but fail to earn at least a C, you will receive a grade of LP (Low Pass).

Clinic limitation: You may take no more than 24 credit hours toward graduation for clinical courses and externships combined. (Students in the Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Program (LADR) and the Criminal Litigation Program are exempt from this limitation.)


Graduating Students: Reduced Loads and Tuition Discounts. J.D. students graduating at the end of the Spring semester who need fewer than the minimum number of hours to graduate may take fewer credits without special permission. Taking a reduced load may affect your eligibility for financial aid; please contact the Financial Aid Office if you have questions about this.

In addition, if you will be graduating at the end of the Spring semester, and will be taking more than the 87 credits required to graduate, you may receive a 50% discount on each credit you take over the required 87 credits. If this affects you, please contact me by email no later than Tuesday, January 31, and I will arrange for the credit to be applied to your account. Please note: Financial aid is not available for any courses you take that are not necessary for you to reach the required 87 credits.