Student Handbook (2020-2021)
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University of Iowa College of Law Student Handbook 2020-2021 This document was updated August 13, 2020. This edition is available online at https://law.uiowa.edu/student-handbook in PDF format. If changes are made during the year, a new document will be posted (with the date of its publication available in the footer) and previous documents will be archived at that website. The Student Handbook is designed to be a source book for your life as a student at the University of Iowa College of Law. Take the time to browse through its contents and note that it contains all the policies and procedures – on course selection, grading, retention, misconduct, to name just a few – that you’ll need to know while you’re a student. As the Associate Dean for Student & Career Services, I am the administrator who is specifically charged to serve as a sounding board and advocate for student concerns and career building. My role is to counsel and assist you. Whether you are concerned with progress toward your degree, course scheduling, classes outside the law school, career goals, personal problems or family matters, or anything that interferes with your having a successful experience at school, I’ll help or find someone else who can. When I hear about problems that are affecting students at the College of Law, I’ll make sure that these concerns are heard by the faculty and other administrators. If the problem can’t be fixed, I’ll attempt to explain why. I am also available to members of student organizations in the College of Law who need information or counsel on developing programs, getting funding, and negotiating the bureaucratic operations of student activities at the University of Iowa. Members and officers are welcome to stop by at any time. I look forward to getting to know you and serve you. Carin N. Crain Associate Dean for Student & Career Services CONTENTS 1 Part I: Academic Policies and Procedures Adopted by the Faculty I. Learning Outcomes of the University of Iowa College of Law ............................................. 5 II. Graduation Requirements for the J.D. Degree....................................................................... 7 III. Course Enrollment .............................................................................................................. 14 IV. Course Approval, Requirements and Crediting ................................................................... 19 V. Writing Requirements ......................................................................................................... 30 VI. Grading ............................................................................................................................... 35 VII. Examination Policy ............................................................................................................. 41 VIII. Policy on Eligibility Rules Adopted by Student Organizations ........................................... 42 IX. Policy on Field Placement Programs................................................................................... 43 X. Combined Degrees .............................................................................................................. 51 XI. Withdrawal from the College of Law .................................................................................. 51 XII. Retention Rules ................................................................................................................... 52 XIII. Policy on Misconduct ......................................................................................................... 55 XIV. Policy on Accommodations for Students with Disabilities ................................................. 77 XV. Academic Awards and Honors ............................................................................................ 84 XVI. Additional policies Applicable to S.J.D. Students ............................................................... 86 XVII. Miscellaneous Policies ........................................................................................................ 89 Part II: Additional Policies of the College of Law XVIII. LAWR Guidelines ................................................................................................................ 92 XIX. Course Add/Drop Procedures ............................................................................................. 92 XX. Exam Policy ........................................................................................................................ 93 XXI. Policies relating to the use of the Boyd Law Building ............................................................ 97 XXII. University of Iowa Policies ................................................................................................... 98 1 This document contains policies and procedures adopted by the Faculty of the University of Iowa College of Law that relate directly to students. Students enrolled in College of Law are also subject to University Policies as well as administrative policies and procedures implemented under the authority of the Dean of the College of Law. Part III: Useful Information XXIII. Guide to Courses ............................................................................................................... 100 XXIV. Student Activities and Organizations .................................................................................. 100 XXV. Teaching Materials ............................................................................................................. 100 XXVI. Services and Support .......................................................................................................... 101 XXVII. List of College of Law Awards ........................................................................................... 102 Part I: Academic Policies and Procedures Adopted by the Faculty I. Learning Outcomes of the University of Iowa College of Law2 Upon graduating from the University of Iowa College of Law, a student shall have competency in the following: Knowledge and understanding of substantive and procedural law 1. Identifying and applying the foundational concepts of civil procedure, constitutional law, contracts, criminal law, property, and torts, and understanding the manner in which the law, both statutory and judge-made, changes. 2. Identifying and applying key concepts from a range of other areas of law not taught in courses required by the law school, but generally understood to be among those considered important for the practice of law. 3. Understanding the structure of the American legal system. Legal analysis and reasoning, legal research, problem-solving, and written and oral communication in the legal context 1. Identifying legal rules within legal authorities. 2. Synthesizing legal rules into an analytical framework. 3. Using legal authorities to assess the likely outcome of a case. 4. Identifying and using relevant research materials and providing proper attribution to them. 2 Adopted by the faculty on March 24, 2016 and April 29, 2016; Amended January 25, 2018. 5. Writing documents in a clear, well-reasoned, organized manner that is appropriate to the audience and the circumstances. 6. Speaking in a clear, well-reasoned, organized manner that is appropriate to the audience and the circumstances. 7. Spotting relevant legal issues in a fact-pattern. Exercise of the proper professional and ethical responsibilities to clients and the legal system 1. Identifying the ethical considerations, disciplinary standards, and laws that govern the practice of law. 2. Applying the knowledge of professional ethics to the problems involving representation of clients and the resolution of ethical and other professional dilemmas. 3. Understanding the professional and ethical responsibilities of lawyers to the legal system, clients, the profession, and society. Other professional skills needed for competent and ethical participation as a member of the legal profession. 1. Using self-evaluation of professional experiences to improve professional performance, experiences, and judgment. 2. Analyzing a legal issue of a student's choosing in a manner that meets the upper level writing requirements for graduation. II. Graduation Requirements for the J.D. Degree3 A. Overview To be eligible for a J.D. degree, a student must: 1. Meet the credit hour requirements; 2. Meet the length of study requirements; 3. Achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.1; 4. Take and complete all required courses; 5. Satisfy the writing requirements; and 6. Satisfy the experiential course requirement. B. Credit Hour Requirements A student must receive credit for 884 credit hours of course work. For purposes of these Graduation Requirements, “course” and “course work” refer to any credit-bearing activity recognized by the College of Law. Of the 88 credit hours required for graduation: 1. At least 64 must be earned through courses that require attendance in regularly scheduled classroom sessions or direct faculty instruction (“faculty instruction courses”). Faculty instruction courses shall be so designated in the course registration materials. (The definition of “faculty instruction course” is subject to ABA Standards; among the courses that are excluded from the definition, as of January 2016, are co-curricular (student-run) courses, field placements, independent studies, supplementary writing, directed writing and research, and non-law courses.) 2. No more than 6 may be earned through