Academics
In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M. Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 9 credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Applied Economics), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.L.S (Juris Doctor/Master of Library Science), J.D./M.P.H. (Juris Doctor/Master of Public Health), J.D./M.S.W. (Juris Doctor/Master of Social Work), J.D./M.U.P. (Juris Doctor/Master of Urban Planning), J.D./Ph.D. (Juris Doctor/Doctor of Philosophy in selected disciplines), and J.D./Pharm.D. (Juris Doctor/Doctor of Pharmacy).
The University at Buffalo Law School offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, environmental law, family law, intellectual property law, international law, labor law, litigation, tax law, health law, technology and intellectual property, affordable housing, and community. In addition, upper-division students may take clinical courses for 3 to 4 credit hours each semester for up to 4 semesters after the first year of law school. Topics include affordable housing; elder law; community economic development; securities law; mediation; environment and policy law; environment and development; and women, children and social justice. Upper-division students must take at least one 3-credit hour seminar. Numerous seminars are offered and students may enroll in multiple seminars. Externships are available in public interest, governmental, and international settings. Upper-division students may take individual research for 3 to 6 credit hours and may participate in any of several law school research centers. Field placements are associated with various courses including child welfare, criminal law, legislative externships, and judicial clerkships. Special lecture series include the Mitchell Lecture and Baldy Center Lecture Series. There are summer internships abroad with leading human rights organizations through the Buffalo Human Rights Center. There is also a semester long program entitled the University of Buffalo Law School’s New York City Program in International Finance and Law, which requires a student to live in New York City for one semester. Academic support is available to students in need. Special interest group programs include the Buffalo Public Interest Law Program, Domestic Violence Task Force, and Prison Task Force. The most widely taken electives are Corporations, Evidence, and Federal Income Tax I.
To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 90 total credits, of which 34 are for required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: an elective, Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal law, Legal Profession and Ethics, Property, Research and Writing (2 semesters), and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of a seminar. The required orientation program for first-year students lasts 1 week and includes an introduction to faculty, administrators, and student organizations, as well as an introductory course on legal methods, reasoning, and argument, legal institutions, ethics, and the profession.
In order to graduate, candidates must have completed the upper-division writing requirement and 90 credit hours. Grades of A, A-, B+, B, B- or C must be earned in at least 80 hours. A 3 credit hour seminar is also required.