Overview of the JD Written Work Requirement

Completion of the Written Work Requirement is a degree requirement for the JD. Students may satisfy the requirement in two ways:

Option 1: Students may complete a substantial research paper of publishable quality written in close consultation with a faculty advisor.  Students register for additional credits in order to complete the written work requirement under Option 1.

Option 2: Students may complete two shorter pieces of writing, one of which must be faculty supervised. In addition to qualifying papers written for HLS courses or seminars, many different types of student writing may satisfy this second option, including moot court briefs, law journal pieces, and clinical writing.  Students do not register for additional credits beyond their regular coursework.